Ramblings' Journal

A friend of mine went to the spot were Latino day laborers waited to be selected to do work. He tried for 2 weeks before giving up. He was never selected. Only the Latino men.

In the D.C. area, an INS raid wiped out the restaraunt help in the Arlington area and the Rockville Pike area. The workers were replaced by Black and white people willing to do the work.

On Maryland's Eastern Shore, Sen. Mulkulski is helping crab picking companies expand the immigrant pool. The companies can't find help because of the low pay. Whites and Blacks in the area either want more money, or the companies are cheating people.

Meanwhile, I see Black men working as garbage collectors. That's a rank job, but yet I see Black men doing it. I see Black women working in hotels as maids. I see Black people working as janitors.

Mexico is trying to hurt this country, and the President wants to help.

Wow.

Mexico is a more racist country than the US, and that's why they feel comfortable saying things like that. Fox, like many white Mexicans, also looks down on the black and brown Mexicans who end up crossing the border to work in America. The brown "Indios" in Mexico are like the Black people in America -- they are economically oppressed.

I find it ironic that conservatives are going nuts over this issue. It's not like the right-wing were ever the best friend of African Americans.

Oh yeah, Fox is also a right-winger. Ironic.

As an African-American male, who often feels the stings of prejudice and racism from our European - American brethren, it really is a sad testimony to the Republic of Mexico and their citizenry to make such a statment. American history shows that most states, especially in the South, were build on the back of Blacks. Laziness has never been, nor will be a trait of African Americans. I was insulted by his statement.

how come in what every major city you go to you dont see any hispanic homless but you see plenty of black homeless.

I just googled and got this site. Excellent.

Anywho, as a working class 24 year old Mexican/American (born in East Los), living in one of the perspective lands of goshen surrounding the Los Angeles area, and without a completed college education, I see the plight of of the immigrant workers here.

In general, they/we work exponentially harder (obviously not smarter) duties than most people around town, in their Luxus' (Lexi, heh). In the hills, where the valid people live, you see an army of old Chevy trucks, their occupant's hands busy in hot tar, putting roofs on the elite's castles. Dark skin, sweat, blood, sometimes death for the peanuts these immigrants (and uneducated, like me, are paid.

In Oxnard, and other places alike, a resemeblance of they days of the black cotton pickers exists. Various forms of cancers the only tangible pay off by the end of these Fruit Picker's career. And many, many more examples exist. But I'd leave it up to you to pick these out. (MENTAL UVAS, SI!)

I think that the comment Vicente Fox has made is most likely a racist remark, but not a bash to the black man only. Keep this in mind, the word black, in spanish, "negro," tends to be used as an alternative word for slave. I don't really want to go into a discussion about symantics, but let's just assume that he meant slave instead of African Americans: the intention of the comment is to simply imply that Mexican immigrant's legitimacy in the working world (we ARE the majority of service, and industrial workers) is of that of a slave was hundreds of years before. Meaning, the ILEGITIMACY of our work is what let's the wealthy stay wealthy by providing non living wages to the people who make the products we need/want.

There is steam roller behind Fox's words, but the people on top will continue to support the theory: Vicente Fox = Simple Racist. It's much, much more complicated than that. FIGURE IT OUT, 1+1=3!!!

PS, I WAS ONCE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMAN. THERE, THAT SHOULD PROVE I AINT RACIST, RIGHT?

I'm a US born slave descendant. My understanding of Fox's comment is this: Mexicans take jobs that "even blacks" (read "even the lowliest members of US society") won't take. Meaning that Mexican immigrants are truly the lowliest of all, despite all that dignity and capacity to work (humble campesinos toiling without complaint for wages that don't buy more than frijoles y tortillas, etc, etc.)

The thing is . . . he's right. But why single out the fact that slave descendants won't work for slave wages? No one in the US wants that kind of work. Many illegal immigrants take the work and live marginal lives (in the economic sense) because they see their work situations as temporary--not careers on which they hope to build lives in the states (though many stay and do just that). So they're willing to take jobs that pay wages so low they've got to live four guys in a one-bedroom apartment, and still work two (or more)jobs. Why would a slave descendant want to compete for slave wages? If you want US citizens to do the job, pay them, and they will come. And it can be done. Hey, pay restaurant workers more = hire more US workers = fewer restaurants = less obesity = fewer public charges for providing social services to low-wage US workers AND illegal immigrants because there will be less demand for their labor.

