I Get Some Press
By Greg L | 22 July 2007 | Blogs | 310 Comments
The Washington Post has an article in today’s edition about me that deserves a little clarification.
Although I used the title The Terrorist vs. The Homosexual to headline a post in March of this year about a possible Faisal Gill campaign against Jeff Dion for the 51st House of Delegates seat, I’ve never said that Faisal Gill is actually a terrorist, not do I believe he is one. At the time this moniker was widely used by insiders in both Republican and Democrat circles, which seemed to generate a fair amount of amusement by insiders, and it was worth repeating it as the title of the post at the time.
Other than that, about the only complaint I might have is that of all the pictures that they shot, the only one that appears in the online version doesn’t include my oldest daughter. She was awfully happy about the prospect of seeing her picture in the paper, and I don’t relish the idea of telling her tomorrow that she didn’t make it. Perhaps the printed edition includes her.
I hate disappointing little girls, especially my own.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
You can follow the discussion through the Comments feed.
How can you tell you are in a French Canadian town in Maine? By the maple syrup taps on the telephone poles
au revoir
It’s great to get confirmation that the above TOLERANT people are anything but self-absorbed, hate-mongering, venemous individuals, who throw tantrems when something happens that they don’t like. They cannot reason and have no experience with issues, so they resort to ad hominum attacks. They need to go back to their sofas and sip their lattes, and continue to let real men with real ideas deal with the real world in a meaningful way.
[Ed note: comments referred to above have been deleted]
So you like $12 lettuce and $6 tomatoes? Ok, let’s deport undocumented workers…
Dumb ass…
Thank God the Democrats are going to control both houses of congress and the white house in a ‘09.
Your daughter made the print edition.
Can you please help me understand how a PERSON can be illegal. Also please explain what a border actually is, as well as who put them there. It would also be helpful to post an analysis as to WHY undocumented workers come to this country (ie: Civil War fomented in their countries with the help of U$ tax dollars (read: DID YOU SUPPORT REGAN BUSH in the 80’s)? If your family is starving and your village is on the verge of being massacared and your women on the verge of being raped… and you must escape.. will you be waiting out the time to get a visa? Do you have the 1000$ to pay for a visa? So in actuality you created your own “problem” by supporting this profit hungry system and those who govern it. People dont come here because they want to leave their families, culture and homes behind.. they come her because they have to. The working class has no borders. Asian latin black and white… workers of the world unite!
puke! Greg, please come home soon.
Gill is no more of terrorost than say Al Moudi or any of the other real terrorists that Gill hangs with, this is just guilt by association, just because Gill’s apparent best buddies are convicted and jailed terrorists doesn’t mean he is really a terrorist.
http://legis.state.va.us/
Write your state delegate, tell them yow you feel, remind them they are up for election
Greg,
Congratulations on getting noticed!
Miguel - So you don’t like illegal. Ok, how about CRIMINAL aliens? Better? More descriptive?
The working class have borders, just like everyone else, you socialist pig.
It sounds like you have made an apt description of a nation of cowards. Fleeing here to escape what they don’t have the courage to face at home. Not enough courage to sacrifice and attempt to fix what is home. No wonder our immigration policies are just too much for them to deal with. Run, run, run. And when it gets tough - go the criminal route.
You people are not an asset to your home countries and you are not an asset to ours.
We have these people too. Every time things don’t go their way here, they threaten to go to Canada and France. Thank God, some actually do.
Maybe your criminal friends could hook up with our malcontents and ALL go to Canada.
Better yet, maybe your criminal friends could link up, follow America’s example and actually sacrifice something in an effort to fix your own country. Bu that would be harder than sneaking across the border, working illegally and becoming a parasite on our social system.
We didn’t need you criminals to build the greatest country on earth, and we don’t need them to keep it.
Obey our laws or go somewhere else.
Wow, I see the WashPo has driven a number of foul-mouthed, illiterates to the comments section here. Now we know who reads that paper.
Well, riley your post concerned me, I thought I might be on a bad tempered hate site which panders to sub human Americans. I looked through the comments and saw NO profanity. So I guess what you consider foul mouthed and illiterate is any opposition to your opinion.
Why did you leave out racist and bigot? Maybe homophobes? Never miss an opportunity, riley.
Whoever this guy “Miguel Cervantes” is, he’s got to be a shill for Greg. If he’s for real, I can’t think of any better reason for savouring Greg’s success than “Cervantes’” out-of-date claptrap posted above. Nothing will provide more support for Greg’s anti-illegal immigration (not anti-immigration) fight than that ancient, discredited, mindless crap. Keep it up “Miguel,” keep it up.
For Miguel Cervantes - Listen carefully Miguel, I’ll try to speak very slowly so even you can understand. People become criminals when they break the law. People are not illegal, they put themselves into a class called illegal immigrants when they sneak into this country, against the law. We, and your leftist cronies, use the term illegals as shorthand. That’s the same as when we describe people who are incapable of thinking logically as Liberals.
It is tiresome to hear the same worn out socialist tripe. I suspect it is provided to those who can’t think for themselves on a printed sheet in large type. The standard ploy of the leftist is to blame the United States for everything. Of course the corrupt politicians in Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, et al are not to blame, nor are the people who continually elect them. The culture of corruption, violence, and indolence is a creation of Ronald Reagan and George Bush. One note on your diatribe - those people don’t leave their cultures behind. If they did so and assimilated into the culture of the United States, as have millions of other immigrants over the centuries, perhaps they would more tolerated. instead, they refuse to learn the language and they bring their culture of violence and corruption with them. Borders are there for a purpose. It is to keep out those who are not wanted or who pose a threat to our way of life. As hard as it is for you to understand, why don’t you go to Mexico and walk across their border. They put it there. Then you can spout your discredited Marxist rhetoric and try to have the “workers of the world unite”. The Mexican reaction should be eye opening.
Hasta la vista Miguel.
Responding to Miguel Cervantes. I agree with one thing you wrote - the force for migration is the economic imbalance between US and countries where workers come from. Now let’s talk how to and attitude. There are avenues to work legally. Green cards, workers visa’s and LEGAL declared identity and all that goes with it - taxes, drivers licenses etc. If charity begins at home, how I am supposed to feel compassionate towards your circumstance while quality of life here is being deminished. Many illegals are consciously eroding the fabric of the way we morally and ethically do life here. Coming here comes with a consequence. If you are not here legally you are living on borrowed time. Better live in Rome as Roman’s do. While here, follow our law to include moral law, learn to speak English, follow our zoning codes.. in essence you have to go the extra mile to avoid attack. Instead, we here see arrogant flags of other countries on cars, massive overcrowding in residential neighborhoods, demands for rights that citizen’s have, our own kids education suffer while funds go to teaching english, homes and residences in disrepair… hardly any signs of assimilation into the essence of the United States.
And if you dont think you know what I am talking about I have 9 single men, 2 unmarried women, 2 kids and 2 grandparents living right next to me. No-one speaks English. 5 to 9 ratty cars on the street, house in shambles, yard unkempt, basement subdivided into closets. PWC zoning is 1 family and up to 2 unrelated guests. There is a law to follow. The house maintenance is violating homeowners code. Don’t expect the world from us when this is what I personally get in return.
I wish all you knuckle dragging KKK white supremacist ***holes would get the hell out of my country. Go Home Honkeys. This land was stolen from the 100 million indians who lived here prior. You are all illegals, unless you have got a tribal ID card. Dear illegal white people, GO HOME!!
[Ed note: comment edited.]
All I can say is, “We shall see….”
Your blog reminds me how far as a civilization we need to go. God save your soul and all those who read this - because I’m sure a good number of you consider yourselves to be God fearing Christians.
‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. - Leviticus 19:18
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. – Proverbs 10:12
Eve - I didnt think church got out till 11:30.. skipping this morning ?
Wow, I wake up on a Sunday morning only to find out that a ton of jackasses have flooded the posts with foul mouthed banter and propaganda. First off Miguel Cervantes: I don’t know any villages in Mexico where people are being massacred and women being raped and the only option left to them is to come to the USA. Do you? I do however see a ton of Mexicans come here to work, steal American jobs, dirty up our communities, and disobey our laws so that they can send 3/4 of that money back home.
