The View From 1776

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Recent postings on the issue of illegal immigrants have produced some passionate responses from readers who feel both aggrieved and threatened by the rising proportions of new residents who know little about the traditions of 1776 and seem to care nothing for them.  The impression is similar to the feelings one has when reading about newly elected President Andrew Jackson opening the White House to ordinary citizens, who trampled expensive carpets and stood on chairs with muddy boots, pilfered items, and generally laid waste to the place. 

It’s one thing to say that the White House is the people’s house and that the United States welcomes newcomers.  It’s another matter, however, to welcome, figuratively speaking, the hordes of Genghis Khan into your home.

The following are excerpts from the reader’s email:

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I think the increased violence we some from some immigrant cultures comes from several things.  Most obviously, some of these cultures are already more violent than what we are accustomed to.  Second, I believe we are getting the dregs of society from many of these countries.  The refugee program has brought in a number of criminals, some very violent.  Vang the hunter was probably a refugee. I hear Mexicans are only too glad to see some of their bad characters leave for the U.S.  Some of the violence may be an indirect effect of U.S. military training among the respective countries, such as El Salvador.

Knives as weapons are more commonly used in some of these cultures.  A policeman tells me Somalis use “edge weapons.”

A lot of the bad behavior makes these people even more costly to the taxpayer.  What I have seen here is people already apparently receiving welfare, then there is a crime which of course means all the costs of law enforcment, social services, etc. Vang the hunter apparently had several “cultural wives.” Who will support them now?

The relative wealth of the United States has a lot more to offer a criminal than many other countries.  An African immigrant suggested one reason there is so much effort to sell drugs in the U.S. is the value of the American dollar.

My primary language is English, secondary is Spanish.  I worked at a hospital, and when a Spanish speaking patient called the emergency line I would then have to turn around and in English explain the situation to a Korean immigrant nurse with very poor English.  Some people can pass a technical exam, but can’t carry on a simple conversation in English.  One evening a Korean nurse was laughing because a Chinese person with very limited English had called, and how she had to help the person with their mutual language difficulties.  The Korean nurse was an avid Christian, so I made a joke about the Tower of Babel, but as usual she just smiled and only pretended to understand!

The language issue can be a problem with medical care, especially emergency, where things have to be explained and consents signed.  A policeman here tells me when giving a ticket sometimes a translator will be called.  Can you imagine the cost in time and money, and guess who always pays? ......

A couple of times I gave Spanish paperwork to Spanish language patients, but they asked for the original documents in English.  They worked as translators, and were aware that documents are not always translated correctly.  Sometimes language was not the entire problem.  A few times I asked a female Spanish language patient if they had had a cesarean.  They answered yes, but it turned out to be an appendectomy. A problem of literacy or education. But that is the kind of immigrant we are sometimes getting here.

Having paperwork in different languages also means more storage space and the costs of more paper.  If the document is changed in English, then the other language version must be changed also.

Supposedly you need some English to become a citizen, but when I went to serve on jury duty one or two were eliminated due to language problems.  The court system cannot fuction well without a common language.

I am mentioning all these stories, in case it can help you push a case for “English Only.”

Sometimes I flip through the various language channels on TV.  I don’t understand all the languages, but there are observations to be made.  Why does the local hospital here only advertise on the Russian channel?  I can only guess, but the Russian Mafia is supposed to be big in health care here, and thru the refugee business and SSI there are a lot of Russians getting healthcare, much of it thanks to the U.S. taxpayer.  Working at a medical office not long ago it was frustrating to see patients who were reasonably honest working people in pain, in need of care, struggling with their insurances, and then see an elderly Russian couple, apparently not poor, come in and get everything for free.  No copayment, no deductible.  They were well covered through the welfare system, etc. The wife had on some expensive jewelery. They spoke little English.  Had not lived here and paid taxes! There are often stories here of especially Armenian and Russian immigrants flaunting wealth and enjoying subsidized housing and welfare services at the same time.  There is little checking for fraud. The Russian couple may have hidden their wealth with children here or by some other means, and then qualified as low income.  A “doctor friend” may have helped them get a handicapped plaque.  They did not have to pay for parking, either.

Only on the Spanish channel is there a public service announcement reminding the viewer not to use a gun while committing a crime.  And, there is endless helpful advice and information for immigrants, some of it linked to advertisements for American products.  They will show a map with directions when a protest demonstration is being held.  One announcement I saw on the Spanish channel “Happy news for immigrants, new visa” did not appear on the English channel until a week or two later. The English language channels probably provide the dumbest, most unhelpful news.

........ Welfare may also be a benefit to the doctors, administrators, drug companies, etc. who receive their cut out of the system, and employers who use cheap labor and don’t pay for medical costs, although I know the doctors do not always get much.

The immigrants know a lot more about the workings of the welfare systems than I do! Sometimes they have friends on the inside.  For cultural reasons also, they don’t always have a sense of shame about welfare.  It’s just a normal American benefit, and it’s normal for them to cheat the government.

I have had several immigrants passionately tell me about the political situation back home, I just wish they cared as much about this country.  This is just a job agency, or vacation destination in their minds.  Citizenship is just a convenience. They only want to know what this country will do for their ethnic group. 

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