We study hystory as a way to not repeat the mistakes of the past:  For over 300 years people of Africa, that were shipped to the U.S., were treated as if they weren't human beings. Near the end of this the way they were treated was justified as okay because it was against the law. \n\nAsk yourself is this one of the reasons I don't want immigrants to come to the United states(because it's against the law)?\n\nWill you continue to support laws that are based on greed, racism, or fear?\n\nYou may be angry now or not, and if you have an answer or your own what is it?
211643
So are you asking whether we support immigration laws?\n\nImmigration laws need to be updated. With new immigration patterns, governments need to change their definations of what constitutes as "legal" and "illegal." Along with government policy come laws that are based on greed, racism and fear. When people say that they are for immigration and against illegal immigration, what we should really be looking at is why we are against illegal immigration. We should further analyze our laws and question where policies seem biased and discriminative, just as where they seem just and equal.  We need to analyze the complete picture.. rather than the negatives.
564631
Oh my...\n\nI have never read such an uneducated opinion on US History in all my life...\n\nYes, I agree.....do some research, read some books... \n\nTHEY should get the blame? Hello-it was the EUROPEANS who came to the western land and brought slaves with them to work the land in this "new world".  The United States only abolished slavery after many years of bloodshed and pressure from the citizens...but they didn't welcome these former slaves with open arms... These men and women had to go through many more years of hell to get equal rights....\n\nAnd the Native Americans should feel lucky for the Casinos? Are you kidding me????? The Europeans raped their lands, their families, forced them to assimilate to "christian" culture....and they should be grateful???  To this day, the federal government is screwing the Native Americans.... \n\nGo to my link below...\n\nAnd, who do you think the United States are???? \n\nWe are decendants of slaves, Native Americans forced out of their lands, Hispanics, and yes...those Europeans you are talking about. It's not like those who created the US officially are a totally different type of people who went around "fixing" everything. \n\nThose that need to be blamed are long since dead.... but we can learn from their mistakes...and make sure we know the real history of what really happened....
537419
Africans like many other countries would love to come here LEGALLY!  But there is no room for them when the greedy cheaters illegally cross our southern border with President Bush's blessing!\n\nIt's WRONG!  Many an intelligent person is turned away.  Because of the 3rd world illiterate illegal aliens crossing our southern border illegally that we are receiving.\n\nBeing Poor is no excuse to break the law.  Breaking the Law is a Good way to get off to a Bad Start!
163012
I agree. I understand that sometimes people who have no recourse are forced to protest and demand a change in the system. As a previous participant pointed out...women getting the vote and African Americans gaining their freedom from slavery. \n\nHowever, in both of those cases, there are glaring differences from the issue at hand. In the case of women voting...women were citizens of the United States who had no other recourse. It wasn't as though women could vote IF they filled out the proper paperwork and follwed the established laws that would allow them to do so. They couldn't vote at all. Illegal immigrants have legal recourse to establish legal residency or permanent citizenship in the United States. They're protesting for something that they can already acheive should they choose to do so, they simply don't want to be bothered with following the proper procedure. In the case of slaves...they were brought here against their will, stolen from their homeland and sold like animals. It was an inhumane and unfair institution and one that needed to end. These were people in the United States against their will and with no legal recourse to remedy their situation. Again, illegal immigrants did have the opportunity to obtain legal residency and/or citizenship should they have chosen to do so. Instead they chose not to be bothered with the proper procedure and now want to protest for amnesty. \n\nI might understand and actually support their cause if there were not procedures in place for them to come here legally. As it is, I can't support the cause of a group of people who are basically saying "I want to be protected by the laws of the United States even though in the past I have shown no regard or respect for them as I chose to enter this country illegally." Sorry, that's not how it works, you don't get to pick and choose what laws you want to follow and which ones you don't. You don't get to break the laws you don't agree with and still expect to reap the benefits of being a law abiding resident of the United States.
