Roberto1 wrote on Jan 5, 2008 9:27 PM:I'll betcha 50 cents Sam's rhetoric plays well in small time politics...The truth be known, Our American culture is even more enbedded and patriotic than his. My relatives have died so I can tell sammy he is full of crap....

Jim wrote on Jan 5, 2008 9:58 PM:We should be happy that our immigrant invasion is Latino and not Muslim. These people are good people and they will learn English and be productive. Spanish can never replace English and we have too much culturally in common to create any permanent barriers. I am an immigrant from Canada and only hope that we find a way to fully assimilate the Mexican population and control further illegal immigration, goals most latinos also favor. It is not their fault that control of our border has been ignored.

A true immigrant! wrote on Jan 5, 2008 11:18 PM:Mr. Abed is a true immigrant. He came to our country legally and has embraced it. Mr Abed I applaud you and your devotion and love for our country. I think some of us who were born here obviously take things for granted and some don't see beyond the daily drudge. We are losing our country and our values little by little.

Excuse me? wrote on Jan 6, 2008 3:38 AM:What exactly is the "American Culture"? if it's not made up of a melting pot of different cultures who have come to the US in the last 200 years?

Jack wrote on Jan 6, 2008 5:10 AM:I don't know jack, but Sam Abed is a true American hero. He is as American as baseball and apple pie. Those of you that have nothing good to say about Mr. Abed should feel free to leave America now. Love it or leave it- that's my motto!

Karl wrote on Jan 6, 2008 8:07 AM:Go Sam

Nick wrote on Jan 6, 2008 8:37 AM:TO Jim: How about we send the 20+ Million Illegals to Canada. I'm sure your people will welcome them with open arms!

To Jim wrote on Jan 6, 2008 8:47 AM:Move to Escondido. You'll understand that the majority of Latino Illegal Immigrants are not here to learn English and assimilate. You're thinking of the ones about 10 years ago. Invasora equals invaders and La Raza equals the Hispanic Race. Piolin is a Tokyo Rosie, and Spanish is being written on the name brand products these days as well. Wake up and take a look. Also, for more education, go up to the Fashion District in Los Angeles. There you'll see a plethera of Pirated DVD's and knock off Nike shoes, and you'll think you are in TJ. I agree with Sam Abed on this subject.

Pluto wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:02 AM:So much misinformation in only 500 words. 1) nobody is "depriving our children of their MOST PRECIOUS FAMILY VALUES of using the words 'mom and dad' at school". What nonsense! 2) A majority of the Senate DID NOT vote to exclude gang members and criminals from "amnesty". Most criminals are always deportable, even if they have a "green card". Every amnesty proposal has excluded criminals. There is no truth to this claim. 3) The Christian faith is not "becoming less tolerated than others". People are merely resisting the imposition of Christianity in government and official, public life. Christians are free to live and worship as they please as long as they don't make the rest of us pay homage to their religion. The U.S. is officially a secular, neutral, hands-off nation, not a Christian nation. Other religious don't try to impose themselves. 4) The news media is owned and controlled by conservatives whose agenda is corporate, not liberal. 5) Judges are generally conservative, not liberal. They may seem liberal because they adhere to the constitution and laws, not their personal beliefs. The U.S. constitution is a liberal document which insulates us from a Christian Taliban, among other dangers. Most judges are appointed by the Governor or President. Since 1980, Presidents and California Governors have been overwhelmingly Republican. 6) The vast majority of 12 million illegal immigrants are more than willing, but unable "to become Americans". This is a cruel lie. Very few poor immigrants qualify. 7) The ACLU enforced the Constitution and kicked your butt in court. You're the one who violated the law, lost, and had to pay the ACLU. No wonder you hate them and tell lies about them.

Sam Knows wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:12 AM:Sam knows what happens to Countries that open their doors to to many migrants. I am from South Africa and the same has happened to my country. Crime and fear are the worst. I love you Sam!

