Just came back from the D.C. Demonstrations....

[Goosemaster]

You may or may not agree with immigration reform, but people shoved up in droves against current implementations of it.

I was at the center of it all (took me forever to get up there) and let me tell you, it was a sight. There were hundreds of thosands of people, mostly latino, and it felt like the 4th of July. Everyone was so jovial, the weather was absolutely perfect, and everyone was there, not as a citizen of el salvador or india, or rwanda or peru or panama or Korea.....but as Americans. I witnessed people of many cultures uniting together for this cause, I witnessed people picking up trash after themselves, I witnessed, surprisingly, mostly everyone's willingness to earn their citizenship. Everyone kept on reiterating that citizenship was to be earned and that is exactly what they wanted to do.

Perhaps I may be jumping the gun here or making an overly-enthusiastic statement, but I now feel that I can now begin to relate to how people must have felt the day Dr. King jr. gave his 'I have a dream' speech' on the mall. So many people, so many there to support fair and just immigration law, union reps playing their fiddles to the crowd, and children making all of us proud via their achievements. The roar of the crowd was jsut insane.

I'm actually really glad I went. I wasn't planning on going, but met some people today that gave me that 'push' to go. Perhaps I didn't agree with many of the things said (total amnesty for all, for example) but I agreed with most of it. Basically, the majority of people there wanted respect and the ability to earn their citizenship, and that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.


Also, there were tens of thousands of gorgeous women from all around the world:heart:
I was smliling like a Mr. Potato head with the funny grin lips the entire time:laugh:

<---a man after all


I will forever forget this one thing about today:


During the course of the day I probably saw at most 50-75 flags from el salvador, dominican republic, etc, but their presence was overwhelmingly muted by the tens of thosands of American flags that made up a sea of red white and blue.



Finally, as I went to get my car at the parking garage, the main presenters/organizers of the whole event were in line behind me. had a nice chat. Nice people

 

[RallyMaster]

Immigrants are the basis for a nation. It's how the US was founded. As an immigrant myself (but a lucky one who got here legally), I'd have to say that immigrants aren't here to take jobs. We're here to fill in needed positions to keep the economy moving.

 

[mwtgg]

It's not so much immigration that has people up in arms, it's the fact that these people are illegal immigrants. Do it right, people have been doing it for decades. What makes these people now so special that they can act above the law?

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Immigrants are the basis for a nation. It's how the US was founded. As an immigrant myself (but a lucky one who got here legally), I'd have to say that immigrants aren't here to take jobs. We're here to fill in needed positions to keep the economy moving.

Basically...


They had this one moment were they were giving shoutouts to janitors, dishwashers, contructions workers...

It was really weird...at first I thought it was kind of funny and yet I then came to recognize how absolutely beautiful a site it was. Here were people that were proud of their meager positions like you wouldn't believe. I don't mean to sound spoiled, because I am really not, but it's been awhile since I've been around so many laborers. I've been at college and living away from the city for like 6 years so it felt really nostalgic to go back.

I used to work for Headstart so I'd see these people 8 hours a day in years past and lived around them all my life, so it felt great to be around people that were genuinely happy and patriotic.

I didn't see a single person that wasn't smiling. I didn't see a single person that wasn't proud to be there....

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
During the course of the day I probably saw at most 50-75 flags from el salvador, dominican republic, etc, but their presence was overwhelmingly muted by the tens of thosands of American flags that made up a sea of red white and blue.

It is obvious that message to fly American flags got out after the outrage of the first round of protests in Los Angeles and elsewhere where the vast majority of flags flown were Mexican and other foreign flags.

How many different organizations did you see? I've been looking at this set of photos from the NY protest and noticed quite a number of International A.N.S.W.E.R. and Workers World Party signs. Supposedly, they had a hand in helping organize these protests across the nation. Both groups are communist and anti-American.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: mwtgg
It's not so much immigration that has people up in arms, it's the fact that these people are illegal immigrants. Do it right, people have been doing it for decades. What makes these people now so special that they can act above the law?

exactly. it's not regular immigration that's an issue, it's ILLEGAL immigration that everyone cares about. supposedly there are something like 12 million illegals in the US?

