Illegal Immigration....Better Life for Whom?

[NicoMoon]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0608170087aug17,1,3209935.story?coll=chi-opinionfront-hed

"Elvira Arellano came to this country from Mexico seeking a better life, but she came here illegally.....Arellano was arrested and deported once before and re-entered the country illegally. She was found to have used a fake Social Security number to work."

I'm hearing her defenders say that she's "a child of God" and therefore deserves her "rights".

My response is, what about me and the rest of the law abiding citizens and legal immigrants? Aren't we also "children of God" who deserve our right to have our laws acknowledged, respected, and obeyed?

I'm sorry, but life is rough sometimes. People who don't pay their rent or mortgages lose their homes, folks get sick, hurricanes displace people, etc etc etc.

I'm also interested to know what rights Ms. Arellano thinks the owner of the social security number she stole has.

What bothers me more than anything is that this kind of an argument actually gains the sympathy and agreement of a lot of people. Is it not possible to both have compassion and understanding about the illegal immigration problem and be honest and ethical at the same time?

This is just another case of deifying victims, and I hold to my belief that this practice will destroy our nation if it's not thwarted.

[LightHeart]

hmmm

[LightHeart]

hmmm
I only say that because I can't and won't post what I want too:)

[NicoMoon]

Ok LightHeart?

I can't imagine what you think you can't say here! We're pretty open about the opinions we host. I've never known you to be rude enough to warrant our censorship! :eek:

If you're afraid of not being PC, please don't. The same if you're afraid that your opinions might offend me or anyone else here. We're all responsible to live with the perspectives of others!

Really, I think the only thing any poster here need fear is having their assertions challenged, or being disagreed with, and I'm pretty sure you're not afraid of either of those!!

It's certainly up to you, but I'd like to know your thoughts on this topic. :)

[LightHeart]

Ok LightHeart?

I can't imagine what you think you can't say here! We're pretty open about the opinions we host. I've never known you to be rude enough to warrant our censorship! :eek:

If you're afraid of not being PC, please don't. The same if you're afraid that your opinions might offend me or anyone else here. We're all responsible to live with the perspectives of others!

Really, I think the only thing any poster here need fear is having their assertions challenged, or being disagreed with, and I'm pretty sure you're not afraid of either of those!!

It's certainly up to you, but I'd like to know your thoughts on this topic. :)
Thank You Nico for that post, but this is your house and I won't dirty it up, but since you instisted, her defenders saying that she's "a child of God" is pure ass BS, I do not and will not ever pretend to like Mexicans. I hate the fact that they come into MY business and pretend they don't speak english, hmmm let me short them a dollar and the **** hits the fan.

Sorry Nico, I am usually an even keyed person, but I am sick to death reading about these illegal immigrants and their wants and needs.

[LightHeart]

what makes me sick is they come here illegal have children that are legal, and demand to have the rights that they do not have the right to. I have few passions in life and this is one of them. So before I offend anyone I will make this my last post in this thread.

[NicoMoon]

Thanks for your consideration, LH, but the immigration issue has already dirtied up our house, IMO, and big time.

To me it's only common sense that a nation should protect its borders and carefully regulate who comes and goes. The fact that over the years we've failed to do so is the problem. It's created a sense of entitlement on the part of Mexicans who want to come here to work. It's been business as usual for them for so long that they aren't finding it easy to shift gears and validate the rising concerns and grievances of American citizens. Blame our politicians for this one!

Also, illegals are being used and inflamed by professional agitators with all sorts of agendas. We can pass out a lot of blame for this fact.

Most of the Mexicans I meet are sweet, hard working people who keep a very low profile. However, the facts are a bit more diverse than my personal experiences. Americans like you, LH, are upset and angry for many good reasons.

I would be happy to host a productive dialogue on this topic, as IMO, another part of the problem is a lack of realistic discussion on both sides of the equation. Maybe if those who are willing from both sides will begin to speak openly, honestly, and frankly we can at least achieve some useful perspective amongst ourselves.

I would for example like to hear one Mexican or Mexican spokesperson agree that Americans have a right to express our concerns with as much sense of honesty, freedom and passion as they are expressing theirs.

I am strongly opposed to illegal immigration, LH. I think it's a pretty common sense perspective to take, and it astounds me that anyone would argue otherwise.

So, in the interest of presenting the American citizen and legal immigrant point of view, I have no problem whatsoever with anyone venting their frustrations here, within the boundaries of honesty and decency of course.