Pluto wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:20 AM:8) The U.S. Constitution, which you apparently know little about, protects all "persons", not just citizens. Judges sometimes "grant equal rights" to illegal immigrants because judges are trained and sworn to uphold the Constitution, which you obviously have no knowledge of or regard for.

Karl wrote on Jan 6, 2008 10:36 AM:Nick, nice blog at 8:37. Pluto, your planet is calling.

what the? wrote on Jan 6, 2008 11:38 AM:so is Bush a 'liberal' because he is keeping the borders open for illegals to come and go as they please? All these labels and rhetoric is getting confusing

Chris wrote on Jan 6, 2008 11:54 AM:I would go further and cut way down on legal immigration also. Many foreign college students are taking places at California state colleges that our California high school kids should get first. If seats are left open after California kids apply, then think about allowing foreign student visas.

American pop culture sucks wrote on Jan 6, 2008 12:21 PM:I hope we don't preserve the American culture of late: xenophobia, paranoia, militarism, greed, corruption, mindless consumerism, debt, violence, hip-hop, Jerry Springer, illegitamacy the norm, celebrity worship..on...and on....

How we've changed...despicable.

Richard wrote on Jan 6, 2008 12:22 PM:Wow! Now I understand why our Escondido City Council is so "Constitutionally Challenged," jumping into legislation that is way over their heads and certain to be challenged at great expense to the taxpayers. Sam Abed has been here for 20 years and still hasn't a clue to what our Constitution is all about!

It was never intended to just shield the white, Christian, heterosexual majority and its "culture" from minorities. It also protects the minorities and their equally valid "cultures" from the tyranny of the majority. It extends many of its protections to "residents" as well as to "citizens," and most of the estimated 12 million resident immigrants accused of being here illegally are entitled to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law before they could be punished or deported, like it or not. When a demagogue like George Romney promises that, if elected, all 12 million illegal immigrants would be rounded up and deported, ask him just how many billions of taxpayer dollars and decades he thinks that would take.

Sam points out that "Same-sex marriage is more acceptable today!" and asks "why is the Christian faith being less tolerated than others?" Could it be that, with the help of the ACLU and all others who have the courage to stand up for the rights of the detested minorities, our society is finally on the verge of granting the Constitutional right of Equal Protection to those who are born gay or lesbian, and to prohibit the Christian majority from insisting they are entitled to practice their religion using other people's property, just because our politicians fear their majority vote??

I know Sam Abed wrote on Jan 6, 2008 1:05 PM:I have met with Sam Abed and asked him to support his views. Quickly you can determine that Sam Abed needs to go back to school and understand the character of America. Freedom of choice, limited role of government, free economy, respect of individuals and compassion. A review of US History will show that we have dealt with complex issues such as race, genocide, industralization, state rights/federal responsiblities, and globalization. Sam's comments are the type you would expect from a young person on the path of understanding. I am hopeful Sam will learn the greatnest of the US in the future.

Karl wrote on Jan 6, 2008 1:25 PM:Whoa !!!! Stop the presses "Chris wrote on Jan 6, 2008 11:54 AM" Chris I found something I agree with you on. Well said my friend.

To Pluto...Emotion vs Facts wrote on Jan 6, 2008 1:52 PM:Sam Abed always does his homework. Here are the facts: The legislation against the use of mom and dad at school is SB 777. As for U.S Senate vote to exclude gangs. it's bill S.1348 Amendement S.AMDT.1148 sponsered by Senator John Cornyn. Amendement Purpose reads: "To establish a permanent bar for gangs, terrorists, and other criminals" voted on 6-6-07. NOT agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 51. It is a shame. Got it Pluto?

true colors of Sam wrote on Jan 6, 2008 3:10 PM:I am very happy to see this column by Escondido Councilman Sam Abed. His cluelessness in regard to the ACLU, the Constitution (Pluto knows), and the American experience itself shine through in his words very dramatically. We are a nation of immigrants - as Mr. Abed acknowledges by his own family history. But there is no unique "American" culture. And Mr. Abed's comments on liberals and non-Christians says it all about his my-way-or-you-are-un-American mentality. We don't all think like you, Mr. Abed. Get used to it.

