Latina Lista: Comments

Comment on "Analysis reveals driving out undocumented immigrants doesn't bode well for congressional representation"

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:23:17 -0600

Linda "Amesty," Your comment exhibits a very common rationale, if that's what it can be called, to blame everything bad in a city or town on the undocumented. Why is that? The idea that they are running prostitution rings and gangs is extremely hard to believe. And you talk about running down the neighborhood with trash and homes converted to slum houses. Well, if that is the case, and I don't know, then it's up to the local officials to educate everyone who is doing that - and not just the undocumented - who don't know how to take care of a homestead.

It's very easy to blame people you don't like for the things that are going wrong or are bad in a city but it's quite another for it to be true.

- Marisa Treviño

Comment on "Guest Voz: First Latino President-elect of American Bar Association speaks out about civic education"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:52:17 -0600

For some reason, Cubans excel in education, while those from South of the Border do not.

Why is that?

- Linda Amesty

Comment on "Analysis reveals driving out undocumented immigrants doesn't bode well for congressional representation"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:23 -0600

Really, "In the past two years, there has been an irrational vengeance by some state legislators to drive undocumented immigrants out of their states"

Irrational? I lived in Virginia and the illegals were devastating neighborhoods.

We had increases in crime. Prostitution. Gangs. Trash on the streets. Homes converted to slum houses. Petty theft.

It goes on.

I don't think it was irrational to want to remove these elements.

- Linda Amesty

Comment on "Credit card companies build reward programs from the pocketbooks of low-income, non-card holding minorities "

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:26:26 -0600

It's OK really (It all comes out in the wash!). The poor get it back via the higher taxes that the "wealthy" credit-card users pay (i.e. in W.I.C., Free/Reduced Lunches, EIC Tax Freebie, et-al)

- Phil

Comment on "GOP should take a cue from Lou Dobbs and resign their attack strategy on illegal immigration"

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:50:33 -0600

Julie, You've fallen victim, to put it mildly, lies. No Latino immigrant, legal or otherwise, takes advantage of "free stuff" which I'm assuming you mean as public benefits.

They do have pride and they have fear that even walking into these offices would adversely affect them. Now, if you're talking about second, third, fourth generation Latinos then that's a different story. Research has shown that among later generations they aren't fulfilling the potential with more drop-outs, low-wage jobs, etc.

For what it's worth, the people with the most pride are the ones you've heard are taking advantage of our system. It's simply not true.

- Marisa Treviño

Comment on "GOP should take a cue from Lou Dobbs and resign their attack strategy on illegal immigration"

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:24:12 -0600

It always go back to race doesn't it? Well race has nothing to do with this issue. If you want to become an American, just come here and take care of yourself. We do not want to take care of everyone elses kids when we are struggling to take care of our own.
Come here and be a proud American and take care of your own families.
DON"T COME HERE JUST FOR THR FREE STUFF. Have some pride and you will be accepted.

- Julie B

Comment on "Over three thousand undocumented military veterans battling deportation orders"

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:37:28 -0600

Actually you can become a citizen through marriage and in some cases through work visas (certainly you can get a Green Cared that way). Application and birth are not nearly the only ways. And often applying - with no connections to the US do little good. But that's a story for another time.

The more I see people talk about this the more I realize that very few actually know anything about immigration process or law. And since it's been changing a lot the last few years, why would you? It's a tough issue to follow. But it would be great if those that wanted to speak authoritatively did some homework.

- Briana

Comment on "Analysis reveals driving out undocumented immigrants doesn't bode well for congressional representation"

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:59:58 -0600

(as in Oklahoma where it has become illegal for anyone to knowingly transport an undocumented immigrant)

According to Federal law, it's illegal for anyone to knowing transport an illegal alien IN ANY STATE. You make it sound like this is a law only in Oklahoma.

By the way, I am totally opposed to illegal aliens being counted in the 2010 census. They are not citizens, they are here illegally, and they should not be taken into consideration when it comes to congressional representation. Of course, you will now call me racist.

- Grandma

Comment on "Analysis reveals driving out undocumented immigrants doesn't bode well for congressional representation"

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:06:13 -0600

I suppose these unenlightened states will not benefit by the immigrant's hard labor. What they don't sow will not be reaped.

- David O. Garcia

Comment on "Deporting undocumented students affects the chances for legal return if Congress doesn't address it in immigration reform bill"

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:03:43 -0600

I wouldn't be opposed to legislation like the dream-act if pro-immigrant activists would concede to the deportation of others unlawfully in the United States. Others like gangbangers, rapist, child molesters, drug dealers, drunk drivers, murderers, etc. It seems to me that these activists are pushing an all or nothing agenda. Sadly, this is at the expense of bright and promising students.

