LETTER: Questions on immigration
March 17, 2008 6:00 AM


I have been following the stories in The Standard-Times about the raid at Bianco and the anniversary of the now-legendary event, and I have to say, I am perplexed.

Without a doubt, the S-T has taken a sympathetic approach toward the immigrants, which leaves me with a few questions. While it is easy, and admittedly correct, to imply that the government shares the blame, I can't help but think that by that reasoning, it is also acceptable to rob the bank because the police weren't paying attention.

The recent story about the women who killed four schoolchildren in Michigan clearly demonstrates that some of them do not just come here to work, as she is also being charged with identity theft.

When did it become international law that the United States shall be the only country on the planet that is not allowed to enforce the laws they do have? I have not traveled abroad, but the people I know who have take great pains to learn about where they are going, so as not to offend or end up in prison for life.

That is clearly not the case here, where a great many people really do believe we should sing the national anthem in Spanish, and every time I read a quote from an immigrant in the S-T, it's usually something like, "I don't like it here anymore." Of course not — not now that you have to play by the rules.

When will people stop saying, "Americans won't do those jobs," and say what they really mean, which would sound more like, "Americans won't do those jobs for $7 an hour?" (By the way: An American trying to find a job in Mexico won't have much luck, as the jobs are "reserved" for Mexicans — what a novel idea.)

When will people figure out that by paying "illegals" rock-bottom wages while Americans, some of them veterans, are sleeping under overpasses, we are committing crimes against humanity on both sides?

Regardless of whether or not the immigrants know that, we do.

Lastly, though I could go on, why was it good enough for my family to come here legally, but not good enough for 12 or 15 million other people? Was my family a victim of discrimination?

Dave Santos

Dartmouth

www.southcoasttoday.com