Interesting choice... thought-provoking article.

2007 DMN Texan of the Year: The Illegal Immigrant

He is at the heart of a great culture war in Texas – and the nation, credited with bringing us prosperity and blamed for abusing our resources. How should we deal with this stranger among us?

07:44 PM CST on Sunday, December 30, 2007

He breaks the law by his very presence. He hustles to do hard work many Americans won't, at least not at the low wages he accepts. The American consumer economy depends on him. America as we have known it for generations may not survive him.

We can't seem to live with him and his family, and if we can live without him, nobody's figured out how. He's the Illegal Immigrant, and he's the 2007 Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year – for better or for worse. We can't seem to live with him and his family, and if we can live without him, nobody's figured out how.

He's the Illegal Immigrant, and he's the 2007 Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year – for better or for worse. Given the public mood, there seems to be little middle ground in debate over illegal immigrants. Spectacular fights over their presence broke out across Texas this year, adding to the national pressure cooker as only Texas can.

To their champions, illegal immigrants are decent, hardworking people who, like generations of European immigrants before them, just want to do better for their families and who contribute to America's prosperity. They must endure hatred and abuse by those of us who want the benefits of cheap labor but not the presence of illegal immigrants.

Especially here in Texas, his strong back and willing heart help form the cornerstone of our daily lives, in ways that many of us do not, or will not, see. The illegal immigrant is the waiter serving margaritas at our restaurant table, the cook preparing our enchiladas. He works grueling hours at a meatpacking plant, carving up carcasses of cattle for our barbecue (he also picks the lettuce for our burgers). He builds our houses and cuts our grass. She cleans our homes and takes care of our children.

Yet to those who want them sent home, illegal immigrants are essentially lawbreakers who violate the nation's borders. They use public resources – schools, hospitals – to which they aren't entitled and expect to be served in a foreign language. They're rapidly changing Texas neighborhoods, cities and culture, and not always for the better. Those who object get tagged as racists.

more...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/texanofyear/stories/123007dnedianonymous.278c46.html

I tink you're approaching this whole Illegal Immigrant thingy
wrong.Would you cut some slack to a party crasher.?
Or someone who snuck into an event.
One's first response should be how inconsiderate and rude
that is.
I doubt you'd think of all the good excuses that party crasher has.
You'd be peeved they by-passed and didn't see fit to ,undergo
the right channels.
I doubt you'd escort them to the buffet table and real quick-like
make up a nice little name plate fer em.

I tink you're approaching this whole Illegal Immigrant thingy
wrong.Would you cut some slack to a party crasher.?
Or someone who snuck into an event.
One's first response should be how inconsiderate and rude
that is.
I doubt you'd think of all the good excuses that party crasher has.
You'd be peeved they by-passed and didn't see fit to ,undergo
the right channels.
I doubt you'd escort them to the buffet table and real quick-like
make up a nice little name plate fer em.

If the party crasher was your neighbor, would you still kick 'em out?

Besides, the opinions stated in the editorial aren't mine... they belong to the Dallas Morning News.

;)
SMW

There was a movie out in 2004 titled "A Day without a Mexican" that shows what would happen if one day Californians woke up and there were no more illegal mexicans in the state. It would be horrible for our society and our economy. If you get a chance check it out!

There was a movie out in 2004 titled "A Day without a Mexican" that shows what would happen if one day Californians woke up and there were no more illegal mexicans in the state. It would be horrible for our society and our economy. If you get a chance check it out!
horrible for ppl too lazy to mow their own lawn....great for ppl victimized by the illegals cogging the criminal justice system, the hospitals, and schools.

The sooner the illegal Immigrant is given his green card and amalgamated into US society the better for everyone, legal and illegal.

John McCain is right, secure the borders and make them all legal.

Its about time America faced the fact that it messed this issue up big time,
now its time to fix it.

Its not a moral or legal question, its a question of putting the past behind you and moving on, theres no chance of 12 million people being deported anyway.

The sooner the illegal Immigrant is given his green card and amalgamated into US society the better for everyone, legal and illegal.

John McCain is right, secure the borders and make them all legal.

Its about time America faced the fact that it messed this issue up big time,
now its time to fix it.

Its not a moral or legal question, its a question of putting the past behind you and moving on, theres no chance of 12 million people being deported anyway.

Couldn't agree more, Paul. Except maybe for the accusation that the US 'messed this issue up big time.' Since there was no way to predict that millions would cross the border, not sure there was anything we could've done to avoid the situation. We're good, but not so much at solving problems before they materialize.

There are 300 million of us... another 12 million won't hurt. Especially if we take advantage of the opportunity to make them citizens to weed out the criminals. I have no problem accepting hard-working people into our society. And I believe... regardless of what hysterians say... the great majority of them are honest, family-oriented, hard workers.

Have to admit though... that Texan of the Year choice did NOT sit well with alot of people in Texas. Same newspaper was filled to the brim with editorials screaming about ILLEGALS being named Texans of the Year. Guess they just have no sense of humor, eh?

