Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?- Page 3
Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
#50re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 11:25am
orion, while everyone seems to be focusing this debate around Latin Americans, the border security issue is much larger than that, and terrorism is a valid concern. Our country has a right to know who is living here.
I'm not a fan of the wall idea, but only because it seems severely impractical.
And quite frankly, I think illegal immigration is a tool for big businesses who take advantage of these people. I don't see how anyone can support it.
#51re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 12:00pmOh, glady Elphaba!
#52re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 12:03pm
"I think the biggest problem alot of us have with the immigrants coming in is the fact that they're not trying to help build this country, but they're taking whatever money they can here and sending it back to their country."
I find the above an interesting comment. First you lump "them" all together as a "they".....that always bothers me. S
Secondly, my gardener, poolguy, and the handyman we use now and then are all from Mexico. Are they legal? No idea........I get good work out of them, and they get money to send home to their families who desperately need it. I have no problem with that.........and they are NOT getting minimum wage from me.....they get more.
Their children DO contribute to the US......as born here they are Americans. I suggest you find a few books on Notable Hispanic American Men, and Women.....you'll find a lot were children of undocumented workers......and while their parents may have been maids, gardeners, etc....they went to college and contributed......
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#53re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 12:50pmsome people on this board only want to make citizens of those they are sleeping with...
#54re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 1:38pm
"And quite frankly, I think illegal immigration is a tool for big businesses who take advantage of these people. I don't see how anyone can support it."
I'm not trying to say that we should allow just anyone to come into the country and stay. There needs to be better control and security, but everywhere, not just at the Mexican border.
This issue, in a lot of people's minds, is about "keeping the wetbacks in their own country." Mass deportation and the building of a wall just reinforces that nobody is welcome. I'm thnking of the bigots, idiots and extremeists, the ones who act as vigilantes on the Mexican border with no authority to do so. I'm thnking about the Neo Nazi's and other hate groups. This action sends the wrong message to people who are trying to find validation for their hatred. I would rather deport some of our own citizens that think that way and keep the Latin American's here.
There are better ways of dealing with it rather than shutting down a country that was built by immigrants. i know, taht isn't the intent, but I can't help wondering if it's a first step toward strengthening that attitude in the minds of people who are incapale of thinking it out and seeing what it really is all about.
Just look at some of the comments made in this thread. So many are already lumping together the criminlas, the drug cartels and the terrorists with poeple who ahve nothing to do with any of that. It's almost starting to become a mass paranoia in this country aimed at Latin America.
What we should be doing is amking it clear that those immigrants that in this country working and living lawfully are welcome to stay, since they are alraedy here. Then, tighten security on borders South and North, but not wall out the rest of the world and, at the same time, wall ourselves in.
#55re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 2:16pm
Our borders should be protected on all sides - I am completely for LEGAL immigration for anyone who seeks to make a better life for themselves in this country.
Although we were founded by immigrants, there has to come a point where we set a cut-off or else the entire system (the country) would collapse.
"Who are we to tell someone they can't better their life" - We aren't saying that - we're saying DO IT THE LEGAL WAY.
kate2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/6/05
#56re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 4:05pmI absolutely agree, MJR. If you want to do something, do it right.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#57re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 5:09pmYeah! We've got ours.
#58re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 9:44pm
"Some of your comments seem valid, but many obviously come from bigotry and fear."
Actually, they don't, but if calling me a bigot (which means you obviously know nothing about me) makes you feel like you're right, then I can't stop you. And there is a connection between illegal immigration and terrorism because each illegal immigrant is unaccounted for. It's not out of fear that I say this, but a more heightened awareness since 9/11, 3/11, the Iraq war, the London bombings, and the numerous atrocities that have occurred in a relatively short period of time.
"So many are already lumping together the criminlas, the drug cartels and the terrorists with poeple who ahve nothing to do with any of that."
It's true many illegal immigrants have nothing to do with drugs or terrorism. But they all have one thing in common: criminal activity. Like it or not, illegal immigration is still illegal.
#59re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 10:00pmBy the way, MisterMatt, the terrorists get in through the legal channels as a general rule. OR they were born in our countries. I think you would be hard pressed to find many terrorists that sneak through from the mexican border...
#60re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 10:15pm
I'm not saying they come in through Mexico. I'm talking about illegal immigration of all types. And not tightening our borders is like leaving your front door unlocked. When peopl know it, they take advantage of it. And granting amnesty to illegal immigrants sends exactly the same message. We're not concerned about anyone who enters our country.
"I think you would be hard pressed to find many terrorists that sneak through from the mexican border..."
Hahahaha! Seriously, how would you know? One thing we have learned about terrorists in the past 30 years is that they are fearless, have no regard for anyone's life, and are unpredictable. If millions can sneak through the border, then it's not a huge stretch to think that terrorists would exploit this known weakness in security. Honestly, I'm not try to play the terrorist angle that heavily. But opening our arms to all those who wish to settle in our country illegal is not only naive, but dangerous. And to justify illegal immigration by saying "but they're poor and need help", well, so are the homeless and jobless we already have in our own country.
#61re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 11:21pm
Well, MisterMatt, I do think it's worth noting that all of the with all of the announced, convicted or identified terrorists, you so seldom hear "illegally on US territory" with their names.
Of course they can exploit the weaknesses, but I think the terrorist organistations are so well-established and have such good networks that they would exploit the legitimate channels, not the illegal ones. They don't want to raise suspicion, remember?
#62re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 11:50pm
on terrorists and immigration:
http://www.cis.org/articles/2002/terrorpr.html
#63re: Should a wall be built between the US and Mexico?
Posted: 4/29/06 at 11:56pm
Very interesting statistics, thanks Pinguin.
Only a quarter were illegally on the territory, which is still substantial, but obviously not the main issue. And many of those could have overstayed their visas, not necessarily entered as stowaways/via Mexico or Canada.
I know that the issue, here in Australia, is that most of our problems come from sections of the community that are already citizens or have legitimate visas...
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