Immigration

While in class on my break I was reading this article on aol about illegal immigrants entering by way of the Pacific Ocean from Tijuana to California. I'm no racist, so when I say this, don't take it the wrong way...I think that if you can't get here the legal way, then don't get here the illegal way. This goes for Hispanics, people from the Caribbean, Africans, Europeans, Asians, basically people from all walks of life. I don't care who you are, do it the right way. I'm all for helping out others, but I am not all for helping out others who get here illegally.

Bottom line is this: you are a criminal. No, you didn't kill anyone or steal...but you did break the law. You did come illegally. Illegal immigrants come over and are able to get all kinds of benefits, that I cannot get. I'm talking credit cards, credit, homes, cars, etc...meanwhile, some, if not most, don't pay their hospital bills and are on welfare. Then, when they do get work, do they pour their money back in to the US? No! They send it to relatives in Mexico. I understand you're trying ot help your family, but you're here illegally, taking advantage of our government, getting welfare, and to top it off, YOU'RE NOT EVEN HELPING THE ECONOMY!!!

I've talked to some of my Hispanic students and they say, "But, Coach. You don't understand how hard it is in Mexico. We need to come over here. It's rough over there." My response is always this: "My best friends are both not natural American citizens. Lidya is from Ethiopia, and moved to Sudan when she was 6 months. You may have heard of the genocide that's going on over there. I'd say she and her family definitely had it rough. But she still came here the legal way. Matter of fact her grandmother died, and it was only after her death that she was accepted into the States. My other best friend is from the Virgin Islands, and while there is no particular sort of violence or hardship going on, she could have taken the easy route and come here illegally. Instead her parents went through the proper channels. I'm sympathetic to what you are saying, but that does not mean that coming into the States illegally is right."

All I'm saying is that if you want to live here, do it the right way. Plus, not to sound completely like a moron or an insensitive jerk...there is way too much violence and crime currently in Mexico for people to just be coming over here illegally. In this article, they stated that not only are the people coming illegally; but that they are bringing drugs as well. That's one more thing the US does not need: drugs.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again...come correct or don't come at all. Either get here the right way or stay behind in Mexico.

Oh! and another pet peeve...when you get here, learn English! It annoys me immensely when foreigners come to the US (not just Hispanics) and they do not learn English. I do not appreciate the fact that some people have been here for years and do not bother to learn the language. It's annoying to me when I have to have a conference with a parent and they can't speak English. They have to rely on their child to translate. It's annoying because sometimes there just isn't a better way of putting words in a simpler term. It's hard to see the 7 or 8 year old struggle to find a way translate what I am saying. Then, the child keeps asking me to define what I mean...learn English! I also think that it is unfair the way that we have things in Spanish as well as English. If we can't make accommodations for all languages, then we don't need to make accommodations for Spanish speaking people.

And stop creating these little villages. Little Italy, Little Mexico, Chinatown, etc. Trying to recreate what you had back home. I understand that you want to hold onto your customs and traditions, and I applaud that. However, I don't applaud you setting up companies and businesses and only hiring your race. Yet, you can apply to jobs within corporate America. We have affirmative action, but I don't see other races working in say, a Mexican or Asian restaurant. If you can't hire us, then don't try to work in corporate America.

I know I may come across as ignorant or just plain wrong in your opinion. But this is my blog and I am entitled to what I feel. I just hate it when people come here illegally, reap all kinds of benefits, set up businesses and won't hire people not of their race, and then turn around and send the profits outside of the US (effectively not contributing to the US economy).

I'm not asking you to renounce your culture, but I am asking you to contribute to the job market and to the economy...and GET HERE THE LEGAL WAY!!!!