A couple weeks ago, the Weekly ran a letter written by the son of the guy who was taking sanctuary in a southside church to avoid being deported. The letter detailed the crappy existence the family leads because they have to be careful not to get pinched by La Migra. They can’t go to Disneyland; they can’t even go someplace where the dad might have to converse in English.
Perhaps it shouldn’t bother me, but it does. How does anyone live in this country for 14 years and not speak any English? I played baseball in Mexico for a brief time and while I was there, I tried my hardest to speak only Spanish. It mostly amounted to “Pasame la salsa, por favor,” and “¿Donde esta el baño?” (In that order.) I seriously sucked at it, but I always tried. My maternal grandfather, Alfonso DiMarco, could not speak English when he brought his family through Ellis Island. My mom said that he would listen to the radio whenever he was in the house. When the family settled in northern Iowa, he’d listen to broadcasts of Chicago Cubs games to help pick up the language of the land. It gives me the creeps to think that Grandpa DiMarco might have learned some of his English by listening to Ronald Reagan.
All I know is that when they interviewed that sanctuary guy on TV, I would have more sympathetic to him if he had spoken in broken English rather than nonchalant Spanish.
Along those same lines, when the dad got a one-year stay of deportation, the morning paper wrote that he said, “I still don’t believe it but I’ve got the paper here to prove it.” Now, we all know he really didn’t say that. He said something in Spanish that translates to those words. In the old days of Journalism, it would have read, “Nenoy Ruiz said (in Spanish)…” I guess you can’t do that these days because it might prove prejudicial by giving the reader too much information.
In the kid’s letter to President Obama, the same factual error that prompted my original column on the subject popped up again. I understand the kid’s holding his father up to high esteem; that’s how it should be. However, claiming that “he did nothing wrong” just perpetuates the fallacy that is so troublesome and divisive. The father did break at least one law and possibly several others; all of the family’s legal travails can be traced to that undeniable and indisputable fact. Claiming complete innocence in such matters only serves to harden the resistance of those who are opposed to immigration reform, while, at the same time, frustrating many of us are in favor of reform. While my capacity for understanding and forgiveness is vast, I simply cannot support someone who openly breaks the law and then claims not to have done so.
I grew up poor in a very violent area. Those circumstances didn’t give me the right to break the law in an effort to better my life.
After that first column, I exchanged multiple e-mails with one David S.; a quick perusal of his many claims might lead one to conclude that his initials would be more appropriate were his first name Bill. One of his more outrageous stances (one from which he would not back down, even after I gave him multiple opportunities to do so): Illegally crossing an international border and then using forged legal documents to gain employment is not as egregious an offense as briefly exceeding—by five miles per hour—the posted speed limit on the highway.
According to David S., the country would be better served by focusing its resources on catching people who spit on the sidewalk or discard apple cores in national parks. No, really.
Rolling Stone magazine has a regular feature called “With Us/Against Us” that’s like a number line stretching horizontally in both directions. Let’s place the mythical Independent voter right in the middle. He thinks it’s not unreasonable for a country to have clearly defined borders and for that country to be able to determine who is legally within those borders at any given time. At the same time, he sees as unrealistic any call to round up and remove the 12 or so million people who are in the country illegally.
This is where (the dreaded, by some) compromise comes into play. Granting those who are in the country illegally some sort of legal status (with strings attached) will mostly solve the problem while leaving everyone to walk away from the negotiating table feeling somewhat disappointed. To accomplish this, the mass of people in the middle would have to ignore the “send-’em-all-back” screamers on one side and the “they-didn’t-do-anything-wrong” whiners on the other side of the spectrum. One side is divorced from reality while the other side refuses to acknowledge propriety.
The Screamers are strident and uncaring but, in the end, they have the law on their side. The Whiners are oh-so-caring but their morally superior posturing would have us believe that the best way to forgive and move beyond transgressions is to change the definitions thereof and then proclaim that they never really happened in the first place.
That’s neither the American way nor does it put them on the side of the angels.
This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 2, 2014.
It’s not unreasonable to forgo double negatives.
