My Unsolicited Thoughts on Immigration Woes

from Ben's mom

The current immigration mess is a nightmare. Like most honest Americans I don't see a good solution to the whole situation. I think Bush's Guest Worker program is hugely naive and unmanageable. I like my produce cheap (or at least affordable) and realize that if we get Joe Blow (fifth generation American) to pick it, the cost will skyrocket, because Joe Blow will form a union, give them a percentage of his earnings and not come to work when the weather's bad, he has the sniffles, his kids are sick, etc.... I have picked strawberries to earn money. I was 11 and the 3-yr old child of immigrants was faster and made more than I did. I don't want to do it again and I don't want my kids to make a career of it. (They may get to do it to encourage their interest in a college-education and to focus their efforts on a way to obtain it.) But in all reality, I have to commend the hard working immigrants (illegal and otherwise) who do the jobs I don't want to do. (And yes, I have guilt.)

But today's demonstration was part of what is wrong with the situation. 1) If they are too poor to wait in line to immigrate legally, they should be too poor to take the day off to protest. 2) This statement: "We are the backbone of what America is, legal or illegal, it doesn't matter,"--Melanie Lugo. Melanie, it does matter. You show a flagrant disrespect for the laws of our land. If you are willing to make a flippant statement like that about the laws of our land, I would suspect, you and others who think like you, would willingly break others. The backbone of America are the citizens who recognize that the rule of law is a huge part of why America works. You make your fellow Hispanics look bad with this statement, and many of them did wait in line, and did follow the law. 3) Illegals skipped "school" to protest any attempts to crack down on this problem. Do they pay for this school? Or are they skipping one of the many freebies they have obtained since arriving in this country? 4) My state (Washington) spent $28 million on Medicaid last year for illegal immigrants. It makes me question the tax structure, and the privileges afforded someone who broke the law. 5) Look at these signs from today. I realize Americans are HORRIBLE at learning foreign languages. But, even I wouldn't expect to move to another country, obtain a job, and vote, obtain a driver's license, serve customers, and protest in my native language. If America is so great, learn the language. The tax dollars we spend to make sure that we print things in Spanish (and other languages), have interpreters, and teach the children of illegals in their native language is outrageous. It is high time that we made English our official language and quit offering non-tourist services in other languages.

Maybe we should expend more efforts to make sure the poor and marginalized have access to channels of legal immigration and that better programs are established for their integration into society. Benchmarks from the beginning that put requirements on learning English, and studying for and passing an exam for citizenship. Maybe we should expand the number of immigrants we allow into the country. But today was a big reminder that illegals are a problem. Before today, well.... I thought the conservative position was a little racist and harsh. Now, that our cities streets have been flooded with those flaunting their status and acting as if we owe them something....Well, I am not so sure anymore.