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: mwtgg
It's not so much immigration that has people up in arms, it's the fact that these people are illegal immigrants. Do it right, people have been doing it for decades. What makes these people now so special that they can act above the law?

My parents came here because of war and the aftermath. They came here without permission...i.e. illegally.

I won't attempt to defend the viewpoints of others as much as I can, but I do sympathize with those that have broken laws to come here in search of a better life for their children.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
During the course of the day I probably saw at most 50-75 flags from el salvador, dominican republic, etc, but their presence was overwhelmingly muted by the tens of thosands of American flags that made up a sea of red white and blue.

It is obvious that message to fly American flags got out after the outrage of the first round of protests in Los Angeles and elsewhere where the vast majority of flags flown were Mexican and other foreign flags.

How many different organizations did you see? I've been looking at this set of photos from the NY protest and noticed quite a number of International A.N.S.W.E.R. and Workers World Party signs. Supposedly, they had a hand in helping organize these protests across the nation. Both groups are communist and anti-American.

I saw numerous organizations, and like I said, spoke persoanlly with hte people that were presenting and had a big hand in organizing the whole...the guy in the purple shirt who was yelling and the woman in the blue dress I did see union reps and union folk, but at most a hundred, if not less.

I defintiely knew the background behidn the flags, but when I got there, and saw all of them, I was simply overwhelmed.

 

[deftron]

Careful man...


Someone got banned by the mods once beacuse his
roomate was an illegal immigrant

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: deftron
Careful man...


Someone got banned by the mods once beacuse his
roomate was an illegal immigrant

 

[brxndxn]

Shouldn't this belong in P/N?

Ya.. you went to political demonstrations about a controversial subject. Why is that not P and N?

IMO, screw illegal immigration.. Immigration NEEDS to be reformed. Hell.. make it easier to become a citizen but stop these people who think they don't need to pay taxes, have car insurance, follow zoning codes, etc..

My father's car was totalled when a drunk illegal immigrant with no license or insurance crossed the center lane and hit him head on. What happened to the illegal? Supposedly he spent a night in jail and moved when he bailed out. He's probby elsewhere in the US.

I really don't mind legal immigrants.. But untrackable people in our society can cause huge damages to our 'welfare' state..

 

[Queasy]

Frankly, I would feel better if all these people were in Mexico protesting the problems with the Mexican government and the Mexican economy. Let's face it, these people send millions of dollars back to Mexico with the work they do here. The Mexican government encourages illegal immigration and an amnesty plan because it relaxes their labor problems and subsidizes their economy.

Meanwhile, what would Mexico do with protesting illegals? Deport them immediately of course.

Summary of Mexico's treatment of illegal aliens:

"In brief, the Mexican Constitution states that:

"--Immigrants and foreign visitors are banned from public political discourse.
"--Immigrants and foreigners are denied certain basic property rights.
"--Immigrants are denied equal employment rights.
"--Immigrants and naturalized citizens will never be treated as real Mexican citizens.
"--Immigrants and naturalized citizens are not to be trusted in public service.
"--Immigrants and naturalized citizens may never become members of the clergy.
"--Private citizens may make citizens arrests of lawbreakers (i.e., illegal immigrants) and hand them to the authorities.
"--Immigrants may be expelled from Mexico for any reason and without due process."

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
Shouldn't this belong in P/N?

Ya.. you went to political demonstrations about a controversial subject. Why is that not P and N?

IMO, screw illegal immigration.. Immigration NEEDS to be reformed. Hell.. make it easier to become a citizen but stop these people who think they don't need to pay taxes, have car insurance, follow zoning codes, etc..

My father's car was totalled when a drunk illegal immigrant with no license or insurance crossed the center lane and hit him head on. What happened to the illegal? Supposedly he spent a night in jail and moved when he bailed out. He's probby elsewhere in the US.