Ten and the others: The first and only resort of an uneducated jackass is to hand out the moniker ‘racist’ or ‘xenophobe’ when discussing this topic. Americans quickly grow tired of political correctness and jackasses that sling it like mud when they have no grasp of facts and reality. Call us racists since it is obvious you have no grasp of facts but it won’t change the fact that these people are here illegally, consuming our resources and burning through our tax base. They are criminals and are breaking the law. The time has come where the MAJORITY of Americans have had enough of these free loaders and action is imminent. Better get your affairs in order.
sinner - my service starts at 230 - i guess yours ends at 1130, you must be skipping yours.
thanks for your concern.
And to Eve: Give us a break please.
- Ye shall not steal, and ye shall not deal falsely, and ye shall not lie one to another.
- Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbour, neither rob him.
Do you pary for their souls too Eve? *rolls eyes*
We are all guilty of violating Biblical passages on this matter and only God can say who has the moral high ground here. Please don’t ever assume you can come on here and twist Biblical passage to suit your own personal beliefs in this matter because there are just as many that we can twist to suit our own beliefs. The only thing that matters here is that these people are criminals who came here under false pretenses to basically rob and plunder this country. I’ll tell you what though Eve; if you are so concerned about their welfare and their future ability to maintain their plundering status, then you can pay my share of taxes to support them. That’s fair right?
In yet another stunning demonstration of the fact that Mexico is inhabited and governed by third-world banditos incapable of reasoned thought, Mexican officials threatened to take the United States to the United Nations. In other words, this corrupt bunch of third-world idiots is under the misguided notion that America has no sovereign rights or borders, and that our great nation should be open to every Mexican peasant that decides unilaterally to squat in America.
* Did the United States violate the sovereignty and borders of Mexico by encouraging 20 million illiterate American peasants to cross the border illegally?
* Did American illegal aliens feed at the public trough for health care, education, food, housing and other vital services to which they were not entitled, and which cost Mexican taxpayers hundreds of billions of pesos each year?
* Did American illegal aliens overwhelm Mexican hospitals, medical clinics, and emergency rooms and refuse to pay for medical services received?
* Did the impact of serving American illegal aliens force scores of medical facilities into bankruptcy, resulting in the loss of vital medical services for Mexican citizens?
* Did American illegal aliens who refused to pay for medical services manage to send $30 billion a year back to the United States?
* Did American illegal aliens refuse to learn Spanish, and demand that Mexico provide services in English at considerable cost to Mexican citizens?
* Did the children of American illegal aliens slow down and otherwise impede the education of Mexican children because of language and cultural issues?
* Did American illegal aliens demand driver’s licenses despite being in Mexico illegally? Did they demand that driver instruction and testing materials be in English?
* Did American illegal aliens demand the same reduced tuition rates offered to Mexican students there legally?
* Did American illegal aliens vote in Mexican elections and alter election results?
* Did American illegal aliens overwhelm Mexico’s penal system, making it impossible to deal with the citizen inmate population?
* Did the largest state in Mexico contract with another Mexican state for the housing and care of 15,000 inmates because of the impact of American illegal aliens?
* Did American illegal aliens engage in wholesale forgery of vital public documents and commit identity theft in order to secure employment, education, credit, and access to public services?
* Did American illegal aliens in Mexico in 1986 receive amnesty in an attempt by the Mexican government to end illegal migrations once and for all?
* Did the Mexican government refuse to enforce the provisions of the amnesty, thereby causing the American illegal alien problem to grow seven times greater in the span of 20 years?
* Did millions of American illegal aliens take to the streets to protest pending legislation in the Mexican congress that would tighten border security and enforce the nation’s immigration laws?
* Did American illegal aliens wave Old Glory and scream “Yes we can!” and “We are Mexico!” in English as they marched to protest the rule of law in Mexico?
* Did American illegal aliens cry “Racism” every time they were criticized for being in Mexico illegally or challenged to learn Spanish and assimilate into Mexican society?
None of the above is correct, although each and every one would provide more than adequate justification for diplomatic, and perhaps military action by the offended nation against the offender nation.
It’s truly sad that so many uneducated/uninformed people read this blog.
Too bad that they don’t spend their time informing themselves on the issues and legalities of life in the US.
The HATE speech is so unnecessary and unwarranted. All it does is show their lack of values. It does not add to any conversation.
Congratulations on positive recognition by The Washington Post, Greg! And thanks for all your hard work in helping to recapture our nation from assisted lawlessness.
park’d - i pray for their souls as well, i don’t necessarily agree with how they do what they do and i’m not advocating illegal measures. but, they are not fostering hate. most do what they do in search of a better life and to fulfill simple human needs.
as a community and as a society, we should find the right answer and not stir up hate, because it is not the people but the system that is flawed. what we should concern ourselves with is helping our border countries get on their feet so they can provide for their people and mitigate the need for people to illegally hop the border in search of a better life.
but I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Goodness! First of all, why didn’t you interview with the Washington Times? If you hate the Post why give them an interview? Once might think you wanted the negative attention more that is spewing than you want to fix problems? Why do people who hate the Post buy the Post??? I have more friends who complain chronically about the Post and then have it delivered to their home.
Second, I agree with just about everything that the efforts of the website are attempting to fix. If you don’t have the problem next door, it’s really easy to comment. If you didn’t know that 42% of the children in PWC ESL are SECOND generation, it’s really easy to comment
Third, BVBL, I am a Democrat. I would appreciate it if you would just target people and issues instead of Fasil and the Democrats, we’re not all non-church going rabid dopes. Just like Republicans are not all smug judgemental racists who go to church.
Fourth, stick with the issues, stick to the folks in the way regardless of affiliation (Head of Commerce Committee in State Legislature, a nice white Republican killed every bill related to Immigration this year).
Fifth, try to remember, it’s not what you do it’s how you do it. Less judgemental, less emotional (that is hard, I know), less frantic and more factual and more focused.
You are right, you have influence use it fairly and with care.
park’d - i agree, we can sling bible verses all day long, i guess i’ll interpret my bible the way i see fit and you can interpret yours.
but - can you explain to me how they are taking all of your tax dollars? are you sidewalks cracked and unwalkable? your streets unpaved? public libraries shut down? your children have no more public education to benefit from?
last i checked - the iraq war, which a majority of americans disagree with has cost taxpayers over a trillion dollars… quite frankly, i’m more concerned about THAT when it comes to my tax money - especially when its costing us so dearly in lives. so, i’ll take you up on your offer to fund your share of illegals that are taking your tax dollars if you fund my share of the iraq war.
Eve, I praise you for your strong beliefs and wish you could have been a little better in your previous posts at explaining yourself on this issue like you did above. I also agree with your statements above but I have taken issue with your interpretation. Instead of ravaging this country, I feel that they should stand as a people and demand change in their own. Mexico is not a dustbowl as some might think. It is a very beautiful and lush country in many places that is capable of providing adequately for its own people. The problem is that their people are cowards who do not have the will to form a new government and overturn the corrupt institution that they are now saddled with. It is just easier for them to flock here in droves because they know people like you will support them. I agree, like you, that we should be doing more to assist them with making governmental changes in Mexico, but due to political ramifications this will never happen.
I too am in search of a better life in my own country! My community has been overrun by illegals. My taxes are sky high, my neighborhood trashed, my culture converted. What does the Bible say again about a person that comes in under false pretenses and robs his neighbors? There is only so long that the providing neighbor will turn the other cheek. I’d say that we as Americans have been ‘turning the right cheek’ now for about as long as humanly possible. As I said before: they had better get their affairs in order because the gravy days are JUST about over.
park’d - its amazing when people can start to have an meaningful dialogue instead of alternating from attack and defense that you realize two people on opposite ends of the spectrum have more in common than originally perceived. i totally agree with you mexico and unfortunately there is no correct answer.
i understand your concerns and i have the same ones as well, but i suppose i view it from a different perspective than you do. hopefully one day this will no longer be a problem and you and i can find something else to disagree (or agree) on.
I, like you, don’t feel nor did I ever feel that we should be in Iraq. I saw it for what it was then and still see it as a corrupt President who took us there to make billions of dollars for his corrupt Vice President and numerous large corporations all funded by the taxpayers. Some may chastise me for this belief, but you know what; I could care less because I know it in my heart to be true. Therefor, I will not take on your burden of the Iraq war because I never supported it to begin with. You however DO support illegal immigration so I will still let you pay my share of the tax burden that this issue creates.
As far as showing you how illegal aliens steal from Americans and drive up our tax costs, you need look no further than four posts up to BL’s post. His description of this burden on US taxpayers is but an overview of the most serious crimes and expenses that illegal aliens perpetrate on US tax payers, but you get the point I assume.
