May 1st boycott

[MouseWife]

blueerica~I can't remember that far back but I am only going to go by what I see: I believe the people that are picked up, even questioned about their status, must be treated fairly and justly. Even in the picketing and demonstrations, things have been kept civil {from what I've seen}. I think if the demonstrators were to get out of control that the police would use extreme caution in how they reacted.

Cadaverous Pallor~I would assume here in Chula Vista, that kids kept out were more likely unable to cross the border {it was blocked by a human blockade?}than their parents keeping them home. But, you live quite far from the border. So, yes, if those parents kept the kids out, they lost a day of learning and in my opinion, a lot of them really need all of the days they can get. If they are already behind {and I said IF} because of their primary language then keeping them out only hurts them.

At our school, now that you mention it, getting to school in the morning was easier AND I didn't notice a trail of cars up to ten minutes past the time school started.....hmmm...Target was quiet and the parking lot, wow, I found a good spot.

[€uroMeinke]

I've got nothing against taking your kid out of school to do something like this (i.e. an occasional political protest, not weekly political rallys to the casue of your choice) - puts some real world context on life outside school.

But, having just gotten home without any knowledge of the goings on today, I wonder if this really will accompish anything. UNless ity was overwhellmingly successful (and I suspect it wasn't becasue I had a normal day) then people will say, "eh, we got along with the immigrants just fine."

I'm also troubled becasue no one really has articulated what this is really about or supposed to accomplish - raised awareness perhaps? I'm all for celebrating our countries cultural diversity, but I think this is a reaction to presumed legislation that hasn't gone anywhere yet. Then again, perhaps that makes it the ideal time to speak out.

[MouseWife]

Well, from someone who pulls their kids out to go to Disneyland....{and other places which I find to be quite enriching to their mental growth }

What I gather is that this is being compared to strikes by the airline, garbage collectors, etc.

Their 'goal' is for the illegals to get amnesty.

Sounds almost like blackmail, doesn't it?

I know the kids I've seen on t.v. seem very proud to be out and protesting.

I did hear another nationality {on behalf of their people} on t.v. say how they felt they wanted to be united with Americans and that this was not the way to achieve that.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Why is it ok to strike, but not ok to cross a picket line?

Not OK for whom? That's an artificial boundary put in place by those in support of organized labor. I'm cool with organized labor, and I'm OK if they wish to strike. However, I can cross a picket line with completely clear conscience should I not agree with the issues they are striking about.

What if there was a nurses strike when I was due for my surgery? I think I'd have gone in anyway regardless of what the strike was over.

[scaeagles]

I have no problems with parents taking kids out of school for a day to do something that is a non school educational experience. I did a couple of things during HS years that would fall into that category.

Edited to add the caveat: I only support this if it is a good student who keeps up with school work and maintains their grades. Someone who can't keep their grades up should probably not skip school for something like that.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Why is it ok to strike, but not ok to cross a picket line?

It's not ok to cross a picket line?


For me, to the extent that I was affected it was in that I was able to start driving home from Disneyland at 3 p.m. and it only took about 75 minutes to get into the Grapevine. If that is what happens when illegal immigrants and their friends remove themselves from society for a day then I am all in favor of this happening every day.

[wendybeth]

I know I'm going to get zinged for this, but if their goal was to let us know how badly we'd suffer without illegals making our lives easier, then I consider this a failure. They are not sneaking into this country for our benefit- they are doing so to improve their own lives. Yes, the vast majority of us came from elsewhere, but over the years laws have changed and the world has changed. I'm all for immigration reform, making it easier for qualified persons to become citizens, but this free-for-all we have going now is stupid and dangerous. I'm reading all these statements from business owners saying they lost money today because their illegal employees failed to show up to work today, and frankly I could give a rat's ass for them. I confess I am also a bit confused as to the true intent of the strike- is it just to showcase our dependence on illegals, or immigrants in general, legal or not?

I also wonder how many of the wealthy had to do things for themselves today?

[MouseWife]

Quoting wendybeth:"I also wonder how many of the wealthy had to do things for themselves today?" Ah, yeah.

I saw a man on the news who was pulling a wagon with a big sign on it saying he was against illegal immigration and that we need to take care of our problem.

The news reporter asked him if he felt as if he were wearing one of those 'Kick Me' signs on his back? He said yes but he also hoped he was kicking them back, making them think.

He said that these people {the immigrants} are paid low wages and they have no rights, they are doing jobs no one will do and for what? {and I say no one will do because the companies get away with paying them nothing...}He said they are our new slaves. Is that worth fighting for?

And, to me, the idea of giving them amnesty~aren't there 11 million of them? And aren't they saying {mostly} Viva Mexico? But they are here.

I think we are strapped as it is. And, they are illegal. So...we are to give them amnesty when they are doing an illegal act? Perpetuating the cycle?

Yes, actually, I think most of us are from other countries. But, I think we have arrived here legally.

Well...right?

And I just caught a bit on the news that in Oceanside there is a big riot {what I gathered, maybe too harsh} going on and police are going up there from Coronado, National City and Imperial Beach {I think the last} to help. I believe that Oceanside has more gangs than down here. I could be wrong.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

I also wonder how many of the wealthy had to do things for themselves today?

I had actually thought a bit about this today.

What would happen in other industries should the money paid to illegal aliens go to other discretionary places? Not just by the wealthy, either.....in my middle class neighborhood many homes have their yards maintained by hispanic laborers (not mine - I have found that yard work is a scam invented by men with young children to escape them on Saturdays ). I will not dare to presume that they are all illegal, but it is assuredly a safe assumption that some are. What if they took that money and invested it or bought something they otherwise wouldn't have and just did the work themselves? Other areas of the economy would benefit immensely.

So....I'm not going to zing you WB. This is one of those rare times we are in agreement.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by MouseWife

He said that these people {the immigrants} are paid low wages and they have no rights, they are doing jobs no one will do and for what? {and I say no one will do because the companies get away with paying them nothing...}He said they are our new slaves.

Yep. This is why migrant farm worker organizer Cesar Chavez so adamantly opposed illegal immigration. He knew that the effect of the flood of illegals would be to lower the cost of labor an make it impossible for the legal working poor to get a better wage.