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IMMIGRATION
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INVASION ? |
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Excelsior, the national newspaper of Mexico, "The American southwest seems to be slowly returning to the jurisdiction of Mexico without firing a single shot." |
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SPANISH AMERICAN ANTHEM
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response to a spanish version of the American National Anthem,
President George W. Bush
said the national anthem should be sung in English — not Spanish
— in a blunt rejection of the new version.
Bush made his comments at a Rose Garden
news conference just after a Spanish-language version of "The
Star-Spangled Banner," hit the airways featuring artists such
as Wyclef Jean, hip-hop star Pitbull and Puerto Rican singers Carlos
Ponce and Olga Tanon.
Called "Nuestro Himno" —
"Our Anthem" — the Spanish version rewrites some of the
English version. For instance, the second stanza says, "My
people keep fighting. It's time to break the chains."
"I think people who want to be a
citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to
learn to sing the national anthem in English," Bush said.
British
music producer Adam Kidron, who came up with the idea of the Spanish
anthem, said it was not intended to discourage immigrants from
learning English or embracing American culture.
"We instead view `Nuestro Himno' as
a song that affords those immigrants that have not yet learned the
English language the opportunity to fully understand the character
of 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' the American flag and the ideals of
freedom that they represent," Kidron said in a written
statement.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said he
would introduce a Senate resolution "giving senators an
opportunity to remind the country why we sing our national anthem in
English." Noting that America is a nation of immigrants,
Alexander said, "We are proud of the countries we have come
from, but we are prouder to be Americans." |
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Jose Pescador Osuna, Mexican Consul General, "We are practicing 'La Reconquista'
in California." |
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HISPANIC BOYCOTT
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Los Angeles
restaurant worker Jose Mendez says he will risk his job.
The 45-year-old illegal immigrant plans to skip work and march for
immigrant rights on Monday, May 1, 2006, for one reason: He hopes
someday to become a legal resident of the United States. After six
years here, he wants to visit the family he left behind in Mexico
— without fear of arrest on his way back.
Lupe Moreno, 48, a Santa Ana social worker, American citizen and
advocate for immigration control, will not join in the national
boycott of work, school and consumer spending. After she finishes
work, she said, she will engage in her own form of activism:
purchasing a $1,000 big-screen TV to "support the U.S. economy
as a proud Latino American."
And Luis Magana, a worker at the Sara Lee Bakery Group factory in
Vernon, is still torn about what to do. "We want to show that
our work counts. We pay taxes and help the economy," Magana
said, referring to himself and his fellow workers. "But we need
our jobs too."
Across California and the nation, workers and employers, students
and teachers, consumers and producers are grappling with what to do
on May 1, long celebrated as an international workers day. Calls by
immigrants rights groups for marches and boycotts have forced them
to weigh the risks of losing jobs, missing school and sacrificing
business revenue to demonstrate the clout of immigrants in the
struggle for reform.
The outcome is difficult to predict.
In Los Angeles, police are preparing for two major marches,
estimating the combined turnout at about 500,000. One, sponsored by
the March 25 Coalition of mostly Latino grass-roots organizations,
is scheduled to begin at noon and move from Olympic Boulevard and
Broadway to City Hall.
The other, sponsored by the We Are America coalition of labor,
religious and community groups, is set to begin at 4 p.m. in
MacArthur Park and proceed along Wilshire Boulevard to La Brea
Avenue.
The two events represent somewhat of a split in opinion, with the
Olympic march organizers supporting the worker and consumer boycott,
and the MacArthur park activists taking a neutral stance. Some
behind this march — including Cardinal Roger M. Mahony — oppose
the boycott as counterproductive.
Locally and nationally, organizers expect to draw more diverse
crowds into the streets.
In Chicago, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and members of his Rainbow
Coalition have pledged to participate. And in Los Angeles, some
African American community leaders, Korean American churches and
businesses, Filipino workers, South Asian immigrants, Jews and
Muslims have all announced their intent to march.
Some warn that any boycott may backfire.
"My personal view is that I do not think it helps," said
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a co-sponsor of a Senate bill that would
create a guest worker program and provide a path to citizenship for
many illegal immigrants. "I think it may have a negative
impact, but I'm not advising any Latino or Hispanic group what to
do."
Spanish-language disc jockey Renan "El Cucuy" Almendarez
Coello, who helped mobilize as many as 500,000 protesters in
downtown Los Angeles in March, said the boycott goes against what
immigrants represent.
"We are hard workers," he said. "We came to the
United States to work. We should work Monday. Work dignifies
us."
Immigrant rights activists, however, said they were prepared for any
adverse reaction, and were counting on supporters' passion to keep
the movement strong.
Feelings are running so high in some heavily Latino areas that many
employers don't feel comfortable not closing for the day.