Tom you are so right on, that I would worry that this ultra lib rag will not let you write any more. Also, the line that I have heard is ” You stole Soaz from us and you are the trespassers.”
Wrong Tom! Everyone that thinks like this sucks! Learn the history of the Southwest FOOL!!
“Granting those who are in the country illegally some sort of legal status (with strings attached) will mostly solve the problem ” I would agree to this ONLY after the border was completely secure, otherwise this just turns into “if you can make it across you’re home free.”
Presenting a false dichotomy of blanket amnesty vs. deport ’em all is misleading. Virtually no one outside a few internet trolls seriously advocates “rounding ’em up.” Pro-enforcement groups just want the laws enforced – in the workplace, and whenever illegal aliens are found in the ordinary course of law enforcement.
Every previous reform gave amnesty up front and promise of enforcement down the road. In each case, enforcement never materialized and it lead to more and more illegal immigration.
Doing the same thing over and over is, well you know what it is. Any reform needs to do the reverse: enforcement up front (especially workplace enforcement) and a gradually phased in amnesty once enforcement is clearly in place.
Unfortunately, the reform before Congress doesn’t do this. It provides blanket amnesty within 6 months. Although it’s presented as “conditional” we all know that once amnesty is given it, for all practical purposes, can’t be taken back. The enforcement is gradually phased in over many years. Well, we know the government’s history of enforcing immigration law. There isn’t any because, besides some border enforcement, the federal government doesn’t enforce immigration laws at all.
Sorry, the reform currently before Congress is just more of the same: amnesty and more illegal immigration.
Tom, a good article. I hope you write more about this issue.
Illegal immigration has to be stopped at the border.
Borders are to be protected. Right now anyone can enter this country. And now Border Patrol is helping the illegals stay here. The illegals must be turned back. The border must be secured. The federal govt. is going to have to help or see our country overun with lawbreakers.
Legal entry to the US can be obtained. But law breakers don’t want to bother with that.
Any place that offers sanctuary should be prosecuted for the crime they are committing.
Churches who harbor criminals should lose their tax free status. Companies that hire illegals should be heavily fined. Repeat offenses should bring jail time or sanctions against the company.
Sending US tax dollars to countries south of our border and hoping the corrupt governments will in turn help stop illegal immigration to US is ridiculous.
Nothing is being done to make our border secure and the illegal infiltration continues. Laws are in place to solve the problem, why aren’t they being enforced?
The reason the Father has the response supported by his son’s statement “He’s done nothing wrong” is because we haven’t enforced the laws on the books. People come here unimpeded with no reservations about our laws because we are such a forgiving, humanitarian country. This policy of the last 20-30 years has now completely broken down. That’s why you get people who say round them all up and send them back. We are overwhelmed and once again we have another Administration who not only doesn’t promote enforcing our laws but encourages more to come here. Yes we need to figure out how to deal with those that are already here and have broken the law. How we are going to implement that effectively is a big piece of this complicated puzzle. There has to be some type of time limit and if you don’t report and you get caught here after that point in time you are GONE no if’s and’s or but’s because we gave them a chance. The other easier piece to complete and administer is we must close our border. This is our vulnerability and how we are going avoid another attack on our soil. Thanks for writing the article Tom, I was floored the Weekly let you write this piece.
………..and we continue to babble while Rome burns. Look, mon Capitan, you bdance around the subject – WHAT do YOU want us to do? YOU? What is YOUR grand plan? Open Borders? OK, as of this northbound goldrush from Central America – you got it. Now we begin to absorb a new tidal wave of Undocumented Democrats. Now what?
Why do people believe you can secure a border as long as the US-Mexico boarder? The closest anyone’s ever come to such a secure boarder was East and West Germany and it still wasn’t that secure. Even the Great Wall of China couldn’t stop folks.
The big banks in this country did the best, they tanked the economy and illegal immigration dropped sharply.
