Immigrant Song
"For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing."
The Tampa Tribune justified yesterday's front-page spread about so-called immigration reform because Tampa has so many affected immigrants.
That rationalization is weak.
I'd like to see their numbers compared to uninsured children, senior citizens who cannot afford prescription medication, or students forced into crowded schools and tested instead of taught. Focusing on immigration laws in Congress diverts attention away from what's really affecting most Americans and gets us talking about something other than civil war in Iraq or a growing deficit at home.
And here I am. Playing along.
Reports say as many as twelve million illegal immigrants may be living in this country. Some lawmakers want to make it even more difficult for them to get in. Right. As if crossing the Rio Grande is easy. Let's make it harder. That'll stop them!
Immigrants risk everything to get out of their own dire circumstances because life might be better for them and their children in America. Sound familiar? Your own grandparents or great-grandparents probably felt the same way. Putting up a fence isn't going to make freedom a deterrent. Perhaps halting unfair trade practices and promoting reform in the countries of origin might help.
I know. It's easier to punish those poor folks yearning to breathe free. The bastards.
And let's not forget bigotry inherent in such reform talk. Who are we trying to keep out - white Europeans? Canadians? Please. When legislators talk immigrant, they mean Hispanic. Watch out, though. Latinos are a formidable voting bloc and, as a rule, do not support punitive legislation like the disgraceful House bill passed last December. Our representatives voted to make illegal immigration a felony and punish employers who hire such "guest workers".
Men and women who come here without proper papers, or stay once such paperwork expires, want to work and contribute to our community. At least the current Senate bill provides a path to permanent residency - the ultimate dream for all who make it inside. Once these immigrants prove themselves and pass a criminal background check - our newest guests can be permanent members of our American family.
We do immigration fine here and even Reagan supported amnesty. Republicans should get behind any effort to help those fleeing poverty and despair - especially if it helps the American economy at the same time. After all, it's the compassionate thing to do. At any rate, let's get off our newest scapegoats and let them return to the business of contributing the way my not-so-distant ancestors did.
Their grandchildren will thank you for it.
posted by kate @ 6:06 AM
20 comments
20 Comments:
I'm of two minds on illegal immigration. I think we should worry less about closing the borders and whatnot. But on the other hand I think that these people should do whatever they can to become citizens. Granted it won't be easy for them since they work hard and earn very little. So I can support assistance; maybe mobile citizenship classes that roll out to where immigrants ilve and work.
And (this is very "wingnut" of me, but it's how I feel) if someone is going to live and work here fulltime they need to take it upon themselves to learn some English. I'm not asking them to be fluent or anything. Just as if I was going to move to Japan to work and live I should be expected to speak some Japanese.
In Virginia I taught at a school just down the street from a day laborer hang out that hit the national news and was recently featured in a Washington Post Sunday Magazine article. Over a decade our student body, and the entire county, had changed from an overwhelmingly white (though not high income) populace to majority minority. I'd like the "they don't want to learn English" and "they use too many services" camps to get together and shadow an immigrant family for a couple days. All of the Spanish speaking students and parents I knew were single minded in their desire to learn English. The students were at an advantage because of their youth and daily exposure, but our evening English language classes were packed with parents who came directly from their second or third jobs. But the thing I liked most about my former school was the work ethic and sense of personal responsibility most immigrant parents instilled in their children. Virginia has the Standards of Learning tests (roughly equivalent to the FCAT but more subjects are tested, more often). When our fifth grade teachers asked students to write a persuasive essay about the SOL tests the Hispanic students overwhelmingly wrote in favor of keeping the tests saying things like- "Your teachers do a good job of teaching, it is your duty to do a good job of learning." "If you fail the SOL test you should be held back, and work harder to pass next time." Sadly for us, in the time it would take for a student to grow from a non-English speaking kindergartner to an honor roll 5th grader the most hardworking and skilled families would have saved enough money to move out of this neighborhood of modest brick ranch houses into one of the booming new McMansion developments. Their new school received younger siblings who were fluent in English and parents who were better prepared to be involved in their students' education.