579392
It will never be clean, because blacks won't let it. My grandfather came from Hungary, and my father was the first one born here. So I have absolutely no ties to what happened, yet I have to get glared at by blacks (as if I owe them a food stamp because I am white). The real kicker of it all is that if they would tap into their intelligence just a bit, they would realize the real focus needs to be on AFRICA. AFRICA sold these people to the Americans, AFRICA made a handsome profit from the slave trade. AFRICA pulled these people out of their homes to collect a commission. Slavery did not last long in America until the majority of the whites said, this is wrong!, and chose to fight... to the death.... to free them. Where was AFRICA when it was time to fight for their people?! AFRICA sold them, got rich from their misery, abandoned them, and did not fight for them. Thousands of white men fought and died for their freedom, I think the part of "penance" has been paid. America has bent over backwards catering to the blacks, bending the laws to accomodate them, making things like black radio stations (although white radio stations would be a hate crime), the black expo (although the white expo would be a hate crime), and banning the use of the N word (although if they could not call us honky or craker that would be depriving them of freedom of speech and expression). The white people have done more than enough to say sorry for what happened, but sorry is not what they want. They want to sap off of the misery that people suffered 200 years ago. It is too inspiring to be a victim. Being a normal person isnt fun, you have to work and you get no special breaks. I am glad that my roots are in Hungary, because I seriously doubt the Hungarians would tolerate this kind of ignorance that we are tolerating. Its time to ask AFRICA for some answers.
132757
I think we, as a nation, are being hypocrits regarding immigration.  This nation was built on the hard work of immigrants and we should open our arms and our minds to those who wish to be Americans now.\n\nIt's very sad what's happening to our nation. We were once representative of that great icon, the Statue of Liberty.  Now we look like small little people with small little minds fretting over our land as if we were Draconian lords.\n\nIn short, I am in favor of immigration.  By the way, I am also Cherokee ....... if these people who say "no immigration" want their way, I want them all to go back to whatever nation their ancestors came from.  Let them give my people back this fine land.  By their own standards, that is what would be just and honest and fair.
581625
Well, it would seem that at least Hazleton, PA got it right. They are implementing a new law that would revoke a businesses license for employing illegal immigrants. Seems like San Bernadino, the largest county in the country, is following suit and looking to employ the same laws as well.\n\nAs for your original question "Do you think we should do nothing about this illegal immigration problem?". I have to point out a few key points in order to give a logical, reasonable and efficient, non-emotional based answer. (I know you're a female, so bear with me on the non-emotional portion of things. j/k) \n\n“The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty first, the ‘love of soft living’ and the get-rich-quick-theory of life”---Teddy Roosevelt\n\n"Love of soft living" - with the use of illegal immigrants for cheap part time labor, the middle to upper class Americans and the thinking involved is "it's good for me and it employs needy people as well". This creates a dillusion of Master-servant and is self-destructive at the same time. Remember "All power corrupts". \n\nJudging from what is known throughout history, it is only a matter of time before the servants get tired of thier roles. With that we can logically deduct that eventually the servant will try and overthrow the master. Unfortunately, this is the role of the illegal to the middle/upper class American\n\nWatching the March, April and May immigrant marches, it wasn't too hard to see the heavy resentment, the entitlement and loud accusations of fat lazy Americans, you need us to care for you, proof that the master-servant, nearly symbiotic relationship is a daily occurrence and not a healthy one either.\n\nIn answer to your original question: it's a matter of realizing the long term consequences of unbridled migration. Eventually things will come to an uproar as they already are in the streets with protests and such. Give it time, if we do nothing we will eventually be heading towards a "Civil War II". Sounds crazy right now, but when a little thought is put into it, I think most can recognize the possibility.
93284
i have no problem with imigration as long as it is done legaly.  This country is bulit on immigration.   I feel that illegal immigrants are give to much freedom in this country.  I need a visa to go into most parts of the world and i just can not go illegaly.  If i do i am subject to much more than deportation.   I feel that it should be the same here.  I am part hispanic  (Puerto Rican)  and i take serious issue with lobbist fighting for illgal Mexican and Latin American rights and claming that ther are the views of all Hispanics.  I do not think they should be allowed to get driver licenses, work under the table and all the other issues that sorrond them
489506
At least you have to integrity to notice hypocrisy and are not afraid to speak how you feel....I applaud you for that.....You separate the two issues, one issue is the legality and the other issue is racism.....You can still manage to recognize there is a human element....Despite the laws....