Congrats, Greg. The effort you’ve put into this project has paid off both in recognition and public influence. Being edgy makes you a target, as this little cadre of unhappy campers today demonstrates, but it is also part of what made the blog take off - in addition to the excellent research and reporting.
Park’d I absolutely agree with you regarding the President’s motivation for being in Iraq. I am glad to see someone else feel as strongly about the President’s agenda as I do.
Most of us are impacted directly by Iraq in some form or another, however, lot’s of people are not directly impacted by illegal immigrants. Where I live, it’s not an issue - YET.
Sadly, most humans have to be personally impacted by a situation before they understand it. Until I drove through Westgate last week and saw it for myself, I was a little standoffish about the whole issue. I think that’s why the caustic approach keeps people from understanding the issue. They understand the attack part clearly. So they attack back and the issue is lost.
I am a former Virginian, Washington-born but NoVA raised. I read the article in the Post this morning, as I am on vacation from Ft. Campbell, TN (home of the 101st). I respect Mr. Letiecq’s “grass roots” political and social movements to change the face of local politics. His efforts are what the American Democratic system is all about!
Mr. Letiecq in the article, you stated, “People who make bad choices shouldn’t be our representatives.” I immediately thought of the “respresentatives” who have decided to send my husband, a Captain in the Army, to Iraq for a third year-long deployment since 2003. I can’t help but wonder, why a site with such local popularity and strength to help shape local politics can’t be used to voice legitimate concerns regarding the stress caused by OIF.
At Ft. Campbell, I have watched the divorce rate sky rocket. I have watched the destruction of wholesome American families. I have seen the devastation that the death of a husband causes my friends and fellow Army wives. And, yet all I (because I won’t arrogantly speak for the other wives) hear when I’m outside of an Army-town is how the American people, “Support the Troops.” Well, my Army friends want to come home. My husband doesn’t want to be away from his children for another 15months. The soldiers won’t express this publically because they are dutiful, they are honorable, they know that this is their job. But, when is enough enough?
Your Blog is visited by thousands of vocal Americans and yet, no one speaks up for our troops. No one speaks up for their spouses. No one speaks up for their children. Yet, we “Support the Troops.” I, as a wife, who sees the hurt laden in the eyes of my husband as he proudly places his ACU jacket on to head out for a third 15-month deployment, ask SOMEONE speak for him. Support the Troops by rallying for them to start coming home to be the fathers and husband, mothers and wives that many of them have been unable to be as a result of this War.
Greg,
Time out for a moment - everytime I’ve seen you,
you have rushed out after a meeting to light up a cancer
stick - stop - stop now. Do it for Lillian and Marian -
they need a healthy Dad for at least the next twenty years.
Smoking isn’t liberal or conservative - it is early death.
Take a moment and focus on what you value
most - the feel good of that next puff or your wife and
children.
” We shouldn’t pull our punches.”
Time back in.
What would Jesus do about illegal immigration?
Congratulations, BVBL.
Blogs are what they are — wide open expresssion. Sometimes that can be bad thing, as in the case of blogs that promulgate false information.
However, it has been my experience with your blog that the infomration you post is accurate and your willingness to cover tough topics courageous.
Keep speaking truth to power.
Cheers.
Publicus
querty - and I quote: Render unto Ceaser that which is Ceasar’s, render unto God that which is God’s
In other word’s obey the law.
Any other questions?
Well, as one of the “little cadre of unhappy campers” brought by the WaPo story, let me try to contribute to some of the impressively rational debate going on in the comments.
First, kudos for building a political portal to local politics. Our usually-impoverished political discourse needs more of these, both on the Left and the Right.
However, I would take issue with two interconnected themes I’ve seen from reading through the posts and comments (admittedly rather quickly.) The first is that there’s a lot of uncomfortably “edgy” references to, as Park’d puts it, “American culture” is being “converted” by illegal immigration. This is really disturbing because I’m fairly sure that it’s coded racism (the earlier comment–not by Park’d–about “beaners” notwithstanding.) Do I need, for the millionth time, to point up how there is no such thing as “American culture,” and what passes for it is actually a bricolage of different (originally mainly European, but increasingly cosmopolitan) cultures? The melting pot, and all that, after all.
(One might also ask posters worried about “culture” whether they would make the same comments about Italians, or Greeks, or Irish, or Polish, immigrants. The same comments WERE made, after all, throughout the 19th and well into the 20th century. And for people worried about Mexican flags at immigration rallies, remember the Godfather scenes in Little Italy? [Oh yes, and the HIGHLY “ethnic” movie is incidentally usually considered one of the most important AMERICAN epics ever.] Or, have they been to Chicago on polish independence day?)
The second theme that I’d like to discuss is the bedrock that the anti-immigration school seems to rest on: the argument “We just want to enforce the law.” (Further evidence: the number of times that the pejorative “illegal/illegals” gets thrown around here.) The argument seems disingenuous, since after all nobody really thinks that the law is an impartial arbiter of justice, right? First of all, somebody made the good point that immigration statutes favor the rich over the poor, seeing as how visa fees are out of the financial reach of most Mexican “peasants.” (Wow, incidentally. Throwing around “peasant” as a pejorative; and inaccurately to boot! How would you feel if they called you “peon”; and inaccurately to boot!) Silly little arguments about “sovereignty” and such simply mask a kind of fortress mentality defined by keeping “them” out. Depressing, and I would think that a little honest appraisal ought to make the authors embarrassed. Second of all, it seems weirdly paradoxical to make the argument, on the one hand, that Mexican immigrants are essentially incompetent, “illiterate” folk, and that, on the other hand, they ought to overthrow the Mexican government and install a streamlined, neoliberal utopia south of the border. Actually seems like a fairly incoherent, unpragmatic hope to me. (And what’s up with calling Mexico “lush”? You make it sound like this problem can be solved by forty-acres-and-a-mule.)
Look, I’m the first one to say that the immigration system in this country is broken. A very good point made here is the strain put on local taxes and the health care system. But wouldn’t an equally good solution–instead of sending “them” back where “they” came from–be to legalize people who are already here, so they pay taxes and contribute fairly to the commonweal? After all, to recapitulate a liberal saw that will doubtless be torn apart, most illegal immigrants are here to do jobs that we clean, upstanding white folk don’t want to. (That last sentence was sarcastic, so please don’t quote “clean, upstanding white folk” out of context. I am white, but not upstanding, and I haven’t showered in days.)
I guess I’ll end this little diatribe with a call for compassion. These political debates tend to get really charged and encourage people to draw hard-and-fast distinctions between “us” and “them.” It definitely makes political mobilization easier! (And the left does the same thing; it’s important that you guys realize that the Mexican flags and sloganeering at pro-immigrant rallies are, in a sense, just the political mirror of your discourse….) Sure, it’s easy to paint illegal Mexican immigrants as illiterate drains on the local tax base who “refuse to learn English!”–and, judging by the hysteria about the issue on the site, people who raise chickens (the horror!) But isn’t the more moral, if much harder, thing to try to find the compassion to see the myriad ways that the people living next door, or down the street, are actually really similar to you? And if not you, I’m guessing, then your ancestors? (And yes, note how I’ve had to make reference, in my closing, positive remarks, to an abstract universal imperative just as groundless as legality. Oh well.)
The problem, I think, is that without such a dose of compassion the tone of your argument can be summarized as follows: “I got mine.”
And to think I was actually considering to buy that big old house on Bennett off Grant St in Manassas, I must have been out of my mind! Nice house too. Oh well… No way now. YOUR TOWN IS NUTS. This MANASSAS area sounds like an absolute mess of an area.
BTW, while I agree that illegal immigration is a HUGE issue and must be addressed and enforced (we do have laws but unfortunately no one uses them anymore), I don’t think your site’s arguments and tactics help bring an educated discussion to the topic. In reality, all I see after visiting your site is fanaticism and hysteria which in itself actually worsens the conditions. Instead of venomous tactics and yellow journalism, why not put your local efforts into bridging the Hispanic Community and “everyone else” into a series of
town meetings, etc.? HAS ANYONE OUT THERE CREATED ANY WORK SESSIONS BRINGING GROUPS TOGETHER? What I find amusing though is if , for example, all the Hispanics mowed their lawns, parked their cars nicely, lowered the volume on their music and were more discreet about how many lived in a dwelling, most of you wouldn’t be bitching and clearly would look the other way. What is My point? You care more about their ACTIONS impacting you (NIMBY) than the SPIRIT of the law and immigration. That is, by the way, WHY this country has created this awful problem. TOO MUCH NIMBY attitude and not enough educated, solution-oriented WORK to fix it.
