This post may frustrate some, but I feel it needs to be addressed. There is growing discontent among legitimate US citizens, like myself, regarding the status of illegal aliens. Currently, there is a debate about this issue in our Senate that is being labeled "immigration" related. Although, technically, the illegals that flood our country are considered "immigrants", I don't feel that is an accurate description. My grandparents were immigrants. They came over on a boat and waited in line to get their papers. They went through appropriate channels and gained legitimate, legal citizenship. They worked hard everyday and built a life for their families here. They didn't look for handouts or petition the government to change the national language to Italian or Dutch. They came to the United States to become Americans, not temporary guest workers. An immigrant, by definition, is a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence.
Don't misunderstand me. I have no problem with someone coming to this country with hopes and dreams of a better life. This country was founded by immigrants, and for the most part, is populated by immigrants. My point of contention is the method by which illegal aliens enter our country and manipulate the system to their advantage. Working illegaly means not having to pay taxes. It also means collecting unemployment and government assistance for which they are not entitled. When lawmakers passed a bill in December making illegal aliens felons, it was taken as an attack on the Latino population that comprises 80 percent of the nation's estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. Unfortunately, this ammendment has been portrayed as racist because of these figures. If you banned ice cream because it was fattening, would it be considered exclusionary to chocolate lovers because the most favored flavor is chocolate? No! All ice cream would be banned. How can we develop a good immigration policy that doesn't include a group that comprises 80 percent of the target sample?
From a fiscal point of view, the illegal workforce is essential to the stability of our economy. The reason for this is the too little, too late actions of our Federal government. This has been a growing problem for decades! On the west coast, the face of the problem is Latino. And unfortunately, this has given the uneducated, ignorant masses of our population an inaccurate portayal of the dilemma. The result of this is a backlash that utilizes the most readily available tool of the insolvent and simple; Racism. In my neck of the woods, the "workers" are typically Eastern European, Irish, or Jamaican. I know many of them are here legally, because it's a long ass raft ride from Croatia. Granted, they could always come as tourists and never leave. I'd like to think that they went through normal channels to get here. Maybe it's just wishful thinking...
In closing, I'd like to make one last inflamatory remark. I think the government really dropped the ball on May 1, 2006 when they neglected to round up the "protesters" and see who was really legal and who wasn't... For deportation reasons. The question in my mind is... How can someone protest the decision of a government body that doesn't recognize them as citizens of that country? Their "protests" should have been deemed irrelevant since they're not a part of the system! Does our Constitution read "We the people of all countries..."? No! The Constitution issues rights to its citizens, not to the people of the world. If you want the right to public assembly, become a citizen and you can protest until your face turns blue. Until then, either go home or become a citizen legally.
Recent Comments