April 28, 2006

  • Protest

    A national boycott is being planned for May 1 by those who want to bring attention to the immigration issue.  They are apparently hoping to get amnesty for the current illegal immigrants.  They expect to bring a few cities to a standstill.


    A great deal of discussion in the news has centered around whether these protest are helping or hurting the cause.


    Do you think these protest are helping or hurting the effort to help illegal immigrants?


     

Comments (153)

  • i think they are hurting.

  • Helping 2nd comment

  • 3rd!!!

  • I don’t think they will ever get the results they want.

  • Don’t know

  • Sorry for the 3rd.  I had to do it, usually I am 100 n something. 

    I think any “publicity is good publicity”

  • helping…have you seen the movie, A Day Without A Mexican? It’s pretty good, and is just about this issue….

  • I think protesting is about the most useless thing there is. Instead of fucking standing around saying stupid slogans that someone else wrote, get off your ass and fix some fucking problems you see, not some dipstick five thousand mile away’s.

    And I’m just in it for the tacos. So I don’t care.

  • well people are talking about it.

    i just think it makes both sides (whichever side you are on) build a stronger belief in either cause…for or against.

  • Helping, certainly. If the politicians see that so many people care enough about the issue to join a protest, it may just affect their opinion. They are, after all, supposed to do what we want them to.

  • Bringing cities to a standstill is not a good way to win hearts and minds.

    L,r

  • One the one hand it is probably hurting their efforts, on the other and what else are they supposed to do?

  • What Drakonskyr said, only kinder and gentler.

    L,r

  • i saw one of the protest on tv last night (a recording) and the ‘host’ was doing it in english.  one of the times that she entered she started speaking in spanish, which i understood every word because i have learned spanish as a second language, and she stopped and said…’oops, i’m supposed to be speaking in english.’  some of the people in crowd began yelling and booing and one lady said, ‘no inglés’…that infuriate me…i think the rallies are based upon emotionalism and patriotism for countries other than the united states.  the way i see it…if i go to another country, i respect the laws and boundaries set by that particular country.  i don’t have a problem with anyone being here as long as they do not have a criminal record, follow the law, and have the ability to communicate in english.  other than that, who cares where people are from…just live in peace.

  • Ever heard of NAFTA?

  • Do you think that the mexican government would do the same if things were reversed?  Don’t kid your self.  I don’t have a problem with Mexicans, Cubans, whoever, coming here and taking the factory, construction and feild jobs that we as spoiled Americans think we’re to good to do I just have a problem with them doing it illegaly and then demanding to recieve schools and welfare and citizenship as if they won the right by sneaking acrosss the border.

  • I kinda think it’s hurting. I’m all for immigration reform, but protests seem to polarize people’s opinions not bring people closer to negotiation and compromise.

  • I don’t think it will help, but it can’t hurt I guess

  • I agree with constantdelight.

  • i guess in a way they’re helping cuz it’s showing how the economy is going to be affected with out immigrants. i guess we take them for granted and on may 1st we’ll learn just how much.

    have a great weekend!! =)

  • Those fiends!

    And sure, gray makes us sexy. Distinguished, even.

  • RYC…yeah, so I can take a nap during the day.  LOL

    You know, I’m not sure what to think about that.  I feel bad for them, but at the same time I think they shouldn’t be in the country illegally without even a green card.  The nation really needs to try and revamp the americanization process and make it somewhat easier for them to become citizens.

    I think a lot of people are getting annoyed by all the attention, at least in my neck of the woods.  Then again, this area isn’t a huge immigrant area either.

    ~t~

  • I am sympathetic to the Mexican cause – I really am.  But I have to say that a lot of the problem is that they haven’t really done much to win our hearts over.  By and large the latino communities in America remain segregated to a great extent by their own choice.  That doesn’t gain sympathy for their cause.

    I would support some kind of amnesty program for illegals already in country, but I don’t think we should reward criminal behavior which – whether we want to admit it or not – is what illegal immigration IS.

    L,r

  • I think it helps. It is part of the greatness of this country that protest makes a difference. However, I think they should also be protesting the treatment/conditions in their home countries that drives them to immigrate here in the first place. There should be someone asking why is it not possible make a decent living in their own country? Perhaps that is something that should be addressed as well? Additionally, I recently read an article that discussed how Mexico - a highly stratified country like much of the rest of Latin America – treats its own illegal immigrants (who come from Central America, where conditions are even worse than there). In some cases they shoot them on sight.

