What's in a name? Actually I am partial Cherokee Indian. I don't live with the tribe or anything, but a grandmother of my grandmother was full blood Cherokee. My family suffered at some point, I'm sure. Further back, my family came here to the "Colonies" in 1620 and changed their name, or it got changed for them thru back record-keeping, from Kelso to Kelsay. So we've been here a while and gotten mixed up pretty good among the European, bloods. I believe that one of the many potato famines were going on in Ireland at the time. They were however, allowed to come to the "Colonies". legally. Meaning that Britain specifically said they would allow a certain number of Irish people to enter the "Colonies". I went back and changed a few words when I thought about the time frame involved.
Currently the US has a quota on how many people are allowed in from each country per year and I believe that number is set to keep the numbers of types of peoples balanced in this great melting pot of ours. Those rules on numbers and the method of entry are set down as immigration law. While you or I may not like them, we and those entering our country do have to live by them until they are changed. If you don't like them, then personally work to get them changed. Write letters, protest, try to get into congress or whatever method you can think of if it is something that sets you on fire. BUT, entering this or any other country remains an illegal enterprise, just as an improper lane change without a signal, although that will not get you a ticket as quickly as speeding in this town. We are a nation of laws and to me that means something.
You must also think about the screening that is supposed to happen when a person enters the country. I know, I know, they didn't do that back in 1620, but people also died of a lot of diseases and died of natural causes before they hit 50. So now we test for disease, we vaccinate, we make sure they don't carry in food with fruit flies and things growing on them. I must've been asked about fruit like 20 times on the way to and from Hawaii in 1996. We make sure these persons have some job or vocation lined up and other things so they are not a drain on the system. They must take classes to learn history, they must learn some basic English, etc. I do believe that putting signs, etc. in Spanish is a crutch and a mistake. Look at what it is doing to Canada. I can live with it though as long as everything defaults to English and I can stop pressing 1.
Employers are being punished for employing known illegal immigrants. Fines are being imposed and they are being watched closer for employing illegals. Those penalties are in the law and again, you can try to get them changed to be more forceful. I figure that once a company is in violation of the law with one department, that others may start to look their way also. Maybe have a detailed health inspection and OSHA inspection.
Funny you mentioned Cubans. For one they are a lot smaller population base and many were fleeing being murdered in the streets. Papa Fidel was no better than Stalin and killed many of his own people. For reasons of the type of situation they are leaving, certain peoples are given leniency from time to time. Cubans, Vietnamese, Philippinos, Puerto Ricans, Samoans, etc. have been shown favoritism at times of political distress and had their quotas raised.
Well, time to get some work done, good talking to you. Now if we could just get more people talking Linux by default.
Brian Kelsay
________________________________
From: Jeffrey Watts Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 4:00 PM
Brian, I'm assuming from your name that you're not Native American (the modern usage). How did your forefathers come to this country? Did they get a visa from the US consulate in their country? Can you prove this? The reality is that unless one's relatives arrived after 1924 they most likely just showed up here.
I get what you're saying, but the term "illegal" is overused here to imply badness or criminality on the part of the immigrants. When someone changes lanes without signaling, they're driving "illegally" but you don't hear people freaking out about that. I'm not saying it's how things should be, but I am saying it's not the big Mexican Scare that the GOP and Lou Dobbs has been selling. They're normal folks, just like us, that just want to be able to work to support their families.
Instead of punishing them we ought to be addressing the real problem, which is our crappy immigration policies and an environment where employers aren't punished for violating the minimum wage, social security, and Medicare laws. If there weren't sweatshops, there'd be less border-jumping. If we allowed more working class folks to immigrate, they're be less border-jumping. If we didn't have hypocritical laws such as "wet foot / dry foot" there'd be less border-jumping. You do know that illegal Cuban immigrants are given green cards?
Anyhow, I do appreciate your reasoned rebuttal. I actually agree with a lot of what you're saying, I'm just arguing that we need to address the source of the problem instead of the symptoms.
Jeffrey
On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 2:19 PM, Kelsay, Brian <> wrote:
Not to be political, but the key part of the phrase is "illegal". If a person is not in a country legally, then they should have a different set of expectations about how the society they've invaded will react to them. An illegal alien from any country cannot expect to receive the same benefits as a legal immigrant or a natural citizen. Por exemplo, I cannot go to Mexico for anything longer than a brief visit, although a visa may not be required. And the US requires some proof of citizenship upon reentry. I can drive to Canada and visit briefly, but cannot work there without a work visa. If I want medical care while I'm there, I believe it is emergency treatment only and I'd have to return to the states to get my insurance to cover procedures. Follow the laws and its not such a big deal. Someday, we may be able to come and go between all countries and live and work where we please, crossing borders pell-mell, but for now there are many reasons for the laws in place in each country governing the comings and goings of people.
Brian Kelsay