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| No | 17% | 37 votes | Total: 222 votes | |
| Yes | 83% | 185 votes |
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Add to FavoritesWe have laws in place governing immigration, they need to be enforced. The immigrant that comes to this country today is not the same as the immigrant of yesterday.
The person that left the old world to carve out a new life in a new land left behind their homeland. They went through the rigors of Ellis Island and the hardships of a strange new land filled with a mixture of peoples. They learned the customs of their new land while keeping ethnic pride. They learned the laws and took classes to learn how and why this new government worked the way it did. They learned a new language, or least attempted too, and embraced America as their home. It was a melting pot of different peoples and cultures all coming together as one nation. And they worked to get a piece of that American dream.
All groups went through the rites of passage' so to speak, to melt into a group called Americans. And what a strong proud nation it became. It made its mistakes; it bled together and healed its wounds. It expanded its boundaries just as all other nations did.
In addition there was no welfare at that time. Maybe soup kitchens and missions to give a person a helping hand, but you didn't go to any office, unwed to get food, money or medical aid or a place to stay. If you had monetary problems you went to your family for help. There was pride.
Today's immigrant is a different breed. Yes, different ethnic groups always had their gangs; examples are the Irish, the Russian and the Italian Mafia. But the laws were and are enforced concerning them. The Mexican Mafia is another story because the border is too handy to cross after a crime has been committed plus the lack of co operation with that government.
The fact remains, however, that today's immigrant comes here and they keep their habits and customs and disrespect ours. If a group refuses to learn the language of the host country, how can they communicate, get employment, drive a car or understand our laws? How can a people come to a new country and not even understand the basics of that country? They do understand how and what offices to go to get free money, tax breaks, food stamps and free medical aid. It's amazing that they learn our currency but can not communicate or understand our simplest of laws.
We don't drink and drive, we treat women and children as human beings with respect, and we do not have sex with children. We speak English; the only Independence Day we celebrate is the 4th of July. We eat pork and beef, if you don't want to that's up to you. We don't eat our pets. We say "Merry Christmas" and again if you don't want to don't. Our currency states "In God We Trust" if you don't believe in God that's you purgative also.
As far as the immigrant doing the jobs that American's don't want, that's a bold faced lie. Labor is what made this country. If you were a roofer or a carpenter you made a decent living. With immigrants taking these positions for less money the construction worker no longer has viable work to support his family. The price of the house didn't go down although it was build for less. The same holds true for the factory worker.
That holds true to small business also. In some area when the neighborhood changes there is a language barrier. If you can not be bi-lingual or multi-lingual you can not serve your community. That also holds true to the police, ambulance crews and many other emergency services.
Many immigrants work for less money making more profits for companies. Many are also on welfare at the same time which makes their earnings more than the American was working for. Sometimes they even have monies to send back to their country of origin.
As far as immigrants on working visas, beside the tax breaks and tuition breaks they receive, an older employee usually trains them for a job and then looses the job to them. After all they are working or less, and take fewer benefits. And that working or student visa lasts a very long time.
With all the immigration, with all the offense taken toward our way of life, why migrate here? Our government is getting so bombarded with all this political offensive gobbledygook that they are becoming and less effect.
Our country and private funding goes out by the billions to aid other countries into making 3 world countries better. Apparently our money is being wasted; people are still clambering to get here legally and illegally. Surely it cannot be the climate!
Our resources are dwindling fast, water and land are being used up and there is no way to replenish those. Sprawling cities and super roads are consuming farms lands. Water is being consumed by a thirsty population and polluted by industry and the chemicals used by farms to try to keep up with the demand for food.
If all this immigration is good for the economy, than why are prices skyrocketing, why is social security in trouble, why is crime rising and society an crime spiraling out of control? Why is education failing and welfare programs drying up?
We don't need any reform or amnesty for immigration. Our laws are in place. What we need is respect from the immigrant that genuinely wants to be an American and to get American Pride back on track.
Learn more about this author, Paulette Redemske.
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Yes
Any given society much be viewed as a work in progress. As such, from time to time, adjustments must be made in its various structures to accommodates changes in technology, economics , legal issues, etc. With this in mind, the policies of America's founding fathers and subsequent administrations must be reviewed for their overall effectiveness.
There was a time when the Unites States seemed to have somewhat of an open door policy regarding immigration. "Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses yearning to be free." But as our military so often reminds us, freedom is not free. It must be fought for not only on the battlefield, but in the classroom and in the workplace.
Every immigrant who wishes to remain for any length of time in this country must be expected to to function more or less independently. This means being able to financially support his/herself and his/her dependents. Many jobs are regrettably too low-paying to attract skilled workers. The unskilled, through no fault of their own, often suffer from poor education to receive much consideration in the sometime fickle American job market.
Sometimes, the single most damaging hurdle facing an immigrant is simply his or her ability to communicate effectively. Basic communication is critical in one's ability to function in a foreign land. Traffic, medical and legal situations all demand clear understanding, and failure to do so may easily mean the difference between life and death.
Many immigrants from various nations seem unwilling to learn the English language, and for various reasons. Some move to ethnic pockets, such as New York City's Chinatown or Miami's Little Havana, where Chinese and Spanish respectively are sometimes more common than English. Some immigrants feel they are too old to make a significant effort, and choose instead to get by learning a little bit of English at a time. Such an approach provides only a short-term solution.
All foreign nationals entering the United States for an extended period of time should be required to demonstrate a fair ability to speak and understand English, or at least a willingness to improve whatever minimal skills they may have. by enrolling in an English-as-a-Second- Language class.
The ability to speak the language and hold a job is all part of adapting to life in the United States. I would certainly not expect someone to discard all aspects of his/her own culture, but when it begins to impede their ability to function to a reasonable level, an immigrant must be willing to do their part to achieve a solution, thereby demonstrating a commitment to their new home.
Learn more about this author, Philip Schweier.
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