  • I don’t think it will hurt them, not sure it will help them. See eeyore’s comments today if you really care my thoughts. which kind of surprised me how i felt.

  • Unfortunately, the protesters who do not understand why they are protesting are overshadowing those who do understand it. Thus, they are drawing negative attention to the cause. If they would like to effect change, they must be sure that those who are protesting are saying not that they are proud to be Mexican, but proud of the opportunity to become successful in America. Thus, no Mexican flags. This sends the wrong message to the public and even to fellow protesters. The response to the Mexican flags has been hostile, at best.  Let’s be proud of our heritage–yes. Let’s remember though, that Martin Luther King did not help the African American Civil Rights Movement by saying he was Black and proud, but by saying he was black, proud and EQUAL! His emphasis was on being equal. Likewise, the emphasis here should be on helping create an opportunity for success–in becoming a citizen, in the workplace, etc.

    Second, they need to be sure they know what they are talking about. A vast amount of news coverage that I have seen shows young hispanics who, when asked why they are protesting, respond with “Because I am Mexican.” This does not help the cause. These protests have the ability to be successful, but, like any protest, will only serve its purpose when the protesters are united as one and fully understand what they are asking for.

  • I think the best way for illegal immigrants to help their cause is to provide the best example of citizenry that they can. I’m sure we all have a story or two about some deadbeat illegal immigrant who is bringing down the name of illegal immigrants. If they came here because it’s better here, then they need to exploit that. If they came here because they expect to be lazy like the rest of us, they are sorely mistaken.

  • Bringing cities to a standstill is not going to help anyone’s cause.

  • Any peaceful planned out protest can only help.  And this one will show the positive economical impact we have on this country. 

  • RYC: Haha. I will lay all credit at your feet. I read random people’s pages from your site.

  • Hi Danny!

    I think it does them no good….because it irritates everyone else….

    Candy

  • helping them because they are bringing more attention to the immigrants

  • I posted today about the new “Spanish version of the national anthem.”

    I think THIS is going to turn most Americans against the immigrants.

  • While I think that a more gentle action would be more helpful, it is painfully obvious that only when people, in this country, are immediately and directly affected, do they take notice of the issues of the world. Unfortunately, most people in this country feel that the immigration issue does not affect or involve them… or that life would be “better” without immigrants and what have you (and I won’t even begin to comment on how ignorant that whole line of thinking is)… But the fact is that attention needs to be called to the issue and since this country is still suffering from a severe case of apathy, actions like these become necessary.

  • ryc: I must say, mission accomplished! It works!

  • For as long as there has been tension and disfavor-there have been protests-since w-a-a-a-a-a-a-y back when.  I don’t think illegal immigrants should be given free rein in our country–remember i-l-l-e-g-a-l?!   ryc:  Yes, I have, but I was 19 in that picture, on my 1st honeymoon, in the Badlands of So Dakota.  Now was that an omen, or what-hehe.

  • key word = illegal… why do they get “special” rights again? they are not citizens… also, the BLATANT disrespect of our country and the legals who do live here is enough to make a saint spit…

  • Most likely, it will just further entrench people in what they already believe.

  • DAN, PLEASE BRING UP THE INVISIBLE CHILDREN NIGHT WALK.  A LOT OF PEOPLE READ YOUR SITE AND YOU HAVE THE POWER TO INFLUANCE TOWARDS THIS

    http://www.myspace.com/gncatlanta

  • I’m sure the INS will have a deportation bus waiting at the protest site.

    Beef packing will be shut down for the day, as everybody will be sick.

  • I COULD GO A COUPLE AVENUES HERE.  THE SMART ASS BASTARD IN ME WANTS TO MAKE NUMEROUS CRACKS ABOUT IMMIGRANTS AND WORK UPON OTHERS, BUT IM GOING TO ACTUALLY USE THE HIGH ROAD.

    I DOUBT THESE PROTESTS ARE GOING TO DO MUCH AROUND MY AREA (FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE)  BUT THE LOCAL REDNECK’S WHO OWN PAINTBALL GUNS IM SURE WILL HAVE FUN ATLEAST. 

    IN CALIFORNIA WHERE IT IS HANDS ACCROSS AMERICA FOR ANYONE WHO ISNT STRAIGHT, WHITE, CHRISTIAN, AND A MAN.  IM SURE ALL THOSE BORDER JUMPERS WILL GET TAKEN CARE OF.

    AS LONG AS THEY REFRAIN FROM GETTING ALL VIOLENT AND FLIPPING CARS AND LOOTING STORES IT SHOULD BE GOOD, ANY PUBLICITY IS GOOD PUBLICITY RIGHT.

