Monday Morning Musings…

Being Monday morning and after all that has gone on these past days, it has been unilaterally decided this will be the beginning of a new life. I’m not sure as to how this will happen but know that it will.

Just came in from finishing an ESL (English as a Second Language) class. In thinking about the people who were sitting in front of me this morning were three students, among others, who truly typify the migratory dilemma we face in our country today. I will not refer in these paragraphs to those who are criminals by deed and by choice (there were none there this am…); these are the people who abuse the laws of their host as well as their own country; preying on their own kind, extorting and using them whenever possible and convenient to do so, threatening with theirs and their family’s death if their collaboration –regardless of the severity of the request- is not forthcoming. These, whether Hispanic or otherwise (yes, there is a good percentage of criminals who are not necessarily Hispanic, you know…) should be rooted out and sent to jail or back to the country from where they came, along with those who sponsored their coming here, to be used in such manner.…

Carlos (not his real name), Joanna (neither hers) and Betty (nor hers) are trying very hard to learn English; he, after being here some 3 years, the two ladies after having  raised their children in this society. Three weeks ago Carlos was able to open, after two years of hard work and forced savings, a small paint and body shop place … so new he hasn’t even named it yet.  In fact, he can’t tell me the full address because the street name is, to him, unpronounceable. We worked on this today and he can almost say it now.  For three years now, he has worked, earned an income with his trade, paid taxes and actually now employs one assistant, a US citizen. He comes to class three times a week and would be happy to come in every day; just can’t afford this yet. His work day begins around 8am and often he is working well past 10pm.

Joanna, along with her husband, has been here for almost 20 years. They have been so busy working, raising and educating their 2 children, while at the same time taking care of her mentally incapacitated sister, that there has been precious little time to pursue a legalization of their status (their children were born here) much less to learn English. However, in their long and hard working hours over the years, they have managed to live out their American dream … They created and nurtured a now very successful distribution business, and own this as well as two homes, one of which is being rented to pay for her sister’s care. They (husband, wife and older son) work very hard, long hours in order to maintain their business growth in a very competitive market, pay personal as well as business taxes every year, and are very active community and church members …

Betty’s story, very similar to Joanna’s, shows a family that has been here  in the US for over 18 years, working as a unit and being able to buy their home, also establishing a successful restaurant and two grocery stores along the way. Yes, they also pay all their taxes religiously (Not all US citizens do this, by the way) and are a functional part of their community.

Are they criminals? Yes, they are here illegally; technically, they are outside the law. Yet, in their actions, they are behaving in a manner which is much more conducive to the betterment of our country, than many who are now taking moneys and screaming and whose main claim to this right is that they were born here. Yes, yes… birth right is an important issue, but so is working your tail to the ground in order to improve your lot without waiting for some else to do so, pay their taxes, and then have the government hand out benefits which are totally unearned; regardless of situational birth happenstance in life.

Putting aside the cries that our more conservative political friends may be screaming at the top of their constituent’s ears, our country is indeed made up of ALL who have come to her shores over the years and generations and integrated into our society’s far reaching arms. The first few waves were not considered illegal … simply because the “legality’ of the concept had not yet been established. However, even back then, each newly entrenched contingent of immigrants, after setting their territorial claims, would quickly forget their origins and openly scowl down their noses as the new “folks” would arrive.

Today we use the economy as a main battle cry … “There are no jobs”, “there is no opportunity…” True, the situation is more difficult that it may have been a few years ago (well, about 15-20) but the fact remains that there are job offers which populate the papers every day. Perhaps they will not really let you come in as President of the Corporation, mind you … but if you want to work, there is work to be done and wages to be paid. Also, what of all these people who, with the added burdens of an unclear legal status and of not speaking the language, manage to work, save, set up businesses, buy and pay for a home, pay taxes, educate their children, have them go into the armed forces and prepare for their retirement years?. They are living the life we could all be living … if we worked for it and managed our time and income.

People like the three mentioned in this story, represent billions of dollars that go into our economy every year; their forced departure would create a huge financial void in our society. We are not even talking about the fiolks who come in to work the fields; a work so inhuman at times that no US citizen wants to really do it. In Alabama, millions of dollars worth of fruit have been wasted this year, due to the strict migratory laws that went into effect without really considering the consequences. Those who worked the fields were no longer there and, guess what?, there weren’t any citizens stepping up to assume the labor load.

Are there easy answers? No, definitely not. There are only definite questions that require some defined answers. There are several layers of people who are in this country without papers and, again, Hispanics represent only a portion of these numbers. Unfortunately, the portion most heralded. Of these, the majority work. Of those who work, there is a layer which also creates jobs, incomes and a real contribution to the tax base of our country. We allow people, who come to this country, the opportunity to buy a residency and, in some cases, even a citizenship … if they meet the requirements (which include the setting up of a working business and/or an income producing investment) and are able to pay the going official price. These folks I mentioned here earlier, along with hundreds of thousands of others, probably millions, have already met and surpassed the financial and ethical requirements … the only thing that they did not have, were the initial permits.

Whether they are named Garcia, Lee, Thien, Odawoo or Mohammed, they deserve an honest look, as well as a fair assessment of what they have accomplished here, despite all the barriers and the burdens found and fought along the way. They are truly a part of our society and a good, contributing part at that. Perhaps, in most cases, they might qualify if not for a citizenship, at least for a resident status which will allow them to be even more creative contributors to our societal structure, now in a totally open manner and backed by the laws of the country they have come to enrich through their efforts.        

Be well … Be Back!!

Final Notes:

• Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
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