Let's face it, a lot of Americans don't like Mexicans. It sounds like such a harsh thing to say, but on the other hand, we are daily treated to all the reasons Mexicans and lots of other groups are obliged to not like Americans, so maybe it's time for us all to be real about the situation at least for starters!

I like people generally, and try not to lump them into groups, but that doesn't stop anyone from lumping themselves into a group and then doing or saying things that get up a lot of other folks hump in it's name.

Also, I don't have any problem whatsoever lumping together those who break our laws from those who don't. That seems like a fair "lumping" to me.

[LightHeart]

Great post my friend, and I am not so proud that I can't put my ignorance on the back burner to educate myself more.

[OneofaKind]

While I understand the arguments made and must say, I don't live in the States. Aren't we all immigrants at the end of the day.

If I was in te States the key for me would be to see the government doing something to prevent illegal immigrants and for those already in a country to obtain the same rights as everyone else, but to at the same time make a positive contribution to society

[LightHeart]

After reading and rereading my post I have to retrack, I should never have said I dislike mexicans, what I should have said is I dislike the illegals and their attitude that they are owed something.

[NicoMoon]

While I understand the arguments made and must say, I don't live in the States. Aren't we all immigrants at the end of the day.

ILLEGAL is the functional word here.


If I was in te States the key for me would be to see the government doing something to prevent illegal immigrants and for those already in a country to obtain the same rights as everyone else, but to at the same time make a positive contribution to society

So, if I broke into your home while you were out, took over a bedroom and made it all nice and cozy for myself, that would give me the right to live in your house for good, and you'd have no problem with that? :rolleyes:

I can't understand the thinking behind amnesty programs. What is the point of sending the message that you can break our laws and if you don't get caught for long enough we'll ignore the fact that you did?

What is being proposed is worse than just amnesty. The new idea is that not only do those who snuck through our borders, stole social security numbers , availed themselves of all our social services, etc etc get to stay, but now their families from Mexico will be automatically legalized also.

Let's face it, this is all about creating a new underclass here in the US. This is about more new ghettos, more racial tensions, more gangs, more fatherless babies, more demands, more frustration, and more stresses on our already overtaxed citizenry. It's really about the end of our own culture as we know it.

Oneofakind, where are you, btw? I can't think of where you might live that you're not having immigration problems in your own country.

Of course I'm not against people immigrating. What I am against are immigration policies that force the existing working population to support the new immigrants and tolerate their demands and complaints on top of it.

That's what I call a Rude Squatter policy, not a workable immigration plan.

We'd all be far better served if we immediately ceased and desisted sending the message that the claim of "immigrant" is some kind of blank check entitlement. We can and must do a lot better, for everyone's benefit.

[NicoMoon]

After reading and rereading my post I have to retrack, I should never have said I dislike mexicans, what I should have said is I dislike the illegals and their attitude that they are owed something.

I was pretty clear about what you meant, LH. I know you're not a bigot. In fact, I know you have a huge heart, and I'm sure you'd be the first to step up to offer the hand of human kindness to any Mexican or anyone else in a one on one situation. :)

This situation is untenable, and it's resulting in bad feelings all around. The illegals are sold a bill of goods in Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, etc before they even leave. They're promised jobs, health care, homes, cars, education for their kids, and told that they'll be made legal eventually. They come here with high expectations which for the most part aren't false. They're being shooed out of poor and corrupt nations that don't want them into our nation where they want what we have.

What they don't bring with them, though, is an understanding of WHY our country is such a desirable destination, or HOW we have maintained it to be so. If they did, they'd realize that their chosen method of arriving here is the exact thing that will destroy all that they believe themselves to be entitled to.

I'm still trying to figure out how or why anyone would continue to endorse this endless flow of humanity through our borders, or propose that it's a good thing.

And I share your dislikes about the situation, LH! In fact, I loathe the fact that any of these law breakers and invaders are making demands and threats on top of everything else. It's just stupid of them, and quite disconcerting to consider who the leaders who incite these behaviors might be.

The illegals need the leadership and guidance of some smart and honest people, for one thing.

[widget]

Since when was it ok to decriminalise something like this. There are many ways to become a U S resident without resorting to criminal means. Illegal immigration is nothing to be proud of and should not be accepted or tolerated.

I AM an immigrant, a legal immigrant I hasten to add, but I jumped through all the hoops that were set before me, including bureacratic goofs that left my Immigration file in the dormant box for over two years. I am a hard working member of this society, I pay my share of taxes yet I am still denied the right to vote, just because I choose not to give up my native citizenship. Where is my pressure group?