NOTE: I was sitting in a Mexican restaurnt a few years ago, eating my enchilada combo plate, and Black woman came in and asked the owner if he was hiring. He said yes, but he only hired people who spoke Spanish so that they could communicate with the other staff. She nodded in a sad, resigned way and left. I looked around me. All of the customers were English speakers, but all of the staff was Latino. "Hmm" I thought, "this is a new qualification for low-wage work; A reverse language barrier." Interestingly, the restauarant didn't survive, despite hiring staff to do work "even blacks won't do".

I have a simple question:

Why is a US president allowing another country's elected president 'make' US immigration policy with hurtful remarks like this?

Go beyond the obviously ignorant statement, and read between the lines. He's telling us that US Citizenship means nothing. We have no sovereignty, no rights to defend our borders, nothing.

It should be noted that we fought another 'border war' with 'outlaw bandits' who committed crimes against Americans outright - robbing banks, individuals, and raping women - and who then 'ran back across the border' where US law enforcement couldn't follow.

Until the US Government got involved and sent General Pershing (who later led US forces in France during WWI) to the Southwest, with orders to 'seek and destroy' those elements of Mexican Banditos' (gangs) that were committing these crimes.

The same argument applied then: the banditos were seen as 'heroes' because they brought wealth back from 'stolen lands occupied by the gringo' and distributed it among the poor - the 'Robin Hood' excuse.

Does no one see they're doing the same now? It's not an 'armed incursion', but it's still against the law.

The difference is, our own government is clearly 'owned' by the interests of big corporations that benefit from a supply of 'cheap labor', and for that reason, is unwilling to defend the sovereignty of the United States, or the value of American citizenship.

Old Italian saying: 'the fish rots from the head down'. It's time to get the 'corporate hoodlums' out of our own government, and elect a government that will defend our borders, enforce immigration laws, and restore meaning to American citizenship.

"I'm a US born slave descendant. My understanding of Fox's comment is this: Mexicans take jobs that "even blacks" (read "even the lowliest members of US society") won't take. Meaning that Mexican immigrants are truly the lowliest of all, despite all that dignity and capacity to work (humble campesinos toiling without complaint for wages that don't buy more than frijoles y tortillas, etc, etc.)"

Posted by: Comprendo at May 18, 2005 05:29 AM

I am a Black male who lives in the South and I agree with the statement above; I think it is a slap in the face to White America for having an obvious underclass for Fox to use as a comparison.

Mexicans of all people have absolutely no right to be racist. Mexicans have to risk their lives to cross the U.S. border and they have been doing that for decades. It goes to show you how smart a Mexican is because if I was a Mexican and I knew that my people have risk their lives for decades to cross the U.S. border and the U.S. still has not opened the border for my country to freely cross, that would have told me that the U.S. doesn't want us Mexicans to reside in their country. The U.S. Border is straight rejection to Mexicans and they still risk their lives to cross it that goes to show you the intelligence level a Mexican has. As far as us blacks (African Americans) our ancestors certainly did not ask to come here, our ancestors were bought here. So that is the difference between Blacks and Mexicans, us blacks we are Americans automatically, we built this country and no one has to question our citizenship. Mexicans on the other hand have to sneak over here because they are obviously not openly accepted here and they have not nearly contributed as much as blacks.

As far as the comment that was made by the Mexican Government stating that Mexican immigrants in the United States did jobs "not even blacks" would do. I agree with him because he is right that Mexicans do the jobs that blacks won’t because us blacks won’t accept less just to be accepted. We won’t be overworked and underpaid so since the Mexican government thought he was being sarcastic little does he know he wasn’t. What a hell of a representative!

