Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Lighting up Feliz Navidad or Farmers Branch revisited

Imagine my surprise at a television news report last Saturday night picturing the beginning of the Christmas season, and just as fall arrives!

According the the story, a Christmas lighting company has already begun hanging decorative holiday lights in Highland Park and in Farmers Branch. Millions of lights will be put in place over the next 10-12 weeks, the lighting company owner reported.

Highland Park Village and a public park in Farmers Branch were pictured as examples of the several places the work is underway.

Seems like the Christmas season arrives earlier every year.

But, that's not my point here.

Care to guess who was hard at work stringing those lights up in the branches of trees right there in the Farmers Branch park?

Mexican workers.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm sure all of those gentlemen had the proper papers to document their "legal status" in the country. What do you think?

Of course, I can think of nothing the political leadership in Farmers Branch needs more than a little of the Christmas spirit!

Feliz Navidad!

Turn on the light, and hurry!
________________________

Action item: Call your U. S. Senator today to urge passagge of "The Dream Act" that will allow immigrant children to gain "legal" status to stay in the U. S. while going on to pursue a college education or to serve in the U. S. Armed Forces. Find out the information you need here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/
contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm




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16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please educate yourselves on the Dream Act. It's an attempt to pass the amnesty bill, that was defeated this summer, piece by piece.

The green cards are extremely easy to get and once they are obtained the "young person" can sponsor his entire extended family, should he so desire, to seek citizenship.

The Dream Act makes it absurdly easy for just about any illegal alien to evade the law, even one who does not qualify for amnesty. When the person fills out an application, any application, no matter how ridiculous, the federal government is prohibited from deporting him, neither can they share the information under threat of a $10,000 fine.

There is CONSIDERABLY more to this bill than givinng amnesty to minor children. Please read up on it. The powers that be are again trying to push something down our throats by attaching it as amendment 2237 to the Defense Authorization Bill.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you Chris... For the love of God, let's throw every Mexican out, and the blacks, and the Germans... America has no place for non-white, non-middle class people. Only people like me have a right to life and happiness.

Anonymous said...

anonymous,

That is a dishonest comment. What I would like is honesty in the Dream Act. The sponsors should be up fromt in what it contains and not try to pass it attached to another bill.

Larry James said...

Chris, I have to say I grow very weary of your pre-digested rhetoric. Let me respond to your comments:

"Please educate yourselves on the Dream Act. It's an attempt to pass the amnesty bill, that was defeated this summer, piece by piece." I have Chris--I've read the entire bill which was sent to me by an aid to Senator John Cornyn (R-TX).

"The green cards are extremely easy to get and once they are obtained the 'young person' can sponsor his entire extended family, should he so desire, to seek citizenship." No such provision is included in the language of the act. If such is possible, that could be changed by a policy directive inside ICE. I actually dobut this is even possible--just more right wing rhetoric.

"The Dream Act makes it absurdly easy for just about any illegal alien to evade the law, even one who does not qualify for amnesty." If it is easy to get into college or serve in the U. S. Armed Forces, I guess you are correct.

"When the person fills out an application, any application, no matter how ridiculous, the federal government is prohibited from deporting him, neither can they share the information under threat of a $10,000 fine." This is a just provision, but puts the destiny of the person in the hands of a U. S. Immigration Court--thus, a temporary status until the case is settled. Seems in line with traditions as a people to me.

"There is CONSIDERABLY more to this bill than givinng amnesty to minor children. Please read up on it." Where would you suggest that we "read up on it" Chris? I read the actual legislation, not the commentary of some right wing group or "foundation." Try it yourself before you clutter my blog with your biased opinions that further oppress the poor.

"The powers that be are again trying to push something down our throats by attaching it as amendment 2237 to the Defense Authorization Bill." Like it or not, this is the way Washington works on all sorts of legislation.

The difference in me and you, Chris is the fact that I know, love and respect these kids--talked to one fine young man today, who, if you have your way, will be lost to the U. S.

