Sarah Baram

you must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. RB

Tag: Tea Party

Come One, Come All

These next coming days will probably be the only days I stick to a severely biased news network and do not mind doing so. Why? Well, because for once, they are beyond right and I cannot seem to do anything but nod in agreement with them. The network? Fox News… Now, please, stop shaking your finger at me. The issue? Immigration. I know, immigration has been so drawn out and chatted about it is almost unnerving.  But, as long as there are border hoppers and illegal workers illegal immigration will always be relevant, so why not chat some more concerning it?

Everyone knows the deal with illegal immigration. I mean deal as in definition, so far very few parties have made out well in this illegal situation and I am sure you can guess by process of elimination that so far, America has not been one of them. In 2007, America’s immigrant population reached 37.9 million, this including both legal and illegal immigrants.  This statistic translates roughly to one in eight of those residing in America to be immigrants. If one would like to go further and know how many of those immigrants happen to be illegal, it is about one in three. Where do many of them hail from? Nearly half of the Mexican immigrants in America are here illegally, along with one half of Central American immigrants and one-third of South American immigrants. It may sound like the singling out of an ethnicity, but it’s not, it is just a cold hard truth.

With this constant flow of negative statistics, a person has to wonder: why are these immigrants coming, and staying, illegally? Is it for the American Dream of that darling cape with a white picket fence? Ah, to have two full sized bathrooms and a breakfast nook. Or is it because they are safer here in the good ole’ United States? I mean, who really wants to stay in Mexico with this unending drug war? No hands? I didn’t think so. Then what is it?

If you could enter a country, nearly free of financial cost, send your children to school without having to pay taxes, and possibly receive government financial aid, wouldn’t you jump on that border crossing band wagon? Welcome to America, land of the free.

I know, illegal immigrants do participate in their share of work, and at a depressingly low cost. Remember, this low cost is generally paid under the table, tax-free. It is that cost that makes these illegal immigrants attractive, and so employable by corporations and small businesses alike. Actually, so employable that they are among the highest percentage of employed people residing in New York City today. Citing recent Census statistics, Mexicans, as the one of the largest immigrant groups present in New York City, are more likely to be employed than an actual New York City native. This employable nonsense is not something that is only harbored in New York City; it is spreading among the country too. Illegal immigrants are taking jobs that should rightfully be handed to those who live in America, legally.

If only the problem with illegal immigration stopped with those who have become employed over legal American citizens. There is also the crime to think about. First off, illegal immigration is a crime punishable by the United States government. A family of illegal immigrants crossing American borders and staying undermines America’s national security and puts a drain on national funding. Though, statistics can be found that illegal immigrants are less likely than an American native to commit a heinous crime due to fear of being deported, isn’t living in America illegally and forcing Americans to pay the way heinous enough?

If all of this is true, then why did Stephen Colbert appear in Congress fighting for rights of immigrants currently residing and working in the United States? He may like to speak out for those who are not usually heard, and fight for their rights but… Why would you give an illegal resident Constitutional rights? I may not have been there when the Bill of Rights was first drafted, but I am immensely confident that “We the People” meant Americans, and those legally residing in America.

Colbert’s show of meager intelligence and mockery was just that, nothing more. Essentially, his satirical notion came down to those illegal immigrants holding agricultural jobs. Colbert, before addressing Congress did participate in a day’s work to become a sort of self-proclaimed expert.

“And the farm work? It is hard. Really, really hard. You have to bend over to pick things a lot. It turns out – and I did not know this – most soil is at ground level.”

- Stephen Colbert

Farm work may be grueling, but does that mean a legal American would deny such a job? I would like to think the answer to that question would be a ‘no’.

Stephen Colbert’s appearance may have been nothing more than a headache inducer, but the Democratic Party seems intent on making illegal immigration more of an everlasting migraine. It looks as if Colbert may have had one thing right, many of them may be out of jobs come November.

This notion in turn brings me to The DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act. If I were to go with the nutshell explanation of what The DREAM Act really is, I would tell you it is amnesty for illegal immigrants between the ages of twelve and thirty-five. Oh yes, amnesty. How? By receiving credits in higher education or serving proper military service, those illegal immigrants previously in the United States for five years, can apply and be granted American citizenship. The cost? Well, that would mean American taxes paying for those four years of high school, and the possible years before that, required by any higher education institution. And an illegal immigrant participating opts to go in to the military? Those positions are paid once boot camp is completely. So yes, the Democratic Party wants to pay illegal immigrants to become legal.

