email forwards

This forward from my Dad:


> This letter sent to Senator Frist from a retired border patrol
> agent that has more common sense than all the bull being spewed
> from the Senate, with the exception of a few sensible
> representatives.
>
> Dear Senator Frist,
>
> There is a huge amount of propaganda and myths circulating about
> illegal aliens, particularly illegal Mexican, Salvadorian,
> Guatemalan and Honduran aliens.
>
> 1. Illegal aliens generally do NOT want U.S. citizenship.
> Americans are very vain thinking that everybody in the world wants
> to be a U.S. citizen. Mexicans, and other nationalities want to
> remain citizens of their home countries while obtaining the
> benefits offered by the United States such as employment, medical
> care, in-state tuition, government subsidized housing and free
> education for their offspring. Their main attraction is
> employment and their loyalty usually remains at home. They want
> benefits earned and subsidized by middle class Americans. What
> illegal aliens was are benefits of American residence without
> paying the price.
>
> 2. There are no jobs that Americans won't do. Illegal aliens are
> doing jobs that Americans can't take and still support their
> families. Illegal aliens take low wage jobs, live dozens in a
> single residence home, share expenses and send money to their home
> country. There are no jobs that Americans won't do for a decent
> wage.
>
> 3. Every person who illegally entered this nation left a home.
> They are NOT homeless and they are NOT Americans. Some left jobs
> in their home countries. They come to send money to their real
> home as evidenced by the more than 20 billion dollars sent out of
> the country each year by illegal aliens. These illegal aliens
> knowingly and willfully entered this nation in violation of the
> law and therefore assumed the risk of detection and deportation.
> Those who brought their alien children assumed the responsibility
> and risk on behalf of their children.
>
> 4. Illegal aliens are NOT critical to the economy. Illegal
> aliens constitute less than 5% of the workforce. However, they
> reduce wages and benefits for lawful U.S. residents.
>
> 5. This is NOT an immigrant nation. There are 280 million native
> born Americans. While it is true that this nation was settled and
> founded by immigrants (legal immigrants), it is also true that
> there is not a nation on this planet that was not settled by
> immigrants at one time or another.
>
> 6. The United States is welcoming to legal immigrants. Illegal
> aliens are not immigrants by definition. The U.S. accepts more
> lawful immigrants every year than the rest of the world combined.
>
> 7. There is no such thing as the "Hispanic vote". Hispanics are
> white, brown, black and every shade in between. Hispanics are
> Republicans, Democrats, Anarchists, Communists, Marxists and
> Independents. The so-called "Hispanic vote" is a myth. Pandering
> to illegal aliens to get the Hispanic vote is a dead end.
>
> 8. Mexico is NOT a friend of the United States. Since 1848
> Mexicans have resented the United States. During World War I
> Mexico allowed German Spies to operate freely in Mexico to spy on
> the U.S. During World War II Mexico allowed the Axis powers to
> spy on the U.S. from Mexico. During the Cold War Mexico allowed
> spies hostile to the U.S. to operate freely. The attack on the
> Twin Towers in 2001 was cheered and applauded all across Mexico.
> Today Mexican school children are taught that the U.S. stole
> California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. If you don't believe
> it, check out some Mexican textbooks written for their school
> children.
>
> 9. Although some illegal aliens enter this country for a better
> life, there are 6 billion people on this planet. At least 1
> billion of those live on less than one dollar a day. If wanting a
> better life is avalid excuse to break the law and sneak into
> America, then let's allow those one billion to come to America and
> we'll turn the USA into a Third World nation overnight. Besides,
> there are 280 million native born Americans who want a better
> life. I'll bet Bill Gates and Donald Trump want a better life.
> When will the USA lifeboat be full? Since when is wanting a
> better life a good reason to trash another nation?
>
> 10. There is a labor shortage in this country. This is a lie.
> There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of American
> housewives,senior citizens, students, unemployed and underemployed
> who would gladly take jobs at a decent wage.
>
> 11. It is racist to want secure borders. What is racist about
> wanting secure borders and a secure America? What is racist about
> not wanting people to sneak into America and steal benefits we
> have set aside for legal aliens, senior citizens, children and
> other legal residents? What is it about race that entitles people
> to violate our laws, steal identities, and take the American Dream
> without paying the price?
>
> For about four decades American politicians have refused to secure
> our borders and look after the welfare of middle class Americans.
> These politicians have been of both parties. A huge debt to
> American society has resulted. This debt will be satisfied and
> the interest will be high.
>
> There has already been riots in the streets by illegal aliens and
> their supporters. There will be more. You, as a politician, have
> a choice to offend the illegal aliens who have stolen into this
> country and demanded the rights afforded to U.S. citizens or to
> offend those of us who are stakeholders in this country. The
> interest will be steep either way. There will be civil unrest.
> There will be a reckoning. Do you have the courage to do what is
> right for America? Or, will you bow to the wants and needs of
> those who don't even have the right to remain here?
>
> There will be a reckoning. It will come in November of this
> year,again in 2008 and yet again in 2010.
>
> We will not allow America to be stolen by third world agitators
> and thieves.
> >
> > David J. Stoddard U.S. Border Patrol (RET)
>
>
>

My reply:

While I think that this fellow makes a well-written case, I think that he is
totally wrong on some points, or has "spun" things to twist the truth of the
matter.

These are just people who are looking for a better life. And while it is true
that those who are crossing the border illegally are.. well, breaking the law..
consider for a moment that just because something is a law does not make it
right and correct, it just makes it true. It struck me the other day that with
the huge huge numbers of people crossing over illegally, it seems to me that the
system is not able to keep up with the demand. And I wonder why this is the
case. I'm no socio-economist, but I think that people create jobs. If you
just picked up 100,000 people and dropped them into a functioning
economy/country, they will fairly quickly generate jobs and money. Consider
this- that's 100,000 more consumers, 100,000 more people who'll be interested
in making purchases. Back to the not able to keep up with the demand, why is
it that we have tens or hundreds of thousands of people crossing the border
every year? Is it because we're denying them entrance? And if so.. why? I'm
appalled that America and Mexico are next door neighbors. I see, in my mind, a
beverly hills mansion with 40 bedrooms, a 15 car garage, 3 swimming pools, etc
etc, right next door to a small one-bedroom shotgun home. It just seems
disproportionate. And okay, sure, I imagine there are arguments that "Well
America cant be responsible for giving hand outs to every impoverished nation."
which is not really what I'm looking for, even though the plight of africa makes
my heart hurt.. but it still seems disproportionate. Big Rich America right next
door to Impoverished Mexico. Sure - we were lucky. America for settling this
land (and kicking off or killing all of its original inhabitants....) and us
for being born here. And for being middle class. Not only do we live in
america, we do pretty okay in america, unlike the dirt poor folks who live in
the same city/country as us. And I mean the working poor. Still.. can you
blame them? Lets imagine for a moment that you live in a two bedroom shoddy
house along with your wife, children, parents, brothers and sisters and
possibly their families. College? Huh? I cant speak with any authority on
jobs in Mexico, either how readily they are available or how well they pay,
though its obvious that they cant/dont provide as good a living as american
jobs.. What would you do? Wouldnt you be inclined to cross the border..
either alone in order to be able to send money to your family.. or with your
whole family?

I think that there is a problem, but I dont think it is a simple problem, that
we be solved this year or next year or anytime in the near future. Not solved
in the way that the media talks about it now. I dont think that the problem is
that large numbers of people illegally cross the border every year, I think that
is just a symptom of the problem.