Richard W. wrote on Jan 6, 2008 3:15 PM:That is not a fact - just a paranoid opinion. Why don't you try reading SB 777 and decide for yourself what it says? Then come back and tell us exactly how it bans the use of the words mom and dad at school.

Go Sam wrote on Jan 6, 2008 5:30 PM:If more people were like Sam and fewer like those who seem to support the decline of America, this country would be a better place. We've seen a terrible loss of laws and values over the last 20 to 30 years. Can you even imagine how bad it will be 20 to 30 years in the future if we continue to allow illegal immigration and the liberal view to advance? The ACLU? A little research will tell you about their beliefs and how they began.

Pluto wrote on Jan 6, 2008 5:46 PM:SB 777 banning the use of "mom and dad" in schools is flat lie, and it's shameful for a public official to spread such misinformation. As for the Senate vote, criminals were already barred from amnesty. This amendment was just another attempt to sabotage the immigration reform bill. Nobody voted to give amnesty to criminals. These are shameful lies.

Michael wrote on Jan 6, 2008 6:28 PM:He is truly a patriot.!That's the kind of immigrant we need, legal and a believer in our values.

Bobby wrote on Jan 6, 2008 6:59 PM:To the blogger from South Africa. You are absolutely correct. The chaos, rape, murder and theft in that nation today is a result of the liberal/progressive programs impact on that nation, largely led from the liberal/communits in this nation. Of course, the big prize for "liberal/progressive, one world communists", (that is what they are, what do you think the communist agenda was and is?)is to bring this nation down as well. The bell tolls for thee, Mr. and Mrs. American citizen.

Rick wrote on Jan 6, 2008 7:06 PM:Sam. I couldn't have said it better. We ARE under an INVASION and the sooner the rest of lemmings wake up realize that. The sooner we can stop turining into Mexico.

Pluto, yoo hoo; remember this? wrote on Jan 6, 2008 7:22 PM:Amnesty for Gang Members: Under Section 601(g)(2) of the bill, gang members would be eligible to receive amnesty. To qualify for amnesty, all a gang member would need to do is note his gang membership and sign a "renunciation of gang affiliation."---A lie? It's right in the bill;

To Pluto at 9.02am wrote on Jan 6, 2008 7:35 PM:Thank you for setting the record straight. You are so right.

BigLakeAK wrote on Jan 6, 2008 8:24 PM:For those borm after 1970 or so will not see a problem with illegal aliens from any country. They were not around to see the difference in living and accountability in ones llife. The goverment was not so free to hand everything to you. You depended on family to help when you hit rock bottom. Think back they did not even have metal detectors at schools, children repected laws, their elders and knew when you act up in school you would be punished than again when you got home. No press 1 for English. For the olds days and back to 1986 when amnesty was promised to end all illegal aliens. Oh I know Congress forgot to fund the bill they wrote. Anyone who comes to the
United States of America legally Welcome.