Perhaps, we need to use diplomacy with Mexico and solutions that BUILD rather than destroy. The proposed solution by Congress however was poor as it reduced our Citizenship to a worth of $6000 or so…so typical of our gutless leaders in both parties today..just throw some money at the problem! UGH!
What WE NEED is for firm, tough leaders to say “OK..you are here illegally. You must become legal and you WILL have a tract and timeframe to become so OR you will be sent back, stripped of all your wealth and possessions…this isn’t a cake walk”. Education, enforcement of employers, local community mentors and community leaders from both sides of the cultural community must take ownership….and DO IT VOLUNTARILY as part of a nationwide effort to BUILD AMERICA. Something so many today can’t even understand as they are part of the ME ME ME GENERATION.
Forget the fines that Congress proposed. Make them do the classes, understand our laws, take the Oath of Allegiance, learn English and do community service that benefits ALL to EARN YOUR CITIZENSHIP. FOR EXAMPLE: I haven’t seen ONE LEADER propose (instead of a fine) a MANDATED 4 YEAR LENGTH OF COMMUNITY OR MILITARY / NATIONAL GUARD service as a possible ticket into this county. So simple too…a great place to LEARN, become disciplined, understand customs/law and become ASSIMIALATED into AMERCAN CULTURE. THOSE EFFORTS could be used to fix a lot of broken things around our towns/cities. And, we need new people to keep our tax structure afloat and create diverse new opportunities in a global competitive economy.
Instead of bitching and creating a RAVENOUS orgy of hate, use your site to do something productive: offer a solution.
Oh, enjoy your few minutes of fame. Your blog and all the others that go with it (YUCK>>>ANN COULTER) will all go the way of other propaganda…the trash. I sent your article to my Canadian friends in Quebec for their amusement. Ta ta.
Signed.
Proud Gay American (Yep, you read that right)
illegal is not pejorative. It identifies behavior with an individual or class. No more than drug dealer, car thief or fraudulent welfare recipient is pejorative.
The Italians, Poles, Irish, Norweigans, Germans - fill in the blank - did not sue to force their language or culture upon America. They came here to BECOME Americans. They were also successful.
The racist mexicans and central Americans - along with their socialist enablers - will not be successful in changing America.
We who “got ours,” did it legally.
Big difference - hope you can comprehend the difference.
Tons of Frenchies came to Maine and Massachusettes illegally to work in the mills because they were starving in Quebec. There are French Churches that only have services in French, resturants, bars. They did learn to speak English so they wouldn’t get caught. But they did drive everyone nuts.
Hmmmmmmm
Congrat BVBL! Blogs like this one are the future particularly if the left succeeds at silencing talk radio via the Fairness Doctrine. With respect to illegal immigration, it’s not an issue I care much about other then we do need to control our borders. If that makes me a racist, so be it. I have hired numerous Hispanics to work around the house and to a man they have been hard working and have done excellent work. Nevertheless, the borders must be secure in light of the Islamic pukes seeking our destruction. Now I am against allowing Muslims into the country. In Western Europe they refuse to assimilate while striving to return our European cousins to the twelvth century. Keep them out!
Charles
‘I don’t think your site’s arguments and tactics help bring an educated discussion to the topic’
- so, you are the only intelligent poster here, reading the rantings of the retards and gracing us with your wisdom?
We don’t need focus groups, working groups or group hugs. Nor do we need diplomacy.
We need law enforcement. We need politicians who demand law enforcement.
After all - on what laws do Americans receive passes. Taxes? Zoning? Driver’s licenses?
We need equal protection under the law.
Notice that the GA just passed a draconian fine system for Virginia drivers. The illegals - among others - get passes. But Virginians get slammed.
Dear Proud Gay American:
If you give the illegals here amnesty and the right to vote, as well as the right to bring in their relatives and give THEM the right to vote as well. they will simply vote for more open borders and more handing over our sovereignty to Mexico. We already have trouble with many legal Mexicans already here now trying to do everything they can to help their “brothers” thwart our laws and destroy our sovereignty — how is giving millions more the right of residence and the right to vote going to stop that process?
Because of the huge numbers of potential “new citizens” involved, amnesty and sovereignty are two mutually exclusive concepts.
Amnesty would simply deliver large parts of our country’s future to the corrupt, drug-gang controlled Third World “government” that runs Mexico (into the ground.)
As I’ve said many times before, BVBL kicks ass!
BT what is the difference between Al Qaeda and La Raza?
La Raza hasn’t committed terrorism here yet. Yet.
[…] mentioned on BVBL this morning, Greg has never actually called Faisal Gill a terrorist. You can read Greg’s clarification directly, and I suggest you go do […]
George,
What a terrible thing to say! Shame on you.
Mexico has almost no middle class, or middle class as we relate to it. It is a country of haves and have nots.
The majority of hispanics in this immediate area are from El Salvador. Have we not given out many work visas because of earthquakes? By ‘we,’ I mean the federal government.
Most of us have no idea who is legal and who is illegal. ‘Illegal’ has become the buzz word for ‘being overrun’ by people of hispanic origin.
If I lived next door to chickens in the yard and multiple families with 10 cars parked outside like I see when I drive around the area, I would be howling much more loudly than I am now. My own street is now lined with work related vehicles of various types, but no chickens next door. I guess I lucked out. My street lined statement is also middle class snobbery and without apology. Mia culpa.
Basically, the federal government has failed the communities of the United States. We have uncontrolled borders and uncontrolled immigration. The impact is felt in our communities especially in schools, medical services, and the court system. Our neighborhoods have changed drastically, and generally not to our liking.
Of course people are going to be upset. However, if there are 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, how on earth are we going to ‘fix’ the problem? If 1000 were exported each day, with no recitivism, it would take 33 years to remove them all.
I suppose I am looking for more solutions to deal with our problems here in the Manassas area and a lot less name calling, partisan politics and besmirching others.
Legal2, I am sure hoping you meant ‘man’ in the general sense. Men are not the only ones with ideas. I would like to think I have come further than that in 2007.
Dolph
Here goes a selfish man who would do anything for some cheap publicity. Watch, lest you teach your kids to hate on the weaker people in society, on those who cannot defend themselves. Pick someone your own size, not fellow neigbhours trying to make do the best of what is on their plate.
Nick - La Raza has the take over of America as one of its clearly stated goals.
When the media propaganda program fails and their friends in office are fired - do you think they are going to just go back to Mexico?
This is a radical racist organization. I don’t think anything is beyond them.
If I said what I said about a neo nazi group - would you chastise me?
This is a quote from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (while serving as the President of UCLA chapter of Mecha) “For those of the race, everything. For those outside the race, nothing.” You decide what this means.
i’f there are 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, how on earth are we going to ‘fix’ the problem?’
We can start by imprisoning the employers - no matter how connected.
Imprisonment and loss of business license for life for second offense. No possibility of changing the business name. Permanent banning.
That is a start.
Mecha was founded for the sole purpose of “radicalizing young Latino students for the hatred of America and to promote Chicano pride and separatism.”
Solution: cut the social benefits (welfare, WIC, free medical, free education, subsidized housing, foodstamps, etc.).
Analysis of the The Aztec Al-Qaeda video. Shows ties between NCLR, Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, and Mecha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc1XAQc8hS8&mode=related&search
Get used to it losers. Your children and their children will be speaking spanish to survive. We need new zoning laws to allow sheet metal construction for houses. In the future only dumb-asses will not be able to speak spanish.
Watch, lest you teach your kids to hate on the weaker people in society, on those who cannot defend themselves. Pick someone your own size, not fellow neigbhours trying to make do the best of what is on their plate.
We need to teach our children respect for law and order. By example.
Show them that no one is above the law. Teach them that criminals, whether drug dealers or real estate developers - will be jailed for breaking the law.
hating the weaker people… - what utter simplistic throw up.
guadalupe - as opposed to now, where ONLY dumb-asses speak spanish?
BTW, why do the noble original inhabitants of this country speak spanish? Are they too stupid to know that is the language of their original oppressors?
Elements of our society have learned nothing from Jesus yet call themselves Christian. Christian-hardly. Jesus took up the cause of the downtrodden, the poor, and the dispised by the society of the times.