  • helping..

  • Hurtful… I personally don’t believe in protesting anything. I have never heard of anyone being positively affected by people protesting…only by people who are actually willing to put forth some action. People with signs and pushy attitudes rarely win anyone to their cause, no matter how right or wrong it may be.

  • Helping

  • I think its hurting, but I also think those who are protesting think they are helping. They’re just sincerely wrong.

    I don’t think American public opinion is easily swayed by admitted lawbreakers, from another country, taking to the streets and demanding that the government change the law to suit them. It just seems ungrateful, rude, and tasteless.

  • I hardly think bringing cities to a standstill will bring about anything good.

  • Um…i don’t know… : ( Wish you and your family have a great fun weekend Dan…^^

  • If they made May 1 “Give a gringo a taco day” instead of protest day, they’d have my support.

  • It’s so hard to join the protest against the government but what will the government might hurt them?

  • hurting

  • I don’t know…but what exactly is that we’re supposed to be boycotting?

  • Well, if I just go from my viewpoint, it’s not helping.  I get more pissed off the more I hear about these “illegals” wanting rights.  My ancestors went about things the right way.  They even learned English, this lands language rather than demand America make things easy for them and write things up in German and Norwegian.  Ok, I’m going to step down off my soapbox before I really get going…. Grrrrrrrrr

  • They will help the ignorant knee-jerkers feel more false misunderstood guilt over illegial immigrants. They will hurt their efforts with thinking people.

  • neither

  • i should be an interesting boycott, anyway

  • We the people have a right to speak out and protest!

  • Why should we be helping them? Is it really THAT hard to gain citizenship to the US? why not ship them home, or atleast to a reservation camp untill their paper work can be filled out.

    I think if anyone is protesting, it should be over the fact that we have no descent WALL around our border

  • more so I see two ends on both scales.

  • If they are illegal the fact they won’t work shouldn’t matter if employers are following the laws.  The issue isn’t immigrants.  The issue is ILLEGAL immigrants.  It is possible to immigrate to this country and be LEGAL.  It’s just they aren’t willing to do that.

  • No, because all they’re doing is protesting! It’s not like they’re doing something about the problem!

  • Watching a bunch of illegal immigrants protest throught out all of Dallas isn’t going to change my mind. In fact, it will make my opinion if them worse.

    Seeing that many illegal immigrants shows that America needs to kick their butts out of here and if they want to come back than they should come here legally.

    I don’t see why their voice should even f***ing matter, their illegal, so why listen to them? Its not like they even speak our language. If we’re going to listen to them and be all “oh, we should let them stay because they want to” than we might aswell let Iraq have a say in stuff America does.

    We have both English and Spanish on labels these days, if we’re going to do that, why not put every language on all our labels??

  • OKAY I CANT HELP IT, I HAVE TO MAKE ATLEAST ONE NARROW MINDED REMARK.

    SO NONE OF THE ILLEGAL MEXICANS ARENT WORKING ON MONDAY INSTEAD THEY ARE GOING TO GET TO TOGETHER AND BITCH ABOUT THIS COUNTRY?  ILLEGAL BORDER JUMPERS NOT WORKING AND COMPLAINING?  HMMM SOUNDS DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER DAY HOW?

    AHAHAH I CRACK MYSELF UP. 

  • IT WAS A DAMN JOKE, BUT IF THE BLEEDING HEART LIBERALS NEED TO VENT, BRING ON THE HATEMAIL

  • i don’t think the protest is doing any good. the gov’t has already agreed to let some of the illegal immigrants in. that’s a good progress. immigration is fine but to come here illegally is another. but can’t we just let them all in? i don’t know. i ‘m not sure how i feel about this situation yet.

    by the way,

    have you heard about the genocide that is going on in darfur, sudan?

    info here: http://www.genocideintervention.net/educate/darfurinfo/

    please help by writing to your state congress. i promise it will only take less than 5 minutes of your time. click on the link below. we can’t turn our backs on them just like we did on the rwandan people not very long ago. the rebels are kidnapping and training the sudanese children to kill. the more time we take the less people and children will survive. won’t you please help by raising this issue to the office? it also would be a great help if you could help me pass the word. thank you very much.

    http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/ginetwork/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=3407

    and here are others things we can do to help. http://www.genocideintervention.net/advocate/tenthings.php

    thanks for taking time to read.