American culture; I'll start wrote on Jan 6, 2008 8:39 PM:You believe deep down in the First Amendment, guaranteed by the government and perhaps by God.*** You're familiar with David Letterman, Mary Tyler Moore, Saturday Night Live, Bewitched, the Flintstones, Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, Bob Newhart, Bill Cosby, Bugs Bunny, Road Runner, Donald Duck, the Fonz, Archie Bunker, Star Trek, the Honeymooners, the Addams Family, the Three Stooges, and Beetle Bailey.*** You know how baseball, basketball, and American football are played. If you're male, you can argue intricate points about their rules. On the other hand (and unless you're under about 20), you don't care that much for soccer.***
You count yourself fortunate if you get three weeks of vacation a year.***
You probably own a telephone and a TV.*** Your place is heated in the winter and has its own bathroom. You do your laundry in a machine. You don't kill your own food. You don't have a dirt floor. You eat at a table, sitting on chairs.***You don't consider insects, dogs, cats, monkeys, or guinea pigs to be food.*** A bathroom may not have a bathtub in it, but it certainly has a toilet.***Drag racing.***NASCAR*** It seems natural to you that the telephone system, railroads, auto manufacturers, airlines, and power companies are privately run; indeed, you can hardly picture things working differently.***You don't expect to hear socialism seriously defended. Communism, fuhgeddaboudit.***Mustard comes in jars. Shaving cream comes in cans. Milk comes in plastic jugs or cardboard boxes, and occasionally in bottles.*** The date comes second: 11/22/63. (And you know what happened on that date.)*** The decimal point is a dot. Certainly not a comma.***
A billion is a thousand times a million.*** World War II was a just war, and (granted all the suffering of course) ended all right. It was a time when the country came together and did what was right. And instead of insisting on vengeance, the US very generously rebuilt Europe instead, with the Marshall Plan.***
You expect marriages to be made for love, not arranged by third parties. Getting married by a judge is an option, but not a requirement; most marriages happen in church. You have a best man and a maid or matron of honor at the wedding-- a friend or a sibling. And, naturally, a man gets only one wife at a time.******Please feel free to add more, anyone.

More American culture--- wrote on Jan 6, 2008 8:49 PM:50's music***Motown***The police are armed, but not with submachine guns.***You've probably seen Star Wars, ET, Home Alone, Casablanca, and Snow White. If you're under forty, add Blazing Saddles, Terminator, Jaws, and 2001; otherwise, add Gone with the Wind, A Night at the Opera, Psycho, and Citizen Kane.*** Your country has never been conquered by a foreign nation.***
You're used to a wide variety of choices for almost anything you buy.***
You still measure things in feet, pounds, and gallons.*** You are distrustful of welfare and unemployment payments-- you think people should earn a living and not take handouts. But you would not be in favor of eliminating Social Security and Medicare.***You drive on the right side of the road. You stop at red lights even if nobody's around. If you're a pedestrian and cars are stopped at a red light, you will fearlessly cross the street in front of them.***

Stephen wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:19 PM:I am an ACLU member. All I can say is that it is the constitutional right of anyone to not be loyal to the state. This is why flag burning is protected. Without free speech, who dictates what is American culture, George Bush?

what? wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:27 PM:the First Amendment guaranteed by God? I stopped reading after that dude...

M.A.Andrews wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:29 PM:Sam Abed..Thank You...for all your efforts
to fight the Immigration Anarchy that has
allowed a human wave invasion of Illegal
Aliens to create their own country within
the borders of the USA!
The not so silent majority are watching
and are backing you 100% with hopes
for the future.
Mitt Romney has the best ideas as well
as the track record to be one of the
best President the USA has ever had!

to American culture wrote on Jan 6, 2008 10:02 PM:Those are some great points but you missed my favorite Leave it to Beaver.

Unfortunately, nowadays American culture to many foreigners (including our closest allies) means overweight, arrogant and uneducated people, massacres at malls and schools, the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, and too quick to invade other countries. Keep up the good work.

Oh, one last one.... wrote on Jan 6, 2008 11:17 PM:Having to press 2 for Spanish (imagine what the rest of the nation's non-Spanish-speaking immigrants must feel like)in a country where an overwhelming majority of its citizens are English-speaking American citizens will eventually destroy American culture. Welcome to the Balkanization of the United States of America.

