Mexican president touts unity
Mexican president touts unity
CALDERON'S VISIT | Immigrants boost economy, he says
February 13, 2008
BY DAVE NEWBART, PATRYCJA MALINOWSKA AND MARIA RANDAZZO Chicago Sun-Times
Responding to anti-immigrant sentiment across the U.S., Mexican President Felipe Calderon came to Chicago to pitch a message of unity -- and left with agreements with the city and state to create teacher exchanges and a job certification program valid here and in Mexico.
Like his previous stops on this five-day swing through the U.S. -- which wraps up Thursday after visits to Sacramento and Los Angeles -- Calderon Tuesday said he was concerned over some backlash against Mexicans, even those here legally, and he defended hard-working Mexican immigrants as vital to the U.S. economy.
In a speech to 1,200 invited guests at Little Village Lawndale High School on the Southwest Side, Calderon said both economies were "absolutely complementary.'' The United States has an abundance of capital, while Mexico has a strong labor force. He believes Mexican workers are important for U.S. prosperity. Those workers, he said, do not displace American workers but complement them.
Calderon met earlier in the day with Gov. Blagojevich and Mayor Daley. He signed agreements to send Mexican teachers to Illinois, while state teachers could go to Mexico to teach English. A pact he signed with city officials would create a certification program across several industries that could be recognized in Chicago and Mexico.
In response to local residents' concerns about the Chicago office of the Mexican Consulate, Calderon pledged to improve service there. Gilberto Valdez, 50, of Brighton Park, called that promise a "very good idea,'' particularly because it will help permanent residents vote back home if they choose to do so.
While some have suggested Calderon's trip was timed to have an influence on the U.S. presidential primaries, Calderon did not mention the candidates. He talked about immigration in general terms, saying Mexicans, too, support a secure border. But he said the bigger problem is organized crime, something he pledged to fight.
Whether one issue Calderon raised plays a role in the U.S. election remains to be seen: He promised universal health care for Mexicans by 2011.
His comments were generally well received by the crowd. As he walked in, the crowd chanted "Felipe, Felipe.'' Later, a live mariachi band played as audience members tried to snap his picture and that of his wife, Margarita Zavala.
Soledad Hernandez, 47, a Mexican immigrant who now lives in Pilsen, welcomed the frank talk.
"It was great to hear someone speak about immigration when some of the U.S. presidential candidates don't talk about it,'' Hernandez said.
Others also worried about some of the anti-Mexican feelings that have swirled recently.
"The community has a lot of concerns about the anti-immigration sentiment going around the nation,'' said Juan Curiel, a native of Mexico who is now a U.S. citizen and works as a community service officer for the Round Lake Police Department.
http://www.suntimes.com:80/news/metro/7 ... 13.article
Re: Mexican president touts unity
Quote:
Originally Posted by zeezil
Calderon Tuesday said he was concerned over some backlash against Mexicans, even those here legally, and he defended hard-working Mexican immigrants as vital to the U.S. economy.
Why are they only vital to America's economy? Why aren't they vital to Mexico's economy?
Or maybe I should put it a different way. These "vital" workers have done a lousy job, they have let the US economy slide into a recession! I think we should replace them with better performing "vital" workers!