  • It won’t get any sympathy from me for them to protest……  If you want to work & live here, learn the language, & follow the proper chanels to do it legally…..

  • The idea itself is good. However, the fact that many spanish parents aren’t letting their kids go to school is ridiculous. We had an announcement today about it that took like half an hour all about this issue in which they pointed out that kids missing school has nothing to do with this. (about 85% of my school is hispanic)

    But on that day we all have to wear t-shirts that say WE LOVE THE USA, LET US STAY. Well, you don’t HAVE to, but it’s highly recommended and they were 3 dollars a shirt, who’s going to turn down that deal?

  • Oh & your Mom might have been tempted to cut your legs Off >IF< you had dug holes ALL OVER the Yard!!!  LOL…..

  • I’m finding it hard to believe that it will help them…  There is not much sympathy for their cause in the first place because the people they want amnesty for are not here legally.

  • hm.  illegal immigration…  how is the colonization of north america different? 
    i think protests are uncomfortable and unfortunate and it would be nice to think you can accomplish your goal in a more reasonable way.  however, their presence suggests that the “reasonable way” isn’t working (civil rights movement).  it’s hard not to listen to a lot of voices together (south africa).  protests force attention and action in a way that paperwork never can (gandhi). 
    whether you agree with the position of the protestors or not is a different question…
    meh.  what do i know.  i’m canadian.  we tend to like it when people keep their heritage.

  • Hurting. To have mostly noncitizens protesting you, yet seeing that most of the citizens are upset about illegal immigration… there’s a problem there.

  • well, I heard (although I dont know how reliable the source) that they are having to shut down 5 chicken plants here because there will be no workers there on monday. If nothing else it will show the employers and the locals how dependant they are on immigrant workers. Maybe people will start to value these people and stop treating them like sub-humans.

  • ps – if employers didn’t break the law themselves by hiring illegal immigrants, would this really be an issue? 

  • Probably … politicians seem to gravitate to public opinion not necessarily to what is responsible or in the best interest of all.  Its their nature — generally speaking, of course. 

    Why have laws at all about immigration?  The government is so lax in enforcing them anyway.  Let’s congress and the senate pass some immigration suggestions :~D

  • Hurting-
    1) it ticks people off when you bring their city to a standstill
    2) it doesn’t really help their cause when you’re waving Mexican flags- or worse, upside-down American flags.
    The American people are seeing this and it ticks them off.

  • The righteous indignation of some of the commenters amuses me. It’s easy to forget that at one point we were ALL illegal “immigrants” (with the exception of any Native Americans out there.) The arrogance of some people is just stunning. What’s even more saddening is that anyone lives in a country so bad that moving to the US is a step up.

  • I think it hurts.  It’s certainly making people aware of just how many people are here ILLEGALLY.   No other country in the world would find this acceptable.

  • I think some of them are hurting and some of them are helping. The ones that are helping are the ones where the immigrants are waving the American flag and all that. However, shouting in Spanish, waving the mexican flag and the latest – translating the Star Spangled Banner to Spanish, is hurting their stance. If you are advocating your desire to be an equal part of this country with equal rights and equal citizenship, it’s kind of a slap in the face to be flaunting your flag, language, and changing the American National Anthem. They should be waving the American flag, shouting in English, and if they want to sing the National Anthem, sing it in English. The Spanish stuff is just not gaining them much sentiment and while I fully understand their desire to keep their culture and I’m perfectly fine with that, they also need to adapt to American cultuer and show some American pride. They’re not going to win anybody over if they don’t.

  • there kinda hurting.. i think because we what they want but taking kids out of school only hurts the system and the kids educations.. so yah i vote on hurting

  • The protests are hurting the cause, and I hope the employers rightfully fire all of the idiots who walk out on their jobs.  The threats of violence against schoolchildren that are causing many schools to close May 1 and many parents to plan on keeping their kids home anyway are also hurting the cause – and good reasons to round up and deport anyone who is in America in violation of our existing laws.

  • I definitely think its hurting the cause…the fact that they are waving around Mexican flags does not show their desire to be considered American, now if they were waving around American flags it would be a different story. I mean I’ve seen a picture where the Mexican flag was on top and the American flag was upside down…Now that tells you something. This is an immigrant issue, I don’t think many people are considering letting other immigrants from different countries as well.

  • I’d like to think that they’re helping, but honestly, I’m not too sure if the protests are doing any good.

  • Our building security had a bulletin about this and to be careful and take different streets to work.. Apparently there’s going to be 100,000 to 300,000 people protesting in Los Angeles.