However, we also served some remarkably unsuccessful families. Often, something happened in their home country which required the main wage earner to return home then attempt to come back to the US. The expense, and hazards if they were in the US illegally, put the family in a financial hole they could never dig out of. I think too many people presume that if we grant legal status to all undocumented aliens that they would all stay forever. On the contrary, many would stay just long enough to earn the money they seek to build a decent home or start a business in their home town. Their investment would help to spur economic growth at home so that fewer people would have to come here for the economic benefits.
You have a point. And the Senate bill says that immigrants need to learn English and US Civics along with passing a criminal background check and paying any fines (some excessive) in order to become legal citizens.
Keep in mind that citizens in most countries speak more than one language and English is almost always one of them. In Europe alone the street signs are in multiple languages. Hardly ever do Americans truly suffer because an immigrant doesn't understand our language. If anything, it is a burden on our "guests" and one they are trying, believe it or not, to overcome.
The above comment was for Gax.
To Port Tampa: As always, teachers and those involved in the real lives of real people know much more than those in the hallowed halls of Congress. I doubt your experiences are unique. I just wish more people would listen to us.
(I told you I was "wing-nutty" about that subject)
True, rarely do any of us suffer because an immigrant doesn't speak English. But the immigrants are the ones who are suffering because they aren't learning the language. And that's what I'm worried about. I'm not expecting them to be able to debate literature in English.
On the other hand, I've encountered DOZENS of people throughout my life who have been here for 5, 10, 15 years who can't even understand even the most basic English words and phrases. And it is to their detriment. Just as in my example; I could get by in Japan not speaking the language, but I wouldn't get very far after a while.
I am disappointed with our own foreign language requirements in schools. I took 2 years of Spanish in HS. Right now I could recognize a few words if someone spoke slow enough, but am not nearly competent enough to get around Madrid or Mexico City, much less be converstaional.
I agree with the English and Civics requirements. But a background check and the paying of fines is a little excessive. Especially the fines part.
Kate said:
"I'd like to see their numbers compared to uninsured children, senior citizens who cannot afford prescription medication, or students forced into crowded schools and tested instead of taught."
Maybe we need to put a cap on some immigartion and straighten out the mess we've already have got? As far as those already here, unfortunately they broke the law. So whetrher it's a fine they pay or deportation you have to enforce something or what's the point of our borders. I know lots of people who immigrated legally. Yes it's a pain in the ass but they did it. So why reward those who basically cut tthe line. The root of the problem is the corrupt Mexican government who is happy to export their underclass free of charge to us as well as American businesses who hire illegals that undercut American workers. I would support heavier fines on businesses that practice the hiring of illegals. I also do not buy the myth that illegals do the work Americans won't. The overall problem with illegal immigration from Mexico is that it will never stop. We are sharing a common border with a third world country for the most part. As long as Mexico remains an udesirable place for it's residents and as long as we continue to "invite" them, the illiegal immigration will continue.
Gax: Your thought-out and moderate views aren't as wing-nutty as some I've seen. And glad to see you're still online while the computer's in the shop. ;-)
SoCal: I think the fine (although excessive) illegals must pay is the punishment you're looking for. And you're right - only reforming Mexico will truly stop its citizens from fleeing. A cap on immigration is not the way to go.
What is the point of our borders? A good question. If we made a North American Union today with free border crossing we might not see that much more immigration, at least not of the permanent variety. People like home best-just ask Kate.
Work computer FTW :-)
On the other hand, with my barely capable understanding of the English language (been reading my own blog and comments on others, like the ones above) I am hardly the authority. :-)
kate:
just for the sake of arguement. why not a cap? we could put a hold on immigration, legal and illegal for 2 years. in that time deal with the 11 million (some say higher) illegals. have them come forward, pay a fine, speed through paperwork, sort out the productive from non-productive and go from there. at the same time, i'm afraid we need to enforce border security with more troops, drones, or a wall. it's a shame it has come to this. we have only ourselves to blame. however, the strain on the schools, hospitals, and infrastructure here in socal is undeniable. i do find it hypocritical of the repubs who want this cheap labor, who don't enforce exisiting laws to turn a harsh 360 and demand that these illegals be called felons now. that is drastic. right now we have 3rd generation californians who are legal but the parents or grandparents aren't. what are you going to do? split up families?
i think the catholic church is partly to blame as well. in it's need to increase membership, the church encourages the procreation of it's flock (discouraging abortion, birth control). it is an irresponsible message to send to cultures that can not sustain themselves. particularly in s. america, the people are then forced to leave the country of origin to seek out opportunity to support this large family they now have. just a theory.