In Maywood, where 78% of the city's 30,000 residents are Latino,
"they don't want to deal with the headache of showing up for
work and having fingers pointed at them," said City Councilman
Sam Peña.
For some workers, the decision of what to do — to boycott or not,
even to march or not — fills them with fear. But many also are
excited, infused with a sense of historical destiny.
"This is so we can all walk free," said food vendor Maria
Aguilar, "those of us who have papers and those who
don't."
The atmosphere in other U.S. cities, such as Atlanta and Houston,
appeared to be different. Organizers of boycotts and demonstrations
there said recent immigration raids probably would intimidate many
workers into staying on the job.
But a resolve to take action seemed strong among many immigrants in
Southern California. In Santa Ana, Socorro Murillo, 43, a janitor,
and Maria del Carmen Rosa, 24, a clothing store worker, both said
they would not skip the boycott or protests, no matter the
consequences.
"I think it's important not to show up, to show that this is a
special day," said Murillo. "It's a day that we should be
remembered as Latino immigrants who took an important step to show
our worth in the economy."
Students, too, were grappling with what to do. Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jack O'Connell and Los Angeles Unified School District
Superintendent Roy Romer all have called on them to stay in class on
Monday. In Los Angeles, Pomona and elsewhere, unexcused absences
could draw fines.
Roosevelt High School student Alejandra Castro, 18, had planned to
boycott school, with her mother's blessing, but changed her mind
after the district's April 18 letter warning that students could
face repercussions if they skipped classes.
"It's my senior year," Castro said. "All I want to do
is graduate."
Others, however, said they would take the risk.
Roosevelt High School junior Claudia Leon won't miss her Advanced
Placement Spanish exam on May 2, but skipping school the day before
means she'll miss the review class. Like many of her friends, Leon
feels that missing one day is a small price to pay for a larger
cause.
"I want to support my people," said Leon, whose family
came to the United States illegally. |
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Professor Jose Angel Gutierrez, University of Texas; "We have an aging white America. They are not making babies. They are dying. The explosion is in our population . . . I love it.
I love it." |
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SPORTS
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On February 15, 1998, the U.S. and Mexican soccer teams met at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The crowd was overwhelmingly pro-Mexican even though most lived in this country. They booed during the National Anthem and U.S. flags were held upside down. As the match progressed, supporters of the U.S. team were insulted, pelted with projectiles, punched and spat upon. Beer and trash were thrown at the U.S. players before and after the match. The coach of the U.S. team, Steve Sampson said, "This was the most painful experience I have ever had in this profession." |
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Augustin Cebada, Brown Berets; "Go back to Boston! Go back to Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims! Get out! We are the future. You are old and tired. Go on. We have beaten you. Leave like beaten rats. You old white people. It is your duty to die . . . |
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DAVID J. STODDARD, US Border Patrol
(Ret)
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"There is a huge amount of
propaganda and myths circulating about illegal aliens, particularly
illegal Mexican, Salvadorian, Guatemalan and Honduran aliens.
1. Illegal aliens generally do NOT want U.S. citizenship. Americans
are very vain thinking that everybody in the world wants to be a U.S.
citizen. Mexicans, and other nationalities want to remain
citizens of their home countries while obtaining the benefits
offered by the United States such as employment, medical care, in-state
tuition, government subsidized housing and free education for their
offspring. Their main attraction is employment and their loyalty
usually remains at home. They want benefits earned and subsidized by
middle class Americans. What illegal aliens want are benefits of
American residence without paying the price.
2. There are no jobs that Americans won't do. Illegal aliens are
doing jobs that Americans can't take and still support their
families. Illegal aliens take low wage jobs, live dozens in a single
residence home, share expenses and send money to their home country.
There are no jobs that Americans won't do for a decent wage.
3. Every person who illegally entered this nation left a home. They
are NOT homeless and they are NOT Americans. Some left jobs in their
home countries. They come to send money to their real home as
evidenced by the more than 20 billion dollars sent out
of the country each year by illegal aliens. These illegal aliens
knowingly and willfully entered this nation in violation of the law
and therefore assumed the risk of detection and deportation. Those
who brought their alien children assumed the responsibility and risk
on behalf of their children.
4. Illegal aliens are NOT critical to the economy. Illegal aliens
constitute less than 5% of the workforce. However, they reduce wages
and benefits for lawful U.S. residents.
5. This is NOT an immigrant nation. There are 280 million
native born Americans. While it is true that this nation was settled
and founded by immigrants (legal immigrants), it is also true that
there is not a nation on this planet that was not settled by
immigrants at one time or another.
6. The United States is welcoming to legal immigrants. Illegal
aliens are not immigrants by definition. The U.S. accepts more
lawful immigrants every year than the rest of the world combined.
7. There is no such thing as the "Hispanic vote".
Hispanics are white, brown, black and every shade in between.
