Miscellaneous musings.
They're losing their own cause....
Published on June 22, 2007 By Rico Gregg In Current Events
I'm not going to try to stir up a hornet's nest with the subject of illegal immigration. There are good, well meaning people on both sides of this time bomb issue. The people who could be labeled "bleeding hearts" are trying to help poor, uneducated people reach the desirable dream of a better life in "el Norte." Groups like the Minutemen, as misguided as they might be, are passionate and truly care about their country. It's an issue that is volatile, and there are no easy answers to solve this problem.

There is one group of people that are misguided more than anybody else who cares about this issue: The immigrants themselves.

I live in Southern California, home territory to a large percentage of illegal aliens. I've crossed the border at Tijuana for day trips to Baja many times, and virtually every time, I've seen Mexicans either trying to cross the border illegally, or taking long looks northward from the other side of the fence. Immediatly north of the border, in the San Ysidro/Otay Mesa area of San Diego County, I've seen packs of them trying vainly to run north before the Border Patrol gets most of them. It's not the same thing, of course, but it was somewhat reminiscent of the old Cold War era films I used to see of people vainly trying to cross the border from East Berlin into the West. Their passion and desire is totally understandable. Their methods obviously leave something to be desired.

So do their actions among the lucky ones able to get here.

This isn't an indictment of every illegal immigrant, but the actions of some have me, a native Californian of Latino heritage (my grandfather, a prosperous businessman, came from Durango, legally, I might add), boiling at room temperature.

I've seen untold cases of alcoholism amongst illegals. Wandering L.A. area streets drunk, they have caused untold fistfights with "los gringos", (forgive my labeling, please), attempted sexual assaults with US women they could only dream of having, vandalism, graffiti, or "tagging", as if it was their property to do that with, rowdiness, crime, gang violence, and the apparent ignorance of the fact that they've invented indoor plumbing.

I can't count how many times one of them has approached me and just started off the top speaking Spanish to me. I don't speak a word of it. I tried when I was younger, but I never could catch on. Some of them get mad at me for not knowing Espanol, but Jeez, who's country are we in, anyway? Why is it that I HAVE to know Spanish? Is there some law somewhere that I somehow missed that says I have to know Spanish? Is there a logical reason that they can't meet us even a little bit towards halfways and learn at least a litttle bit of English? They want to stay here illegally, but they don't want to blend in with US citizens. Right.

I have been living my entire life as an American. Going to US schools. Learning US lessons. Working jobs in the US. Paying US taxes. Interacting with other US citizens. Can someone explain to me why I suddenly have to turn Mexican when I'm around certain people? My numerous relatives don't do that.

Another complaint I have is when there's a demonstration of one kind or another, many are waving their Mexican flags. Hello? Am I missing something there? I thought their issue was the US immigration policies. What the hell does Mexico have to do with it? I can answer that one: Mexico has NOTHING to do with it. All they're doing is leaving the impression that they think Mexico is better than the US. You know what most people would say to that, so I won't bother saying it.

If I could talk to these knotheads, I would say to them "Listen Amigo, leave the Mexican flags at home. You're only pissing people off, and you're hurting yourselves." But then, God Forbid common sense should take hold in these things.

Not everything in this issue is the fault of illegal immigrants. Greedy, sleazy coyotes, who sneak them across the border at great physical risk and great monetary cost are a huge problem. The real root cause, though, is the decades of corrupt, incompetent governments of Mexico and other Latin American capitols. The living standards they've created through years and years of stuffing their pockets at the expense of citizens has made "Middle Class" a fairy tale throughout Latin America. They've made it undesirable for many to live there. The lifestyle of Upper Lower Class families in the US must look palacial to illegals by comparison.

Any potential solution must include holding Latin American governments more accountable, and responsible for the health and well-being of it's citizens. Without that, it's hurting us. All of us.

In the meantime, illegals need to understand that it's not their country, and that things are different here. They need to show that they belong here, and deserve to be here. So far, I haven't seen much of that.

Comments
on Jun 22, 2007
I agree that the immigrants would help their cause if they assimilated better. I don't see as much of the criminal activity but I live in a small town in Texas. There is a large immigrant population here but the ones that I know are good, decent people. I know several families from my boy's school and from church. I think they caught on about the Mexican flags after the criticism of the first protests. I think they have a certain pride for their heritage even though the left their country to come here. As for the Spanish, I know here the businesses cater to the Spanish language because they want the immigrants money. I think most will eventually will learn English or at least their children will.

BTW, whenever I see your blog name I think of that song Rico, Suave. That just isn't a nice thing to do to a person to put that song in their head.
on Jun 22, 2007
I don't see as much of the criminal activity but I live in a small town in Texas


Perhaps because you choose not to? It's pretty damn hard to miss where I live.

There is a large immigrant population here but the ones that I know are good, decent people


What percentage of the total do you know? Five percent or less?

Where I live in Florida we have a very large immigrant population and a large percentage of them are illegals. Yeah, some of them are honest, hard working people. And a LOT of them aren't. The crime rates have gone up in direct proportion to the numbers of illegals who have moved into the area.
That's a simple fact, not an opinion.

The vast majority of the people who are arrested for break-ins, shoplifting, and robberies where I live are illegals. The areas where property values go down drastically are the same areas where there are large populations of illegals.

Tacking the handle "illegal" on someone doesn't automatically make them a "good, honest, hard-working person".



on Jun 22, 2007
What percentage of the total do you know? Five percent or less?


I have no idea how many illegal immigrant families there are in our town. Really, personal experience and anecdotal evidence counts for nothing. If you look at the illegal immigrant crime statistics you will see that they represent a small minority of criminals in this country. Your perception may be different but the statistics tell a different story. I know that not all illegal immigrants are good, hardworking people but I think more are than are not. Of course, that is my perception. I think the generalization that illegal immigrants are all criminally inclined is false.