  • dont care

  • well either way, Im skipping. That means a three day weekend for me !

  • i think its stupid. my dad owns a business and most of the workers are hispanic. some of them told my dad ahead of time that they wont be coming to work because they want to “protest”…how is that going to make them look better? it just makes them look lazy and my dad’s workers are not in good terms with thier job right now, some of them will be fired.
    and i do not understand why they think we should cater to them when they are illegally coming into our country. i mean, when americans go to another country do we expect everyone to learn english so we can understand them? no, we attempt to learn thier language and assimilate. lots of different countries have english as one of thier main languages, but i do not expect everyone to know my language.
    ok enough ranting for me.

  • I’ll compromise. It’s heurpting.

  • helping them of course. These illegal immigrants got it all made.

  • What they are planning on doing is having all Mexican people in this country boycott all things American on May 1, meaning they won’t buy anything or go to work that day, because they want to show us how much it affects the economy.

    I just don’t understand why they want to remain illegal. Seriously, everyone else who comes here follows the rules concerning citizenship. Why do these people have to screw it up for everyone.

    And why are we so spineless that we have to give in to each and every individual cause. Why is it so wrong to put our foot down and say “No, this is illegal, and changing the rules just for you would be stupid, because then we would have to change for everyone.”

  • Don’t know.

  • im not sure…something needs to be done about it though….so i dont see n e thing else they can really do

  • Protesting doesn’t seem to accomplish much. This is not the 60′s or the 70′s, we live in a different time, a time where ppl respond to legal action and not lip action.

  • They’re just making themselves look stupid.

  • It depends on how the protest is exercised.

    [ariana]

  • I think it may hurt them because it gives immigration easier targets to find…I can’t say anything more of that topic because it is still a bit of a rub to too many. I will say that I cannot tolerate lawbreakers that much…I cannot give sympathy who has no regards and reaping benefits without helping the so-called country that they want to have a better life in. I think it most irritate me because i realize that they don’t have too pay tax whereas I do. The only advantage that they have which upsets many.  I know that a lot of people say that they problems and that is why they come and i agree that one should always look for a better pasture but shouldn’t there be some way to work it out? Like, getting a temp visa and working your way up??? if they can’t afford that, why not try to do something w/ servitude? and anyway they have so many families over here that they can’t say they are not going to be able to find a job. Their families always find them something…but then again…I really don’t know…I am still confused about that “fight”

  • i think they are probably pissing off a lot of people but in the long run helping them. you have to piss people off sometimes to get your footing on equal ground.

  • Protest in general are kinda ineffective. They raise awareness about an issue to those who don’t know. But most of the time, they don’t get too much done. But they are fun to go to. I went to the protest in New York City a couple of weeks ago. “Si se puede!!” (<<I think that’s how you say it : )

  • And whether it’s hurting or helping, I don’t really know.

  • Hurting, their refusal to buy american goods is not going to show us how dependent we are on their buying our goods, it’s going to show them how ignorant they are because the mexicans who are boycotting “american” companies in Mexico are actually boycotting Mexican owned companies.  It just shows me how much homework they do, and the american companies are going to do just fine.

  • the only problem that i have with the protests are…. YOU ARE MEXICAN SO HOW DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO PROTEST AMERICAN POLICY???? i dont get it….. dont get me wrong, im not saying that i completly agree with american policy on all this but i just think its strange that there are people protesting something they should have absolutely no affect on them

  • I don’t think it will help or hurt.

  • If there was never a protest, little to nothing would change.  Whether this one does anything, is much like any other protest, perhaps something will change that otherwise would not have.  At least their voice will be shared, and if nothing else, that is a very American thing to do. 

  • 102nd!

    helping

  • Hmm. I haven’t heard much about the protests, so my usually unexpert opinion has graduated to the practically oblivious.
    I’m not really sure if the protest would work, and I’m not sure if it would help or hurt the cause anyway (although I still want them to try it, just so I can see if it will). See, I’m not sure how many illegals can even be made aware of the boycott, because honestly I’m not sure how many of them have access to outlets of mass communication, especially if they don’t speak English, to know about it.
    I hope it works, though. It will be interesting to see what follows.

  • It’s hurting their cause. As someone who lives in the Southwest, grew up with kids who’s parents were here illegally, who’s neighbors were illegals…I’ve had some time to think about this issue. To come to a country without permission – and then demand healtcare, instate tuition & schooling for their kids, driver’s licenses, expect Spanish to be understood and spoken, and all the rights and privilages that come with being an American citizen – all while waving the MEXICAN flag, is just a slap in the face. It’s insulting and disrespectful – pick a country…you can’t have it both ways.