These people do just the opposite and call themselves “Christian.” True followers of the Saviour know the difference. These people hate the rest of us as evidenced by their foul name calling. They are destroying our Christian religion just like they always have with hate and venom. Fanatics and hate mongers alway have the loudest voices. We need to pray for them even though they prey ON us. God, forgive them for they know not what they say and do.
George,
First, your response was much more coherent than the facile joke you made. So let’s see:
“La Raza has the take over of America as one of its clearly stated goals.”
Well, a google search brings up the following (and fairly coherent-looking) rebuttal of your point: http://www.nclr.org/content/viewpoints/detail/42500/
I would love to see your counter-evidence.
“When the media propaganda program fails and their friends in office are fired - do you think they are going to just go back to Mexico?”
It’s very hard to respond to this kind of rhetorical question. Ummm, well, I don’t think “their friends in office” will be “fired” (someone else will be elected?) I will say that I doubt that everyone working for La Raza is an illegal immigrant. In fact, I doubt that many of them are are at all. I bet most are US Citizens. (In fact, the two leaders of La Raza–Janet Murguia and Monica Lozano–are the former vice chancellor of the University of Kansas and a current board member of the Disney corporation, respectively. [http://www.nclr.org/section/about/mission])
“This is a radical racist organization. I don’t think anything is beyond them.”
Really? I mean, in contrast to al Qaeda, they have a really nice website and seem fairly well-integrated into the American political scene–though perhaps advocating policies they don’t like. In fact, like other mainstream organizations like, say, the NAACP they seem committed to nonviolent policy change within a democratic, pluralistic framework. I haven’t really been able to find references to them advocating the violent overthrow of the US government. Though I haven’t looked hard, so please post some links; oh yes, and spurious associations to radical organizations don’t count, unless you want me to post links to the CCC and posse comitatus.
“If I said what I said about a neo nazi group - would you chastise me?”
Probably not, but I think the analogy fails, as outlined above. Neo Nazi groups, and many radical white supremacists, do want to violently overthrow the US government. (Though, of course, it’s hard to see Neo Nazi groups as using terrorism in the same way as Al Qaeda, so I think even that analogy’s a stretch; so I guess if you made that joke I’d just sigh, think for a second, and move on.) I guess I find your reasoning to be poor at best, and disingenuous at worst. Frankly, I think you made a bad joke, and got caught.
Dan - Jesus, even though he was the Son of God, subjugated himself to the laws of the land.
He took up the cause of sinners, with no illusions. They were sinners. He tried his best to get them to renounce their ways. Those that did- received redemption - those that didn’t, we will eventually find out.
Render unto Ceaser, that which is Ceaser’s, render unto God that which is God’s.
Obey the law. If you don’t like it - try to change it.
But obey it.
It is the linchpin of civilization. the lack of which the illegals are supposedly fleeing.
Hey great article in the Post. I respect your point of view. You can see how the nasty liberals, who are supposed to be “tolerant” spew venom against you here. The Left Wing Wackos will try to dilute the argument with anything but the point being discussed. Keep going, you have a new supporter.
We are to preach the Gospel at the same time follow the rule of law. Therefore, we should preach the Good News to illegal aliens and at the same time let them know that they should do the right thing by self-deporting themselves back to their homelands (and if they so desire) to come back via the legal mechanism. Simple as that.
Mr. Patriot,
Yeah, this MECHA group looks pretty icky. But they also look like a radical 1960s holdover combined with sophomoric college radicalism. You seem to be basing your whole argument (including the quotes you muster) from the YouTube clip you cited. Care to show some contemporary quotations (from, for example, our esteemed LA Mayor?)
This is not to say that the current MECHA group says/advocates things that I agree with; I think that we’re a great big ole’ melting pot, so their current rejection of “assimilation” sticks in my craw. (http://www.nationalmecha.org/about.html) But to generalize from what a left-wingnut group says to the immigration movement generally? That’s painting with an awfully broad brush. (Unless, again, you want me, say, connecting Trent Lott, with the CCC, which of course used to be the “Which Citizen’s Council,” or pointing out that Strom Thurmond used to have some…interesting…political positions.)
The biggest racists are the Mexicans who have it written in their Constitution. Please read J. Micheal Waller’s article on the Mexican Constitution and comment on that you Left Wing moonbats! Greg, keep going buddy. Don’t let the Left Wing Intolerant nut jobs silence a word!
Mexico’s glass house
How the Mexican constitution treats foreign residents, workers and naturalized citizens
By J. Michael Waller
Posted: Thursday, April 6, 2006
PAPERS & STUDIES
Center for Security Policy
Publication Date: April 6, 2006
Introduction
Every country has the right - and duty - to restrict the quality and quantity of foreign immigrants entering or living within its borders. If American policymakers are looking for legal models on which to base new laws restricting immigration and expelling foreign lawbreakers, they have a handy guide: the Mexican constitution.[1]
Adopted in 1917, the constitution of the United Mexican States borrows heavily from American constitutional and legal principles. It combines those principles with a strong sense nationalism, cultural self-identity, paternalism, and state power. Mexico’s constitution contains many provisions to protect the country from foreigners, including foreigners legally resident in the country and even foreign-born people who have become naturalized Mexican citizens.
The Mexican constitution segregates immigrants and naturalized citizens from native-born citizens by denying immigrants basic human rights that Mexican immigrants enjoy in the United States. By making increasing demands that the U.S. not enforce its immigration laws and, indeed, that it liberalize them, Mexico is throwing stones within its own glass house.
This paper, the first of a short series on Mexican immigration double standards, examines the Mexican constitution’s protections against immigrants, and concludes with some questions about U.S. policy.
Summary
In brief, the Mexican Constitution states that:
* Immigrants and foreign visitors are banned from public political discourse.
* Immigrants and foreigners are denied certain basic property rights.
* Immigrants are denied equal employment rights.
* Immigrants and naturalized citizens will never be treated as real Mexican citizens.
* Immigrants and naturalized citizens are not to be trusted in public service.
* Immigrants and naturalized citizens may never become members of the clergy.
* Private citizens may make citizens arrests of lawbreakers (i.e., illegal immigrants) and hand them to the authorities.
* Immigrants may be expelled from Mexico for any reason and without due process.
The Mexican constitution: Unfriendly to immigrants
Mexico’s constitution expressly forbids non-citizens to participate in the country’s political life. Non-citizens are forbidden to participate in demonstrations or express opinions in public about domestic politics. Article 9 states, “only citizens of the Republic may do so to take part in the political affairs of the country.” Article 33 is unambiguous: “Foreigners may not in any way participate in the political affairs of the country.”
The Mexican constitution denies fundamental property rights to foreigners. If foreigners wish to have certain property rights, they must renounce the protection of their own governments or risk confiscation. Foreigners are forbidden to own land in Mexico within 100 kilometers of land borders or within 50 kilometers of the coast. Article 27 states,
“Only Mexicans by birth or naturalization and Mexican companies have the right to acquire ownership of lands, waters, and their appurtenances, or to obtain concessions for the exploitation of mines or of waters. The State may grant the same right to foreigners, provided they agree before the Ministry of Foreign Relations to consider themselves as nationals in respect to such property, and bind themselves not to invoke the protection of their governments in matters relating thereunto; under penalty, in case of noncompliance with this agreement, of forfeiture of the property acquired to the Nation. Under no circumstances may foreigners acquire direct ownership of lands or waters within a zone of one hundred kilometers along the frontiers and of fifty kilometers along the shores of the country.” (Emphasis added)
The Mexican constitution denies equal employment rights to immigrants, even legal ones, in the public sector. Article 32: “Mexicans shall have priority over foreigners under equality of circumstances for all classes of concessions and for all employment, positions, or commissions of the Government in which the status of citizenship is not indispensable. In time of peace no foreigner can serve in the Army nor in the police or public security forces.”
The Mexican constitution guarantees that immigrants will never be treated as real Mexican citizens, even if they are legally naturalized. Article 32 bans foreigners, immigrants, and even naturalized citizens of Mexico from serving as military officers, Mexican-flagged ship and airline crew, and chiefs of seaports and airports:
“In order to belong to the National Navy or the Air Force, and to discharge any office or commission, it is required to be a Mexican by birth. This same status is indispensable for captains, pilots, masters, engineers, mechanics, and in general, for all personnel of the crew of any vessel or airship protected by the Mexican merchant flag or insignia. It is also necessary to be Mexican by birth to discharge the position of captain of the port and all services of practique and airport commandant, as well as all functions of customs agent in the Republic.”