Lotsa issues, SoCal.
A cap isn't fair to immigrants and I'm not at all convinced it would help Americans either. Immigrants aren't bothering me, taking my job or my friends' jobs, and aren't providing any menace whatsoever. I think we do immigration just fine and that's why our country is so great. The "problem" in LA is more a problem with local government who are having a hell of a time solving local issues. Don't blame the Mexican immigrant for that one. And they shouldn't be punished either. Look into real problems with health care and education. A cap won't solve them.
Throughout history, immigrants earn money and send a great deal of it home and they also tend to be poor and have lotsa kids. However, as generations become more Americanized and prosperous - they move up the socioeconomic ladder and have less children. Despite religion and its restrictions on abortion and birth control. Don't hate on the faithers, my man. They're doing all right.
kate,
so if it's not bothering you it's not happening to someone else? here in los angeles, lots of entry level jobs or blue collar work by african american citizens have been taken by illegal immigrants who undercut. it's a huge problem that has caused much racial tension and in some cases violence in our schools.
as far as a local issue, california obviously has a huge population and some of the problems we experience here eventually filter throughout the counrty. it would be wrong to label this illegal immigrant issue a local one.
one of the "real" problems with our schools and hospitals is that they are overcrowded. more illegals, who are uninsured, will not help.
why are you so concerned about what is fair to someone who broke our law or someone who wants to be a citizen? what about the fairness to the us worker, recent legal immigrant, or hardworking citizen who pays taxes and gets less and less service in return.
i understand this country was built on immigrants. my family is eastern european and escaped stalin's wrath. some didn't.
as far as "hating on the fathers" goes: we have a cardinald down here that won't release names of suspected/accused pedophiles and i believe he is using this immigrant issue to increase attendance in the church.
not ot be harsh but your response seems to be, "oh well it's not bothering me or anyone i know so carry on..."
Re: Language, sure I've seen people really go out of their way to try to adapt quickly. I've also subbed in public schools with kids so lazy and combative, even if they did speak better English than they let on to they were as difficult as humanly possible just be contrary. And you can't tell me dealing with those few students in each class every day in a county like ours where reading and science (what I was subbing for the most part) classes are mixed doesn't detract from the education of the other students in the class.
I've also seen workers in a professional setting who use the language barrier as a crutch and make no attempts (or at the very least fake it beautifully) to understand even basic phrases concepts of their job function in English. It all wastes time and money, creates frustrations and unfortunately cements people's stereotypes all too often. I hear a lot of frustration around the workplace with the building contractors and their employees who don't speak enough English to not have a translator with them at all times.
There will always be both sides of this debate. We just have to be smart enough to continue to judge people as individuals. You can have this same argument about people who genuinely need or abuse the welfare system, or disability. Too bad a lot of us are greedy, lazy and shady by nature. It screws it up for the rest of us really trying to get by.
Re: Immigration in general, I think fines/punishments are needed or there's no point in policy, and I also agree that until Mexico fixes Mexico, we're going to continue to have this problem. Too many people go about immigrating the right way, and they should be treated fairly.
Watching the thousands of picketing Mexicans in CA makes me wonder why they aren't more organized and beating the streets in their own country for proper reform. Maybe there is and it just doesn't make the news.
What I think is really interesting is immigration policies in Europe. I've had very good friends get rejected over and over to go to the UK or elsewhere in Europe as an American. A good friend got booted out of the UK basically as soon as he got off the plane because he was with his Brit fiancee and they figured out he was going over there to get married. Instead they made him come back to the US and deal with a ton of paperwork first. I realize Americans moving abroad out of desire or whatever isn't quite the same thing as a very poor Mexican laborer coming over here to try to feed his family, I'm just saying we aren't the only country in the world with strict immigration policies.