The border with Mexico cannot be “secured” to the point that all illegal immigration is stopped. Those that believe it can are as stupid as our Governor. Those that cross our border illegally are guilty of a civil, not a criminal infraction. Those the drive five miles an hour over the speed limit are guilty of a civil, not a criminal infraction. These are facts. I know facts are seen as not true when they don’t conform to our prejudices. This is called willful ignorance. When people don’t believe in human caused global climate change the are guilty of willful ignorance. When people don’t believe in evolution they are guilty of willful ignorance. When people believe it is an absolute requirement that to live in the United States one MUST speak English, well those people are guilty of being as stupid as John Huppenthal. When people believe that the US should turn it’s back on people,especially children, fleeing oppression, murder and violence beyond human tolerance, those people are guilty of being heartless bastards. And then they usually go to church on Sunday and pretend to be Christians. These are called hypocritical heartless bastards. Tom, when you find yourself being congratulated by the knuckle dragging assholes of the world it is time to question yourself.
In the news just this week: The state’s high school dropouts will earn $271,000 less than their cohorts who do get a diploma. Dropouts also tend to have higher social costs — such as criminal records and going on welfare. That brings their economic losses and social price tags up to more than $421,000 statewide and $463,500 in Phoenix, according to the report by the Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable.
Assuming the above is even remotely accurate, please explain to me how anyone speaking little or no English, with an average 4th grade education, and no knowledge of our laws, can possibly be a benefit to this country. They are a drag on the economy, cannot pay their share of social costs, and to pretend otherwise is silly.
“Let’s place the mythical Independent voter right in the middle. He thinks it’s not unreasonable for a country to have clearly defined borders and for that country to be able to determine who is legally within those borders at any given time. At the same time, he sees as unrealistic any call to round up and remove the 12 or so million people who are in the country illegally.”
Well there he goes again with the “mythical” independent voter. Let’s try it again Tom. The mythical independent voters comprise the largest voting block in the US electorate – those who eschew the extremes and seek a rational consensus sans party affiliation. Despite his political preferences (Democrat Now And Forever) Tom, in parodying the centrist (independent) stance, does a fine job of describing his own position on immigration reform sans his know-nothing stance on language acquisition by those living here illegally. Apparently Tom is one of us “mythical independents.” Self-loathing is so unbecoming.
If you live in Tucson it is easy to feel disgusted with the Democrats who’ve run the city into the ground. Living in Arizona, taking umbrage with the Republicans is a natural response by any sentient person. See Tom, that’s where we “mythical” independents coalesce forming the despised (by Tom) middle and eschewing two failed political mega-parties.
The Progressive Liberal mindset who thinks taking drugs is a cool thing has to bear some of the blame for the Central Americans who are fleeing the Cartel violence. You can’t have it both ways. For the other Progressive Liberals who want Open Borders. You as naive as you are stupid. Hope you enjoy the new and improved USA which will be filled with illiterate Central Americans and Mexican illegal aliens.
If you think we will remain a first rate power and economic power then bend over and grab your ankles. By 2045 or so guess what language will be the majority. Hope you like Telemundo or Univision. The next time the USA or the West will face a major threat. (i.e historically Japanese Imperialism, Nazi Germany, Russian Communist forces, Islamic Terrorists or whatever comes our way in the future)…try calling Paco or Jose and the world they (and you) will have created. We will be just another third world cesspool.
Good luck with that.
Here I am, a day late, so bring on the hate. I think Danehy and his supporters overlook many of the nuances that make life both wonderful and complex. My typical reminder at this point is that unless we are Native Americans, we are all decedents of immigrants, legal or “illegal”. My grandmother and her sister came here from Poland at the turn of the last century as penniless teenagers. Not much education, no English language. They left their parents behind, and had few prospects in this “new” country. They both went on to own successful small businesses, pay taxes raise families, go to church, and contribute to their neighborhoods. Those businesses and neighborhoods were spotless. Not even a cigarette but on the curb. The neighborhood they lived in had a Polish community, church, businesses, and the Catholic school my mother attended spoke Polish. My mom’s first language was Polish, but she was articulate in both Polish and English. My grandmother a bit less so, but spoke both quite well. Her sister, my great aunt, had trouble learning and speaking English. She was shy, embarrassed about her broken English so she retreated to a quiet lifestyle unless she was with a lot of Polish speakers. She was depressed her entire life about this fact of life. She missed Poland, but could not go back, life was better for her here. She remained a good person, but she never progressed with English like her sister did. Nevertheless she functioned quite well in our culture at that time.