I have to admit that I love when a person responds to a racist comment with another racist comment and doesn't think anything of the hypocrisy of his -- or in this case her -- action. Don't demean the reputation of other blacks by making comments like this because, whether you realize it or not, a lot of people take one person's opinion or statement as a reflection upon that person's race, religion, etc. As far as insulting the intelligence of a Mexican such as myself, Samantha, in my opinion, you can start doing that whenever blacks begin to score higher on standardized tests than Mexicans, and other Hispanics for that matter. I hope what I wrote did not sound racist, but facts are facts.

P.S. By the way the average Hispanic also outearns the average black by about $1,500 a year last time I checked.

Yeah, I agree - blacks were forced to live here; beaner were not. I wish we could do what the white ruling class of Mexico (like Fox) does: round all the dumb ass loser in the U.S. (especially the Mexicans) and ship their worthless asses up to Canada.

No matter what anybody says, my mexican people get the job done that's it, not having excuses for every little thing.

Dam do I have to say a lot on this topic so here it goes... lol.

First of all I'm going to write down some quotes that were just interesting to me:

"Mexico wants to hurt this country, and the President wants to help" -DarkStar

"Mexico is a more racist country than the US and thats why they feel comfortable saying that" "Brown indios in Mexico are like the black people in America they are economically oprresed" -LeftPersepctive

"Mexicans of all people have absolutely no right to be racist" "... that goes to show you the intelligence level that Mexicans have" -Samantha

"Yeah I agree blacks were forced to live hear; beaner were not." -Jman

Man where do I begin hahahaha I mean there is just so much hypochresy and ignorance in many comments posted here. I think I'll start off with the first comment made about Mexico trying to hurt this country. Yeah thats exactly what Mexicans are trying to do ya know? Since obviously we have nothing to do in Mexico we go to our meeting room, eat tacos and tamales, and brain storm on how to ruin this country. Also illegals take jobs that Americans wont take. Bad illegals bad! Ok on a seriouse not how the hell is Mexico trying to hurt this country? I agree with ya'll that the comment Vicente Fox made is totally un-acceptable but he did ask for an apalogy and did recognize how bad it was. What are people so prideful now a days that an apology wont be accepted? How sad if you ask me.

I also heard a lot of crap of "illegals stealing our jobs". Ok then hum if illegals are stealing americans jobs then why are they there in the first place? And if its such a big of a concern then why aren't Americans taking up the jobs so that illegals wont take them? I mean how come Americans dont start taking up jobs in the fields picking fruit under the hot sun. Work in factories where the conditions are horrible and the boss exploits you. You know why u dont see that? Cuz seriously Americans don't want those jobs they just pisst off and being racist cuz they are seeing more "brown people" in their neighborhoods. Then of u treat illegals and see them as if they were the ultimate enemy. I mean u guys are taking out ur anger and blaming them for everything when in reality the people to blamme (if you want to blame some one cuz here in america we like to blame other groups other than our own for the prob lems going on in our communities and our lives) should be the corporations for hiring "illegals" and the mexican government for being sooooooo stupid and incompitant that they cant take care of their citizens (yes I'm mexican and i despise the mexican government for being so stupid).

Its evident that there is a lot of hate towards illegal immigrants, but before u guys critique them try to understand why they are doing it. Many illegals from Mexico (or whatever country of origina they are from) leave their country because they know that if they stay there they will sure not survive and die sooner then expected. Either that or live under the worst conditions imaginable. I mean the ghettos here in the United States is luxury compared to the living conditions found in Mexico and other third world countries. People do anything and everything to ensure the safety and well being for their family and if its to leave for another country legally or illegaly through a very dangerouse border to make sure that ur family has one more plate of food so be it. And I'm 100% sure that if the tables were turned and the U.S. was the third world country and Mexico was the richest in the world then a lot of people from the U.S. would be going to mexico illegaly to ensure ur family's well being. And don't say no cuz you would. Just dont critique something u have no idea about. U only see "illegals" coming here and getting jobs but u have no idea why. A lot of us say were chrisitians and follow jesus but yet some christians are the ones who bash illegals the most. i dont get that. the only christians that i've seen help out illegals are catholics other then that nobody. but i could be wrong.