Hispanics are Repu blicans, Democrats, Anarchists, Communists,
Marxists and Independents. The so-called "Hispanic vote"
is a myth. Pandering to illegal aliens to get the Hispanic vote is a
dead end.
8. Mexico is NOT a friend of the United States. Since 1848 Mexicans
have resented the United States. During World War I Mexico allowed
German Spies to operate freely in Mexico to spy on the U.S. During
World War II Mexico allowed the Axis powers to spy on the U.S. from
Mexico. During the Cold War Mexico allowed spies hostile to the U.S.
to operate freely. The attack on the Twin Towers in 2001 was cheered
and applauded all across Mexico. Today Mexican school children are
taught that the U.S. stole California, Arizona, new Mexico and
Texas. If you don't believe it, check out some Mexican textbooks
written for their schoolchildren.
9. Although some illegal aliens enter this country for a better
life, there are 6 billion people on this planet. At
least 1 billion of those live on less than one dollar a day. If
wanting a better life is a valid excuse to break the law and sneak
into America, then let's allow those one billion to come to America
and we'll turn the USA into a Third World nation overnight. Besides,
there are 280 million native born Americans who want a
better life. I'll bet Bill Gates and Donald Trump want a better
life. When will the USA lifeboat be full? Since when is wanting a
better life a good reason to trash another nation?
10. There is a labor shortage in this country. This is a lie. There
are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of American housewives,
senior citizens, students, unemployed and underemployed who would
gladly take jobs at a decent wage.
11. It is racist to want secure borders. What is racist about
wanting secure borders and a secure America? What is racist about
not wanting people to sneak into America and steal benefits we have
set aside for legal aliens, senior citizens, children and other
legal residents? What is it about race that entitles people to
violate our laws, steal identities, and take the American Dream
without paying the price?
For about four decades American politicians have refused to secure
our borders and look after the welfare of middle class Americans.
These politicians have been of both parties. A huge debt to American
society has resulted. This debt will be satisfied and the interest
will be high. There has already been riots in the streets by illegal
aliens and their supporters. There will be more. Politicians have a
choice to offend the illegal aliens who have stolen into this
country and demanded the rights afforded to U.S. citizens
or to offend those of us who are stakeholders in this country. The
interest will be steep either way. There will be civil unrest. There
will be a reckoning.
There will be a reckoning. It will come in November of this year,
again in 2008 and yet again in 2010."
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Mario
Obledo, California Coalition of Hispanic Organizations and
California State Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under
Governor Jerry Brown, also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
by President Bill Clinton, "California is going to be a
Hispanic state. Anyone who doesn't like it should leave."
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CHARLIE DANIELS, Musician and Patriot
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"I don’t know how everybody
else feels about it, but to me I think Hispanic people in this
country, legally or illegally, made a huge public relations mistake
with their recent demonstrations.
I don’t blame anybody in the world for wanting to come to the
United States of America, as it is a truly wonderful place. But when
the first thing you do when you set foot on American soil is illegal
it is flat out wrong and I don’t care how many lala land left
heads come out of the woodwork and start trying to give me
sensitivity lessons.
I don’t need sensitivity lessons, in fact I don’t have anything
against Mexicans, I just have something against criminals and
anybody who comes into this country illegally is a criminal and if
you don’t believe it try coming into America from a foreign
country without a passport and see how far you get.
What disturbs me about the demonstrations is that it’s tantamount
to saying, “I am going to come into your country even if it means
breaking your laws and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
It’s an “in your face” action and speaking just for me I
don’t like it one little bit and if there were a half dozen pairs
of gonads in Washington bigger than English peas it wouldn’t be
happening.
Where are you, you bunch of lilly livered, pantywaist, forked
tongued, sorry excuses for defenders of The Constitution? Have you
been drinking the water out of the Potomac again?
And even if you pass a bill on immigration it will probably be so
pork laden and watered down that it won’t mean anything anyway.
Besides, what good is another law going to do when you won’t
enforce the ones on the books now?
And what ever happened to the polls guys? I thought you folks were
the quintessential finger wetters. Well you sure ain’t paying any
attention to the polls this time because somewhere around eighty
percent of Americans want something done about this mess, and mess
it is and getting bigger everyday.
This is no longer a problem, it is a dilemma and headed for being a
tragedy. Do you honestly think that what happened in France with the
Muslims can’t happen here when the businesses who hire these
people finally run out of jobs and a few million disillusioned
Hispanics take to the streets?
If you, Mr. President, Congressmen and Senators, knuckle under on
this and refuse to do something meaningful it means that you care
nothing for the kind of country your children and grandchildren will
inherit.
But I guess that doesn’t matter as long as you get
re-elected."
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Professor
Fernando Guerra, Loyola Marymount University; "We need to avoid
a white backlash by using codes understood by Latinos ..."
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