Daniel wrote on Jan 6, 2008 11:33 PM:Anyone who says there's not an "American culture" obviously hasn't traveled out of the country. Many, many different aspects of American life go into making this country like no other on Earth, including

- respect for the Constitution and the law
- the "American dream"
- preoccupation with free speech
- preoccupation with low taxes
- preoccupation with improving one's lot
- car culture
- affinity to and expertise in science and technology
- American music (where do you even start with that one)
- predominance of Christianity
- entrepreneurship
- Wall Street (and widespread involvement in capital investment)
- workaholism
- vocational mobility
- baseball, basketball and football (and general indifference to soccer)
- high school and college sports
- the American university system
- barbeques
- movies and television
- suburbia
- fast food
- developmental sprawl
- infrastructure
- homes with swimming pools and lawns
- tons of lawyers and litigation
- political correctness (and its older sisters Puritanism)
- doing laundry in a machine
- credit cards
- food festivals
- cook-offs
- The "valley girl," "computer nerd," "New Yorker," "southern good ol' boy," "stuffy New Englander," "flamboyant gay," "hippie," "gangsta" and "Hollywood glamor" personas, among hundreds or thousands of others.
- amusement and theme parks

Bobby wrote on Jan 7, 2008 12:34 AM:American culture and More America culture, excellent. Only communist[s] ... and anti-American[s] ... continuously try to put forward the proposition that this nation has no culture of its own. Needless to say hundreds of more examples could be given and many examples can't be given. Why? Because it is the very stuff that real Americans understand implicitly between each other, in other words, that is also part of it. Idioms in the language that often leave those not yet Americanized baffled. No doubt, in sociology and other classes in todays universities, they are teaching subversive cr-p like Americans have no national culture. Universities afterall, are doing the work of the socialist one world agenda. In fact, I'll go so far as to say many of the "professors" worship socialist communist ideas.

Jimbo wrote on Jan 7, 2008 1:01 AM:Thank you to those who defined American Culture. I am tired of hearing from illegal alien defenders that there is no American culture. I suggest anyone with that opinion please go to another country for a a couple of weeks and see if you don't long to come back to America. The food alone does it for me when I travel abroad. That said, I do recognize and appreciate other cultures for what they offer too. The cornerstone of American culture is fairness. That means each individual that has come by the rules is given a fair chance at success without any impedence by the gov or anyone else. It does not mean that things be given to them courtesy of those who work hard for a living. I do realize it also means that even those here illegally shall be treated with respect, and I fully support that notion. However, I do not support giving them welfare or free anything. If they're going to be here, they should pay like everyone else. And yes we all know many are on welfare. Just look and see what happens whenever there is any measure made to deny welfare benefits to them.

To the poster of 9:27--- wrote on Jan 7, 2008 10:47 AM:It said "perhaps" by God (not something written in stone).

American Culture wrote on Jan 7, 2008 1:23 PM:The most important aspect of AC is that Americans are not threatened by change. In fact, this country has had a long history of embracing change.
I'm a little confused about the claim that "illegal alien defenders" say there is no American culture. I haven't heard that. In what context do the IAD's say this?

hometown wrote on Jan 7, 2008 2:52 PM:You all know Sam Abed is right it just bothers some folks to hear it or in this case read it. I wish some of the bloggers would educate themselves before they write. It's Mitt Romney, not George, and as one blogger wrote read AB777 to see how this improbable legislation is undermining our education system and our future adults' ability to differentiate between right and wrong.

Early Campaigning wrote on Jan 7, 2008 3:58 PM:Gee guess who's starting his re-election campaign? That's the way to do it Sam. Appeal to their hate. Even though you and your cronies have practically destroyed Escondido, just redirect their attention and you'll get re-elected. No one will care how ineffectual you have been as a Councilman on every single issue that that actually falls within your purview.

ed wrote on Jan 7, 2008 4:41 PM:Why would Sam want to bring his religious intolerance and extremism to this county? I thought that's why he left Lebanon. We have a thing called separation of church and state that seems to work pretty well and have far too many religious lunatics already.

To: Early Campaigning--- wrote on Jan 7, 2008 5:48 PM:Please explain to those of us who do not live in Escondido in what ways Mr. Abed has practically destroyed Escondido....

Didn'tVoteforSam wrote on Jan 7, 2008 7:33 PM:Sam sounds scared. He made a fortune in this country, but that doesn't mean he's an effective politician or leader. He rails against "liberal" editorial policy and then uses editorial space to, like a broken record, list his fears. Sam, your personal angst and the City's diverse interests would both be served if you leave political office. Thanks for trying, but no thanks.