:)
SMW

Good on the Dallas Morning News, nice thought provoking header.

I cant believe tho that you think America isnt guilty of seeing the swarm of people coming. Im sure with such prosperity in states like California and Texas, it was inevitable.

Theres 2 points that the Government and nation have to face.
1. The United States border needs to be secured, for more important reasons than illegal Immigrants.

2. Its logistically impossible to deport 12 million people.

Good on the Dallas Morning News, nice thought provoking header.

I cant believe tho that you think America isnt guilty of seeing the swarm of people coming. Im sure with such prosperity in states like California and Texas, it was inevitable.

Theres 2 points that the Government and nation have to face.
1. The United States border needs to be secured, for more important reasons than illegal Immigrants.

2. Its logistically impossible to deport 12 million people.

I agree with both points. But for more than a couple of hundred years now, Texas managed to exist right next door to Mexico without their people flooding our borders. Tough times there are the main reason for them coming here to seek a better life. I've yet to run across even ONE Mexican person who says they hate their country and came here for political freedom or the like. They're really more interested in SURVIVAL. Not too many are looking to get rich in America.

Absolutly.

Tho I wonder about the Mexican Immigrants stance on issues such as language.

They above all others seem to find it more difficult to amalgamate into US society.

Example: If I were ever to have went to America, I would have strives to be more American than apple pie, but these people seem different, which pisses off Americans big time.

Absolutly.

Tho I wonder about the Mexican Immigrants stance on issues such as language.

They above all others seem to find it more difficult to amalgamate into US society.

Example: If I were ever to have went to America, I would have strives to be more American than apple pie, but these people seem different, which pisses off Americans big time.

Not ALL Americans, Paul. Doesn't really bother me in the least. In fact, I was sitting on the train this morning, studying one of the signs that was written in English with Spanish translation underneath. I don't read Spanish, but it's not that difficult to at least understand the point of a Spanish sentence. Same way with communicating with Mexican people face to face. I can get by... and so can most of them.

I think the fact that they don't hate their native country has alot to do with their reluctance to become more "Americanized" (whatever the hell that means anymore). They're not like immigrants 100 years ago who fled their native lands and knew they might never return, so hunkered down to fit in.

Doesn't make them BAD, necessarily. Just makes them DIFFERENT.

Hmm-dont think any Immigrant really hates or even dislikes their native country, as you say, for the most part they leave for a better life.

Latinos also arent part of that white european thing, so maybe thats another reason why Americans feel uncomfortable.

Just a thought.

Hmm-dont think any Immigrant really hates or even dislikes their native country, as you say, for the most part they leave for a better life.

Latinos also arent part of that white european thing, so maybe thats another reason why Americans feel uncomfortable.

Just a thought.

I don't think it's simply a matter of hating one's native country or not as much as it has to do with the fact that alot of them hope to someday return to their homeland... when things get 'better' there. Easier to just walk back across that border than sail across an ocean to get back home.

Regardless, I hope you understand that not ALL Americans agree on the subject, regardless of what the media might lead you to believe. I, for one, have never felt 'uncomfortable' about the huge influx of mexicans. Sure, sometimes I wish it was like the 'good ole days' when white people were the majority in Dallas... but that hasn't been the case since the early 60's. Times change and most people adjust.

Heading home now, Paul. Hope you have a good (whatever it is there now) morning, afternoon, evening!

:hug:
SMW

night night hehe

Good on the Dallas Morning News, nice thought provoking header.

I cant believe tho that you think America isnt guilty of seeing the swarm of people coming. Im sure with such prosperity in states like California and Texas, it was inevitable.

Not only was it inevitable, not only did the political leaders in this country --for decades-- know full well it was happening.....they made sure to do nothing to stop it.

The average ConservaZombie needs to wake the fuck up to the fact that their high-n-mighty rightwing heroes in Washington KNOW about the illegal alien problem, they HAVE known about it for many years and they have no intention of getting in the way of it continuing to happen.....

....their fat cat buddies in American Industry desperately need and WANT those millions of illegal Mexicans over here working for peanuts, and so they will continue to be allowed to cross.

Not only was it inevitable, not only did the political leaders in this country --for decades-- know full well it was happening.....they made sure to do nothing to stop it.

The average ConservaZombie needs to wake the fuck up to the fact that their high-n-mighty rightwing heroes in Washington KNOW about the illegal alien problem, they HAVE known about it for many years and they have no intention of getting in the way of it continuing to happen.....

....their fat cat buddies in American Industry desperately need and WANT those millions of illegal Mexicans over here working for peanuts, and so they will continue to be allowed to cross.

Gee, FT... I thought you were FOR alleviating the suffering of poor, underserved people who are victims of the Neo-Facist Consv big-business run U.S. Govt?

Guess that only applies to fair skin, blue-eyed, blonde-hair individuals, eh comrade?

*goosesteps away*