[Grovenet] illegals

[Ed Davie]

Well said Eric! Thanks.
Ed
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Eric Canon
  To: Forest Grove local interests list
  Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 8:57 PM
  Subject: Re: [Grovenet] illegals


  Tom, this post shows so much caring and 
kindness,
  and I'm so glad you followed your original piece
  with this. Sometimes it's tempting to lump 
people
  into categories, and I was about to do that to
  you on this issue. Now I'm glad I did not, and
  you have also renewed my faith in the basic
  goodness in people. I still don't understand 
your
  support of this administration, but here you 
have
  an open mind and compassion that is so often
  absent from the R party these days. Saying that
  says a lot about me, I know, but your openness 
is
  inspiring and uplifting. Thank you!

  I do have some views on this issue. And my views
  are going to rattle Krystof, Steven and Ron all
  at once. That's a formidable group to confront! 
I
  have no choice on this one.

  I think it's interesting how people spend their
  time. Most of us don't have much extra time, but
  it's clear this issue has made activists of a 
lot
  of people. They find the time for this.

  Krystof complained about John Schrag at the
  NewsTimes, that there has been only one article
  on the demonstrations at Centro. I thought about
  the incredible coverage my group has had, as we
  have tried to raise funds for family shelters 
and
  change the face of the homeless from lazy drunk
  males to real live children who don't have a bed
  of their own in which to sleep. John and the NT
  have been so helpful to our effort and we are so
  grateful. Their reporters have dug into
  homelessness deeply, writing about the twelve
  year old girl who washes for school in a filling
  station rest room.

  I was thinking about Krystof's complaint, and it
  made me respect John even more. This minute man
  movement isn't about helping our neighbors. It's
  about keeping what belongs to the citizens of 
the
  richest nation on earth all to themselves. Is it
  not ironic that our country, with all our
  "things" and wealth and privilege and good
  fortune, when a third world country happens to 
be
  on our boarder and they want some, too, we
  respond with this sort of vigilantism. I'm
  utterly contemptuous of this sort of response to
  these people.

  I completely agree laws are being broken. Jesus
  broke the laws, too. We crucified Him. Now let's
  get the Latinos. How despicable!

  When I was in Mexico, I was welcomed and treated
  with respect. They are a wonderful people who
  live in the poverty you were considerate enough
  to inquire about. There is no opportunity there.
  There is only desperation. Why do we think they
  come here in the first place, risking death,
  deportation, insults (they are a proud people),
  discrimination? Do we think they have another
  option?

  I love these people. They learn English quickly,
  and they are proud to use it in my experience. I
  have hired many, and they work like no American
  (sadly). I engage them, as you did Tom, and they
  are friendly and warm. I care about them and 
they
  care back.

  When I first pick them up, they sometimes are
  suspicious. They are frequently stiffed, or paid
  much less than fair wages. Once they sense I 
will
  be respectful and fair, they give their all. 
Such
  wonderful people.

  Some are illegal. Some work on construction 
crews
  and they go down for a days work when they are
  laid off. I don't inquire about their legal
  status. I give them work when I have it, and I
  will again. They are human beings. When the law
  conflicts as it does in this case, I say change
  the law.

  The minute men are patriots. How do I know? What
  could be more in keeping with our nations
  Independence than the minute men of the
  revolution from which they take their name? They
  wave American flags, too. They fight the
  invaders. Ready to come to battle when the bugle
  sounds.

  I wonder if any of the minute men can say they
  declare all their income?

  This is a winner, though. This is the American
  brown shirts, and this issue will unite the
  bullies (excuse me, patriots) and inflame them
  like nothing else. Are they concerned with 
others
  suffering? Absolutely not. They care only for
  themselves. What a great way to blow off their
  anger and frustration.

  I see JJSaw has returned to us. This is the
  perfect issue for him. Welcome back JJSaw.

  Ed, I watched some of the videos that Krystof
  shared with us. I want to say how proud I am
  about Paul Rubinstein, the chief of the 
Cornelius
  police. Did you see the clip of the two sides,
  the Hispanic supporters on one side of the
  street, and the minute men on the other side of
  the street? The minute men, bullies that they
  are, wanted to cross over. The chief asked them
  not to do it. It's an interesting clip.

  I know some of you are indignant that the laws
  are not enforced. But they are enforced! The
  scale of the problem is huge! These hard working
  people who raise quiet respectful children and
  take care of their parents are the reason I
  overlook the law in this case. I look to a law
  the bully boys know nothing about. Do you think
  Jesus died so you could have a gun? Do you see
  your role as confronting a man who only wants to
  work? How dare you! How dare you! How dare you!