Escondodo wrote on Jan 8, 2008 4:53 AM:Actually did vote for Sam. Do we share a brain (agree on everything) no, of course not. Do I share his core values? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

aponi wrote on Jan 8, 2008 7:31 AM:does the white man remember when they tried to wipe out the indians? they had no compunction in eliminating the indian culture and language. they took the land and kept them virtually prisoners in reservations. what american culture are you talking about? the culture that killed the indians or the one that tried to cloak their crime under treatises and then some?

to aponi wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:22 AM:that's a great posting, Americans seem to forget our not too distant history. Shame it's not taught in school. Unfortunately, things haven't changed much, now we're doing it in other countries. Thousands of Iraqi civilians including women and children have been blown to smithereens from bombs dropped from 6,000 feet. It's called 'collateral damage' and is perfectly acceptable to 'Christians' here because they are muslims.

RobertM wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:52 AM:Iraqi's are not being blown to smithereens by bombs dropped from 6000 feet. They are being blown up by Islamic terrorists with bombs in cars, on their persons, etc. Also, if a poll of the contributors of this blog were taken, I would bet none of them advocate genocide of native Americans. The sins of 100 or 200 years ago are not ours and we bear no responsibility for them. If a man is convicted of murder today, should his children also go to prison?

Bravo, RobertM!--- wrote on Jan 8, 2008 12:26 PM:No kidding! (Except doncha know that Iraq HAS no terrorists [cough, cough!]? Why, they'd be a 21st century country if it just weren't for that rotten, nasty, U.S.A. The women would all have equal rights & power & everything. mmm hmmmm.)

To RobertM wrote on Jan 8, 2008 12:56 PM:The point is not whether the sins of the father should be hoisted onto the sons. The point is that the genocide of the American Indian by the father is a piece of history that should be acknowledged by the sons. Good or bad, it's part of what got us here, and should be acknowledged so that it is not repeated. The responsibility of the son is to not repeat it!!

to Roberto1 wrote on Jan 8, 2008 3:26 PM:Roberto you say you have a home in TJ. Why don't you
go back to Mexico and leave our business alone?

to Roberto1 wrote on Jan 8, 2008 3:28 PM:Roberto you say you have a home in TJ. Why don't you
go back to Mexico and keep out of our business?

Roberto1 wrote on Jan 8, 2008 7:44 PM:"to Roberto1 wrote on Jan 8, 2008 3:28 PM:Roberto you say you have a home in TJ. Why don't you
go back to Mexico and keep out of our business?"


REPLY:
I don't work in the USA but I'm a native born American as was the last four generations of my family...If you don't acknowledge that the south-west USA was part of Mexico.....you sound like a typical ignorant uneducated xenophobe.

Jimbo wrote on Jan 10, 2008 12:29 AM:First to answer "American Culture"s question. I've heard some bloggers that are pro-illegal question the existence of American Culture. It is stated in one of the above posts, which is what prompted the discussion. Second, history is history. I do in fact recognize that it is not right to steal land from anyone, but in fact that is what was done in in the past and so be it. I wasn't there, and thus I feel absolutely zero guilt for it or anything else that occurred outside of my control. You can keep dwelling on something that didn't even involve you or you can move on with life and enjoy the freedoms America has to offer. And third, yes the SW was once part of Mexico, but again history is history. A war was fought, won by the US, and land ceded to the US. This does not give present day Mexicans the right to disregard our immigration laws. They weren't there, we weren't here. Past is past, present is present. If the outcome is not what some would prefer, I encourage them to apply for Mexican citizenship and move to Mexico. Until then, do us all a favor and accept both the good and bad of our country's past and strive to make the US a better place. This would include encouraging LEGAL immigration as opposed to illegal immigration. We all know that ILLEGAL immigration can bring in potentially bad people. Legal immigration with strict border and port of entry security is the only way to maximize the potential of separating the good from the bad, not to mention it is the only way to be fair to all those waiting around the world that would like a fair shot at the American Dream.

