Thread: Immigration is a local issue and we should be concerned

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 40361/1015

Guest Opinion: Anthony Maida
Immigration is a local issue and we should be concerned
The author responds to The News-Press' editorial on the petition for local government to deal with illegal immigration.

Originally posted on September 14, 2006

The News-Press editorial on Sept. 9 stated that the Immigration law isn't a local concern.

Americans Standing Tall and the signers of the petition say PHOOEY to that.

Their lead into the body of the article was about as preposterous as I ever read.

The News-Press is at its best in twisting, turning and stretching the point.

Nothing in the letter or petition asks for the following as indicated by The News-Press:

• That the city of Fort Myers should set a date for pulling out of Iraq.

• That Lehigh Acres should incorporate and enact universal health care.

• That Bonita Springs should float a navy.

It's called spin and The News-Press sure knows how to do that.

They use the words undocumented immigrants. It apparently is difficult for them to understand and to use the phrase illegal aliens.

They said that the petitions were misdirected. I am certain they would have liked to have them sent to the perpetrators of this ugly mess — the United States Senate and the politicians in Washington.

Continuing the article went on say "Immigration is a broad, difficult national problem. Seeking local actions can only lead to anarchy."

First they seem to not want to know that the people in Washington, D.C., created this horrendous mess.

Secondly it sounds like they place the people who signed the petitions as second-rate citizens and that our judgment means nothing.

Their continued complete defense of the "undocumented immigrants" (illegal aliens) will in itself bring about what they call anarchy.

And I think they would relish that.

They further said that "We have every confidence that the Cape Coral City Council and the Lee County Commissioners will thank Americans Standing Tall for their interest and decline to act.

Fat chance.

We are too Tall as Americans, to be patted on the head and shooed away.

No nonsense message

We, Americans Standing Tall, with close to 1,500 people who signed the petition and hundreds more since the release to the newspapers are here to stay.

We are not going anywhere soon.

They insulted the very people who support all of our areas by saying their effort was "nonsense."

We had people who were afraid to sign the petition for fear of repercussion and retaliation from the so-called undocumented immigrants.

To the mass of people in our area they are called illegal aliens.

The News-Press seems not to care about the people living in fear from the very same people that The News-Press will call undocumented immigrants and protect.

They violate our laws in more ways than one. They create havoc among our people. They commit crimes and they fill our jails and prisons.

And they threaten the legal American people for speaking up.

That is who is catered to.

How dare you insult the concerned people of Lee County, Collier County and elsewhere by saying that they mean nothing in this matter?

They are the prime special interest group in the nation — the legal American voters and taxpayers about whom The News-Press does not seem to be concerned.

Only the beginning

You and those who think like you want us to just "shut up" "pay our taxes" and "just go away."

Again fat chance.

You have seen nothing yet and the slogan of the past is "we have just begun to fight."

We are going to take America back one town at a time, one city at a time and yes even one state at a time from those who have invaded us.

And take it all back for the legal American citizens who speak English. Whether you and others like it or not.

At Monday's council meeting in Cape Coral the mayor said it was redundant to tell the people of Cape Coral that English is the official language.

The Constitution of Florida spells it out very plainly. So all of you out there, English is it.

No, ifs, ands or buts right from the mayor's mouth.

Let's hold their feet to the fire on that — no other language to be used.

God Bless America, the land of the free and the home of the brave — Americans Standing Tall.

— Anthony Maida is co-founder of Americans Standing Tall.

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 40359/1015

Guest Opinion: Carlos Cavenago
Anti-'illegal' petition is wrong way to go
Originally posted on September 14, 2006

The petition to the local government to stop the influx of undocumented immigrants by the group Americans Standing Tall results from a lack of tolerance and petulance on their part.

The purpose of the petition by this group to the Cape Coral City Council is only to make life miserable to the newcomers. None of the four points in their petition solve the problem. The migration has happened; 11 million people did not come overnight.

They are already working and paying rent, buying and consuming. With false documents or not, the immigrants are paying into the Social Security system from which they may never benefit.

To punish businesses that provide them jobs is unfair. Our welfare rolls are full of citizens who would rather stay home and collect benefits than do some labor-intensive work, which we are all aware is done willingly by undocumented workers.

To fine landlords who rent or lease property to illegal immigrants is nonsense, since they are earning a wage for their shelter. As for no service for non-U.S. citizens, remember, there are many non-U.S. citizens who are here legally from all over the world.

As to wanting the English language to be the official language of the city, that is overkill. English is the official language of the U.S.A. Some individuals may learn quicker than others. It is a learning curve.

Yes, we used to be a melting pot, and have always welcomed newcomers, but it is no longer true. The feeling that this time "they" are not adopting to our culture is unfair.

How fast can somebody adopt somebody else's culture? Have you tried? I have.

On the other hand why adopt a new culture? Is it possible to learn from each other and become a better citizen? What is wrong with the Latin culture? What differences do we have that bothers you?

I agree that immigrating without proper documents is illegal; it's also a function of the federal government to regulate it and not the local authorities. Immigration laws, rules and regulations have been on the books for many years. The problem is that they have not been enforced.

Budgets were not set adequately for border patrols and to manage the immigration enforcement offices. In all fairness, they are overworked, and if you add to all that politics, you end up with a very difficult situation we are in now.

Immediate solutions are none, only patience, tolerance.

— Carlos Alberto Cavenago resides in Cape Coral.