An immigrant who becomes a naturalized Mexican citizen can be stripped of his Mexican citizenship if he lives again in the country of his origin for more than five years, under Article 37. Mexican-born citizens risk no such loss.
Foreign-born, naturalized Mexican citizens may not become federal lawmakers (Article 55), cabinet secretaries (Article 91) or supreme court justices (Article 95). The president of Mexico, like the president of the United States, constitutionally must be a citizen by birth, but Article 82 of the Mexican constitution mandates that the president’s parents also be Mexican-born citizens, thus according secondary status to Mexican-born citizens born of immigrants.
The Mexican constitution forbids immigrants and naturalized citizens to become members of the clergy. Article 130 says, “To practice the ministry of any denomination in the United Mexican States it is necessary to be a Mexican by birth.”
The Mexican constitution singles out “undesirable aliens.” Article 11 guarantees federal protection against “undesirable aliens resident in the country.”
The Mexican constitution provides the right of private individuals to make citizen’s arrests. Article 16 states, “in cases of flagrante delicto, any person may arrest the offender and his accomplices, turning them over without delay to the nearest authorities.” Therefore, the Mexican constitution appears to grant Mexican citizens the right to arrest illegal aliens and hand them over to police for prosecution.
The Mexican constitution states that foreigners may be expelled for any reason and without due process. According to Article 33, “the Federal Executive shall have the exclusive power to compel any foreigner whose remaining he may deem inexpedient to abandon the national territory immediately and without the necessity of previous legal action.”
Notional policy options Mexico and the United States have much to learn from one another’s laws and practices on immigration and naturalization. A study of the immigration and citizenship portions of the Mexican constitution leads to a search for new policy options to find a fair and equitable solution to the immigration problem in the United States. Two contrary options would require reciprocity, while doing the utmost to harmonize U.S.-Mexican relations:
1. Mexico should amend its constitution to guarantee immigrants to Mexico the same rights it demands the United States give to immigrants from Mexico; or
2. The United States should impose the same restrictions on Mexican immigrants that Mexico imposes on American immigrants.
These options are only notional, of course. They are intended only to help push the immigration debate in a more sensible direction. They simply illustrate the hypocrisy of the Mexican government’s current immigration demands on the United States - as well as the emptiness of most Democrat and Republican proposals for immigration reform.
Mexico, like the United States, certainly has every right to control who enters its borders, and to expel foreigners who break its laws. The Mexican constitution is designed to give the strongest protections possible to the country’s national security. Mexico’s internal immigration policy is Mexico’s business.
However, since Mexican political leaders from the ruling party and the opposition have been demanding that the United States ignore, alter or abolish its own immigration laws, they have opened their own internal affairs to American scrutiny. The time has come to examine Mexico’s own glass house.
Nick, why don’t you take a look….L.A. is a sanctuary city. Did you not know this? The plan is being carried out. Get a grip on reality. Use your eyes and ears. Additionally, why don’t you take a look at all the other cities around our country. They are having the same problems. Do you not understand that the “plan” takes multiple generations to accomplish? You need to do some research!
Nick, one other thing…recent times….Rep. Guiterrez was asked by Lou Dobbs a few weeks back why policy was not being made for “the good of all Americans”. Instead, it is being made in favor of socio-ethnic based groups like NCLR/Hispanic Caucus, etc….Guess what? Rep. Guiterrez dodged the question! I wonder why that is….Hmmmmm.
I just want to settle one issue that seems to come up here often. That is the issue of immigrants acquiring English when they come here. It is absolutely NOT true that foreigners don’t learn English when they come to this country. If any of you read scholarly work on the subject, this would be clear.
For a couple examples, check out Veltman (1988:44):
With respect to immigrant children, 70% of those 5 to 9 years of age, after a stay of about 9 months, speak English on a regular basis. After 4 years, nearly all speak English regularly, and about 30 percent prefer English to Spanish. After 9 years, 60 percent have shifted to English; after 14 years – as young adults – 70% have abandoned the use of Spanish as a daily language.
Also check out Portes and Schauffler’s work in Miami (Dade Co.) and Broward (Ft. Lauderdale). They show that (1996:437):
For the sample as a whole, 73 percent report that they are able to speak, understand, read, and write English ‘very well’ and an additional 26 percent ‘well.’ This leaves the sum total of those knowing little or no English at just 1 percent.
The *appearance* that immigrants don’t learn English is due to the continuous influx of newcomers who are not native speakers, but on the whole those who stay in the country for any amount of time learn the language. By the second generation, their kids are almost always English monolinguals. Your ancestors didn’t learn English very quickly when they came here - often maintaining their home language into the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or even 6th generations. And yes, these people all still did just fine.
In fact, the country’s fastest growing minority language is not Spanish, but rather Pennsylvania Dutch spoken by Old Order Amish, who are by the way ambilinguals of English and PA Dutch (for those of you who don’t know what an ambilingual is, it is a person equally competent in two languages).
Please read the scholarly work on the issues before fueling the hatred against immigrants due to their linguistic abilities. Your family was once a family of immigrants too - don’t forget that!
Patriot - Guiterrez does not act in a vacuum. Why doesn’t the rest of the congress follow this up?
It would appear we will have the Black Congressional Caucus, the hispanic congressional caucus and a group of white congressmen who will split their time between being on their knees and sobbing in a corner. That is when they are not committing crimes….
We need to elect some Americans for a change.
Cunning, then why is it that we need bi-lingual programs (Spanish in particular). Why is it that legal hispanics state that they know people who have resided here for many years and still do not (nor desire) to learn English. Why is it that we need signs, ads, store announcement in Spanish. Get real. Use your eyes and ears.
George,
“Jesus, even though he was the Son of God, subjugated himself to the laws of the land.”
Ummm, no he didn’t; depending on your interpretation, he advocated civil disobedience! And, depending on your interpretation, he preached god’s love for everyone, including unrepentant sinners. But of course biblical interpretation is basically an exercise in finding precedent for preconceived notions–both of ours.
“Obey the law. If you don’t like it - try to change it.
But obey it.
It is the linchpin of civilization…”
Speaking of civil disobedience, what is your opinion on that? There are, after all, multiple ways of trying to change the law. (Of course, I don’t mean to imply that illegal immigrants are practicing high-minded virtue. I think they’re acting out of severe economic desperation and hope for a better life.) I guess this boils down to whether or not you think that there’s a higher principle than the law of the land, which, time and time again, has been shown to be flawed. Furthermore, I detected a note (as discussed in a previous post on La Raza) of considering attempts to change the law through the democratic process–or what passes for such round here–as “propoganda.” This seems like trying to have it both ways.
Are we living in Bizarro world? For then non readers of Superman comics; Bizarro was has been a consistent enemy of Superman since his first appearance. The word Bizarro is used to as to describe anything that utilizes twisted logic or that is the opposite of something else. A rational that the nuts here are obviously employing.
Don’t let these mental midgets change the argument into race, immigration, or any other off topic area other than illegal immigration. Maybe when Mexico gives the same rights to immigrants we can have a discussion. Wait, it will never happen, because their Constitution allows them to do what is needed to protect their culture, country, economy, and homeland:
In brief, the Mexican Constitution states that:
* Immigrants and foreign visitors are banned from public political discourse.
* Immigrants and foreigners are denied certain basic property rights.
* Immigrants are denied equal employment rights.
* Immigrants and naturalized citizens will never be treated as real Mexican citizens.
* Immigrants and naturalized citizens are not to be trusted in public service.
* Immigrants and naturalized citizens may never become members of the clergy.
* Private citizens may make citizens arrests of lawbreakers (i.e., illegal immigrants) and hand them to the authorities.
* Immigrants may be expelled from Mexico for any reason and without due process.
George, you better believe it! We need people like Tom Tancredo and Duncan Hunter in office to get us back on track.
Nick, do you not understand why we have rules and regulations and a legal process? We have them in place so that our society and infrastructure will not collapse! If we let everyone in to solve everyone’s problems…we would collapse into nothing and become a 3rd World country. How effective would that be?
Ok all, let’s give the ol’ quoting of Biblical scripture a rest in here. I can quote as many scriptures that support the crack down of illegal immigration and its effects as you pro-illegal crowd can quote for supporting it. Biblical scripture is not what we follow as law in this country. If you want to live in a country where they live by religious scripture then I suggest that you pack up and move to a Muslim country. Here in the USA we live by the rule of law, or at least we are supposed to.
