A Strike and a Whiff

It's funny how the small things like a missile strike (or miss) will catch your breath. T. has joined this profession that literally "sails in harm's way," so the parents are both very proud and normally worried. Something we'll have to get used to, I suppose.

Today's rant (get out the pillow and blankeys): the Central American invasion of the United States. Took a 'Intro to Social Work' class last semester in an attempt (failed, of course) to understand my collegues across the state. One of the films we say was about Hispanic strawberry pickers in southern California who are there without the permission of the federal government. These folks work for a pittance and live in the worst slum to earn enough money to feed their families back home, and to complain about the horrendous working conditions would get them instantly fired. Because they are illegal, they cannot qualify for most medical and social programs. Ironically, the feds withhold the same taxes and SSI from their paychecks as they do ours, but they cannot file a 1040a to reclaim this money because they'd be deported.

The argument against giving them automatic legal status seems twofold: they'll take away jobs from "natural" Americans (bigotry, by any other name), and they'll vote Democratic (I like them, already). Looking at the first argument, I don't see white Americans beating down the doors at Wendays or a strawberry field to get a job. As for the second...works for me.

What folks seem to gloss over is that unless someone's ancestors were born on this continent, most of our existence in this country was the result of a decision made by g-g-g-grandparents to pack up, leave family and property behind, and move here from across the ocean blue. Many did not bother with the trivialities of a visa because they needed to earn money to support their families, both local and abroad, so technicially they were illegal.

Folks, we all want the same thing: what's best for our families. America was built on subjegating a lower class to do our dirty work, whether they be Irish, Chinese, Native Americans and, most sadly, Africans. Let's rise above all that just for once and be the people we really want to be. America is a melting pot, after all.

(BTW, to sum up social workers: too much work, too many abused kids, not enough resources to support them.)

Took the morning off from riding. No particular reason. Maybe I'll go tonight.