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09-12-2006, 05:27 AM #1
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From Schwarzenegger: Keep the Debate Civil
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la- ... -rightrail
Keep the Immigration Debate Civil
Gov. Schwarzenegger: Congress refuses to talk seriously about immigration, so the rest of us have to pick up the slack.
By Arnold Schwarzenegger
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER is governor of California.
September 12, 2006
BY NOT FINISHING comprehensive immigration reform this year, Congress left behind a poisoned debate that will continue to fuel a growing anger in our country.
Latino leaders, meeting in Los Angeles last week, were already debating whether they should continue marching in the streets, disrupt the economy or register voters. At the same time, people who are angry about the federal government's failure to stop illegal immigration have introduced local measures to take away housing, jobs and even medical assistance from noncitizens in their communities. On both sides, people are demanding to be heard.
Now Congress has walked away from the debate, at least for this year. So it's up to the rest of us to tone down our rhetoric and listen to the voices on all sides. As both an immigrant to this country and a proud American citizen, I have a unique perspective on this debate. I also have some advice.
To the immigrant rights activists I say: Change your message. When I came to America, I wrapped myself in the flag because I wanted to be a part of the American dream. I worked hard, learned English and followed the laws. I learned the customs and culture of my new country. I spent time with English-speakers just so I could hear them talk and learn the language from them.
Being an immigrant is like being a guest in someone's house. Your hosts go about their daily routine. You can sit on the couch and do your own thing, or you can ask, "What can I do to help? How can I be a part of this household?"
What people see today when immigrant rights activists march in the streets carrying Mexican flags and angry signs is that you do not want to join America's house. The message that sends is that you do not want to learn our language or our culture. Unlike the message sent by the masses of Irish, Italian, German and Asian immigrants, whom Americans now proudly call our "melting pot," these images suggest that Mexican immigrants do not want to make that effort.
I do not believe that this is the message most Mexican immigrants — legal or illegal — wish to send. I believe that most Mexican immigrants are as proud to be part of America as I was. They are some of the hardest working and strongest believers in the American dream. So my message to you is: Carry your home country in your heart, but carry the American flag in our streets.
To those who believe illegal immigration is reaching a crisis level in this country I say: Tone down the rhetoric. I myself have said things that caused division even when that was not my intent. Words can be weapons. We must be careful to distinguish between legal and illegal immigration, between those who break our laws to do us harm and those who break our laws to find freedom and prosperity in the greatest nation on Earth. It is hypocritical for Congress to condemn people for coming here illegally when the federal government has been unwilling to do what it takes to stop them from coming in the first place.
Now that they are here, what do we do? Amnesty is not the answer. Congress granted amnesty in 1986 and promised it would end the problem. It didn't. Amnesty only made it worse. You don't reward people for breaking the law. And you don't grant someone the rights of citizenship simply by virtue of how long they have been in this country illegally — that makes a mockery of the law and penalizes those who waited years and followed the rules.
But it is not realistic either to round up 12 million people and send them home. Many have families here now, children and grandchildren who are citizens. Splitting them up would be inhumane. Some say it would cost as much as $250 billion to even try. Who would pay for that? It is simply not realistic.
The answer, as I have repeatedly said, is, first, to secure the border to stop the problem from getting worse. Second, we must create a temporary-worker program so people can come here legally to work. We should also lift the cap on work visas for industries such as technology, engineering and agriculture so immigrants can be hired when there are not enough U.S. workers. And we must create a path to legal status for those living in the shadows illegally. They must pay a fine for breaking our laws. They must learn English and become part of our culture. They must pay back taxes and pay for healthcare and education rather than expect American taxpayers to pay extra when some cannot even afford healthcare or college for their own children.
Unfortunately, we must wait for Congress to return next year to take up the critical issue of comprehensive immigration reform. Meanwhile, we must do all we can to stop the problem from getting worse and to maintain a civil debate about illegal immigration."When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
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09-12-2006, 06:52 AM #2
Well, I guess you can't marry a Kennedy and stay an Arnold, eh?
A Nation Without Borders Is Not A Nation - Ronald Reagan
Save America, Deport Congress! - Judy
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09-12-2006, 08:01 AM #3The answer, as I have repeatedly said, is, first, to secure the border to stop the problem from getting worse. Second, we must create a temporary-worker program so people can come here legally to work. We should also lift the cap on work visas for industries such as technology, engineering and agriculture so immigrants can be hired when there are not enough U.S. workers. And we must create a path to legal status for those living in the shadows illegally. They must pay a fine for breaking our laws. They must learn English and become part of our culture. They must pay back taxes and pay for healthcare and education rather than expect American taxpayers to pay extra when some cannot even afford healthcare or college for their own children.REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER!
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09-12-2006, 08:28 AM #4
What a bunch of double speak.
To the immigrant rights activists I say: Change your message. When I came to America, I wrapped myself in the flag because I wanted to be a part of the American dream. I worked hard, learned English and followed the laws. I learned the customs and culture of my new country. I spent time with English-speakers just so I could hear them talk and learn the language from them.
Their message is loud and clear and changing it now won't alter that!
Of course in politics it is all about how it appears....right Arnold?[b]Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.
- Arnold J. Toynbee
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09-12-2006, 08:48 AM #5And we must create a path to legal status for those living in the shadows illegally.
What a loser."Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same results is the definition of insanity. " Albert Einstein.
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09-12-2006, 08:58 AM #6
The solution is simple build the wall, do not let those here illegally stay, increase enforcement to catch illegals and ship them back, if they come back they can serve time in a jail with gang members and other violent criminals and then kick them out.
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09-12-2006, 09:29 AM #7
Yeah, we are losing our country and this clown wants us to be civil? In other words Mexican invaders are allowed to do whatever they want and we should just bend over and take it or go back to Europe. Yet and some of you think this guy should be reelected? Unbelieveable.
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09-12-2006, 10:43 AM #8To those who believe illegal immigration is reaching a crisis level in this country I say: Tone down the rhetoric. I myself have said things that caused division even when that was not my intent. Words can be weapons.
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09-12-2006, 11:06 AM #9
Civil....while they are running a latino congress in his state? I don't get it? It's hard to remain "civil" while you are watching the country you live in be taken over.
Amnesty should just be totally forgotten. "Guest worker" temporarily put on hold. They haven't processed all the last amnesty's people. They haven't got things going with the ones waiting legally. That would be my next step. Get this process going with the legal ones. If they have families waiting outside the US and all those waiting legally....get the show on the road. In the meantime....buck-up ICE and border patrol and start deporting the law breakers. Then once they get this going effectively.....we may have a clearer picture as to where we stand. Coz obviously these guys don't have a clue. I agree there's need for reform. I'm not saying re-write yet.....I'm saying fix the weak points. Have the means ready and able to enforce the laws. There's no good "reform" without enforcement. There's way to much inner turmoil to continue throwing fuel on the fire. And no clear view of "reform", if any ,until there's a means of enforcement.Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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09-12-2006, 02:24 PM #10Originally Posted by crazybirdPlease support our fight against illegal immigration by joining ALIPAC's email alerts here https://eepurl.com/cktGTn
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