(I don't normally respond to the comments, but I couldn't resist.)
I read Fred's response to my last blog entry (thanks Fred!) and wanted to rebut (look it up). I think he probably speaks for the majority of you. I realize it takes a good deal of courage to post your opinions, and I don't want to put anybody off the idear of commenting in the future. That said...
First, do most Americans REALLY make a distinction between legal and illegal Mexicans? When you see a Mexican walking down the street, do you withhold judgement until you see his/her green card? Also, besides Mexicans, are there any other kind of illegal immigrants that Americans give a shit about? I don't remember hearing anybody bitching about Canadians sneaking into the country (spoiler alert - Canadians are generally white). I don't know how many there are, but they're just as illegal.
Second, do you think that the coyotes would stop trafficking drugs if there was a significant drop in illegal immigration? I'm pretty sure they would traffic just as much if not more since there'd be more room in el truck-o.
Finally, if being an illegal alien is so horrible, why not just make all of them legal? Seriously. Give them all amnesty and instant citizenship. That way, they would have to be paid minimum wage and would then start paying income taxes (whether they liked it or not). Also, if there was blanket amnesty, and all they had to do was go to the Social Security office and get a card, it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than having 11 million people get either deported or process the normal amount of paperwork.
Think about it - there are 400 million Americans and only 11 million illegal aliens. That's about 40 to 1 - hardly enough to even notice. To put it in perspective, if you invited 200 people to your party, and an extra 5 showed up uninvited, would you be significantly impacted? Would you run out of beer and hot dogs before everyone else got their fair share?
I do have a question for anyone reading these comments: What is involved in becoming a legal immigrant? People say all the time that they should just go through the process, but how much trouble are we talking about? How much time/effort/money does it take?
How much time/effort/money did you go through to become a citizen? Or, did you just happen to pop out of your mother's American vagina? If so, lucky you!
Ask yourself this, if every Mexican you met was legal, would it honestly change your opinion of Mexicans? Don't bother answering - I'm pretty sure I know already.
Now go out there and quit being a racist bastard. While you're at it, buy my house, dammit!
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2 comments:
Marry a Yank! - it worked for me.
btw... no one has ever questioned my immigrant status, and I get complimented all the time on my charming english (i.e. foreign) accent. Often by the same people who want to send all immigrants home.
Did you know there is estimated to be 20k Irish in Boston, who are here illegally?
Wow, I didn't expect my comment to generate an entire post! Since I've decided to play the role of Rush Limbaugh, here is the obligatory response:
First, do most Americans REALLY make a distinction between legal and illegal Mexicans?
I know I don't. Send 'em all back! ;-) But seriously, whether Mexican-American citizens are discriminated against or not, we shouldn't tolerate criminal behavior to somehow make up for it.
I don't remember hearing anybody bitching about Canadians sneaking into the country...
Why would a Canadian give up free health care, tons of paid time off from work, and all the other benefits they get? If anything, they have to worry about Americans coming up there. Illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America are by far the largest group, so we would do better to focus on the Southern border first. Have you been watching Canadian Bacon or something?
Second, do you think that the coyotes would stop trafficking drugs if there was a significant drop in illegal immigration?
No, but illegal immigrants make it easier for them to smuggle drugs. They keep the Border Patrol so overwhelmed that more drugs are able to get through. Plus each illegal is a potential courier.
Finally, if being an illegal alien is so horrible, why not just make all of them legal?
While it might be cheaper in the short run, granting blanket amnesty would only encourage more illegal immigration, costing more in the long run. Kind of like giving money to homeless people, or feeding stray dogs (Man, I am a bastard!).
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