[lit-ideas] Re: making illegal legal and Mexican protests
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 11:05:46 -0700
Joseph,
What state do you live in? I live in Southern California and haven't found
what you describe to be true here. Of course I haven't anything to do with
migrant farmers. I don't know what sorts of rules prevail there, but our
fast-food places are integrated - the ones I've frequented at least.
Although we have Chinese restaurants run by Chinese. Also, I haven't
experienced any Hispanic racism. I know La Raza exists, but I haven't seen
any of it and suspect it is not extremely popular among the people coming
here.
When I was a kid, raking leaves and mowing lawns was good work. This was
back in the 40s so we made a lot less than 75 cents an hour - more like a
dollar for the whole job however long it took - and it better be good or we
wouldn't get the dollar. I now pay my gardener $50 a week to take care of
nothing but the lawns. He has a Hispanic name but speaks flawless English,
has a good sense of humor and seems to be about 26. He drives a brand-new
truck and has all the latest mowing equipment. He is fast and reliable.
I have a Caucasian cleaning lady come in once a week. She comes with a team
of two or three, usually Hispanics and they take less than an hour to clean
the house. I pay her $75 a week. I don't know what she pays her team.
They have a route and go from house to house in the course of the week. They
always seem friendly and happy whenever I leave my study while they are
here.
Lawrence Helm
San Jacinto, CA
_____
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of joseph
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 10:14 AM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] making illegal legal and Mexican protests
Good Morning My distinguished members of Lit Ideas...thank you dearly for
you posts on this subject. This a subject that has evoked passionate debate
both pro and con. Normally I am known here for blurting out un substanuated
and sometime emotional appeals to what ever subject is on the forefront.
However on this topic, Illegal vs. legal immigration I bit my tongue.
while many of you presented wonderful arguments on the political, the
religious and economical advancements of the protesting Mexicans, I still
had some problems with their historical and , as it were, future motives. I
am by all mean African American, or Black, or Negro or to some a Niggah! I
was there in the late 60's when We as a people marched, and had to face the
wrath of water hoses being turn on us as we marched. I was there when Martin
I. King put himself on the line to elevate the human dignity of All races
for equality , fair wages and social stability. I remember my grand Parents
speaking of the long hot days picking cotton. I remember my own Mother
having to baby-sit the white man's children and I remember her cleaning his
toilets for a meager earning. I also remember having to rake leaves for
people like Lawrence Welk, for .75 cents and hour.
I said that to say this, when I hear the argument that " they will do the
jobs that no American will do!" I get appalled
Why you may ask, well because, that was the reason Martin Luther King fought
for. To get a race of people out of slavery. So I see a race of people, in
this case , the Mexican people issuing in their people to adhere a slavery
posture. Does that make sense? We fight, and when I say WE , I mean both
Black and White persons fought to abolish the slavery mentality and here
comes a group that wishes to re inact slavery. Lets face it, working in the
fields picking " whatever" and cleaning someones toilets for meager wages
is, by all means Slavery!
Also, I do think that if Mr. Caesar Chevez stood up from his grave he
would not wish to see his people being paided sub-standard wages, no health
care or workers compensation for their long hours. I don't think he would be
happy with that arguement. So when all of these people took to the streets
in protest I had to ask myself a very significant question.. and that
Question was this?
Do they think that this will change the mind-set of the US Congress and
Senate? and Number two Do they really think that their mobilization will get
something Illegal changed to legal, for free?
also, i may say this, when someone speaks of the Mexican people and their
plight, i must add that they are the most racist people I have seen. I am
serious, they are more racist than the pre- 60's ..the reason I say this is
because I have yet to go into one Mexican restaurant and see anyone of any
other race working there. More over, the same can be said for any other fast
food or restaurant in general. My girl friend and I have dis continued our
search for a decent Chinese food Restaurant because , there are simply no
Chinese people cooking anymore..
Joseph Wells
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