According to some, the United Sates has been over run by immigrants that exploit the prosperity of Americans. This is evident when you dine out, travel, play golf, or attend conventions. They have infested low paying entry level jobs such as yard keepers, maids, wait staff, construction, agriculture, etc.
They flood the convenience stores in the early dawn forming long lines eager to purchase the day’s needs. They may not speak English well however habla cash is understood by the merchants. One finds males and females of all shapes, nationalities, and ages. Who are these foreigners and where do they come from to monopolize these jobs?
From the mosaic appearance of them I’d say all of Latin America South of the Alamo. Stephen F. Austin would be spinning in his grave if he knew the city named after him is now stampeded by immigrants who crossed the line to come and take entry level manual jobs from his great great great grandchildren. They are the backbone of the trades that are building skyscrapers and fine residences in the Texas Hill Country.
The debate of whether immigrants are ultimately a positive contribution or a drain has been raging for the last six years and no doubt will heat up once again. Families have been broken up in local raids and the winds of anti immigrants’ rhetoric are fanning the flames of ethnic tensions.
The economic crisis is rippling through the immigrant population even harder bringing its own set of problems. The welcome matt has been pulled and some battle lines have been drawn once again. Minuteman groups are coming out protesting and defending their rights.
America stands at historic crossroads with the new president facing unprecedented challenges of all sorts. We have come a long way baby …..But we still have a longer way to go. It is time to distill the racial tensions down to the core to focus on solutions. As Einstein so eloquently put it, “Problems can not be solved at the same level they were created.”
So next time you dine out or stay at a hotel smile to this hard working immigrant whose only job security is their work ethic.
Next week I will bring you the facts according to research done by a Rice University Sociologist.
