1 post tagged “border”
I have to be honest concerning “The Minutemen” and the anti-immigration message. I support the core reasoning of The Minutemen however not to levels of extremism that aims pretty close to Latinophobia.
It is wrong for Mexicans (primarily) to simply enter our country and gain privileges that some American citizens do not even receive. It is wrong to accommodate illegal aliens by requiring Spanish to be on official government documents up to and including voting. The vote is not something an illegal should be privileged with. The vote should not be something a legal alien should be privileged with. AND Naturalized American citizens (former aliens) should become citizens until at least they can speak English let alone provide dual Spanish/English documents.
I favor English should be the National Language of America. Every other immigrant to America in America’s history to a large degree has assimilated to the American way of life. The Italians, Nordic language groups, Germans and Europeans by the time of their second and third generations spoke English and considered themselves more American than their parents or grandparents.
Now that I have brandished the negative aspects that drive me nuts about illegal immigration, allow me to say few words about Mexicans and many other Latinos in America.
I was not raised in a middle class or wealthy family; however I was not so poor that I had a victimhood attitude about my life nor did my family. Everyone worked in our family to pay the bills. My core family growing up consisted of my single Mom, me, Grandmother, Grandfather and occasionally my Uncle (off and on). I began working at age 12 delivering Newspapers and by age 16, full time in the Restaurant industry which I continued in for a quarter of a century.
Anyway as long as anyone lived at Grandma’s house, a percentage of one’s earnings or a particular responsibility (e.g. an electric bill or cable bill) was all shared to living really quite comfortable not being aware that opportunity could lead to even more comfort.
Working in the Restaurant Industry I had the opportunity to work with a number of Mexicans. There were a few bad apples however the majority of Mexicans worked hard and were honest and respectful. In most cases I was humbled by the honesty and respect Mexicans had shown me when I knew full well a majority of Americans would not reciprocate in the same manner.
Most of the illegal alien Mexicans had no intention to remain in America on a long term basis and so they did not feel the compulsion to learn English any more than was necessary. The Mexicans I worked with worked for a stake for some dream back in Mexico OR to alleviate a situation of extreme poverty for family members back in Mexico.
I am not so certain America should boot this kind of Mexican out. They are the epitome of what Americans were like up through the ‘50’s: hard working responsible families.
I am also aware there are Mexicans and Latin Americans further south of Mexico that are pure thugs, lawless, gangbangers or all of the above. This is the kind of Mexican that should be deported. This kind of Mexican/Latino should be deported or jailed (depending if they have become American citizens by naturalization or birth) even if they citizenship or legal residence status. America in this age of terrorism needs to come down hard on the lawless foreigners that reside in our nation and NOT coddled as a person of special circumstance. THAT IS NUTS!
And so having posted my concerns and my reasons for limited mercy I would like to share an email that made it to my junk mail instead of to my inbox. It is from The Minutemen and it justly rails on the duplicity that is extended to Latinos and yet when The Minutemen do acts of Charity with The Minutemen name accredited, the pro-illegal alien lobby goes nuts. I am totally with The Minutemen with this one:
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IT'S TIME TO DEFEAT THE ILLEGAL ALIEN LOBBY!
HOWARD KALOOGIAN
Sent: Thu 5/22/2008 12:28 AM
The Minutemen San Diego Email
I wrote to you the other day to inform you about the battle between the San Diego Minutemen and radical left-wing activists from the pro-amnesty crowd. Advocates of amnesty-for-illegal-aliens are waging a pressure campaign to censor the Minutemen's "Adopt-A-Highway" sign near a border checkpoint in California.
They've so far succeeded in their censorship campaign, and the Minutemen's sign has been taken down. But now the San Diego Minutemen are fighting back in court - they won't let the amnesty-for-illegal-aliens crowd try to silence those who believe in securing America's borders.
You can support the Minutemen's legal defense fund - HERE.
It's offensive when you think about the fact that this is the only kind of message that the pro-amnesty crowd believes should be allowed:
[jpeg in email of local LA Hispanic newscast]
But the pro-amnesty crowd won't tolerate this sign that simply showcased the Minutemen's charitable efforts:
[jpeg in email of The Minutemen Adopt a Highway sign]
The ensuing legal fight between the Minutemen and the illegal alien lobby has become a high-profile national issue with members of the legislature's Latino Caucus, Gil Cedillo and Lori Salda¤a, telling the New York Times that, "the Minutemen should be barred" from having an Adopt-A-Highway sign. (You can read the New York Times story - HERE).
The Gil Cedillo who was bad-mouthing the Minutemen, is the same Gil Cedillo who last year led rallies for amnesty and taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens.
And Lori Saldana went on to tell reporters that she wanted to pre-screen groups to prevent organizations like the Minutemen from having the same rights as leftist pro-amnesty organizations that she supports. "We want them (the state) to say what constitutes a legitimate group... Do we want these people (the Minutemen) allowed on a highway near a security checkpoint?" asked Ms. Saldana.
Yes, we do want the Minutemen to be free to have their voices heard in this country, Ms. Saldana, but obviously people like you want the Minutemen silenced and censored.
PLEASE -- If you support our efforts to fight back against the pro-amnesty lobby and fight for the rights of the Minutemen, then please make a donation right now to our legal defense fund.
We've incurred $30,000 in legal fees already. Fortunately, hundreds of supporters have pitched in to bring this total down to approximately $25,000. Please help us raise this remaining $25,000.
Make a donation of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 or $1,000 or more - CLICK HERE to DONATE.
You may also mail in a contribution to:
San Diego Minutemen Defense Fund
c/o Kaloogian & Fuselier, L.L.P
2382 Faraday Avenue
Suite #130
Carlsbad, CA 92008
There are no contribution limits, so please give generously. Your financial contributions will help to ensure that the Minutemen can have the same right to free speech that the pro-amnesty lobby has been exercising in their ongoing rallies and demonstrations. If we don't win here, you can bet the pro-illegal immigrant lobby will push even harder.
Thank you so much for your support. I will continue to keep you updated on our fight for the rights of the San Diego Minutemen.
- HOWARD KALOOGIAN
P.S. You can follow our legal filings at our website - HERE. And please, if you haven't already done so, please do contribute to our efforts to fight for the Minutemen's rights. We are determined to defeat the pro-amnesty lobby, but they will fight us tooth-and-nail in the courts. But, with your help we can win!
______________________
The Minutemen and the Illegal Immigration Lobby
John R. Houk
© May 26, 2008
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IT'S TIME TO DEFEAT THE ILLEGAL ALIEN LOBBY!
This email has been sent to: john@slantright.com