- OneBlkVoice

Comment on ""Silent" immigration raid in Minneapolis is more humane but still traumatic for mixed-status families"

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:57:10 -0600

I haven't seen any proof of a shortage of white workers in the future but even if that were so why woud we be replacing them today with millions of illegal workers? Shouldn't we wait till that shortage occurs first? Why not replace them with white immigrant workers then so we can retain the demographics of our country? Or is that considered racist but not racist if we replace them with mostly Hispanic workers?

- cookie

Comment on "Deporting undocumented students affects the chances for legal return if Congress doesn't address it in immigration reform bill"

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:34:29 -0600

Enforcement of any of our laws should never be put on hold just because they may or may not change in the future. That is ridiculous thinking.

- cookie

Comment on "Deporting undocumented students affects the chances for legal return if Congress doesn't address it in immigration reform bill"

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:48:57 -0600

I'm an undocumented graduated 2009. I'm currently working an a bad environment which means no works comp, no insurance plus 8 dollars an hour wage. After 2 years of hard studying. For what?

- anmsberto

Comment on "Ret. Maj. Gen. Alfred Valenzuela: A Voice for Forgotten Immigrant Soldiers"

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:02:30 -0600

This is a first time response to any blog. I was moved to respond after reading so many misguided and underinformed posts related to General Valenzuela's book. These responses as much as any indicator point out the gap in appreciation for the bravery and valor of the Latino soldier ...or contributions by Latinos in American society in general.

Here's my take: General Valenzuela has risen to the highest pinacle of military leadership. In his 33 years, one can only imagine what he endured beyond what was required to earn 3 stars on his lapel. He spent 33 years climbing, breaking barriers, blazing a trail, etc. to wind up leading all U.S. military assets from the Texas / Mexico border ...to Antartica (think about that), what an American success story!! All those years, he had to have a dream that things would be better for others like him back home: bright, scrappy, willing to give a task its all ...if only given a fair shake and a chance. This is an idea worth fighting for: with liberty and justice for all.

Well look around people, today, close to 60% of Latino kids nationally are failed by the education system and do not finish high school, that most basic building block towards the American dream of a slice of the prosperity pie. Re-read the sentence above substituting in the words "AMERICAN KIDS" or "our future workforce" for "Latinos":

"Close to 60% of American kids are failed by our system of education and do not finish high school, the most basic building block of success in this culture."

If the re-read version saddened you more or made you fighting mad and demanding action, look yourself in the mirror and ask why the difference.

One blog entry had the tumerity to throw in illegal immigration into a discussion about saluting fallen soldiers wearing the uniform of our country. Take a note, all, until all of the southwest and western states were gangstered away by force of arms, these prime lands (TX, NM, CA, NV, AZ, OR, UT, OK) were MEXICO. we're talking a little more than 100 years ago. The people that were on this side of the new border have not yet stopped catching the hell of one short-stick deal or another. Let's drop the masks that make it OK for ANY kid in America not to have food, safety, healthcare or a shot to maximize his/her gifts through education. In our present system, if the Wright Brothers or Thomas Edison were born to Texano bordertown parents, there's a good chance the world would still be walking crosscountry to grandmas and lighting candles to read by at night for the chances they would be given through formalized channels. ...but I digress.

I know for a fact that some of the kid soldiers General Valenzuela commemorates in his book (partly because they would likely not be celebrated in few if any other public ways) were returned in boxes to families that lived so close to the edge as not to have had funds for a decent service and burial. As an African American, this situation brings to mind the African American troops fighting for the rights of others on foreign soil then returning from WWI and WWII, to find a land that celebrated this selfless service with institutionalized poverty, blatant brutality, legalized inequality, political disenfrachisement at the business end of a billy club and general disregard as a whole citizen. It seems to me that the times haven't changed all that much, not for these kids, many of them poor and wrapping themselves in the uniform of this great country and hoping for a better way of life for themselves and their families and maybe a bit of appreciation or respect, mabe hoping that things would be a little better for the next generation coming along.

Getting back to General Valenzuela, a decorated American hero, history maker (then the highest ranking latino in active duty military service) and intelect of the highest order. Upon retirement, what did he DO? He started a foundation to assist with the educational expenses of the children of fallen warriors so they can maximize their natural abilities. He started a charter school in his old neighborhood to give more kids an educational chance, the great equalizer.

General Alfred Valenzuela is a gentleman, a man of action, a patriot and a great American who I salute and wish more folks would immulate through their own form of selfless action to make OUR country a better place. What have YOU done? What can you do? God may bless America, but we've got to do our part every day.

- Tim

Comment on "Guest Voz: NJ Mayor says it makes sense to grant citizenship to undocumented immigrants"

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:21:38 -0600

Thanks for posting, here. I agree with most of what you say.