SoCal said:
"why are you so concerned about what is fair to someone who broke our law or someone who wants to be a citizen? what about the fairness to the us worker, recent legal immigrant, or hardworking citizen who pays taxes and gets less and less service in return."
This is also where I start tipping to the right on all of this. I've been watching my taxes go up and up, and watching the quality of services continue to diminish, and when you start to look for why - this issue certainly does stick out.
Illegal aliens also tend not to contribute at all financially to my line of work, even when it's directly something for that group. Also in talking to the media, they find most illegals don't show up to festivals, meetings and the like in fear the event is a setup and they'll be caught and deported. I didn't make that up, I swear.
SoCal: I feel your pain, I really do. Of course illegal immigration can hurt certain cities more than others. While I don't believe it's an overwhelming problem for the entire country (politicians are just using this issue to divide and conquer - especially in the black v. Hispanic areas) I would agree that certain cities adversely affected have a right to clamp down. I just don't agree that border closing is the way to go. And a local cardinal is not indicative of an entire religion. Address these issues individually instead of looking for overall/sweeping generalizations or solutions.
David: I see your point. However, citizens and immigrants alike are free to protest here and cannot do so in most countries of origin. Otherwise they would. Europe is not the place to learn immigration policy. Yikes. No way do we need terrorist breeding grounds, disengaged minorities or burning vehicles. We're doing okay by their standards. And when looking at taxes and services, do not be swayed by conservative arguments - immigrants are not to blame. More than anything - inept governing is the problem.
And I might check out The Goat this weekend. Heard LOTS of good things about it. ;-)
Please do come check it out if you get the chance! It's a great show!
kate,
two things, border control is a federal issue, one of the few things it should actually be doing.
secondly, california is the largest catholic archdiocese in the united states. i don't belive i was making any sweeping generaliztions. just offering up a theory as why the largest pro-illegal immigrant rally in us history was supported and encouraged by the catholic church. i think i'm being rather specific.
tough illegal immigration is not just a conservative stance. i have been hearing alot of liberals on air america and the ny times op-ed page calling for restricitions as well. it hurts the american worker. i am sorry if you and your friends don't have to compete for jobs with illegals but alot of us have to. and by the way i didn't call for permanent border closing just a hold until will get things sorted out.
Kate,
Made some new friends I see. I love wathcing you try to be an authority on the immigration problems of LA whilst posting from her home in Tampa. Is that what you call "bipolar" or "bicoastal" rationalizing. ;-)
For my part, I only have one question: Are they here legally or not? The rest really doesn't matter. Yes, there are some sticky issues and some tough times ahead for the families, businesses and communities that have grown to depend on illegal immigrants. And, they (the immigrants, the employers, the communities and governments that allowed it to continue) knew going in it was a growing risk they were taking. It's a tremendous disaster that we let it go on this long without doing something already, but that doesn't change the fact that doing what's right means enforcing the law. It should have been done years ago.
I do agree with you (Kate) that much of the problem on this issue, regardless of your hometowm, stems from poor governance.
yazzi
thank you for bringing up the intergration issue. the proximity of our two countries presents a unique challenge for we risk becoming balkanized if immigrants do not assimiltae into the melting pot. for instance, i take a keen interest in the heritage of my family but it's influence on me is minimal due to the lack of exposure i receive to my ancestors culture.
out here i believe there is a feeling that this part of the u.s. really belongs to south america.
Normally I do not post on the Sabbath. Because of the Lord and all. However, while the cat's away...
Anyhoo, despite Mr. C's obvious jealousy that I can get it on with any number of dissenters - I appreciate the feedback. I am not an expert on things West Coast; however, I do believe that these immigrant arguments have been used before against my own forefathers and mothers and we all turned out okay. I don't buy that it's a huge issue facing the nation and wish that local governments would solve problems instead of blaming immigrants. They're an old and too convenient excuse.
That is all. Gonna go daven in a patchouli oil bath.
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