Posted on 06/18/2005 9:16:58 AM PDT by Borax Queen
Wow! I had no idea that my column criticizing such close-the-border crusaders as CNN's Lou Dobbs, Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly and Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington would trigger such emotional responses. They do have a following, indeed!
In last week's column, which has since been published by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Arizona Daily Star and several other U.S. newspapers, I disputed claims that Hispanics are "taking over" the nation.
I had quoted Dobbs' April 14 on-air comment that "the invasion of illegal aliens is threatening the health of many Americans," because "highly contagious diseases are now crossing our borders." And I criticized Huntington's claim that "the biggest" threat to America's national identity "comes from the immense and continuing immigration from Latin America."
These claims are wrong, I said, because Hispanics over time are assimilating and because no amount of fences along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexican border will stop the flow of undocumented workers as long as the per capita income gap between the United States and Mexico remains as wide as it is ($36,000 vs. $9,000 a year.) The solution, I concluded, is helping narrow the U.S-Mexico per capita income gap.
It was only a matter of hours before my e-mail inbox started to fill up. Among the most polite ones:
œ "Lou Dobbs and Bill O'Reilly are not anti-immigrant. They, like the overwhelming majority of Americans, are opposed to illegal immigrants." - Jim Reid, San Diego
œ "I feel immigration should be stopped because of overcrowding. Your article missed the point! In California, our roads and schools are packed. The highways are a mess. And you want to add more drivers? c It has nothing to do with race." - Frank Lucia, San Diego
œ "Question: Are you advocating open borders to permit anyone to enter our country from anywhere at any time? Sounds that way to me. c What's wrong with you reporters? Are you un-American?" - Bryan Fulk, Tucson
œ "Your suggestion (that) the Lou Dobbs comments regarding diseases coming in with illegal immigrants was aimed at Hispanics is simply a calumny." - D.P. Jones, Miami.
œ "I was pleased to see you speak out about the bigoted nonsense that spews forth nightly on what I call 'The Lou Dobbs Hour of Hysteria.' Every night, the major segment of that program is called 'Broken Borders,' and it's never the Canadian border. c (It) can basically be reduced to, 'Oh my God, all those brown people speaking their funny language are flooding across the border and inundating the country!' " - Larry Jurrist, Hollywood, Fla.
My conclusion: For the record, I understand the concerns of critics of uncontrolled illegal immigration.
What I'm disputing is their assumption that spending millions of dollars to erect a 3.5-mile fence along the 2,000-mile-long border, or doubling the number of guards along the border, will stop the migration flow.
It's more likely to be a waste of time and money. The only solution will be helping narrow the income gap on both sides of the border.
Is his cluelessness in today's opening paragraph an act?
It's his clueless last two paragraphs that confirmed for me that he's a clown. And of course, at least one of his readers is also.
U.S. Constitution Article 4 Section 4:
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
Well, I know he doesn't mean that ours will be rising. Leveling the playing field is so third way. Taking from those that have to give to those that want.
Well, this clown probably now has fodder for a coupla dozen more articles.
(1) When it comes to border security, these liberals all of a sudden become such fiscal tightwads. You'd probably peruse his columns in vain to find any other concern over excessive Government spending outside of National Defense. But spend a few paltry millions on a border security fence, and they wax wroth over profligate waste.
(2) If any conservative wants to "stop the migration flow" he is branded a racist-- even by some members of this forum. Here the liberal is just dying to stop the migration flow, but, sadly, regrettably he admits that it just isn't possible. How convenient.
The only solution will be helping narrow the income gap on both sides of the border.
Oh right, now we can have the War on Mexican Poverty!
I'd go with the mult-million dollar fence, it will be
WAY cheaper!!!
your pickup reminds me,
didja ever see those tijuana pickups loaded with mattresses and washing machines on the 1-5?
some of them wobble, but the chp pays them no attention.
The only realistic way of realizing this any time soon is to invade, topple the Fox regime, gut the current Mexican government at all levels from local to national and annex our 51st state. Who would've though Oppenheimer was such an imperialist?
Jinx URGENT!!! Check you FR mail!
Is this clown willing to take a 70% pay cut?
{crickets}
I thought so . . .
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
Fearmongers? I don't think so. I think most Americans (should) fear drug-resistant tuberculosis, leprosy, chiagas, and assorted other diseases that had been pretty much wiped out in America until illegal aliens started bringing them back to us.
Maybe Oppenheimer should do some research on the subject before he spouts off.
I think one way to narrow the income gap is to send back ALL illegal aliens, especially the kids who have been raised and educated in the US. In short order those folks would start a revolution in Mexico and possibly kick out the corrupt people who now keep the average person poor and ignorant.
At least it's worth a try.
susie
"Andres Oppenheimer is a Latin American correspondent…. He lives in Mexico City & Miami..."
http://www.twbookmark.com/authors/5/1391/
The newspaper's employee is just another clown whose only knowledge of a subject comes from chatting with friends and watching the MSM. Obviously Dobbs and O'Reilly shocked him. He had to write a column to express his alarm.
"some of them wobble, but the chp pays them no attention."
They don't waste their time since the illegals driving them would never show up in court or pay the ticket and they know it.
We MUST show our outrage and demand our nation be defended.
I think some in govt. are hoping for exactly what you say. That when these people go back, they'll take capitalism back with them. But, what they're practicing here isn't capitalism.
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