Immigrants Day Off

[robertc729]

What impact did this have on you? Does it prove that illegal immigrants are needed, or does it cause resentment toward those who left everyone in a difficult position that depended on them to do a job?

[BlaznBlu]

It actually did not directly impact me today. But I'm sure somehow we will feel some impact from all the businesses affected. I feel bad for the small, independent business owners who lost today, but also agree that more recognition must be given to those who are willing do the jobs that even US welfare recipients don't have to take.

One thing I wish to change for today is the title: "Immigrants Day Off". I think all appreciate the fact that people immigrate here using proper channels to make a better life for themselves, and the title is not truly reflective of what today means. My understanding of this is that it is to try to support the 13 million who came here illegally. So I would have liked to see it called "Illegal Immigrants Day Off". Just my thoughts.

[Shea]

Most low and middle class people live pay check to pay check. IMO, this day off would effect them more than me.

[robertc729]

I agree, I should have added "Illeagal" to the title.

[TechJD]

Well unless your American Indian then you an immigrate to this country

[drgibson]

Well I loved the fact that traffic was lighter and that the ratio of insured motorist went up.

[AZkatana]

i agree with the call to specify this as an ILLEGAL immigrants day off. seems here in AZ half the population is mexican and most are illegal and i know more than a few immigrants that became citizens legally who are pretty disappointed with the whole situation.


i say get them all out of here and put these damned teenagers to work.

as far as personal impact, i had forgotten all about it - even as i was enjoying my tostada from the local baja fresh restaurant today!

[hammersfan]

Originally Posted by TechJD

Well unless your American Indian then you an immigrate to this country

Wrong. If you were born in the USA or Canada then you are a citizen of that country. An immigrant is someone who moved from a different country.

[chrisan]

I loved it because the traffic was light.. Anyway, I am an immigrant, I came here to work for an animation company that made my papers. I know the feeling of being undocumented while i was waiting for my O1 visa and doing "Internship", also the fact that I was given low starting salary, and exposed until I got my green card and become independent. It was still a good deal for me in the beggining and probably for some poor mexican washing dishes somewhere too, but I can tell you that there's some serious abuse going on.

When I first visited US, I was struck by how people were really welcoming and nice, unlike Europe. But later I found out that there is a reason. Here no one gets much help from the goverment, so I wasn't on anyones' way. Simply put, it's the Wild West. America is not a social country ulike most of the European countries, if you fall from the horse, you are down, if you stay you are on for the ride, so people don't care much if you stay or go, acctually the bussiness people love it, creates competition...

There shoud be some recognition that the illigals are here to work. They don't get much in return. They can't integrate with their hands tighten behind their backs, no ID, no bank account, that's why those people live together and don't learn the language, they are cut off from the socciety, and they are fed up.

I say there ought to be a clear immigration law. And they should start with the employers. Face it, if there is no jobs available there won't be immigrants. Americans can't simply want cheap labor and complain about the hordes of mexicans invading their country. Pay some decent money for a gardener and someone with american passport may take the job. But then it won't be capitalism will it.

[tlwisner]

I'm not an immigrant, I was born here. An immigrant is a person who moves from one country to another.

The protest had no effect on me, but I do sympathize with those illegal immigrants who are looking to work and make something of themselves. A lot of welfare addicted US citizens could learn something from them.

The employers who use these illegals as second class humans really need to be slammed, but they donate enough compaign money that they are safe. Legalize these people so that they can't be threatened and blackmailed by slimy employers who treat them like Vietnamese children in a Nike factory outside Hanoi...

[buechee]

Originally Posted by robertc729

What impact did this have on you? Does it prove that illegal immigrants are needed, or does it cause resentment toward those who left everyone in a difficult position that depended on them to do a job?

Did nothing for me. But I got to ask, if it puts you in a difficult position, doesn't that mean you need them? You asked the same question and worded it in a different way. If it had any impact on you than that would prove that you need them. So to get mad and resent what they did might mean you really need them and their cause has worked. Or at least it work for those that it has impacted.

