illegal immigration email/chain letter and my response

[jackster]

This poem is from my sweet niece. My response is beneath it. After re-reading I realize that I could have done a much better job, but I was in a hurry and just needed to get some of this off my chest. I never really addressed the fact that the whold poem itself is built on lies and racism - just targeting the easily-led such as herself. Anyway, here it is. Oh, and later, I sent her the link to http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0328-28.htm - a story of that first soldier who died. (Just reading the poem again makes me sick to my stomach).

Subject: Immigrants Poem

Illegal Immigrants Poem

I cross ocean,
poor and broke,
Take bus,
see employment folk.

Nice man treat me
good in there,
Say I need to
see welfare.

Welfare say,
"You come no more,
We send cash
right to your door."

Welfare checks,
they make you wealthy,
Medicaid it keep
you healthy!

By and by,
I got plenty money,
Thanks to you,
American dummy.

Write to friends
in motherland,
Tell them 'come
fast as you can.'

They come in turbans
and Ford trucks,
I buy big house
with welfare bucks

They come here,
we live together,
More welfare checks,
it gets better!

Fourteen families,
they moving in,
But neighbor's patience
wearing thin.

Finally, white guy
moves away,
Now I buy his house,
and then I say,
"Find more aliens
for house to rent."
And in the yard
I put a tent.

Send for family
they just trash,
But they, too,
draw the welfare cash!

Everything is
very good,
And soon we
own the neighborhood.
We have hobby
it's called breeding,
Welfare pay
for baby feeding.

Kids need dentist?
Wife need pills?
We get free!
We got no bills!
American crazy!
He pay all year,
To keep welfare
running here.

We think America darn good place!
Too darn good for the white man race.
If they no like us, they can scram,
Got lots of room in Pakistan.
SEND THIS TO EVERY AMERICAN TAXPAYER YOU KNOW.

MY RESPONSE:

"XXXX, Honey, I'm sorry, I can't agree with this. If you were hungry and needed to feed yourself or your children, and you knew that you could get jobs or help elsewhere, wouldn't you go? The problem isn't just the illegals - yes I do believe it is a problem. But we need to change our archaic immigration laws, seal our borders to protect us, and also go after the people who hire the illegals, as well as stop it from happening. After all, if the jobs weren't there they wouldn't come.

Did you know that corporations are making the biggest profits in history, yet are spending the least amount on labor and salaries in history? Or that CEO's salaries rose an average of 21% last year, while the salaries of the average worker rose %0. Let's go after these greedy people too! And then let's pressure Mexico to start taking care of their own and stop letting them get away with sending their people here!

Studies show that most illegals are here on expired visas anyway, they didn't run across the borders. It's a very complicated problem and we need to all work together to come up with a solution. I also heard recently that today we have a workforce of approximately 10% illegals. In years past, it's been higher. Why are we worrying about this now? Is it to take our eye off the craziness going on in the Middle East where all hell is about to break lose? I'm afraid. I'm very afraid.

Did you know that one of the first soldiers killed in Iraq (if not the very first) was an illegal immigrant? How they get into the military is one thing, but they do serve and die. And that doesn't make me feel any safer, because if he could get in, what's to stop someone who wants to HARM the country from getting in. In the past 5 years, I've seen a great country become something I don't even recognize. I hope to God for our kids and our grandchildren, and all our family and future generations that we can hang on to the precious gift of democracy and our beloved country itself.

(Later, through CommonDreams, I found out that the soldier apparently had a green card. Does this make him legally eligible to serve?)

[CAcyclist]

1. Good for you

People need to realize that other people have to do what it takes to get by. Nobody packs multiple families into a house because they want to - it's because they need to. Slum lords know they can overcharge migrants to rent a house to them - they end up paying over a third or half more than the house is worth to rent to the average person. People sometimes have to sleep in shifts, too. I've lived in immigrant-dominated neighborhoods most of my life - they truly are the salt of the earth. Anyone who believes this poem is the true trash.

[ihaveaquestion]

2. Aliens eligble to serve.

To answer your question...

(Later, through CommonDreams, I found out that the soldier apparently had a green card. Does this make him legally eligible to serve?)

I believe it does. When I was in the Army, we had several legal (or so I assume) aliens serving in our training unit. It was not an issue except when it came to the security clearance, which we had to have in our job. The security clearances didn't usually come through for the aliens and they were shipped off to another job. Not fun for them, but they didn't get kicked out.

[jackster]

3. thanks.

n/t

[fencesitter]

4. This stupid poem has been around for years

pops up in RW threads a few times a year.

[ieoeja]

5. Your reply had nothing to do with that poem.

You talked about immigrants coming here and taking away jobs. According to the poem immigrants come here to spend all their time on welfare and NOT work.

Of course, the same people who are crying, "they are taking our jobs" are the same people crying, "they are all on welfare". So odds are nobody on your reply will even notice the fact that you completely flipped the meaning of the poem around.

And anyone who knows anything about welfare (most of us don't) could tell you that this poem is horseshit even on that topic. First, illegal aliens do not receive welfare. Second, welfare is NOT mailed to your home, you have to go pick it up. Third, does anyone believe $100 per month will "make you wealthy"?

The immigrant in this poem appears to have come here alone at the start. And a single man here in Chicago draws exactly $100 per month while on welfare. That little fact makes the whole "why work when you can collect welfare" meme pretty fucking stupid.

[jackster]

6. first I didn't say they were taking away jobs,

and secondly, I said I realized that I hadn't addressed the main meme. I also noted that I only sent this to my niece. no one else.

of course you are right, and if you had read carefully you would note that I agree with you. My not reading the poem carefully enough caused me to spout off in the manner I did. I still felt the need to share it.

[Iris]

7. Tell me how an ILLEGAL alien is gonna get welfare.

That's just stupid. Wouldn't they be deported if they showed up in a government office asking for money?

And, even if they got welfare, how would they get a mortgage with a welfare check as their only income.

I just hate people who cannot (or will not) think.

[TorchTheWitch]

8. Through their children that are born here

Households headed by illegal aliens receive welfare, primarily Medicaid, on behalf of their U.S.-born children. In 2001, for example, the value of benefits and payments received by illegal alien households averaged over $1,000. This is considerably less than the $2,200 received by legal immigrant households on average, so one unintended consequence of legalizing illegal aliens would be a significant increase in welfare costs.

<snip>

As discussed above, all children born to immigrants in the United States, including those born to illegal aliens, are automatically American citizens, and thus have the same welfare eligibility as any other citizen.
http://www.cis.org/articles/2003/back503.html

I would add that providing welfare for the children of illegal immigrants would be the humane and legally right thing to do since these children ARE U.S. citizens. But sadly, I personally believe that most illegal immigrants probably wouldn't attempt to procure welfare benefits for their legal citizen children for fear of deportation (not being aware that they CAN legally obtain this benefit), or for fear of not being able to find work since their illegal status would then be known.

[Iris]

9. And, still - does the CHILD get a mortgage with his welfare benefits!?!

Can you believe the ugliness this has brought out in people? I mean are people so unhappy with their own lives that they would begrudge a fellow human being even the most meager existence?