Upset about article in Advocate (Baton Rouge, Lafayette: insurance, crime rate, houses)

[Caa]

Did anyone else see the atricle in the Advoate aboyut the influx of Hispanics in Baton Rouge. Now, we moved here from south Florida 2 1/2 years ago for 100 reasons, one was to be in a town where we feel we are in "north Amercia" again. The article said that they are working here, but not much about living here in our neighborhoods, thank goodness. Anyway, people tell me that it is all inevitable that they will take over and I was just hoping it would not be here in Baton Rouge. Honestly though, I think we cater to them toooooo much. The atricle stated the school board is thinking about making enrollemtn forms in Spanish. What about other immigants who come from elsewhere who speak little English and send their kids to school. What about enrollment forms in French or an Asian langauage. I guess nobody cares about the legal immigrants. One thing about the illegals, they keep to themselves in general and really do not cause much trouble. One bad thing, they have lots of gangs espeically in South Florida, and the gangs are all Latino(illegals) and making the crime rate skyrocke as if this area is not high enough. The only thing good, is that they are generally God fearing people and believe in God and Jesus, which we can use in this day and age with so many people not believing in God anymore. I just feel kinda mad that here we move here to a smaller city to get away from this type of thing and now the atricle comes out with Latins. I am sorry if this article offends anyone of Hispanic origin, but it is still a free counrty. I just hope that the government will do something about these people and one main thing for me, stop catering to them and MAKE THEM LEARN ENGLISH THE WAY MY ANCERSTORS HAD TO DO 100 YEARS AGO!! Also a LATIN cLUB GOING UP IN sHERWOOD AREA. Great, we just love the illegal immigration situation so much, what a counrty this has become. i better stop before I get even more bitter!!

[Phil75230]

Caa, as a multi-generational north La. native, I have to say that

*40 years from now, 1 in 5 US citizens will be Hispanic

*1/3 of Canada's population speaks French - yet that hasn't hurt their society all that much (although there are a lot of gripes in Quebec, the majority still consider themselves Canadians and not Quebecois)...

* These days, even white-as-snow Iowa, NW Arkansas, and North Carolina are getting a lot of Hispanics

*Throughout Our History, this nation has had its share of non-fluent immigrants, and yes even had a lot of their classes taught in their native language (Yiddish, Italian, Polish, Norwegian, etc.). It's no "worse" than it was when immigrants from S. and E. Europe came over here in droves.

*Most immigrants want to learn English...almost certainly their children will be VERY English-capable.

[Caa]

Originally Posted by Phil75230

Caa, as a multi-generational north La. native, I have to say that

*40 years from now, 1 in 5 US citizens will be Hispanic

*1/3 of Canada's population speaks French - yet that hasn't hurt their society all that much (although there are a lot of gripes in Quebec, the majority still consider themselves Canadians and not Quebecois)...

* These days, even white-as-snow Iowa, NW Arkansas, and North Carolina are getting a lot of Hispanics

*Throughout Our History, this nation has had its share of non-fluent immigrants, and yes even had a lot of their classes taught in their native language (Yiddish, Italian, Polish, Norwegian, etc.). It's no "worse" than it was when immigrants from S. and E. Europe came over here in droves.

*Most immigrants want to learn English...almost certainly their children will be VERY English-capable.

I realize that the children will speak English, but it is still very annoying that we cater to them so much. When my grandparents came here, they were forced to learn English and CONFORM to the US ways and have their Polish traditions at home. I just get upset that we are not making them conform to our lifestyles . I know we all came from sonewhere else, but my ancestors did it through the correct channels and learned our hisorty and traditions. My grandpa did not even want to teach me any Polish because we live in the US now. I knwo that all you said is true, but it does not mean we all like it Also, I never saw (in Florida) any immigrant that wanted to learn English, they would get po'd that I did not speak Spanish.....I even had one tell his translater that I needed to learn it because they were here to live and stay and they did not have to learn English, I had to learn their language! (I worked in an Orthopedic office). That is ballsy!

[Out of Alaska]

Let go of your anger... it's not going to get any better for you unless you change your outlook. The state of things isn't going to change in your favor. Really.

Wow I sound like I'm leading a meditational class or something - but in all seriousness, you can gripe all you want but nobody is turning around and heading south because you're mean to them.

[CindyM]

This Archie Bunker thread makes me sick to my stomach. The two responders offered a voice of reason. Let your anger go. It serves no useful purpose.

[Caa]

I hate to tell you all this, but I am not alone in my anger you know! About 90 percent of this country feels this way. By the way, I happen to agree with a lot that Archie Bunker said. It is still a free country, I thought some people knew this, and I can express my views!