There is nothing that a pro-illegal supporter can say that can justify the fact that these people come here illegally, usually with false papers, steal from Americans whether it be services that they take, jobs that they steal or a plethora of other violations that they rack up on a daily basis. The day that someone can justify to me why these things should be overlooked is the day that I may change my mind, but until then, they are criminals that sully the reputation of America as a country of law and order.
Cunning linguist - according to the 2000 census, there were approx 180,000 Old Amish in America. Their population growth is fairly static and not subject to massive influxes of immigrants.
There are somewhere between 12 and 30 million ILLEGAL immigrants in America. Most of these spanish speaking.
I think your piece is carefully worded and predicated on the idea that spanish is no longer a minority language.
Be that as it may - why am I not prompted at the check out, or on the telephone if I want Pennsylvanie Deutsch?
No. I am constantly harangued over whether I want spanish or English. Must be just a convenience option thrown out there for the benefit of us all.
Mr. The Patriot,
Care to tell me what “the plan” is? Sounds a lot like you’re about to talk about racial/cultural death of us good-ole’ white folks. Please surprise me by telling me that this isn’t the case. Also: dontcha think that a big, bad multigenerational plan that involved the slow overtake of American urban centers by a coordinated illumati of left-wingnut moobat jobs (or whatever Malkin’s saying these days) is giving “them” a teense too much credit? I mean, we liberals can barely get our latte orders straight!
Oh yes, and I do think I’m using my eyes and ears; I guess I am just a little more skeptical than you are. I’m happy to see evidence of “the plan”–evidence that is not circumstantial inference–if you care to present it (with appropriate, credible references and citations, of course.)
“Rep. Guiterrez was asked by Lou Dobbs a few weeks back why policy was not being made for “the good of all Americans”.”
Can you provide a reference so I can read the interview, please?
(Okay, out to lunch; back later.)
Actually, Kohl’s (for their credit services) starts their message in Spanish.
Nick, I will let you do your research on what the “plan” is. It will do you some good. Also, it was on the Lou Dobbs show a few weeks back when Amnesty was NOT passed. Why don’t you request the transcript from CNN.
P.S…liberals such as yourself always like to shout “Conspiracy Theory”. The evidence is clear…there is no conspiracy…it is reality.
Miguel:
If Prince William County were a place where, “people are being massacred and women being raped and the only option left to them is to …” you can bet your ass that the hardware in my closet safe would be getting exercised and some lead pellets about 7.62 mm in diameter would be flying around the parkway at about 2200 feet per second. In other words, I (and many other real Americans) would not put up with that situation. Why do Mexicans (as well as El Sal’s, Hondos, Guats, and others) put up with it in their countries? Don’t you people have any huevos? If you go back to Mexico, I’ll go to the border there with you and provide a nice assault rifle and 1000 rounds. Let me know.
Nick, why don’t you also take a look at “You Don’t Speak for Me”. This organization consists of LEGAL hispanics that are against the illegal alien agenda.
“Jesus, even though he was the Son of God, subjugated himself to the laws of the land.”
Ummm, no he didn’t; depending on your interpretation, he advocated civil disobedience! And, depending on your interpretation, he preached god’s love for everyone, including unrepentant sinners. But of course biblical interpretation is basically an exercise in finding precedent for preconceived notions–both of ours.
My interpretation of the Bible is that of Greek Orthodox - with unbroken continuity to the Apostles. Not the result of a secular seminar.
Speaking of civil disobedience, what is your opinion on that?
Civil disobedience is a touchy feely way of legitimizing law breaking.
There are, after all, multiple ways of trying to change the law.
Yes, and as long as the means fall within existing statutes - they are certainly acceptable.
(Of course, I don’t mean to imply that illegal immigrants are practicing high-minded virtue. I think they’re acting out of severe economic desperation and hope for a better life.)
You are making excuses for criminals. If they were willing to act out of desperation, they could desperately attempt to make things better in their own county instead of running away and breaking the law here.
Yes there are issues of higher principles. In my opinion, they don’t stoop to enabling petty crime.
One must ask “would the behavior of illegal immigrants in this country be tolerated in their home country”? No. Mexican Border Guards shoot to kill illegal immigrants coming into Mexico from Guatemala.
For the nut jobs who try to tie this argument of illegal immigration to racism, start with the popular printed racist cartoon character of Memín Pingüín. Pingüín has grossly distorted, monkey-like features, a bald head and big ears. His mother is a grotesquely fat, bandanna-wearing mammy. She routinely wears her bandanna around their house, a ramshackle affair in a poor barrio. The Mexican government’s sale of the racially offensive cartoon character Memín Pingüín as a commemorative stamp is a nice reality check for the liberals who try to distort the argument. As an American citizen/veteran, I respect all my fellow Americans. Do I really want a group of people that would celebrate such racism with a postal stamp for sale by the Mexican government in my America? Not in a million years.
It has nothing to do with racism. That is what the liberals like to cry in our PC society because it riles people up. For those that think that an “invasion” is not underway….take a look at this: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19127991/site/newsweek/
Facts are facts!
I would like you liberals on here to start using facts to back up your statements vice just your liberal opinions.
Good point, Patriot. It is indeed one thing to throw excrement against the wall to see if it will stick - quite another to construct an intelligent argument.
Most of the left prefers the former.
Patriot,
Good job. I totally agree with you and your facts, they are facts that can’t be disputed. Liberals will attacks you and Bruce. They live in an unreal world. Liberals say they are tolerant, but that means as long as you agree with them. When you don’t the lies come out and the off-topic arguments. Illegal immigration is what is it - Illegal.
One more big fact on why “we cannot save the world” Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2RKBxR3BTI
Watch the whole thing…particularly with the analogy he uses.
Now on the topic of “assimilation”. The liberals do not understand why this is so important…therefore…I will spell it out with a very clear and concise example and quiz:
There are (2) teams.
Team A:
5 people
All speak the same language (English)
All follow the “common” playbook
Team B
5 people
Decided that they will all speak different languages
Decided they each want to follow different playbooks
Questions:
Which team is more united?
Which team will most likely be more successful in coming together when crisis hits?
Which team will most likely be more successful in meeting the team’s objective?
Which team is truly a team vice being just a group of people thrown together?
Which team is BALKANIZED?
The Mexican government was busy increasing the deportation of Central Americans, especially Guatemalans. Cited by the Apro news service, figures from Guatemala’s national migration institute reveal that 43,685 Guatemalans were deported from Mexico during the first 4 months of 2006. Almost 100,000 Guatemalans were deported from Mexico during all of 2005. If they can do it, we can pack’em up and ship them back home. Absolutely disgusting double standard. Liberal comment please?
Ben - they were deported HERE.
Marielitos anyone?
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Friday launched a hotline for Valley residents to report information about undocumented immigrants.
Details of exactly how the hotline will work and which tips will merit further investigation have not been ironed out. Officials say they aren’t sure how many and what types of calls will come in.
Still, Arpaio said deputies would investigate people only if they had “probable cause.”
“We want evidence,” Arpaio said. “We’re not going to go on a street corner and round up a group of people because they look like they’re from a foreign country.”
Arizona also recently passed a law addressing employers -
Virginia politicians, are you listening? Get the construction bribe money out of your ears. It CAN be done.
Virginia law enforcement - are you listening? It really is OK to do your jobs. Spend less time picking up HOV cash and start enforcing the law.
We should listen to the following:
Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907:
“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. … There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. … We have room for but one language here and that is the English language … and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
This would coincide with my assimilation quiz.
Yes, name calling is what passes for serious debate when libs are involved. Oppose illegal immigration and you are a racist. Oppose the full embrace of homosexuality in the public schools and you’re a homophobe. Oppose racial preferences at our colleges and you are a bigot. Oppose welfare reform and, well, you get the picture. But two issues Americans need to hear more about were center stage in Washington last week. The first involved Democrats refusing to vote in favor of legislation that would protect airline passengers from lawsuits should they report suspicious behavior. Evidently, political correctness trumps airline safety as Democrats would rather take a hard line against profiling than protecting the American people from Islamic terrorists. The other vote involved efforts by Republicans to bury the Fairness Doctrine once and for all. Democrats voted against it and are drooling at the prospect of silencing talk radio should they control congress and the White House in ‘08. If in the process the First Amendment is trampled underfoot, so be it. It will be but a small price to pay for what the left has in store for us…………………
More on the importance of assimilation:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/viewpoints/articles/0129hayworth0129.html
Have I provided enough facts? Or shall I keep going?