I really don't mind legal immigrants.. But untrackable people in our society can cause huge damages to our 'welfare' state..

I agree with most of your statements, but let me just point out that the few do not necessarily represent the whole.

Odds are that you can usually see just as many, if not sometimes more, locals doing the same thing on 'COPS'

 

[Feldenak]

If they're here illegally...pack'em up and ship'em out.

<-- 2nd generation citizen, so it's not like my family has been here for ages.

 

[Goosemaster]

The mods can defintiely move this to P/N if they want.


I just wanted to share my experience. I've always heard and watched so much about that historic day when dr. king spoke out on the mall, and was quite pleased with what I saw today. I am not one to go to protest of demonstrations or anything, so today was pretty cool.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Feldenak
If they're here illegally...pack'em up and ship'em out.

<-- 2nd generation citizen, so it's not like my family has been here for ages.

<---2nd person in my family to be born here.


Go ahead and do that, and watch the country grind to a halt.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: Feldenak
If they're here illegally...pack'em up and ship'em out.

<-- 2nd generation citizen, so it's not like my family has been here for ages.

<---1st gen.


Go ahead and do that, and watch the country grind to a halt.

This country survived just fine without bloodsucking illegals. Want in the country? There are legal channels for that.

 

[Aimster]

How does one become legal if they have been here illegally? Just curious.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: Feldenak
If they're here illegally...pack'em up and ship'em out.

<-- 2nd generation citizen, so it's not like my family has been here for ages.

<---1st gen.


Go ahead and do that, and watch the country grind to a halt.

This country survived just fine without bloodsucking illegals. Want in the country? There are legal channels for that.

Bloodsucking?

 

[Proletariat]

Yea I heard about those protests. I don't really know what to decide. Theres a lot of Latino's up in MD, and I really don't have a problem with them.

It does seem unfair though to legal immigrants like my uncle who came here from India in the 60's. Hes a wealthy business owner and pays a huge amount of taxes and the process of getting into this country was MUCH harder than just simply running across the border.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: Feldenak
If they're here illegally...pack'em up and ship'em out.

<-- 2nd generation citizen, so it's not like my family has been here for ages.

<---1st gen.


Go ahead and do that, and watch the country grind to a halt.

This country survived just fine without bloodsucking illegals. Want in the country? There are legal channels for that.

Vampires??? Without Green Cards??? There oughta be a law!!!

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Aimster
How does one become legal if they have been here illegally? Just curious.

its complicated.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: Feldenak
If they're here illegally...pack'em up and ship'em out.

<-- 2nd generation citizen, so it's not like my family has been here for ages.

<---1st gen.


Go ahead and do that, and watch the country grind to a halt.

This country survived just fine without bloodsucking illegals. Want in the country? There are legal channels for that.

Bloodsucking?

Hard to file income taxes to pay for these lovely federal programs when you don't have a SS#, paid under the table, etc...

Yes, bloodsucking.

Boot'em out.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Proletariat
Yea I heard about those protests. I don't really know what to decide. Theres a lot of Latino's up in MD, and I really don't have a problem with them.

It does seem unfair though to legal immigrants like my uncle who came here from India in the 60's. Hes a wealthy business owner and pays a huge amount of taxes and the process of getting into this country was MUCH harder than just simply running across the border.

I really can't begin to argue that because I agree with you in many respects.


All I can will try to say is that may family came here illegally and their reasons for coming were genuine and their trip was NOT easy.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: sm8000

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: Feldenak
If they're here illegally...pack'em up and ship'em out.

<-- 2nd generation citizen, so it's not like my family has been here for ages.

<---1st gen.


Go ahead and do that, and watch the country grind to a halt.

This country survived just fine without bloodsucking illegals. Want in the country? There are legal channels for that.

Vampires??? Without Green Cards??? There oughta be a law!!!

There is a law...there's a reason they're called "illegals".