I have, until recently, been divided in my thoughts regarding a popular topic: Illegal Immigration. I was going to discuss the history of cheap labor in this country, and even look at the social economics of the issue. But at present, I'm feeling a little more emotional about the issue...
First of all, I am no longer inclined to look at the predominant peoples in question, citizens of Mexico, as immigrants – if they are here illegally. After all, the definition of an immigrant is one who comes to a country to take up permanent residence. They come, as is customary with past immigrants to this country that you hear them talking about, to adopt their new country as their own. They come to embrace the culture of this country as their own. They come and learn how to speak the language of this country, which is English. They come to help build the country as well as prosper in what is arguably the best country on the planet. Does this mean they have to forget where they came from, or the culture they were raised in and have nothing to do with it? NO!!! But it does mean that America and all that she is should come FIRST if they truly have immigrated.
No, I now refuse to refer to these people as Illegal Immigrants. I am not going to talk about “Guest Workers” either. I will, however, reference illegal migrants (those who move around looking for work) who are becoming quite bothersome. In fact, I am now over the middle mark leaning toward rounding every last freaking one of them up and throwing them back across the boarder. Two recent developments have me feeling this way: the proposed boycott on Monday to cause as much disruption as possible and the new Spanish version of our national anthem.
I have long understood why we have illegal migrants from Mexico. I know what these people are facing if they stay in Mexico. I have spent enough time in that country, gotten off of the beaten path and looked around, and have seen first hand the abject poverty that so many are forced to live in down there. I have seen families - families with small children, babies, the aged, living in shacks that are so shoddy most Americans wouldn’t store their garden tools in them. I have seen the working conditions down there in a lot of places. I have watched so many of these people trying to catch a ride miles away so they can get to their jobs, and if they can’t find transportation, they walk for miles to try and make a living. Yes indeed, I know why they come here, why they bring (or want to have) their children here if they can. I also realize why they are important to this country, but at the same time, a drain on this country that should not be tolerated forever.
Where I understand all of this, it does not change the fact that they are here illegally. Period. They are a slap in our face, and in the face of those who have come here before them legally. And now, they are acting as if they are entitled to be rewarded for breaking our laws, violating our sovereignty, and mandating that we accept and embrace their culture within our own boarders. This does not sound like someone who wants to blend into our society.
I have compadres in Mexico. I like Mexico. I like the culture down there, I like the food down there, I have had MANY great times and experiences down there. I know these are good people, they are hard working people. However, I can not sanction putting them above the interests and well being of my fellow Americans.
If you want to immigrate to this country, please do so, but do it legally. Embrace our culture, our society, learn our language, and become one of us. We welcome you. If you want be in this country for awhile working, with the intent of going back home, which is fine as long as you are doing it legally. If you do not fall into either of these categories, then I think it is time for you to leave. We will get along without you. Maybe wages will have to rise for certain jobs, with the cost being passed along to the consumer, but that is acceptable. In the long run, it should still save the citizens of this country the cost of supporting people who want the American dream – without being a true part of America.
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2 comments:
It's the Grandfather fallacy (again): we are not the Grandfather to the world. The US cannot afford to help every crappy situation on planet earth, be it in Mexico, Kosovo, Iraq, or wherever. This isn't to say that, as far as we are able (within the reasonable bounds of taking care of our own first) we shouldn't help others, but we do it (a) as we can, and (b) on our own terms, not because they demand it.
I wish resources were infinite, I wish the whole world was a vast disease-free techno-utopia, but it ain't. Until we get Star Trek level tech, your rant sadly makes too much sense.
Yeah, EMTALA isn’t necessarily a bad concept, and it has been around for twenty years. If a hospital accepts Medicare payments, then it must participate. And I have yet to see a hospital that doesn’t do Medicare…
BUT… There were no provisions enacted by Congress in the original bill that provided for any form of reimbursement what so ever. So the change in providing extra funding now for illegal migrants amounts to nothing more than political posturing… Costing the American tax payer once more… While I can go downtown every night of the year and find an American citizen that doesn’t have a home, has no medical insurance, and even though they could receive care, are held accountable by law for paying for this care, where the illegal isn’t.
Let’s face it… The only way to curb this particular problem would be to hold the employer accountable. Maybe we need to go the way of drug enforcement… You hire an illegal, we’re not only going to throw you in prison, but we’re going to seize everything you have and put the funds to good use…
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