Why do so many people think that being a Christian is equal to being a right wing, John Birch-type radical??? I've grown up with this foolish, narrow, right-wing worldview. I don't see Jesus in any of it.

In my view, it means just the opposite. Forgive my tone, but I've had about enough of this sort of racism veiled somehow as "patriotic."

Anonymous said...

The frustrating thing about Chris, is that he likely won't even respond.

Just like the previous post with his "political correctness" diatribe... He'll come on here to spew his hate-filled, racist rhetoric and then simply ignore the calls for factual evidence of the crap he posts here.

Chris... I dare you to respond with factual evidence. I really don't believe you have it in you to do so... prove me wrong.

Anonymous said...

The way to educate yourself is to read both pro and con on the Dream Act. There are many ways to do this, you might try to google "Dream Act." Then for the other side of the coin you might try to google "anti Dream Act." See-it's easy.

Anonymous said...

I repeat what I said Chris... I dare you go find factual evidence and present it here.

Spewing your hate-filled, racist rhetoric and then telling people its out there and to go look it up for themselves does NOT constitute factual evidence.

SO I guess I won the dare... but you can always try again!

Larry James said...

No, Chris, what you suggest is not the way to "research" if your goal is to gain objective, factual understanding. Don't go to the experts on commentary and interpretation, go the the legislation. Read it. Understand its simple language. Don't rely on fear-mongers who want to warn you of what might happen. They try to frighten the naive--it's been going on in the nation since the beginning. Read the legislation. Form your own opinions.

BTW--I'm still waiting on you to give me an example of "politically correct" restraints in public education.

Anonymous said...

WOW - Larry, well said and THANKS! I have so many feelings, but am usually unable to translate into words.

Anonymous said...

Not necessarily relevant, but I think I recall that Chris is a woman, because I seem to remember some reference in a post to "my husband". Is this correct, Chris?

Anonymous said...

Hey, Larry, I clicked on this link to do this, and it came back "Permission Denied." Is it just me -- did they find out I'm a rebel? Or can you suggest another link?

http://www.senate.gov/general/
contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Larry James said...

Karen, not sure. Call one of the Senator's offices and ask for help.

Anonymous said...

Several I know have spent hours upon hours helping Africans to seek asylum from home countries such as Burundi, Rwanda, etc.. where they, to this day, bear the scars of beatings and the emotional scars of fear and memories of watching loved ones being taken and slaughtered before their eyes. Why is it so difficult for them to get asylum? Why are Africans who are labeled refugees being given safe status in the US and yet, the Africans I am acquainted with, and go through the system, cannot be granted asylum? I don't understand the inconsistency; I do understand that something is broke somewhere. But how do we fix it? stephen

Anonymous said...

Yep, a great way to bring people to your side is by calling anyone who disagrees with you on immigration a racist or a bigot.
Really tactful. Of course, when I'm not confident in my convictions, I start labelling people, too.

Anonymous said...

anonymous,

1) those confident in their convictions sign their names to their statements.

2) you can't question mr. james' convictions; he puts his money and his life where his mouth is.

3) no one in this conversation has called anyone a racist or a bigot. rather, certain rhetoric was labeled "racist" and "hate-filled." that's because most of the commenters, and mr. james himself, seem committed to referring to factual information.

4) but i do understand your point. it appears that mr. james and others are assuming a rather offensive posture. this cannot, of course, be explained by mr. james' faultering convictions. at worst, i'd say he's preaching to the choir, hoping to solidify his loyal readership, perhaps at chris' expense. a more charitable reading would be that mr. james takes chris at his word; that is, he believes chris wants to, and therefore should, engage in a real debate of the actual facts. surely you'll forgive a few rhetorical flourishes in the pursuit of an honest debate?

nick dunn

Anonymous said...

I'm not going to call irresponsible name-calling "rhetorical flourishes." Somehow, this has become the moral issues where we're somehow allowed to be mean-spirited. Excuse me while I go throw rocks at a "baby-killer."