  • neither. total waste of time.

  • Certainly doesn’t make me feel that the ILLEGALs should get any sympathy, why don’t they just leave, and then come back properly.

  • They will just buy stuff the next day and everything will recover.  How are they going to help?

  • I think it hurts the cause. They enter illegally. Not a good start – breaking the laws of the country you want to live in. They take jobs that could be filled by citizens. They failed to pay taxes. They expect – sometimes demand – that our national language be changed. And now they want to bring some of our cities to a stand still. Oh yes, it will hurn the cause more than help. People are really getting fed up with it.

  • I like these illegals less the more they act this way.

  • The US is the easy country in which one can move to and become a legal citizen. The illegal immigrants that come here, come to better themselves, but the problem is that they do not want to wade thru any red tape and come into this country legally.  I think that it is time those who want to immigrate to the US do so through the legal channels. Instead they come here illegally and then expect us to cater to them. They don’t want to learn the language and instead we bend over backwards to make sure everything is available in Spanish.  I lived overseas for some 14 years. I learned to speak the national language and adapted to the national customs, celebrated their national holidays, etc.  I think it is time that the immigrants that come to the US do the same . . . Now as to the protest, I don’t think it is helping them at all.

  • For May 1?! Nooooo, That’s the first day of my birthday month, that’s not… right (can’t say fair because of the issue at hand, hehe) But to answer your question, I have no idea.

  • I have a big problem with those who say that the illegals do the jobs that Americans are too snotty or have no desire to do… It’s not that at all, at least not in most cases. It’s the fact that these people are willing and more to the point able to work for minimum wage or in many cases far less for those jobs. I’d have no problems digging ditches (which I have done in my line of work both by hand and using powered equipment), picking produce, and doing trade work (which is what I do as an electrician), but I’m just not able to do so for 5 bucks an hour and support even myself with just the basics much less a family. The ONLY way they are able to have homes and vehicles is to cram 10-15 in a house and have them work in shifts, and that is how they live here for six-eight months out of the year and then go home and live like kings for a few years on what they make.

    Sorry, that was off topic but there was a comment here that I felt I had to address.

    Okay, so it’s a question of hurting or helping their cause by a work/ school stoppage on May Day – I think it will hurt their cause in quite a few ways. First they’ll miss a day’s wages (and possibly more depending on how sympathetic their employer is to their cause) and a day’s education. And if they actually succeed in their goal, what is the difference in their protest and the protest by the transit worker’s union in NY last December? It’s a work stoppage which (in the case of the transit workers) makes a pretty big inconvienience. But I think it will hurt them more because the employers might just realize that they can actually do without the illegal immigrants.

  • It will hurt them. They wont change any minds, they may draw attention to the issue, but thats about it. What will they do, make the government think they can shut major cities down if we deport illegals? Then whats left of the national guard can roll in to round up everyone and we can have some juicy news for a week.

    Outright opposition will not work until the government rolls over. Anyone who tries to take on Bush will get squashed, even though they are impotent in a lame duck sort of sense. Two more years of this dumb righteous arrogant jesus oil cowboy shit and we are done.

  • I understand they are going to boycott buying anything on that day. 

    Well, I plan to go on a wild spending spree on May 1. 

  • Gandhi used non violent protest and that ended oppression of Indians in South Africa and liberated India from Great Britian, which was like one of the greatest empirical powers EVER!! and Gandhi is, well Gandhi because of it!  The trick is what percentage of the Latino population is going to go through with it, that could make all the difference, because I know in my hometown, Kansas City, where in like 15 years half the city’s first language will be Spanish… well, let’s just say it will be interesting to see what happens! 

  • Dan… how about an opinion poll on the spanish version star spangled banner?

  • not sure

  • I’m not sure ;/

  • Hurting. At least i hope so.

  • Dan….here by me there is A LOT going on about this…CRAZY sort of level stuff…..threats of a gang named (MS-13…I have never heard of them…a Latin gang, apparently???) coming to my older daughter’s school on Monday for a shooting.  WHY in the world would they do that??????  All kinds of crazy rumors, but even the principal has sent home a letter saying this is a threatened rumor, and there will be police officers in and outside the school on Monday due to this rumor.  No one that I know is sending their kids to school Monday here because of this.  I know it can’t be true….I mean, won’t happen….it’s just to ridiculous, but to get a letter from the principal even saying this rumor is going around terrifies me. I intended on copying the letter and posting it on my xanga but I never got time today.  I will tomorrow though.