Except for this:

America will never support the destruction of the nuclear family.

DHS does exactly that every day, but not en masse. DHS splits up families without consideration of the harm to citizen family members left behind. Whatever Obama or Napolitano say about immigration, they do so as if this fact does not exist, as if they are not ripping apart nuclear families by the thousands.

I very much like this:

We must accept the only rational course and admit that our past border policies have failed.

They have failed, but fixing them is not on the agenda. There is bipartisan support for a path to citizenship for most undocumented here now, but there has been little thought given to what comes after. The global inequality that draws people to the U.S. and the restrictive hodgepodge of laws that keeps poor migrants out and pushes many legal entrants out of status are not likely to be changed much, at least not on the current track.

The restrictionists' complaint that, if we continue as we have been, we will simply need another amnesty in 20 years is right. But spending more money to do the country economic harm by keeping out immigrants doesn't make sense. We need a different model.

- Dave Bennion

Comment on "Low Latino voter turnout in NJ and VA elections reveal a return to the old ways "

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:41:16 -0600

No one race DOES have a lock on any seat but what has race to do with it anyway? Being more or less qualified is in the eyes of the beholder I guess.

The rest of your remarks in regards to Obama's election is just your opinion and not based on fact, Karen.

- cookie

Comment on "Low Latino voter turnout in NJ and VA elections reveal a return to the old ways "

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:32:39 -0600

No one race should have a
lock on any Senate seat or political office. I just don't think that Salazar's replacement was the most qualified person for the job, and certainly not more qualified that John Salazar. Of course, John Salazar is free to run for the office in 2010.

And please don't lecture me about racism. Why do you think that we still need the Voting Rights Act? That legislation doesn't just protect the right to vote, it protects minorities against gerrymandering.

As for Obama, the majority of white people did not even vote for him. Democrats never win a majority of white voters, so that is not a surprise. But Obama lost the white votes in states throughout country, not just in the South.

The Latino vote pushed him over the top in many states that Democrats don't normally win, such as North Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Nevada, Florida, New Mexico, etc.

So please don't use Obama's victory to lecture me about what a racist Hispanic I am and how fair and open minded white people are. If Latinos hadn't voted for him in such big numbers, he wouldn't be in office. If only 43% of Latinos had voted for him, like 43% of white people did, Latinos would be branded 'racist' by the media.

http://www.slate.com/id/2204464/sidebar/2204528/

- karen

Comment on "Guest Voz: NJ Mayor says it makes sense to grant citizenship to undocumented immigrants"

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:25:50 -0600

What happens when we are as poor as the Country they left?

- Diane Dugan

Comment on "GOP should take a cue from Lou Dobbs and resign their attack strategy on illegal immigration"

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:37:57 -0600

By the way, I agree with Lou's general view on illegal immigration is an problems that need to be stopped (NOT by legalizing them). I think the sense of entitlement is extremely disgusting especially for those who are here illegally, yet DEMAND to be provided with resources & opportunities just like everyone else. Of all groups, the Latino groups are the worst: they are the biggest offender of illegal immigration by far, yet they are also the loudest group with the most demand on entitlements.

I don't agree with Lou that stopping illegal immigration is about retaining American's identity. I think American's identity is an ever-shifting one. If it happens to turn Latino, black, Asian, or whatever, I am fine with it. But not if it is changed by illegal invasions. Stopping illegal immigration is about fairness. Fairness to people who are in the country legally (born or immigrated), paying taxes and following the rules.

- tigerjuju

Comment on "GOP should take a cue from Lou Dobbs and resign their attack strategy on illegal immigration"

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:19:54 -0600

First of all, I am an immigrant who followed the law to get to America. I find it offensive to call illegal immigrants "undocumented" to pander to political correctness.

Not to claim I know for sure Lou is telling the full truth, your claim of Lou's "lies" is not any more convincing either. The fact is an average person like myself has no sure way to determine the truthfulness of most information fed to us by the media.

Lastly, why do people believe illegals have the "right" for health care coverage, especially if it is paid by US tax dollar? I don't mind if they pay to participate, which is fair, even though they should not be here in the first place. But they should NEVER get subsidized.
Why is it not fair to deny people who did not come here legally from EVERYTHING that is paid for by the public money? No publicly funded education, no public funded insurance, etc etc.
I am open to have exceptions for real extreme circumstances. If they got seriously injured, give them treatment. But they ought to be sent home afterward just the same as if they were captured at the border. If they rather not to get treated than being deported, it is their own choice.
People who wants to help the unfortunate ones from all over the world, God bless you. Fund it with you own damn money until you are broke, I don't care. But don't use the tax dollar that is funded by everyone else.

- tigerjuju