bus driver resents the immigrant children that ride his bus

[Demovictory9]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/immigration/immigrant-kids-fill-this-towns-schools-their-bus-driver-resents-the-system-that-brought-them-here/2019/09/22/861c0fb4-d321-11e9-9610-fb56c5522e1c_story.html

Immigrant kids fill this town’s schools. Their bus driver is leading the backlash.


WORTHINGTON, Minn. — It was the first day of school, so Don Brink was behind the wheel of his bus, its yellow paint glistening in the drizzling dawn. Wearing jeans and a John Deere cap, he turned the radio to an oldies station and, with hands callused thick by 50 years of farming, steered the vehicle toward the edge of town.

He stopped in front of familiar farmhouses surrounded by fields of soy and corn, where blond children boarded the bus, chatting in English.

“Morning,” the 71-year-old Vietnam veteran said.

This was the Worthington he knew.

But then Brink headed back into town, past the meatpacking plant that was the area’s main employer and into the neighborhood he called Little Mexico, even though most of its residents were Central American.

This was the Worthington he did not know — the Worthington he resented.

At the corner of Dover Street and Douglas Avenue, a handful of Hispanic children were waiting. At Milton Avenue, there were a few more. And at Omaha Avenue, a dozen students climbed aboard — none of them white.

Brink said nothing.

“I say ‘good morning’ to the kids who’ll respond to me,” he said later. “But this year there are a lot of strange kids I’ve never seen before.”

Those children, some of whom crossed the U.S.-Mexico border alone, have fueled a bitter debate about immigration in Worthington, a community of 13,000 that has received more unaccompanied minors per capita than almost anywhere in the country, according to data from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).

[Haggis for Breakfast]

1. And I'll bet Don calls himself a christian, too.

They're CHILDREN, Don. CHILDREN.

[dalton99a]

2. Those kids are keeping the schools open and giving teachers their paychecks

[virgogal]

3. The problem is getting people to vote for increased taxes

to pay for the larger staff needed for the schools,which was discussed in the article.

[dflprincess]

4. Apparently Don missed this article

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/07/13/immigrants-boost-worthington-economy

During a time when immigrants are often under fire, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis had some nice things to say about them this week. During a two day visit to Worthington, Neel Kashkari said immigrants are helping that southwest Minnesota city grow, something many communities in rural parts of the state can only hope for.

"Immigration is playing such a big role, so that the population is increasing and they're filling a lot of really important jobs," said Kashkari. "They can drive the economy."

Many of those jobs are at a meatpacking plant that dominates the east side of town, and employs more than 2,000 people.

Others are at some of the city's new immigrant-owned stores and companies.

There are several rural areas in Minnesota that are surviving because of immigrants.

[Leith]

5. Oh. My. God.

What a hateful school bus driver! Well, he is 71 and he still has kids to feed. If it weren't for students needing the bus to attend school, he wouldn't have that job.

I read the article at the link. There is something seriously wrong with that town. I expected better from Minnesota. I have neighbors of all ethnicities on my block: white, black, hispanic, asian, pacific islander, and with the exception of the young white guy with the Nordic name across the street who works on his motorcycle and revs it, they are all wonderful people.

The refugees are too good for Don. Maybe, one day, he will see that children are children, wherever they come from and whyever they are here.

[emmaverybo]

7. This sickens me. Not only his irrational fear of immigrants in general, but that he would take out

his hostile, inhospitable attitude on these precious children who sure could use a friendly welcome
in the morning.

[bluestarone]

8. True words here

These children will suffer because of lowlife tRUMPY bus driver! The school system needs to fire him soon!

[maxrandb]

16. Hate Radio has told him

that it's the Democrats fault that he has no fucking pension and has to drive a fucking school bus at age 71 so he doesn't fucking starve.

I'm sure he believes that if we just gave more tax cuts to the "makers" he'd be a fucking millionaire by now, because they would "share" their wealth with him.

In other words, he's a dumbass racist

[spanone]

6. Fire his ass.

'strange kids' fuck you don

[Laffy Kat]

10. That's what I was going to say.

If he can't treat all children equally, he has no business in that job.

[spanone]

11. another hateful racist

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Worthington is just this example.

Little road trip up Hi-way 60,many of us old time Sales Guys and gals called it the Tony Downs food Hi-way. Believe the last count was six major food processing or manufacturing plants between Worthington and Mankato. All staffed by Hispanic or Somali refugees and immigrant workers. If it was not for the new Residents of these towns and neighboring towns,the schools would be closed and the local economies gone never to return.

Met a ton of Don Brink's through the years in Southern Minnesota. Their just living out their days until they have to go to the local Nursing Home and be cared for by wonderful LPN's and CNA's from the Philippines,Gautamala,El Salvador,Mexico,Jamaica or some other non Caucasian Country. It sure is not going to be some person from their local Lutheran ladies Aide group.

[dalton99a]

13. +1

[Hermit-The-Prog]

17. bet none of them want to close down those businesses

They will blame the immigrants for all their (perceived) troubles, but the employers and exploiters (too often one and the same) are their heroes. See, e.g., TrumPutin's undocumented workers.

[Wellstone ruled]

19. Amazing the amount of

hypocrisy that dwells in America. This story is just the tip of a mega berg. Local and Governmental Units that are to support the Citizens and administer the Rules and Regs are mostly old White Folks who's Great Grand Parents settled the area.

With the expansion of hate radio and print,one only needs to attend a City Council or County Board meeting to get the real flavor of to many Rural Areas.

Been there and done that. So much White Privilege and Ignorance.

[Crunchy Frog]

12. Why is he not fired?

It's not acceptable for hostile, abusive or racist adults to be allowed to work with children in any capacity.

[Wellstone ruled]

15. Honest truth,it's Worthington.

Until his generation dies off,nothing changes. The reality of Rural America. Most of these Towns are dominated by a handful of Families who have been together since Elementary School. There are living their by gone days dreams in real time.

As a lady in the Coffee Shop were we stopped for lunch said,this ain't my country anymore. We got up and walked out.

[a la izquierda]

14. I really wish I hadn't started the day

by reading that article.

[ecstatic]

18. Step the f*ck down if you can't treat ALL kids with

dignity and respect. Smfh

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

20. Anger towards the immigrants

But none towards the businesses that employ them. What's wrong with this picture?

[MineralMan]

21. And he gets paid to shun those kids.

He won't say "good morning" to the brown kids, though. Instead, he'll frown at them, because he disapproves of their existence in his small town world. But, he gets paid.

Screw that! Fire his ass!