It seems that so many want very simple black and white solutions to very complex problems.
When I travel to New York City, Los Angeles, or South Tucson, I love hearing different languages, eating food from other cultures, absorbing music and art from foreign and exotic places. I love meeting new people from different places and learning about their culture and traditions. Back in the ’60s when German and Japanese cars started to infiltrate our economy, my dad hated seeing those cars on the road due to his involvement with WW2. But as time passed so did his hatred of those two cultures. In fact he was a champion for buying used beat up VW Beetles and fixing them up. On a vacation he even befriended a Japanese tourist and became life long pen pals with him. Their lives were enriched by their relationship as well as their family’s lives. Once enemies became loyal friends perhaps because they shared so much in common.
Maybe it’s skipped a generation or two, but unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, someone in your family line may share (or have shared) quite a lot in common with the immigrants who are entering this country currently. Have none of you ever heard of the phrase “walk a mile in my shoes”? Especially in this desert, in June.
Well said Ronko:
But by 2045 the voice on the computer will not say “press 1 to speak Polish”.
Fraier
I took 2 years of HS Spanish and regrettably was a poor student. After traveling to Mexico many times, speaking baby Spanish and not conjugating verbs properly, I found generally the people of Mexico to welcome me into their homes, lives and wonderful country. I make it sound easy. Oh, I was stupid, and once got my pocket pinched in a subway in DF during rush hour …but again, generally my window on Mexicans is quite sunny, understanding so much complexity we share with a border currently and historically. Recall history and thanks to the conquistadores, Spanish was spoken in this desert prior to English. Let’s not even open the discussion to the many Indian tongues not currently on our computers. So this is where we part company. If I pick up a little more Spanish late in my life and can communicate in a more sophisticated and adult if not worldly way, I feel my life is enriched. If one speaks Spanish, one can communicate with 1/2 the world. Understanding each other may inspire genuine progress. I for one respectively lean in that direction and you area welcome to lean in yours. Muchos gracias por el cumplido!
Tom, you must be so proud to have fans such as Fraser! When are you getting fitted for your pointy hat with the cute tea bags hanging from the brim?
So tiresomely typical Tom, being a white male, you were born on second base and love to crow about how you hit a double to get there. Why can’t these filthy foreigners just hit a double like I did.
Oh Ronko I feel so much netter now that you have cleared that up. I feel so good for you. I loved your historical examples. The Conquistadores conquered the Aztec Empire with 350 soldiers and about 50,000 local tribes who didn’t like the Aztecs. It was an invasion.
The Apaches fought off the Spanish as well as the Americans–that was an invasion. (Of course the Apaches walked into Arizona and took the areas nobody wanted). The Aztecs should have fought harder. They had a disadvantage in the level of weapons and their leader Montezuma was a weak leader. His generals told him to wipe out the Spanish at the shores of Vera Cruz. He thought they were Gods. Or that he could bribe them with gold. bad decisions.
This is the United States. The language is English. I feel happy that you can order a meal in Spanish or talk to your groundskeeper in his language.
Fraser…I have no groundskeeper. I made a blue collar wage much of my working life and live frugally, as close to the earth as I can manage. I keep my own grounds, coffee and otherwise. I hire no maid or gardener, I cannot afford it. I simply attempt to show respect to all people even those I with which I disagree, of which there are many. In my interactions with Mexican culture, I have been treated very well, and I attempt to respond in kind. Make no assumptions about me and I will endeavor to do the same. Although with your vitriol and hyperbole you make that a challenging task. You spread manure and expect no response, or an ass kissing? Not from me.
I don’t want anything from you. I have no problem with Mexican culture. I just don;t want to live as a minority just because we didn’t protect the border. I like America. if I wanted to live in Mexico I would move there. But thats OK they are moving here.