Then, what does the Republican Party so desire within the realms of illegal immigration? Do not fret; this issue was rightfully addressed in their newest “Pledge to America”.

1.     Establish Operational Control of the Border: We must take action to secure our borders, and that action starts with enforcing our laws. We will ensure that the Border Patrol has the tools and authorities to establish operational control at the border and prohibit the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from interfering with Border Patrol enforcement activities on federal lands.

2.     Work with State and Local Officials to Enforce Our Immigration Laws: The problem of illegal immigration and Mexican drug cartels engaged in an increasingly violent conflict means we need all hands on deck to address this challenge. We will reaffirm the authority of state and local law enforcement to assist in the enforcement of all federal immigration laws.

3.     Strengthen Visa Security: To stop terrorists like Omar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Christmas Day bomber, we will require the Department of Homeland Security to review all visa applications at high-risk consular posts and prevent aliens from attempting to avoid deportation after having their visas revoked.

This whole debate may sound like it is leaking from a Conservative’s mouth, or maybe even a Tea Partier’s political leanings but isn’t it just common sense that illegal immigrants are illegal? This then striking the possibilities of a well-rounded education, employment opportunities and equal rights… Away? That is what I had though, but who knows, maybe it’s not common sense and somewhere along the way a large group of Americans forgot what “We the People” truly means. Or, maybe that meaning has just evolved in to more of a “Come one, Come all, here is my open wallet” type of interpretation.

I thought a good education trumped all?

As I was driving away from work this afternoon, my tires stumbled upon an unusual scene. It was a protest on the steps of my town’s historic courthouse. The eyesore was complete with a man dressed as Uncle Sam (also, on stilts), a suited man in a gas mask, and children holding signs against President Barack Obama’s new health care plan. Ah, and do not forget the lone policeman directing traffic swiftly away with the shake of his head, and hand. Welcome to the local Tea Party chapter.

As any good budding journalist would, I illegally parked my car and with my notebook, pen and camera ready cell phone made my way to the demonstration. I stood on the corner with a man who wanted to “trash the Constitution” and bring back good ol’ Dubbya Bush. After his appearance and poorly thought out sign, I called home begging to be brought my better camera, HD video ready.

I cannot go in to the details of the demonstration without my words becoming drenched in sarcasm and hilarity. So, instead, I have compiled a list of what I saw, complete with a photographic montage.

  1. Upon arriving at the scene, the first thing I noticed aside from the multiple Halloween costumes: children holding signs they in no way could understand at ten years old… and playing with puppies. How dare you bribe your children with cute fluffy puppies and construction paper.
  2. Over taxation is slavery. No sir. Slavery is me locking you in a poorly lit, insect infested housing and forcing you to do my chores for meager nourishment.
  3. Health care is not a right. Why not? Because it is man made. Wait until you get cancer and can’t afford the bills. As pricey as Obama’s new health care plan will be, everyone still has the human right to be… healthy.
  4. Socialism will ruin the aesthetic beauty of our land. Sorry, what?
  5. You cannot cure the epidemic of under privileged and economically unstable Americans living on the street through Robin Hood techniques. Love thy poor neighbor and their poorness shall disappear. Hm…
  6. Education institutions should not be funded by the government and in the end, should be shut down. Apparently, as a young high schooler, I was spoon fed a trash education that would brain wash me in to voting Democrat.

After the comments were drained from every waiting mouth, the mingling began. I was chastised for attending a community college, and once having been a university student. Personally, I had to wonder, did their home schooling from wildly uneducated parents help them become successful? No, the protest was at 1PM and lasted much longer than the average work lunch hour. I was then told good luck making a living out of blogging, because with the education I am getting, it may be the only job I can get. And, my favorite, is the former First Family, the Clintons, responsible for 9/11? (Destroyed documentation and all.)

It was a beautiful afternoon. The sun was shining and the sidewalks were warm and welcoming. There was a cool breeze, and in the air a flag waved reading: “Don’t tread on me.” Are all Tea Partiers this rational? Or did my tires just stumble upon a more unusual scene than usual?