Kerry & Kathy
Member #007
Several weeks ago there was a discussion on the forum regarding the illegal Mexicans crossing our southern border. It was a good thread that remained civil even though opposing viewpoints were voiced.
I still am firmly of the opinion that all steps necessary should be taken to halt the flow of ILLEGALS across the border and I fully support what Arizona is attempted to accomplish. I don't believe ANYONE should have to "press 1 for English"... I believe in American today there is only ONE official language....and it isn't Spanish. If you come to America to become a naturalized US Citizen...then you speak the language of our country.
Those of us who do support the Arizona law and English as our one official language are often falsely categorized as racists and anti immigrant when in fact we fully support LEGAL immigration.
I look back at my own military service… and some of the closest friends I had were first generation Mexican Americans. Jose Cervantes and Luis Ruiz, were two of the best men I have had the privilege of knowing in my life.
What has happened is our country is becoming more and more polarized over the immigration issue. I am hearing more and more anti-Mexican sentiment… when it should be anti-ILLEGAL ALIEN sentiment. I am afraid we don’t often enough draw a necessary distinction between those of Hispanic heritage who have entered this country legally and those criminals who have made portions of our Southern Border a free fire zone.
We as non-Hispanics need to frequently step back and remind ourselves of the contributions that legal immigrant Hispanics have made to this country and continue to do in a variety of professions. Too often we lose sight of those contributions.
What brought me to reflect on this today was an email I received from an engineer, good friend and fellow Vietnam veteran that I worked with for years at Boeing. I had read the story of Roy P. Benividez before…but the link Tom sent me was a much needed reminder that we have MANY American’s in this country of Hispanic heritage who we owe a tremendous dept of gratitude…and the story of Medal Of Honor recipient SSGT Benevidez is perhaps the best example and reality check on which we all should reflect.
This patriot’s actions were not just heroic…but superhuman. How he survived is beyond understanding. The US NAVY has named a ship after a US ARMY soldier only once in US history.
SSGT Roy P. Benevidez was that soldier…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ7968BbMnU&feature=player_embedded
Kerry
I still am firmly of the opinion that all steps necessary should be taken to halt the flow of ILLEGALS across the border and I fully support what Arizona is attempted to accomplish. I don't believe ANYONE should have to "press 1 for English"... I believe in American today there is only ONE official language....and it isn't Spanish. If you come to America to become a naturalized US Citizen...then you speak the language of our country.
Those of us who do support the Arizona law and English as our one official language are often falsely categorized as racists and anti immigrant when in fact we fully support LEGAL immigration.
I look back at my own military service… and some of the closest friends I had were first generation Mexican Americans. Jose Cervantes and Luis Ruiz, were two of the best men I have had the privilege of knowing in my life.
What has happened is our country is becoming more and more polarized over the immigration issue. I am hearing more and more anti-Mexican sentiment… when it should be anti-ILLEGAL ALIEN sentiment. I am afraid we don’t often enough draw a necessary distinction between those of Hispanic heritage who have entered this country legally and those criminals who have made portions of our Southern Border a free fire zone.
We as non-Hispanics need to frequently step back and remind ourselves of the contributions that legal immigrant Hispanics have made to this country and continue to do in a variety of professions. Too often we lose sight of those contributions.
What brought me to reflect on this today was an email I received from an engineer, good friend and fellow Vietnam veteran that I worked with for years at Boeing. I had read the story of Roy P. Benividez before…but the link Tom sent me was a much needed reminder that we have MANY American’s in this country of Hispanic heritage who we owe a tremendous dept of gratitude…and the story of Medal Of Honor recipient SSGT Benevidez is perhaps the best example and reality check on which we all should reflect.
This patriot’s actions were not just heroic…but superhuman. How he survived is beyond understanding. The US NAVY has named a ship after a US ARMY soldier only once in US history.
SSGT Roy P. Benevidez was that soldier…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ7968BbMnU&feature=player_embedded
Kerry