Roberto1 wrote on Jan 10, 2008 2:11 PM:I think there is misunderstanding about mexican illegal immigration...I don't believe anyone is in favour of illegal immigration of any kind. What the real issues is the way it will be brought under control. I'm in favours of commpssionate, comprehensive and realistic immigration reform...not a bunch of ignorant xenophobes on a Salem witch hunt.

Jimbo, thank you!--- wrote on Jan 10, 2008 2:57 PM:Well said! Bravo.

Roberto1 wrote on Jan 11, 2008 1:36 AM:It's amazing!...where and who said they are in favour of illegal immigration?...answer, it never happened on dis blog.

Daniel wrote on Jan 11, 2008 4:28 PM:Roberto1 - The southwest was part of Mexico for a grand total of 27 years. (while it's been American for 160 years). And Mexico only controlled it because Spain, who had earlier wanted to grow and secure its empire, took it from the American Indians. When the Mexican war of independence ended what did the Mexicans do? They kept it for themselves! 27 years later, the U.S. took it. Had that not happened, the southwest would probably be like ...Mexico!

Roberto1 wrote on Jan 11, 2008 8:03 PM:Daniel, you sound like an illegal immigration advocate....
"27 years later, the U.S. took it. Had that not happened, the southwest would probably be like ...Mexico!"... I disagree, I'm a direct descendant of the Native-American and Spanish...It more like we eveolved into it.

Just asking wrote on Jan 12, 2008 4:29 AM:If some would like to see the American SW return to Mexico, shouldn't it be through WAR and not SURRENDER? Obviously we have regional differences but most Americans stick out like sore thumbs when traveling outside the U.S. American culture just might have something to do with it.

Roberto1 wrote on Jan 12, 2008 4:00 PM:I too believe in the American culture...mom. apple pie and tacos. While we get pounded by the free market economies...There are over one million Americans residing in Mexico and I'm sure the two giverments relationship will work itself out in spite of the xenophobes.

jsc wrote on Jan 12, 2008 8:01 PM:Personally I don't understand why native Mexicans living in the U.S. would want to speak Spanish. After all, the Spanish missionaries and conquistadores brutalized them, forcing them to give up their religion, language and culture under penalty of torture or death. And the current Mexican government still persecutes and sometimes murders Indian peasants in the southern Mexican states if they try to teach their children their indigenous language or history. Also, the elite in Mexico don't want to improve the lot of their poorer countrymen; they like the status quo. It is very difficult to rise above your parents' socioeconomic status in Mexico. So it is understandable why they come here. What I don't understand is why native Mexicans living here feel any loyalty to a country which has kept them down, where there is little opportunity, marginal freedom, marginal government protections, etc. I don't understand why persons who receive Medi-Cal, cash assistance, food stamps,, subsidized housing, WIC, etc. through their U.S. born children despise us. I don't understand why persons who are given more freedoms and more protections and more opportunity here than in Mexico think that their culture is superior to ours. I lived legally in Mexico for a year; the majority of Mexicans I met were friendly, helpful, and honest. I also worked here as an eligibility tech for social services. I have interacted with thousands of illegal aliens. About half of them despise us, think we owe them a living, and try to suck every benefit they can. Do we really want to give these people amnesty? The other half are hardworking mostly honest decent people, but how can we differentiate which ones we accept unless we send them all back and make them reapply, and scrutinize each application?

Roberto1 wrote on Jan 12, 2008 8:50 PM:If your paranoid about illegals getting benifits, do away with the benifits.
If you think everyone should speak english, move to England....Remember, they too brutilized.

If you think arbitrarily sending 23 million people out of the country without a NEGATIVE impacts...someones smoking crack.
I say focus on drug runners, gang members etc...going after hard working people is just plain stupid IMHO. One more, tax services to insure everyone pays taxes instead of wages.

