Giving Back to America
Lance Cpl. José Gutiérrez was one of the first American killed in action in Iraq. Gutierrez, who was raised in Guatemala came to America as a boy–illegally! At the age of 18 he was allowed to adjust his status and became a legal green card holder. He was one of the first Marines killed in action in Iraq. His family told reporters, this young immigrant enlisted with the Marine Corps because he wanted to “give back” to America.
When the anti-illegal crowd holds up a drunk driver, murder or rapist as an example to suggest that all ‘illegals’ should be removed from this country it’s insulting to the millions of previous ‘illegals’ and their families who are successful, productive Americans today. They work in a multitude of fields and are not a drain on our society. They and their children are serving in our Armed Forces and are risking their lives for our collective country. It would serve us all well to remember that immigration status alone does not define a human being.
Rest in Peace Lance Cpl. José Gutiérrez.
I like your phrase “…immigration status alone does not define a human being.”
Tonight I saw a beautiful movie that I recommend to everyone who is interested in the lives of the undocumented. It is called “Under the Same Moon”. It opened this week, and was written up in the Wash Post on Friday. Here are the two articles:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/21/AR2008032101315.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/20/AR2008032001309.html
The movie is about a 9 year old Mexican boy who crosses the border to find his mother in Los Angeles. The theater was packed, and I was one of the few gringas there…this is a movie that touches on the experiences that people are living today, from their point of view. The HUMAN experience.
We need to stop illegal immigration because it is no way for them to live, not because they are messing up our neighborhoods.
Another great perspective Admin, Thank you.
I don’t see Greg posting about how many hispanic men have died fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan . Do they make up the highest number of casualities?
Firedancer,
I agree with you, completely.
According to the Department of Defense(DoD), Latinos have a higher death rate than Blacks or African Americans in Iraq coming in second behind whites.
Check here for stats -
http://icasualties.org/oif/ETHNICITY.aspx
As of February 2, 2008.
It’s really irritating to hear complaints that Hispanics are not assimilating fast enough, I mean what else do they want from these folks?
Admin, it gets better. It really does. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, has written articles objecting to such non-citizen soldiers even existing. He would like to refuse even those who volunteer at a time of war. I can cite his writings on the subject if anyone is interested. CIS is an offshoot of FAIR. Both groups not only oppose illegal immigration, but want to greatly reduce ALL immigration to the United States. Folks on BVBL are always claiming to only object to illegal immigrants, but they don’t seem to notice that these two groups and other leading organizations they support have a much wider intention.
Leila – Welcome.
Agreed. Mark wrote a Letter to the Editor entitled, The Case Against Immigration in the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR2007121801183.html?nav=hcmoduletmv
How can ‘Center for Immigration Studies(CIS)’ claim to be ‘pro-immigrant’ when they write books entitled, – ‘The Case Against Immigration’ which are clearly anti-immigrant?
Largely the immigration debate today focuses on the ‘legality’ of immigrants but it’s very clear from his letter that the Federation for American Immigration Reform(FAIR) network including CIS opposes all forms of immigration.
LISTEN LIVE NOW:
http://www.co.prince-william.va.us/bocs/audio/default.htm