  • Don’t think it helps. I am not for it anyway because any protest could easily turn into a riot if emotions are  not properly managed.

  • I hope it is helping.

  • I hope it is helping.

  • I forgot to answer your question……sooooo….based on my comment up there a few ^^^^^^ I can say without a doubt that it is HURTING their cause.  I’m angry that my child can’t go to school on Monday because of this CRAP.

    AND all the immigrants at my husband’s company don’t plan on attending on Monday.  They are all the non office, shop workers whose job it is to build trading desks, consoles, etc.  Without the people there to build the product then where does that leave the company?

    How can we as Americans NOT be resentful?  I say send them all back NOW.

  • They will make me angry.  If you are here illegally, you really don’t have a right to cause civil disobedience.  I wouldn’t think they would want to do that.  Seems that there have either been more of a crack down lately on illegals or it’s just getting more press lately.  Not sure which.

  • constantdelight I agree with you.

  • i think its hurting them, but as long as they keep doing it, the results begin looking more and more the way i want them to.

  • It goes both ways, again. Trust me.

  • We should all take the day off to go and laugh at them!  Make it a paid holiday!  Call it the “National Mock-The-Illegals Day”!

    This is total stupidity on their part if they actually think it will help their cause!

  • Hurting because there the majority of the people don’t give a rat’s ass about this shit. And they should not either. If a immigrant wanted to be  a US citizen then they have do it the right way. And the right way is by getting their paper work situated. So for all the illegal immigrants that don’t want to do things according to the system, well fuck em all!

  • hmm i think its helping my skool isnt coming to skool may 1st even when there is skool mostly everyone is not going cuz it shows that ppl do care alot of my friends are illegal so im supporting them!

    <33 Sara

  • Politics are bullshit.

  • I think it will help people see just how much immigrants do for our country.  (unless, of course, the effect of their one-day strike isn’t as obvious or immediate as they’re hoping for). 

    My husband thinks it’s a bad idea for them to try to losen immigration laws, since if the govt allows more foreign workers to come here to do cheap labor the chinese will end up outcompeting the mexicans.

  • I think that is hurtful. Why you might ask? It is not the hispanics in the street protesting that are having an effect on the way that our government treats immigration, it is the corporations who employ illegal aliens and legal immigrants. When they see these people costing them money these corporations are not going to be pleased and they will remove the pressure they are applying to keep the government from making the immigration laws harder. In Oklahoma the majority of people feel that these individuals do not deserve protection because they broke the law. It would be like saying yes you stole from a store but hey you are from a poor neighborhood so we are going to give you special privilidges. I mean there is a legal way to get into this country. The forfathers of our country were not in favor of opening our borders so that everyone could come in at the same time. Ever since this nation was created there have been immigration quotas. Also if the situation was reversed, if Americans were pouring over the border to Mexico, the Mexican government would have the army at the border with orders to shoot. It is rediculous to think that the US is the only country NOT allowed to keep illegal immigrants out.

  • It’s hurting their cause.  They have NO rights since they are not citizens of this country.  THEY ARE ILLEGAL>>> HELLLO… THEY ARE ILLEGAL>

  • Only history can tell. It takes a while for demonstrations and protests to permeate thru the social fabirc.

    Positive: It grabs attention.
    Negative: Short-term protest is generally not effective.

    There also could be a hint of racism and/or invalidity.
    Racism: It’s a us vs. them attitude. We Americans vs. those people.
    Invalidity: They are illegal immigrants. What rights do illegal immigrants have? (I really don’t know the answer)

    Then again, major protests have worked throughout history. For those who think protests are negative, think of…

    Boston Tea Party
    Woman’s Suffrage movement
    Civil Rights movement

    Granted protesters were not illegal immigrants. But, there was a lot of prevailing sentiment against those movements. And for every protest that led to a successful change, there were probably hundreds that failed to have any lasting effect.

  • Sure turns me off of them.

  • Nope…they still comin over arent they?

    ~*~Paige~*~A.K.A.Twinkie!!!Boomboxx!!!

  • They gotta do what they gotta do. US should stop treating them so poorly.  Immigrants run this country’s menial jobs. With the exception of Native Americans we all were immigrants at one time.

  • It depends on which side of the issue you’re on.