And I dont hire a maid either.
Suppose I’ve had it up to here with this country and wanted to relocate elsewhere. I’d have to scratch Mexico off my list. Why? Because I don’t speak Spanish. You cannot take up residentcy there unless you speak Spanish. Look it up, it’s a fact. If it’s o.k. for Mexico to have that policy, why can’t we? Just curious.
Would the person who disliked what I said at least have the stones to explain what was so bad about it. Or is it just the truth that pisses you off.
CW13:
This is the Tucson Weekly! I am surprised you only got one “dislike”! lol It’s the haven of the Open Borders Progressive Liberal Creative Class. They think allowing millions of illegals in here is a good thing.
Stay strong CW13
Fraser.
I’ve been doing this for 3 years now. Time and time again I urged these fine libs to hit dislike under my comments. The more the merrier. Shows me I’m getting to them. But I always did something to earn them. Like calling Tom ” Pulitzer Tommy” or refering to their president as Obummer. All I did here is state a fact. No rudeness or name calling. Yet this gutless bitch hit dislike without having the balls to explain why. Like I said the truth must have pissed him ( her ) off. We should compare pointy hats some day !!
Looks like the gutless bitch has a few partners.
Truth… Kryptonite to liberals.
As they say in geometry, Q.E.D.
You ” stole ” So. Az. from us??? I was sitting in a Jury Room lst year and overhead some Hispanics talk about this Baja Arizona stuff. One said to the other, ” we’re finally going to get it back without firing a shot.” I couldn’t believe it. In the 20th Century!! Don’t they teach History in Tucson Schools? ( THAT was a stupid thing to say) Anybody?? Gadsden Purchase? What was bought and sold, when, for how much? Little history lesson, folks. As a former school teacher, in Jr. High, I actually had a young man tell me he was Mexican and then say he was born in a hospital in Tucson. I told him that made him an American. He said I was lying. LYING!! Next day, he came in and apologized, his mother said I was right. these days, I guess I should be glad he didn’t shoot me.
Actually it was the early HohoKam who were here first. (Not counting Mastadon Hunters who were here REALLY early). The Hohokam fell and/or moved away. The local Tohono O’Dham were related to them (or moved in as they were moving out). They farmed here. The Apaches moved into the area but not in the Tucson Basin. The Apaches took the Sky Islands in southern Arizona and N. Mexico. The Spanish came in next. (Invaded) The Apaches fought like hell and actually caused the Spanish to build the Tucson Presidio. The Tohono O’Dham fought the Spanish off about 1751. Spanish came back.
We arrived. (invaded and bought) and then fought the Apaches hard until 1886.
And no they dont teach history in the TUSD.
I’d be happy to ‘give’ southern Arizona back to Mexico, but we do live in a democratic republic, so I suggest we put it to a vote. And I’m willing to let ONLY the Mexicans in southern Arizona vote. Specifically ONLY those who are here illegally! Sure, they’d return it.
Danehy did not write this June 26, 2014 piece
Don Key: It came from Danehy and feels like a Danehy piece to me. I’m not sure we pay enough to make a ghostwriter worthwhile.
Americans are last in line with Obama. Hell with our veterans there isn’t even a line. Shame on lazy American voters. They allowed this fraud to get in office.
There seems to be a point everybody, including Tom, is missing. Some people simply cannot learn a second language, ever. Some people are polyglots who speak many different languages fluently. I speak my native language fluently and know enough spanish, german, and italian to get by, but my father absolutely has been unable to learn spanish other than a few words (he knows what a burrito is), even though he lives in San Antonio, TX. It’s not simply a matter of choice whether one learns a second language. It’s like being tone deaf. How many people do you know who cannot carry a tune, or match a note with their voice? It’s not that they choose not to (double-negative), it’s that they simply do not have the capacity to do so. Illegal immigration is inevitable when two countries exist next to each other. Anybody remember the immigration problems between East and West Germany? No language barrier there, but the hatred held by West Germans for East was palpable. All the same rationale applied, “East Germans are taking away jobs from West Germans”, and “Us Sneeches have stars on ours”.