Should Mexican Immigrants Be Allowed Into The U.S Freely

[Cythraul]

But that's Paco's problem not yours. Why should he "get the fuck out"? Other countries have two or more languages coexisting in them (India, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland) is it so bad that a minority of the population only speaks Spanish? I just don't get where all the hate comes from.

I never made any claim about whose problem it is. I agree, it's Paco's problem. And let's be consistent; If Paco gets rushed to the emergency room and nobody there can understand what he's saying and he dies, that's his problem.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Mexico does in fact have quite an overpopulation problem. It really comes down to a matter of the values and cultural attitudes that prevail within a society, in addition to the opportunities available to the members of a society. Two of the greatest bulwarks against out of control population growth have always been (1) an educated and fairly affluent populace, and (2) a high status for women. Unfortunately, one of the impediments to the achievement of (1) in Mexico is in fact overpopulation. We should also remember that Mexico's elite has been robbing its country blind for years, and that throwing our borders wide open ain't gonna do a whole lot to encourage change on that front (quite the opposite, actually). I think that the main impediment to the achievement of (2) is the fact that Mexican culture is notoriously macho. Mexican culture is also deeply Catholic, which can only spell trouble for notions like equal status for women, abortion, contraception, etc.

Great points. And those issues certainly aren't unique to Mexico. A lot of countries are going to have to re-evaluate their religious and cultural traditions if we're going to have a sustainable planet anytime soon.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

But that's Paco's problem not yours. Why should he "get the fuck out"? Other countries have two or more languages coexisting in them (India, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland) is it so bad that a minority of the population only speaks Spanish? I just don't get where all the hate comes from.

Racism, ldo

 

[cookiecutter]

I never made any claim about whose problem it is. I agree, it's Paco's problem. And let's be consistent; If Paco gets rushed to the emergency room and nobody there can understand what he's saying and he dies, that's his problem.

Fair enough. I was mainly using your example as a springboard to reply to others.

 

[Cythraul]

Fair enough. I was mainly using your example as a springboard to reply to others.

Cool.

 

[MasterOLightning]

There's definitely no downside to a people learning English in addition to a native language. Believe me, there are an overwhelming number of people in Chicago who know Polish well, and just enough English to get by okay. And I'm assuming most are legal too. And believe it or not, it hasn't destroyed my life that once and a while I've had to communicate with non-native English speakers.

There's nothing about learning English that explicitly keeps people from staying loyal to their native culture, so the argument that Mexicans don't learn English so that they can stay linked to their families/homeland is pure BS.

 

[cookiecutter]

I completely agree, I just don't think people should be antagonized if they choose not to learn English.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

Yeah, I like how opponents of that make it out to seem like once you learn another language your sense of culture just dies.

 

[Vimana]

have Spanish versions printed on the back, think of all the wasted paper! ).

If its on the back its the same sheet of paper. None is being wasted.

People need to stop whining about stuff being written in Spanish. Some signs in my area have Russian, Korean, and Chinese written under them.

Cookiecutter made an excellent post. We should not be lazy and we should not mind having to read an extra few lines. ITS NOT A BIG DEAL.

Exactly. We don't have to read the Spanish, its not like the sign says "learn Spanish now! and its not like the sign is written completely in Spanish.

 

[rms]

why did you respond to that?

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

That is not something we'd frown upon in America, since it's such a melting pot of different, tolerated cultures constantly intermingling.

 

[Vimana]

I hear people speaking Hindi, Korean, Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish I wouldn't say frequently but it isn't rare. It doesn't piss me off. The parents just want to preserve their culture with their kids. Besides, little kids learn languages very easily.

 

[cookiecutter]

I have read that children of immigrants know English (or the dominant language of the home country) at a far greater rate than their parents.

 

[Alter]

I have read that children of immigrants know English (or the dominant language of the home country) at a far greater rate than their parents.

Yup, and this shows it is no different from when the huge flow of immigrants during the 20's, 30's, and 40's.

 

[Valerie]

If its on the back its the same sheet of paper. None is being wasted.

Something else equally important in English could be printed on the back, but is now relegated to another sheet of paper because of a Spanish part taking it's place.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

OH NOES.

 

[AchrisK]

Blah blah about the language.

It's not the simple fact that "they broke a law" that is of concern. The laws are there for a reason. We have to have border security and controlled immigration, especially in this day and age, and being neighbors with a country like Mexico, who are not be as technologically advanced in detecting threats and stopping their movement.

 

[skeptik]

I don't think we're really discussing the future illegal immigrants who will cross into the country in the future, but rather the ones that are already here. We can't just up and deport 12 million people, for as many reasons. There has to be some acceptable middle ground between punishment and assistance for these people. I am a strong proponent of penalizing illegal immigrants by fining them and then allowing them to apply for citizenship, or something to that effect.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

I'm sure if we could do that, politicians would have done it already.

 

[Zephyrus]

I don't think we're really discussing the future illegal immigrants who will cross into the country in the future, but rather the ones that are already here.

The thread title actually wants us arguing about those who aren't in here yet.

I am for better border security, to prevent illegal crossings. At the same time, we should make it easier for people to immigrate legally, by offering incentives to make legal citizenship more appealing.