Greg stated in the Washington Post article that “I am anti-sin.” The ninth commandment states “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Does Greg and the Black Velvet Bruce Li website engage in bearing false witnesses against people in the Prince William County and Manassas communities? That is something that Greg will have to decide for himself. I believe Jesus Christ wanted all people and groups of people to work together and not fight one another. Jesus never encouraged people to gossip about one another or make innuendoes to get their goals accomplished. The truth must be spoken, but a person has to be certain about what he or she says before making comments that may harm others. Is that not what Jesus’ envisioned for the people of this world? I am not referring to any specific political issue or group of people when making these statements.
George,
I meant the Mexican governments double standard of crying about Washington, but being absolutely brutal with their immigration policies. The US can and must deport these law breakers.
Kirk, what “false witness” is being made against people in the PWC and Manassas communities? Please provide your facts.
Kirk, why don’t you take the assimilation quiz I posted above too (and read the article that I posted regarding this issue).
Kirk,
Come on man, we are talking about illegal immigration here. Get off it. Go dump your latte on your head and wake up.
Kirk, out of all the illegal immigrants in our communities (around our country)….what group would you say has abused our immigration laws the most? Please be honest.
Ben - I was trying to build on your point - it was a good one.
Well, Kirk? Back up the innuendo insinuation.
You talked the talk - walk the walk.
I would really like to see a build up on this forum where we hold the politicians accountable for these illegal immigrants and the damage being done to our communities. We need to have these clowns fired from office. That is all the understand.
Ben - I would support that with everything I have. Its time to shine some sunlight on these cockroaches.
Absolutely nothing wrong with $12 lettuce and $8 tomatoes. Deportation? Se si puede!
The cost of goods argument is ridiculous! Where did you get those facts tupac? Logically, cheap labor would drive costs way way down! This is not what we see now is it? Who is benefitting from cheap labor…the consumer…or the owners of the businesses? The owners of the businesses! How do I know this? When you ask for an itemized labor cost breakout and you get charged $100 per labor hour (yet…the people these businesses hire are getting small wages)…where is the cost savings? There is none…it is all business profit.
Also, how can we be cutting veterans benefits while giving these bloodsuckers entitlements. It is the politicians. They must be fired and ones hired who represent what is best fro America. That moonbat Ted Kennedy wants for H1B visas for high technical immigrants. Why doesn’t he sponsor a bill to give free education to our men and women in Walter Reed to go to any university to study engineering and computer science. It is good for them and America. They may not be able to continue to serve in the military, but America needs them again in a different way. It would give our wounded a new sense of service to the country and would be great for America. Yet, politicians like Ted Kennedy want to forget them and give a bloodsucker who has never done anything for our country a winning lottery ticket. DISGUSTING.
The politicians would change their tune if they had to live in the trenches like we do. It is easy to make decisions when you are sheltered from the consequences of those decisions.
What idiots like Tupac don’t realize is that we are paying in other ways that outweigh, culturally and financially, the benefits of a cheap tomato. If big business paid fair wages, Americans would do the job. But all of this is banter. Illegal immigration is illegal. No matter how you slice it.
I am not condemning anyone about having an honest discussion about illegal immigration. I believe that is healthy and productive for citizens to get active on political issues. What I am talking about is the Black Velvet Bruce Li website in general over all of the months I have viewed it. Greg has made a lot of negative statements about people. Many times he has been inaccurate in his assessments. Is Greg engaging in bearing false witnesses against thy neighbors? Some people lives have been truly damaged by Greg’s comments when the statements are later learned not to be true. I believe political discussion is one thing and gossiping is another. It certainly would be better if Greg brought the Prince William and Manassas communities together to help resolve the immigration issue and other issues that face us. Having all organizations in our area sit together and come up with solutions to our problems. Our community is very much divided on a lot of issues, and people are not working enough together to help resolve them. That leaves our area further polarized. Greg could do a lot to change that.
A good start would be to publish the answers local pols give to illegal immigration questions.
For example:
Dear elected official,
Why are you ignoring the law and doing nothing about illegal immigration?
Why did a law banning contractors who hire illegals from obtaining Virginia State contracts fail and how did you vote?
Did you vote for in state tuition for illegal aliens?
Have you sponsored legislation to offer in state tuition to veterans?
Ben..you are correct. When the Senate was voting on the Amnesty legislation, Jeff Sessions (our Senate hero) stated that the cost of benefits alone (not including enforcement costs) could be in the trillions. It is simply unacceptable to place that burden on legal U.S. taxpayers.
Kirk, please provide specific examples. You remain vague…which does not help your argument. Also, answer my questions I posed earlier please.
Kirk, do you have specific examples or are you just making more unsubstantiated accusations?
You know, the false witness bit you pander?
It figures as soon as the readers of the Washington COMPOST invade the blog it goes down hill.
Again, for all those that talk about compassion, a favorite of Bush, who by the way does not have to live next to an overcrowded house, or does not have to worry about crime or his house value going down the drain, I have one question for you. Would you grant any criminal amnesty, or just those that broke immigration laws, and happen to have brown skin? If you answer no, then you are the racist ones.
I recall last year driving down route 28 and seeing a huge group of people protesting waving foreign flags. Tell me again how loyal and American loving illegals and their supporters are?
La Raza wants to pass down spanish to the grandkids(in today’s Washington Times) and do not want English as the official Language of the United States. They also want amnesty for illegals. Do you really think if the majority of illegals in this Country were not hispanic, La Raza would have such views? I guess that makes them racist to since they are only looking out for their kind.
Kirk, your post sounded like those that support Amnesty that tout…”Our System is broken and we need comprehensive immigration reform”. On the contrary, nothing is broken. We need to merely enforce our laws and hold people accountable.
Citizen - since you brought up Bush…
After undergoing his recent colonoscopy, Now Bush knows how law abiding America feels.
Dateline Fredricksburg, VA
Woman comes home to find Illegal alien sitting on her toilet.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/13/america/NA-ODD-US-Toilet-Intruder.php
Just listen to Janet from National Council of La Raza…she always says “the power of the Latino vote” this that and the other for Latinos. What I find fascinating is that we Americans should be voting for the good of all Americans…not just a particular group based one ethnicity. So wouldn’t you say that NCLR has an agenda to further one group of people at the expense of all others? I think so.
More aricles on intruder
http://www.nbc4.com/news/13671581/detail.html
http://www.whsv.com/virginiaap/headlines/8492382.html
Dateline Fredricksburg, VA
Woman comes home to find Illegal alien sitting on her toilet.
http://www.whsv.com/virginiaap/headlines/8492382.html
http://www.nbc4.com/news/13671581/detail.html
I think this issue generates a lot of passionate dioscussion. I think that in general, people find a lot of personal attacks in these blogs or anecdotes without real facts.
I am starting to shoot a documentary in Nothern Virginia to document what really happens. I am not heere to take sides, just to “document” these events and people goes through when cultures crash.
I think that Greg, regarding his views on the issue, put his image out there for people to criticize or support.
I want to record your views on camera. I want yuo to show me your neighborhoods. Show me your support or condemn ation of illegal immigration with images. I hear a lot the story that “my neighbor has 9 people living in his house, the pee in the garden, they are just criminals…etc” or the opposite side telling us how illegal aliens bring something positive to our country.
I don’t take sides, i don’t use names, I just want to see if we can come up with a document of this reality in Northern Virginia.
I have the camera and all the equipment ready. Email me with your real name, email and phone number if you want to participate in creating something. I know it requires courage for those who have strong views about this issue but I think it is the time to start this dialogue with something more than just a nickname in the web. So I encourage to stand for you neighborhoods regardless of which side you support.
Again, write to:
idocumentary@yahoo.com
My email is idocumentary@yahoo.com
Kirk:
I also remember Jesus taking it to the money changers at the Temple and calling the Pharisees a brood of vipers and whited sepulchers - how does that mesh with the image you have of him as being a passive, tolerant to a fault, Morgan Freeman type Savior?
Kirk,
Your liberal banter of we must all hold hands and sing Kumbayah to find the answer to illegal immigration is very shortsighted, irresponsible, and quite frankly, delusional. The American people have spoken overwhelmingly that they don’t want illegal immigrants, we want enforcement of our immigration laws, and no amnesty.
As for your comments on the Black Velvet Bruce Li website. I suggest going back and reading your anti-American books published in the former Soviet Union. Bruce has every right under t