[viper94bite]

Them ****s slowed down the traffic flow. Thats about it. As far as i'm concerned call the INS and deport em all. If they want to be here so bad then go through the right channels and do it legally. Otherwise there is nothing they can do that I can't do myself.

[italian biker]

I understand them wanting a better life, but that does not give them the right to break another country's laws, nor does it give them to the right to demand amnesty, or other rights. If you want in, do it legally, and I have no problem with it. When ever someone states this, all they do is scream racism.
Also remember, some of these people don't actually come here to work, they come here to commit crime, ie...illegal drug trafficking. Some to collect benefits of social security and welfare that they never paid into.
Our country survived yesterday just fine without them. We didn't grind to a halt as the advocates said would happen. I purposely went shopping yesterday and spent over 100.00, it's my own way to counter protest. And to top it off, to really tick off the liberals, I bought two boxes of bullets for my carry gun.

[Sandman]

Did not affect me, but the tobacco farmers in this state could not operate without them. (illegal immigrant = cheap labor = reasonably priced product) The fact of the matter is that this has been allowed to go on for so long that it is not economically practical to return 12 million workers to their native land, at least all at once. At bare minimum, they all need to be accounted for, and taxed accordingly as the rest of us are. Just my 2 cents.

[stevie c]

Bloody hell, I didn't even know about this!

So was it organised by the immigrants or by the government?

I don't know how it works over there, but over here we are a really soft touch, immigrants go straight to the top of the housing list, pushing single mums, etc down. Then they get a bank account and my tax pays money into it.......

.......but I have no problem with people emigrating to work and to become a valuable member of any community.

[D_Klein]

No lawn care was done in Phoenix yesterday.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by viper94bite

Them ****s slowed down the traffic flow. Thats about it. As far as i'm concerned call the INS and deport em all. If they want to be here so bad then go through the right channels and do it legally. Otherwise there is nothing they can do that I can't do myself.

Why the hostility? I heard an interview this morning with a middle-eastern man. He and his wife are both doctors and have tried for many years to become citizens. Do you have the slightest idea how difficult it is and how long it takes? You might not be so forceful if you knew what it's like. Wait until you've been around a few more years, then see if it's so black and white.

[stp1971]

Well no houses got bricked or roofed in Atlanta yesterday. I agree with Viper but with a little less tone. I do agree that they should come here legally. As far as getting citizenship I know it is a hard task to do but nothing in this world is free. I do know that they will grant them a VISA and they can work here and also work on building citizenship.

The original things that started alot of this was the goverment wanting them to pay taxes to help contribute to the system they are getting to take advantage of as well.

I don't mind if they come over here and work. I don't mind if they come over here and don't want to become citizens. I do mind though when they get to go to the doctors, the hospitals, the schools, and other tax funded agencies and get to reap the benefits without contributing to it.

Why should I work for 40 to 60 hours a week and the goverment collects the first 3-4 days of my pay in taxes to support someone who will not do the same???

If they are legally here then they might very well be able to demand higher wages and if there is illegal workers on the job site then the legal ones will not feel affraid to report the company for not paying fair wages and hiring illegals.

[italian biker]

Rowdy Red,
I believe some of the hostility towards this illegal immigration movement comes from is the fact that these people feel that it is ok to break the law and get away with it, then when called on it, they scream that it's racism if you are against them, playing the race card once again, and most people are sick of it. They're demanding amnesty, and they're demanding that they have more rights to jump to the front of the citizenship line then the legal immigrants who've earned it. Some go as far as saying we need to bow to their culture and accomadate them not being able to speak English, in our country, not theirs. Our tax dollars, our education systems, our healthcare systems are burdened heavily by people who don't pay back into the system, but reap the benefits and services. Then the farthest radical idea is that some of the states belong to Mexico, and they have the right to be there, and will take them back. You don't sell your house then expect to be able to come back as you please and sit down on the couch of the new owner, do you?

[MagnumForce]

Listen to the Italian biker. I'll bet my left one that his ancestors immigrated here legally.