[mollies mom]

There are many of us who do because we have seen first hand what an area becomes with this sudden large influx of mostly illegal immigrants, neighborhoods have been destroyed and homeowners having to move from homes they have grown old in out of fear of these people and the gang activity they bring along with them. Here in LA the problem has not yet reached the proportions that it has in other areas but we will be well on our way to that if this amnesty program the president is pushing goes thru. If you want to put your finger on how the average low to middle class American feels about all this go to the immigration forum on this site and spend a few hours reading. If you truly want to see the effect of ilegal immigration go to Lafayette and see the housing division (River Ranch) that is being built, the workers are for the most part immigrants working for around $8 an hour with no insurance or much else, they routinely fall off the roofs and end up in the local emergency rooms with no insurance and no ability to pay the bill.........who then ends up paying it? We do. Now, the next part of the question..............what has happened to all the Americans in the building trade that these people are getting all these constuction jobs that used to be well paying............if you believe that they are all making more elsewhere and choose not to do construction then you are sadly mistaken. Their jobs and the ability to take care of their families has been taken from them by these people working for what in the building industry is equal to slave wages. Do you think the contractors that hire these people sell these homes for a lesser price because their labor costs were less? No, they sure don't.........they have what amounts to slaves doing the work and they are reaping bigger profits and all the while the American worker has fallen thru the cracks because we are soooo concerned with helping these "poor immigrants", what has happened to helping your neighbor, the guy who went to fight for this country and is now hurting because of all this mess, does anyone think of him or is it because he was born here the belief is that he automatically has had everything given to him. Go to the immigration section of this forum and read, and while your at it go also and check out the "wehategringos" website for a real education.

[Tudy]

What would happen if all of us went to Mexico and did the same thing to their economy? I think that the infstructure would fail. The middle class of tax payers is over burdened now. With the war, job loss and immigration, how long can these tax payers continue supporting the world?

[donlookingforplace]

Originally Posted by mollies mom

There are many of us who do because we have seen first hand what an area becomes with this sudden large influx of mostly illegal immigrants, neighborhoods have been destroyed and homeowners having to move from homes they have grown old in out of fear of these people and the gang activity they bring along with them. Here in LA the problem has not yet reached the proportions that it has in other areas but we will be well on our way to that if this amnesty program the president is pushing goes thru. If you want to put your finger on how the average low to middle class American feels about all this go to the immigration forum on this site and spend a few hours reading. If you truly want to see the effect of ilegal immigration go to Lafayette and see the housing division (River Ranch) that is being built, the workers are for the most part immigrants working for around $8 an hour with no insurance or much else, they routinely fall off the roofs and end up in the local emergency rooms with no insurance and no ability to pay the bill.........who then ends up paying it? We do. Now, the next part of the question..............what has happened to all the Americans in the building trade that these people are getting all these constuction jobs that used to be well paying............if you believe that they are all making more elsewhere and choose not to do construction then you are sadly mistaken. Their jobs and the ability to take care of their families has been taken from them by these people working for what in the building industry is equal to slave wages. Do you think the contractors that hire these people sell these homes for a lesser price because their labor costs were less? No, they sure don't.........they have what amounts to slaves doing the work and they are reaping bigger profits and all the while the American worker has fallen thru the cracks because we are soooo concerned with helping these "poor immigrants", what has happened to helping your neighbor, the guy who went to fight for this country and is now hurting because of all this mess, does anyone think of him or is it because he was born here the belief is that he automatically has had everything given to him. Go to the immigration section of this forum and read, and while your at it go also and check out the "wehategringos" website for a real education.

Shouldnt you be blaming the employers for hiring the illegals? The illegals are here because they cannot feed their family where they were born. So they will do anything to bring food on their table. All this thought about saving jobs to locals etc should come from employers who should insist on proper work authorization. They are the ones reaping benefits than anyone else. They still get the work done for a fraction of the cost and sell you the house for market rate (or even higher) and keeps all the money and buys his 2nd boat or another lake house.
So you should really be blaming (1) the employers and (2) the immigration policies (3) if you have a hole in your fence its your problem. Tighten the doors properly and make sure they dont get in.

For people here its just a matter of inconvenience. For them its a matter of life and death of feeding their famillies.

Disclaimer: I am in no way supporting illegal immigration. I am just putting forward their point of view just for sake of argument. And I strongly support that all illegals should be deported. Period.

[Out of Alaska]

I sympathize with the changes in many of the US neighborhoods, and the stresses it causes on our systems.

But in all honesty - if I was born in Mexico in the situation that many find themselves in, I might be cleaning houses for $$ under the table, too. Or whatever. We are all seeking a way to get ahead. I just don't think it's a personal "I hate Mexican immigrants" issue (like don's quote above)- and I don't think it's healthy on a personal level, nor on a "community" to have that attitude. They aren't that different from you or I. And my family has been here since the potato famine.