Originally Posted By wahooskipper I'll be doing a lot of shopping today. The good news is I might actually get to deal with some clerks who speak English for a change.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Well, before you go lumping all democrats from California together as being crazy, pot-smoking, tree-hugging, illegal-immigrant supporting types... think again. I am with the conservatives on this immigration stuff, and from the other democrats I've talked to, it's clear I'm not alone. Some of us really *are* middle-of-the road and not so far gone. In fact, I have a hard time with anyone -- republican or democrat -- who is so closed-minded they can't see the forest for the trees. Open-mindedness is key. Anyway, yes, this immigration stuff is making me sick! Honestly, I can hardly stand to watch the news coverage. Blech.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe Check out Downtown Orlando as they're presently walking by the Paramount on Lake Eola. That makes me sick.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger Darn! I really wish I'd held off on my Costco trip a couple of days ago until today. I spent over $400. What _really_ ameks me mad about this whole thing is the way that the protest organizers have been allowed to remove one single critical word from the debate: "illegal". They've been allowed to reframe the debate from "illegal immigration" to just "immigration", and paint everyone who is against them as anti-immigrant, period. So the whole protest isn't about pro-illegal immigration, it's about pro-immigration.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I had a black gal once claim I was a racist. Why? She fell asleep on the job. While I could have fired her on the spot I took a picture of her instead (while she was sleeping) posted it on the bulletin board with the caption, "no sleeping on the job" and let it go. So, she claims I am prejudiced against black people. I told her I wasn't prejudiced against black people...but that I WAS prejudiced against stupid people. See, there is a difference.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>They've been allowed to reframe the debate from "illegal immigration" to just "immigration", and paint everyone who is against them as anti-immigrant, period.<< Or even worse, as racist.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder All these marches won't prove or do a thing. What else needs to be said?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Yeah, the bull rhetoric is flying everywhere and in my opinion turning more people off... the headline for our local town paper - " the day the Lawn didn;t get Cut" -- now how insulting is that on a number of levels....I'm not sure which side should be more insulted. I cut my own freakin lawn and always have - just because we are a well to do community doesn;t mean everyone hires out all work - and if I am on the other side of this-- does this headline say that is all we are good for- and all we do ? I agree with fkurucz -- there is no longer a right and wrong or illegal argument -- it has all beenmade racial in nature and I hope it backfires for that reason. Let's talk about the real issue and not go the Jesse Jacskon type rhetoric path --
Originally Posted By dlkozy I am angry that there are those that want to push and shove their way to the front of the immigration line, all the while screaming, "I have a right, I have a right" My grandmother came from Holland, and entered LEGALLY. She not only had to have a sponsor here in the U.S. she had to pass medical and background tests, have so much money in the bank, have a job waiting for her, AND speak English! NO-I am NOT going to let some people devalue what she had to go through and insist that they have a "right" to do so. I do not get what part of ILLEGAL people don't get! No-they don't have any right to vote-or demand anything. If you enter illegally you are breaking the law. Mexico has a nerve to say anything in regards to this matter. That country treats illegal immigrants horribly-rape, murder, etc. All we ask is that they come into our country LEGALLY!
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger My grandmother immigrated from Sweden and not only learned English, she refused to speak Swedish ever after. My grandfather would speak to her in Swedish, but she would only answer in English. Her position was that English was the language of America, and she was now an American. As a side effect, her kids (including my father) never learned Swedish because it would have been a personal insult to her.
Originally Posted By dlkozy That's exactly how my Grandmother was. Dutch was never spoken just English!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I do not get what part of ILLEGAL people don't get! No-they don't have any right to vote-or demand anything. If you enter illegally you are breaking the law. < they don't understand it because we have a group or politicians who represent this country telling them that breaking imiigrations laws isn't a crime.....how screwed up is that ? Many of my wifes realtives from Ireland couldn't emigrate here because of quotas for years and a lot of legal wrangling -- most never made it-- we should have just told them to fly to Mexico and run across the border -- then you don't have to worry about laws.
Originally Posted By cmpaley >>they don't understand it because we have a group or politicians who represent this country telling them that breaking imiigrations laws isn't a crime.....how screwed up is that ?<< Actaully the LAW says that it's not a crime. It is a CIVIL INFRACTION.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 is that legal ? is that splitting hairs ? and anyone who assists them -- what is the charge there ?
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Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<My grandmother immigrated from Sweden and not only learned English, she refused to speak Swedish ever after.>> I'm glad to hear that your ancestors were such fine Americans. I guess my wife and my ancestors were just plain too lazy or stupid to do so. My great-great grandparents emigrated from Sweden. They never spoke much English, but that didn't keep my grandparents from learning English. My wife's grandparents emigrated from Germany. Although her grandfather learned a little English, her grandmother spoke mostly German until the day she died. Her parents though learned English, even though not much was spoken at home. That is how it was for many immigrants. Although they may not have learned much English, their children always did. And the problem with that is???
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<>>they don't understand it because we have a group or politicians who represent this country telling them that breaking imiigrations laws isn't a crime.....how screwed up is that ?<< Actaully the LAW says that it's not a crime. It is a CIVIL INFRACTION.>> FWIW, most illegals have fake SS#'s, etc., which is identity theft, and that is a felony.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "I'm glad to hear that your ancestors were such fine Americans. I guess my wife and my ancestors were just plain too lazy or stupid to do so. My great-great grandparents emigrated from Sweden. They never spoke much English, but that didn't keep my grandparents from learning English. My wife's grandparents emigrated from Germany. Although her grandfather learned a little English, her grandmother spoke mostly German until the day she died. Her parents though learned English, even though not much was spoken at home. That is how it was for many immigrants. Although they may not have learned much English, their children always did. And the problem with that is???" I don't think they were stating that it was better, but they were using their ancestors as examples of what people will do to get here legally. Not everybody has to abandon their native language, but obviously these people felt strongly enough to do so. Nobody is knocking those who don't choose that.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger >>That is how it was for many immigrants. Although they may not have learned much English, their children always did. And the problem with that is???" << Actually that is one of the problems that is being griped about WRT illegal immigration: lack of assimilation. It forces signs, textbooks and ballots to be printed in multiple languages. It forces the judicial system to staff interpreters for jurors. It splits the country. At one time our country was considered a melting pot - everyone comes here and contributes little bits of their cultures, everyone adopts parts of the culture that's already here, and America was the result. I heard recently that the wave of immigrants now coming in (from *all* countries) now view America as a place where you can keep your own culture and don't have to learn new ways or new languages - America will change to accomodate you.
