A lady wrote the best letter in the Editorials in ages!! It explains things better than all the balderdash you hear on TV:
"Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country protesting the fact that Congress is finally addressing the issue of illegal immigration. Certain people are angry that the US might protect its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into this country and, once here, to stay indefinitely. Let me see if I correctly unde rstand the thinking behind these protests. "Let's say I break into your house. Let's say that when you discover me in your house, you insist that I leave. But I say, 'I've made all the beds and washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors; "I've done all the things you don't like to do. I'm hard-working and honest (except for when I broke into your house).' "According to the protesters, not only must you let me stay, you must add me to your family's insurance plan and provide other benefits to me and to my family (my husband will do your yard work because he too is hard-working and honest, except for that breaking in part). "'If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my right to be there "It's only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I'm just trying to better myself . I'm hard-working and honest.um, except for well, you know. "And what a deal it is for me!! I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about it without being accused of selfishness, prejudice and being anti-housebreaker. "Oh yeah, and I want you to learn my language so you can communicate with me." Why can't people see how ridiculous this is?! Only in America....if you agree, pass it on (in& nbsp;English)
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The above was in an e-mail I received and I read it a couple times. Several things come to mind. First off..unattributed and/or unverifiable "letters", including the one that circles quite a bit falsely attributed to George Carlin, that state things many people WANT to say but do not have the courage to say it (and for the record, there is a fair amount in here I both agree with and am willing to say but other stuff I disagree with), often are not written by whoever they are stated to be but rather by someone hiding under a cloak of anonymity. So let me start by saying, whatever you believe, politically correct or not, generally acceptable or not, have the courage of your convictions and plainly state what you believe.
Second, as with many analogies, the above analogy SEEMS pretty sharp on the surface but a closer analysis demonstrates some fairly siginificant flaws. For instance, it assumes getting ahead is a zero sum game. Illegal immigrants...no, let's correct that...illegal MEXICAN or "Hispanic"* immigrants...because there are numerous illegal immigrants of descents OTHER than Mexican but few people mistake this argument for being about anyone other than the Mexican/Hispanics...well, these illegals can only get ahead at the expense of "legitimate citizens" of these United States.
That assumption is patently false. There is no natural "ceiling" to the U.S. economy. More workers can potentially increase the amount of capital available. More people paying into insurance statistically speaking does not affect the percentage of money paid out. In fact, even a casual analysis shows that more people paying into the same insurance fund allows leverage to get better deals.
Now, don't think I disagree with everything in this alleged letter. I believe the U.S.SHOULD have border security. I don't happen to agree with our immigration policy (I believe it should be more open than it is) and the questions are related, though not inextricably linked.
I will say I understand WHY the protestors protested...but they still angered me. Slogans such as "I am not illegal. I am a person" shifted the framework of the discussion. Frankly, if you commit a crime then yes, you are a criminal. If you come from a country where committing the crime immediately gets you deported and protest the same or more lenient treatment then you are a hypocrite.
Do I think the activities of the illegals are bad for our country? Well...while it is a related question it is not the same question. By linking several issues and adding emotional tags (security. is there a more emotional tag?) the discussion is redirected, altered, defocused, rendered inaccurate and too difficult to deal with honestly.
And even more controversially; I am dead set against requiring people here to learn any other language. Not Spanish, not French, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Swahili...I do believe in a national language. In a world where nations are artificial creations defined by imaginary lines on a map rather than on race, natural geographic boundaries, similar interests, tribal affiliations, or other "natural" distinctions then unity must be sought. Intentionally creating disunity through more difficult communications can do nothing but cause problems. Recent examples would be the Quebec versus Canada question over French v. English.
But it is not the only historical example. Look at the lines of Kings of England WHO DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH. How much trouble was caused by their inability to speak with their subjects? (Hint: a lot!) Communication is the lifeblood of an artificial country. Splitting it over politics borders on outright stupidity. At the least it is ill thought out.
Please note, I see a difference between voluntary study and use of another language and required. Bi-or tri or more lingual public "servants" are a great idea...if it is voluntary. If it is required...maybe it is time for another revolution or civil war. Who is to say?
The upshot is...when you get an e-mail like this, don't just take it at face value...put some thought into it, find the holes, find the support, and maybe you will get some value out of it.
* What is a "Hispanic"? Well...nobody can say for sure. It is an artificial designation created by the U.S. government. It is not a race, a nationality, or a definable group of people other than "if we say they are Hispanic, they are. If we say they aren't...then they aren't."
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