This is just the conservative cause of the moment that the conservative talk radio hosts are fanning the flames on. When the Republicans lose more seats in Congress and the Senate in the next election, they will realize that they may have won the battle but they lost the war.
on Jun 22, 2007
personal experience and anecdotal evidence counts for nothing.


That's pure bullshit. Direct experience is the only thing that does count. In a court of law eye witness testimony counts far more than statistics or some other bullshit. You are living in a dream world and choose to refuse to see reality. They have medications for that.
on Jun 23, 2007
That's pure bullshit. Direct experience is the only thing that does count.


So you know from personal experience all 12 million illegal immigrants in this country and they are all committing crime that corresponds to their numbers in each community and that is a fact? I think that's pure bullshit. I'm think the fantasy world is the world where all illegal immigrants are maligned and villified as the source of all problems in our country. I can't believe I got sucked into this argument again. I believe what I believe. I know what I know. If you think I'm delusional, so be it.
on Jun 23, 2007
1st off, i find it ironic that mason belittles loca on her "personal experience" but then turns around and claims that one's "direct experience is the only thing that does count." i guess it only counts if it agrees with his "personal experience."

on the article...excellent writing. it is one perspective, granted, but like both loca and mason, you are certianly entitled to it and are not alone in your assertions.

i agree that the "assimilation factor" hasn't been quite what we who are already here would like it to be. i would submit a more "controversial " reasoning for that....

i believe there are many latinos, especially the ones who are actually mexican, that secretly, and sometimes not so secretly, really resent the fact that the southwest US is part of the US and not part of Mexico. I think there is some delusionary idealism within that community that someday Texas, California, and other parts of the southwest will once again be part of dear ol Mexico. I think some even associate coming over the border with a de facto "conquering" of the land by their squatting.

i think that , at least in part, contributes to the hostility towards assimilation.

on Jun 23, 2007
Illegals are still being deported from the United States, therefore the laws against being in this country illegally are still enforced, and enforcable. Therefore, all 12 million of them ARE criminals, by definition. Every day they break the law, and a misdemeanor at that, not even just a violation (I'm guessing most Americans break at least traffic laws every day). If they are caught, they go back to wherever they came from, therefore are fearful of the authorities such as the police, the INS, FBI, and everyone else. Therefore, felons (making a little distinction here - not all illegal immigrants are felons) are more likely to NOT be caught, because no-one in that neighborhood trusts the police, and no-one will talk to them. No witnesses, which as Mason points out is a big part of our legal system, means these people can pretty much get away with anything. So crime will grow based on the number of illegals in a neighborhood, whether or not those illegals are actually committing those crimes. I don't even want to know how many of the crimes that are committed remain unreported for the sake of staying in the country.
on Jun 24, 2007
Thank you all for your responses.

Locomama and MasonM, you bring out my point that this is a hot button issue. It was not my intention to stir up a debate, but I'm glad to read both of your comments. No two people, even Among those who agree, see things the same way.

Locomama, I'm not familiar with the song, but if it's a good song, then it can't be a bad thing.

MasonM, it looks like we've both seen the ugly side of the illegal immigrant situation, and something, who knows what, needs to be done. While I feel that the Minutemen have been misguided, I also feel that they've been misdirected. Instead of concentrating on the border, perhaps they should be concentrating their efforts on the illegals in urban areas like Los Angeles and Miami, where they already are. If you ask me, that's a bigger problem than anything at the border. Quick case in point: Director Bob Clark (Porky's, Look Who's Talking) and his 24 year old son were killed on Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu by a drunk driving illegal alien, who had previously been deported, had a job, and was openly raising his family here. Did the drunk driving illegal have any business being here?

Sean Conners, thank you for your nice words.

Jythier, you are aptly pointing out some sticky sides to this issue. Fear is a huge factor in all of this.
on Jun 24, 2007
another point...many people supporting this immigration bill say that they want to "bring the illegals out of the shadows" and fingerprint them, do a backround check, etc...then if they have any criminal infractions, the yare deported. so, does anybody honestly think that they are going to be coming forward if they have so much as a traffic or parking ticket in their past, even if it's paid?

the only way to get a handle on who is here is to do it in the workplace primarily. and if that happens, the employers have to bear their share of the accountability and punishment. but we hardly have the resources to enforce that it seems...so what magic spell is going to happen with this bill that would ever make that happen?

none.
on Jun 24, 2007
If we enforced the laws, and held the companies accountable - the big ones that can afford it - we can mete out enough fines from them to continue enforcement. But, government does not go after big corporations, unless they're just lying about their financial situation. That's wrong, because it might lose the rich politicians their investments. Anything else, and it's more... eh... that might hurt my investments, so we don't need to enforce it.
on Jun 25, 2007

Rico, First, welcome aboard!  You did pick a hot button issue to start off.

But to your article.  My wife's mother came from Guadelajara (sp) (legally as well), and she and all her sisters and brothers are bi-lingual.  However, their children are not.  They understand some spanish, but do not speak it very well (I am picking it up rapidly listening to them talk in english and then in Spanish in the same sentence).

I dont know if this is the norm, but it seems that second and later generation of immigrants ususally lose their ancestors native tongues.  My grandmother was 2nd Generation French, and she did speak it fluently, but neither my mother or I do (although like my wife's nieces and nephews - I understand a great deal of the spoken language).

And finally, as to the point of your article, I agree.  The debate here in the states would be more muted if those demonstrating for citizenship were not degrading the land they want to live in with upside down flags and flying the flags of other countries in their demonstrations.