posted on Sep, 9 2005 @ 02:42 AM
This post not only show insensitivity but xenophobia. To assume that the Mexican aid being sent: doctors, military troops, workers, would *want* to
stay in the US is such a biased opinion.
Mexico is not just made up of the illegal immigrants you read about in the news or encounter working at your fast food restaurants, they are a
functional country with professionals, middle, lower, working and upper class just like your own country. Why would you assume they would want leave
their jobs, families, country just to 'run to the border' to the great land of (so called) opportunity to live as an illegal immigrant in poverty,
racism and no respect from US citizens?
Listen to how realistic your response is - you are assuming doctors are going to use the Katrina excuse so they can get great jobs working minimum
wage washing dishes in some border town diner and being looked down upon by other people? Doctors in all countries, especially poorer ones, have the
respect of their people. It is a noble profession regardless of the person behind the white coat because of the thankless job they do everyday. To
trade this respect in for a life of poverty on the run is ridiculous and tells me you don't know too much about immigration.
People leave their countries for a lot of reasons, but often the illegal ones leave because they have no choice or hope. Sometimes this is based on
economics, sometimes this is political. If Mexican doctors and workers wanted to leave Mexico that badly and come to the US, I'm sure they would have
a better chance applying for a visa that would evaluate their profession and deterimine whether they can be used in another country - otherwise, what
kind of jobs would they aspire to? What kind of life?
The life of the poor in the US is so markedly harsh that one would have to be very desperate indeed to desire it instead of the life they have now. I
have lived and visited other countries where the life of the poor is enhanced by other possibilities rather than economics. The people are so full of
life, enjoying few physical comforts and relishing instead: friends, families, parties, celebrations, food, drink, etc... a deep rooted philosophy of
joie de vivre despite the circumstances.
You make the US sound like it a cushy utopia for the poor and the weary, instead of the more realistic years and years of hard labour and mulitiple
jobs that one would have to put in just to live an average life, live in an average house and drive an average car.
The US is great if you have lots of money or if you are middle class - it is also great in terms of some of the freedoms it affords people who have
escaped from religious or political persecution. Unfortunately it is also a country many underprivilaged run to because they believe the American
dream of making it - not realising the hardships this really entails.
Still, who am I to knock this dream? Many have built their lives around it, sacrificing their years and their bodies so that their families can live a
better life. It is important to not let nostalgia or fluffly clouds mar your logic. The dream is a tough one and one often not achievable despite the
lifetime of work to obtain it. If you wanted to have a philosophical discussion we could argue why the dream isn't even realistic - but that is a
subject for a different thread.
What is my point? You are implying Mexicans would abandon everything, drop to their knees and kiss US soil just so they can stay in *your* country
instead of helping in the Katrina disaster, which is why they are being sent by their government in the first place.
Please think about what you say before you say it.