329511
i believe we need to secure our borders,but criminalizing a group of hardworking people trying to escape poverty for their family's sake is not right.is anyone aware of the hardships and living conditions these people put up with so they can send extra money to their faMILIES.hell these are the type of people that should be americans.
127990
i do not believe it has anything to do with racism , to want our borders closed. the key word here is illegal. things have to be done in a proper manner.. we have to take care of the people in our own back yards first.. and although we should remain compassionate, we can not carry the burden,if other countries are mistreating their citizens so much that they seek asylum here. this is a classic example of charity needing to begin at home. once we have erased poverty and issues faced by Americans then we can look elsewhere. this is what homeland security should be all about. and please do  not get this confused with having to step up to the plate from time to time to send adequate aid the victims of disasters etc. if reasonable.
640993
If you or your parents, grandparents, etc., came here to the U.S. legally, then I am very proud of saying you are a fellow citizen. However, if you are illegal then you are a criminal. You broke our laws and should not be given any of our benefits or rights, except the benefit of a free ride back to where you came from. I don't hate you, I just want you to play by the rules.
475446
1)Yes, we still live in a racist country.  I am a 46 year old Black woman who has experienced quite a bit of racism bcos of the color of my skin (caramel) without any knowledge of who I really am.  I have traveled quite a bit within the states as well as other countries & honestly cannot see much of a difference.  Point in case...I've even traveled to Africa & have been faced with questions like "what are you?".  I think that I offended the one asking the question bcos I said "I'm an American".  They responded "do you mean African-American?" to which I responded "sure if thats how you would like to phrase it".  2) Yes my parents had a hard time but they "dealt with it" by being active in the civil rights movement.  My great-grandmother would never let me work in the fields when I visited saying " no way, your Mom & Grandmama would have a fit & besides those days are over for your generation".  She was right, however there are others here who seem to forget that.  With regards to "us guys" still living in this country...this is our country & we'll fight for the right to live here....in peace.
280804
Travis, forgive me if you're right in principle you're may not be right in the form nor in the general reasoning.\n\nAccording to your thought you own that country because you went there, colonized it with the force, made it yours and now you're there and rule. \nIt's right for that reason that, just like you did, anyone else could go there, kick your butt and settle a brand new type of civilization (It will happen eventually but i think you'll be too old or dead to see it happening). \n\nBut that is not the point!\nThe point is simply that the reasoning WE ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS greatly sucks in general for the following reason.\n- It's true the US are a nation of immigrants. But it is also true that, leaving natives aside, it was originally colonized by WHITE CAUCASIANS OF ENGLISH ORIGINS. Therefore, if US are what they are in terms of economy, living standards, etc, that is MAINLY DUE to the organization inprint provided by those ENGLISH WHITE CAUCASIANS. No one is saying that African slaves or Chinese didn't do their part. But we are are not talking about the workers but rather about the neural system that shaped the US as they are today. That was due to WHITE CAUCASIAN ENGLISH PEOPLE (It's not a case if UK is still a power to reckon with economically, while the rest of Europe is going down). That measn that allowing too many illegals or even legals of any nation whose traditions and habits are very different from yours, could or would (longterm) an uneven balancing of the racial groups. In short one new racial/religious group could begin to gain power and exert more pressure to dominate. The thing appears ridiculous untill the amount of WHITE CAUCASIANS is still majority (and strenghtened by the amount of immigrates who share your own values) but it's not said that will always be so, if the US keep allowing in "PIGS AND DOGS" just to show up how democratic they are (Even though after they let in all those people have to control some 200 million telephones to be sure no one is misbehaving). \nOne thing the US and Europe as well should begin to think about, in the light of the recent events is:\n\n1) Stopping immigration flows; especially those relating to some specific ethnic or religious groups.