http://www.nctimes.com/opinion/comme...7_014_6_06.txt


Local hypocrisy on immigrants

By: KLAUS P. MEINHARD

Hypocrisy (Greek: hupokrisis, or acting of a theatrical part) is the practice of claiming to have higher standards of beliefs than is the case.

Hypocrisy seems to be not only in fashion, but almost a sixth right to the 1st Amendment. Currently, a candidate who wants to be Mr. Integrity hides the fact in the Sample Ballot that he is also a paid lobbyist, or we have a Mr. Kaloogian who boasts on his Web site about the wonderful and peaceful life in downtown Baghdad, but uses a picture from Istanbul!

We may not change other people's preoccupation with cheap talk and hypocrisy, but perhaps we can do something for our community and change ourselves.


I have been living in North County since 1976 and reside (again) in La Costa. Besides being known for the Spa, the golf, etc., it is also the greatest playground for hypocrisy in the immigration debate.We are the epitome of "no trespassing/help wanted" homeowners. The majority of my neighbors are subscribing to the belief that illegals are a huge problem.

However, the same elderly lady, or the overweight couple, or the very well-to-do young La Costan who is so vociferous about the illegals robbing our jobs, they all jump in their trucks to pick up someone from the Home Depot corner the minute they have to move some heavy furniture or do some exhausting yardwork.

They are picking someone they have a hard time understanding or communicating with, yet they are communicating one powerful message: Rain or shine, border or no border, as long as you (the immigrant) are standing here, we will pick you up and pay you gladly below minimum wage. And if your knuckles get crushed while moving the piano, there is always the "free" clinic on 2nd Street where you can get fixed up.

The city of Carlsbad is one of a few cities that has had for years a hiring center, (760) 929-8121. As a small-business owner, I had the opportunity to use this great service three times in the last six years. I found the experience with the hiring center to be very positive and felt its existence was the right step in the right direction.

But, much more could be done to correct our double standards of no-trespassing-yet-help-wanted attitude. Consider, if there was no $271 fine for riding the diamond lane alone, the incentive for car pooling would simply evaporate. Double this fine for anyone who picks up immigrants except at well-run hiring centers, and we are starting a process that leads to a system that can be expanded to serve both sides of the immigration issue.

I used to meet a lot of Mexicans in my canyon where I always walk my dog.

They used to call my dog "El Matematico" because they thought he was so smart. Then the canyon got fenced, and my friends didn't use it anymore as a shortcut. One of my neighbors afterwards said to me: "I guess the illegals became too much of a problem."

"Actually," I said, "a few young adults raced their pick-ups and dumped trash and mattresses, that's why it had to be closed." There is no more trash, and the canyon is beautiful with abundant spring growth, yet I miss the banter with my Latinos in the morning.

Klaus P. Meinhard lives in Carlsbad.

Comments On This Story

Maria wrote on April 07, 2006 9:07 AM:"The illegals in the canyons cause fires and endanger our homes."

Dave wrote on April 07, 2006 10:09 AM:"I like the idea of having centers that legal workers can find work. I have noticed that most people I've witnessed illegally dumping look like they're more worried about INS than the police. "