Thread: Minority/Legal Immigrant view on illegal immigration

dyehard39, your posting was fascinating to me.

My husband is a legal immigrant and his views are similar to yours, though his ancestors were not involved in slavery or having land stolen from them. Still, his mother went through the legal channels to bring her children to this country and he is outraged by the seeming ignorance of the word "illegal" and by the preferential attitude that is displayed by the media . . . and the "I'll take what I want" attitude that we see in the illegals in our region of the US.

I would like to hear from others who have taken the legal steps to enter this country and from other minority representatives - what are your views on illegal aliens.

My ultimate goal is to try to discover if illegal immigration actually creates or compounds racist views.

I would appreciate any input! Thanks!

Welcome Bookay. Others can comment on this, but I would guess that the views of immigrants who have come here legally probably depend somewhat on where immigrants are from. I have a friend from South America who came here legally, worked her way through college but it took her many years to become a citizen. She is completely outraged by what is going on with illegal immigration and any suggestion that illegal aliens should gain citizenship or jump in line ahead of those who have been waiting and taking the legal route. On the other hand, many who have come from Mexico still have strong ties and family members there, so I would guess that they often are looking out for their own self interests and want our system to stay wide open so that their family members can come too.....even if this hurts citizens and those who came legally. Then of course there is the "reconquista" agenda with many Mexicans, which is different than other immigrants.

Mine came here legally. Never owned a slave or took anything. They were poor.......I mean poor. My parents finally got to the point in their generation to actually own their first homes. From my understanding in the past they farmed land in exchange for a cabin to live in but I'm not 100% positive for the whole family tree. My father did low wage labor jobs side by side with people of all colors. It was drilled in me from a baby to have respect for people of all races and colors. But we also had it drilled into us to respect the law. Didn't have to agree with but had to obey it. Life wasn't fair and it was your job to do the best you could, honestly with the cards that were delt. You don't mess people over but at the same token, you have the right to not be messed with either. And beleive me, they were the type that bent over backwards to help and get along. They were also the type that knew you had to fight at times to get what was rightfully yours. (insurance payments that were supposed to be paid for, quality work for money paid, unfair treatment at work etc) But you did it through the proper channels, kept records and it even then there was no guarentee it would work your way, but you tried. They served in the military and were proud to be American. Then now to be called "racist" for wanting the same laws, we all had and have to obey, is insane. My dad would have given you the shirt off his back to anyone......but never, if you DEMANDED it because of something in history that he had nothing to do with or because you felt you deserved it more than him because he's white. Because you "want it "is no excuse for any crime. He knew this is an imperfect world and tried to make it better.......but his greatest thought was to a life after this and who was the judge then.

A friend's mother came here from Mexico and she supported the illegals. She and her husband came here legally. They learned English, worked hard, never took advantage of any programs even if they could have.

One day, I asked her why she supported the illegals. She told me, and yes it was the typical reasons you hear. Then I asked her how it was fair to herself and her family to give the illegals what they want when they worked so long and hard and earned it the right way.

She thought about that and now she doesn't support them.

I can't believe any of you are even answering a post like this containing

My ultimate goal is to try to discover if illegal immigration actually creates or compounds racist views.

I know that many of you are good hearted trusting people, but please folks don't go for bait like this.

It is absolutely insulting and a false charge for someone to come here saying they are here to study racist views.

What a crock!

W

especially when it's the very FIRST post....

they come to these forums to "generate" hate statements that they can be used to "prove" their points...imo

Originally Posted by Pokie

especially when it's the very FIRST post....

they come to these forums to "generate" hate statements that they can be used to "prove" their points...imo

Ditto,

It is the "Do you plan to stop beating your wife?" question.

W

I'm sorry to have offended so many of you. I have no ulterior motive. My actual theory is that what people perceive as racism is really a simple response to ANYONE stepping on our toes. Personally, I would be(and have been) equally offended by a white many who stole my property and the white couple next door who are manufacturing and selling drugs in my neighborhood. I've also known families of various races (yes, including white) who have abused the welfare system. I am not trying to incite anger, I am seeking opinions. Foolishly, at my age, I have chosen to return to school and am trying to develop an interesting and controversial research paper. I believe I already have enough information to back up my theory that anger at having rights stripped or watered down is not racism.

Again, I apologize to you - I, too, have become cynical.

Also, Alipac, I am not studying racist views. I am studying the effects of illegal immigration - which, I must add, I am entirely against. The key here is that is is illegal. For you to assume that I am a liberal hate monger is frightening. In my ignorance, I don't see how you came to that conclusion. I am, in fact quite conservative. I'm old, fat and ugly and work 60+ hours a week and am taking on college so that some day I might be able to work fewer hours. I am a generic person and I feel that what one takes one must earn. Though I have been in the situation of meeting qualifications for assistance, I have never sought it. I have to say that I am, interestingly, as offended by your banter as you are by request.

well BOOKAY you got a first experience in this contest: we on the anti-illegal side have been called racist and other worse names just because we believe in the rule of law, even for so-called new immigrants... the American majority is being denied a say in its status and even perhaps survival by foreign interests among us, supported by the cheap-labor industries, pandering politicians .... and a hypocritical religion community...