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Comments on: Who’s An Immigrant? https://whynow.dumka.us/2007/11/17/whos-an-immigrant/ On-line Opinion Magazine...OK, it's a blog Sun, 18 Nov 2007 05:26:32 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 By: Bryan https://whynow.dumka.us/2007/11/17/whos-an-immigrant/comment-page-1/#comment-31433 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 05:26:32 +0000 http://whynow.dumka.us/2007/11/17/whos-an-immigrant/#comment-31433 Both of my grandfathers were born in this country of immigrant parents, but my grandmothers’ families go back to the 17th century in the US, so I’m familiar with both sides, but I’m also familiar with history, and based on their features, many of these, so-called “illegal immigrants” arrived here between 10 and 20 thousand years ago.

If there weren’t cameras around I know full well and good who would be clearing that brush in Crawford, because I was stationed in San Angelo, in West Texas and I know who did all of the grunt work.

They grow strawberries in Mexico, and a lot of other fruits and vegetables, so if cheap was the only concern, we could still have cheap food, but American corporations wouldn’t be making the profits.

The real problem is that it is so expensive to cross the border now, that the workers who once came in, did their work and went home, have to stay. There are a lot of solutions, but no political will to actually implement them, and a lot of bigots to spew their hatred.

]]> By: Cookie Jill https://whynow.dumka.us/2007/11/17/whos-an-immigrant/comment-page-1/#comment-31430 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 04:20:24 +0000 http://whynow.dumka.us/2007/11/17/whos-an-immigrant/#comment-31430 In California, our whole economy really is balanced upon the backs of “illegals.”

I don’t think that anybody really is prepared to pay $25 a basket for strawberries, but I don’t see “Norte Americanos” lining up for jobs paying minimum wages, no benefits, lack of breaks, lack of “facilities”, often in 100+ degree heat for 12-14 hours a day.

I, like others, am conflicted over “illegals”, as my father’s parents came over from Finland and gave up everything about their former lives/country and “Americanized” themselves. But they were white. They knew some English. They were fleeing the Russians, the dreaded “commies”. So, they were welcomed to immigrate and they were so proud that America gave them that opportunity. And, of course, settled in a cold, harsh part of the country similar to Finland and where most Scandanavians ended up…Michigan/Wis/Minn

My great, great grandmother on my mother’s side was Native American in Louisiana. I think we know what “illegal immigration” did to them.

I think that we need to start talking about the inequity of the immigration process. Those who are poor and from Mexico who come here to tend our elderly’s personal needs or to pick those strawberries, etc. often have to wait 10-14 years for citizenship. Those who are wealthy and not of “working class” and generally speaking “white” can gain citizenship in 1-2 years.

We also need to start talking about the destruction that NAFTA has done to Mexican workers and how our country enables corrupt Mexican governments that keep their people poor, empoverished, uneducated (parents have to pay for extended education in their schools) and yearning for the “American Dream” for a better life than “las maquiadoras.”

It’s a complex issue and, unfortunately, complexity doesn’t play in our society, especially when it comes to immigration. It’s brown or white.

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