PROUDBLACKMAN wrote on Jan 12, 2008 10:03 PM:THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT BY THE BLOOD AND SWEAT OF SLAVES. THE GOVERMENT BECAME STRONG BY RAPING AND MURDERING. HOWS THAT FOR AMERICAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE.

Roberto1 wrote on Jan 13, 2008 8:58 PM:It's a fact, the prosperity of today is still built on the backs the oppessed, opportunity seekers & the ambitious dreamers....Blacks and Native-Americans suffered the most in general but others such as the Irish, Chinese and the list goes on have also suffered to a degree. I wish more younger folks try to achieve what seems like a fantasy to a poor child like becoming wealthy in material and spirit beyond their wildest dreams.

American Culture wrote on Jan 13, 2008 10:52 PM:Considering the tone of these posts, I think we should add that self-righteous indignation is also a dominant feature of American culture. I can't believe how many of us think that our version of American culture is the right one.

I agree wrote on Jan 14, 2008 1:30 PM:Yes, American culture should be preserved, and no, American culture will not go away. I like what Roberto said. Mom, apple, and tacos. Roberto you forgot to add sushi. Not that it matters, but the majority of people I see in Mexican and Japanese restaurants are anglo. What do you guys think about that? Goodbye.

To Sam Abed: wrote on Jan 16, 2008 9:15 PM:When you immigrated to the US (I guess because your country didn't have much to offer you), did you do so as a poor man? Did you have money when you came to the US? Were you an educated man? Did you have a college degree? In your country of origin, did you have to work 12 hours a day selling hand-made goods? Did you work most days as a child vs going to school? Did you have any hardships in trying to become a citizen of the United States? Or did you have lots of advantages and therefore your citizenship came easier. I'm just curious! You sound so "mightier than thou"...I just want to get a little more information...

Maricela wrote on Jan 19, 2008 1:24 PM:My parents, too, took the same journey! My parents also EARNED their LEGAL citizenship. Mr. Abed, you are to be COMMENDED for your methodology, and your HARD WORK!!! Illegals want--NO, DEMAND--benefits that everyone else has had to WORK FOR and CONTRIBUTE TO!! That nonesense about "paying sales tax" is laughed at by EVERYONE in my community (and I am a Hispanic American)--but they'll throw it out there, because there is NOTHING ELSE that the illegals have done to earn the hard-earned USA CITIZEN tax-dollar funded programs. The people of the USA FOUGHT AND DIED to establish this flawed, yet positive, form of governement--and it's public assistant programs. Not ONE illegal that I know is willing to try to make POSITIVE CHANGES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY!! TAKE YOUR ENERGETIC HATE, AND HATE-FUNDING, AND GO TO MEXICO AND CHANGE IT!! FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE--IN MEXICO. Cowards = Illegal

FUNNY!! wrote on Jan 19, 2008 1:28 PM:HISPANIC/LATINO culture is a very concrete, sacred thing. But the Culture and Heritage of the USA is NOT? HOW HIPOCRITICAL!!!

Roberto wrote on Jan 21, 2008 8:18 PM:But the Culture and Heritage of the USA is NOT? HOW HIPOCRITICAL!!!

REPLY: How so?...You must be having an identity crisis...I'm very comfortable with who and whatI am...and to bad Marciela can't comprehend the deperation of people seeking work opposed to smugglers, drug runners etc.

slow it down wrote on Feb 3, 2008 8:32 AM:Look, I get why immigrants want to come here. All I ask is that we slow down the flow so we can get the immigrants that are already assimilated into our society. We need to take some time to get them into the school system and get the drop out rate down. We need time to fix the overburdened health care & welfare systems. We are not unsympathetic to these folks but we are overwhelmed. Please slow the legal and illegal immigration down so we can take care of the folks aready here. Remember, every ship has a maximum number of passangers before it will sink. Our boat is not sinking but it is listing and we should work to right it before it ends up capsized. Don't blame the immigrant. Blame the government for poor planning and schizophrenic approach to immigration. Blame businesses that exploit the low wage worker and place the burden back on society for their profits.