\n2) Begin to expel all illegals, no matter what and regardless of any diplomatic issue \n3) Ensure the racial balance will always be on the white caucasian with afros (whom in good and bad seem to be those who better adapted to the real US values)\n\nSee, i am not an American citizen; I am an Italian who lives in Italy but i see my country infested with immigrants who kill, scrounge, steal jobs, ask for rights they would never give us in their countries, try to force us to ply to their wills (Muslims in particular), organize in gangs (Latinos in general), rape whole families, rob and kill people with a smile and then laugh (Romanians, Albanians), kidnap kids, steal and scrounge off the government (ROM Gipsies). And all this happens despite our unemployment rate ranges between 8 and 50% in some areas, which should let you understand we DO NOT NEED IMMIGRATES in Italy. I think you don't need many of them in the US either as in most cases all what they do is working for 1/10 of what any american would do, killing the job market.\nWhat a pity your reasoning was based on FORCE, while the actual problem is much more complex. But i do see your point and your rage (Which is shared by many others around the world)
181169
They are here already.Why would we even try to deport them all.Regardless of whether they broke the "law".That "law" has never been enforced.So why is eveyone screaming for the cops,all of a sudden.(here comes the sob story(They have lived here for years,decades.They have children that were born here.Most have been productive members of this society.They own homes and have no ties to their home countries.It is ridiculous and silly to say,"send them packin".\nNow not everyone had an opinion on this until the marches and the protesting.I would like to know why that pissed so many ppl off.They do have a right to do that.It is in our Constitution.Even if they are not citizens.\nLast.I am a citizen and I don't know where some ppl got their arrogance from.There is racism involved,and if you have ever experienced racism,you would know it doesn't feel good when someone hates you just because of you ethnicity.And it is even more fucked up when they think it's funny.Maybe I expect too much from my fellow? Americans.
245450
Contrary to popular belief, our American laws are not the ultimate guide of morality. The laws are created by fallible human beings; thus, the laws are not always just. Simply because our laws say that someone is illegal does not mean that these "illegals" are bad people because they break the law by entering this country to find work. \n\nI keep hearing people say that "I don't mind immigrants. It's the *illegal* ones that I have a problem with." Well, if we handed out visas, then they wouldn't be illegal--would that change people's attitudes? Probably not. They would say that they have ignored the laws and don't deserve to be here. Well, most Americans have broken a law or two in their lives. \n\nI maintain the controversial position that xenophobia fuels the anti-illegal attitude (in most cases).
261891
DEAR HEAVENS!!  To the person who said something about forefathers, your logic is not flawed ~ it is non-existent!\n\nWhen the SETTLERS came here, they came to SETTLE.  Did they do the indigenous peoples wrong?  After a while, without question they did.  However, that is not the point right now.\n\nThe point is that there was, at *that* time, ROOM here.  People could go carve their world out of pieces of wilderness, risking life and limb on a daily basis.  They could worship freely; they could hunt and feed their family without fear of being sentenced to death for it; and on and on it goes.\n\nWe no longer NEED any more people here.  We're loaded to capacity as it is.  Every Country should do its best to improve itself and the citizens of that Country should HELP ~ not go elsewhere and burden another Country.\n\nIn answer to the actual question:  I don't think we should keep our borders open.  In fact, I think they should be closed until our current crises are repaired.  Once repaired, we could re-open our borders with more stringent and specific laws.  As another Responder said on another question, if we need an example of how to limit immigration, we need look only so far as the Mexican Constitution and their requirements for citizenship.\n\nTO TOPCAT420:  Amen!  I have difficulty justifying "fixing" things for other Countries when we have so much fixing we need to do right here!  I have long been a believer in restoring more lands to the Native American people, along with any and all mineral rights thereto.  And that's why i said we are loaded to capacity as it is!  We have enough for now.  We need to right a whole list of wrongs committed against the Native Americans, we need to stop children starving here in the U.S., we need to clean up our own interurban areas .. we have a LOT to do at home, for ourselves and by ourselves, before we can consider re-opening borders and helping others.\n\nThe U.S. has helped others until we've helped ourselves right into a hole.