  • i think it has the potential to backfire, imagine if you will, all the illegals suddenly walking away thinking, “once they get their hands dirty they will want us back”, then americans coming in to pick up whatever slack they can, and…. unlike the stereotypical incompotent snobby americans of the movies, we find, “hey, these jobs arent so bad, and our money is staying here in the US”, so, byebye illegals, we no longer need you.  to me, its not about any job i dont want to do. its about what i DO want to do. but, till i can get that job i am willing to take any other job i can get. however, i dont think i should have to learn spanish just to live. currently, i work 2, thats TWO,  DOS for those of you who no speaky the english. i dont get paid much but i do what i can. why is it when i go on lunch and head over to the wendys it has to be so difficult to get my food because i cant communicate with the person taking my order? it shouldnt. personally, as far as any of the national border crap goes i dont care.. MUCH, but the language issue IS a big one to me. i have been to mexico, and even though i dont speak spanish as a first OR second language, i learned all i could while i was there, so i could communicate. if i can do that for vacation, why is it asking too much for people who want to LIVE here to learn the language? or, i have one better, if, we as a society get soooo angry about people pushing and forcing their views, beliefs oppinions, on us, why are we letting INVADERS(lets face it, that’s by definition, illegal occupants, what they are) FORCE their language on us? i say pull our troops out of iraq and go to war with mexico. then draft all the illegals, send them to the frontlines… and leave them there

  • They are potentially our future Americans, and their voice needs to be heard.  There are so many of them. It is really good to see the turn-out.  What they are up to, is risky. They are a truely courageous bunch of people. I hope for amnesty in bulk quantity…Let’s accept them all as citizens, all at once…Let there be parades and cheering going on, for their new-found FREEDOM. Where there is a will there is a way. If Jesus were an alien (think about it) wouldn’t he want to be an American, so he would have the freedom of speech, to say the least?

  • Businesses suffer.  Business with workers with “don’t ask, don’t tell” legality.  They lose their job, they’re back where they started.  …Whereever that may be.

  • Depends on wich way you look at it. In a lot of perspectives it’s either win-win or lose-lose.

  • 155th yay

  • I live in Texas.  If I may, I’d like to post this here and you may delete if you wish…

    MR. PRESIDENT, I’M HEADED TO MEXICO

    David M. Bresnahan
    April 1, 2006
    NewsWithViews.com

    Dear President Bush:

    I’m about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family, and
    I
    would like to ask you to assist me. I’m going to walk across the border
    from
    the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few arrangements. I know you
    can
    help with this.

    I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration
    quotas
    and laws. I’m sure they handle those things the same way you do here.

    So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Vicente Fox, that I’m
    on my
    way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

    1. Free medical care for my entire family.
    2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might
    need,
    whether I use them or not.
    3. All government forms need to be printed in English.
    4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.
    5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.
    6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the
    flag
    pole at their school with the
        Mexican flag flying lower down.
    7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.
    8. I will need a local Mexican driver’s license so I can get easy
    access to
    government services.
    9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won’t make any effort
    to
    learn local traffic laws.
    10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo
    from
    Pres. Fox to leave me
         alone, please be sure that all police officers speak English.
    11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on
    my
    car, and have a gigantic
         celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative
    comments from the locals.
    12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and
    dont
    enforce any labor laws
         or tax laws.
    13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and
    never
    say a critical word about
         me, or about the strain I might place on the economy.

    I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things
    for
    all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure that Pres.
    Fox
    won’t mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.

    However, if he gives you any trouble, just invite him to go quail
    hunting
    with your V.P.

    Thank you so much for your kind help.

    Sincerely,

    David M. Bresnahan

    ) 2006 David M. Bresnahan – All Rights Reserved
    ————————————————————————

    David M. Bresnahan has over 30 years of experience as an award-winning
    journalist, broadcaster, radio station owner, talk show host, and
    business
    owner. David has been a prominent writer for many Internet newspapers.

    Web Site http://www.ThatPRGuy.com

    E-Mail: nwv@Bresnahan.org

  • Who cares?

  • Definitely impedes their cause.

  • as long as they are not violent.

  • hurting.

  • its not gonna help.they will still find ways into the country

  • I don’t think we “take our immigrants for granted” by any means!!! Grr…..I don’t think I’d better say any more!!!!!!!!!

  • I’M not impressed when a worker takes the day off to protest how important and good a worker they are.  If no one missed you, you’re screwed.  If they did miss you, they’re just ticked off.  Seems like a lose/lose situation.

    But it would be interesting to see the effects in this particular case.  I’m writing this after the fact, and I don’t recall any dire [or even interesting] consequences.

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