I also read this other comment written by LeftPerspective saying that Mexico is more racist then the United States but then compares american racism with mexican racism. So how can Mexico be more racist if you compare it to the U.S.? Still the idea of Mexico being more racist is funny. I mean the united states had massiv slavery, commited genocide against native americans, stole their land, created words such as "nigger", were racially segregated and still are for that fact in many areas but Mexico is more racist. Were more racist when in mexico the spanish, indians, and black slaves (yes there is such thing of afro-mexicans and mexicans being of african descent of course some more then others) that were brought to mexico all intermarried freely and they were taught they were part of la raza cosmica ,the cosmic race; where they were taught that they were the perfect mix of races and that they should be proud to be who they were and they were thanked for bringing into the world more mixed children. Yaeh bad bad mexicans and their horrid racism.

Then I read some other comment on how "mexicans had no rights to be racist" yet that same person mad a bad commented on Mexican intelligence. Hmmm how strange protesting a racist comment with another racist comment. Interesting method to use.
Well unlike u i think that illegals are actually pretty smart to come here illegaly or legaly for that matter because if they dont leave there is no hope for they and their family. So its a smart choice to do whatever it takes to help ur family.If you didn't know (samantha) during the era of slavery there were black slaves that immigrated to mexico to escape that harsh reality of their lives. I'm not saying that it was a massive immigration but there was immigration. How would have liked them if the Meixcan government classified them as illegal and started to deport them back to the U.S. to become slaves again. Dont u think that thats extremely unfair? Illeglas in the united states aren't coming to the U.S. cuz of slavery but the mentality is he same "leave or have no future". And thats what i think everybody should keep in mind.

Another thing that read hear often was that unlike mexicans, blacks were forced to live here and therefor they became U.S. citizens. ok first of all our ancestors were on this continent and in some parts of what is today th United States way before any black slave, european, or asian ever landed on this continent. Second if u all dont know about the treat of guadalupe here it is. the treaty of guadalupe gave southwestern states like california, utah, nevada, texas, etc to the U.S.. So a part of what was once Mexico now became the United states and all the Mexicans who were living in that area became U.S. citizens automatically. So dont anybody be talking like if all Mexicans immigrated here and or are illegal because thats not the fucking case. In fact only about 25-30% of all latinos including Mexican, Cuban, Colombian, etc are illegal. And just to add another fact in on here the treaty stated that any land owned by Mexicans who now were part of the United States because of the treaty got to keep their land and be sole owners of it. Of course the united states didn't keep their word took out that part of the treaty and started stealing the land of the Mexican land owners eventhough they were promised that the land would be theirs. Kinda funny aint it?

One more thing before I conclude, I also dont want to hear any white person say "this is my country and illegals get out". Bull shit. Eurapeans came here, befriended the native americans, killed many of them up to the point of extinction in some cases, stole THEIR land, and brought black slaves to build it up. So dont be sayin that b.s. no more all right? The real owners of this land and in my opinion the only TRUE AND REAL AMERICANS are the NATIVE AMERICANS. NO ONE ELSE!

To conlcude i would like to say that just because the Mexican president made a racist comment (which he later apalogized for) doesn't make every Mexican a racist. Yes there are some racist Mexicans but not all likewise with blacks, whites, asians, whatever. The ideology of "since one person did it everybody from that group is/are the same" is somehitng we've been trying to fight here in the untied states especially those who are of color. But then we are the bigest hypochrites when we have that ideology while making a point or presenting an argument. I also hate it when blacks and latinos fight each other instead of work together. I believe that if latinos and blacks worked together then there is no end to the things we can do to better our communities and how much damage we can do to the white supremacy here in america.
I'm just saying lets not be hypochrites and to not just listen to ur side but also be willing to learn and hear what the other side is. Some of u might think i'm un american or un-patriotich but i dont care. I care more abou being humane and knowing that these people "illegals" ,or whatever you like to call them, are humans and they need our help. Lets not be prideful and help the human race out. Everybody in the world has gotten help somehow to better themselves. How bout we be their help? Some will agree and some may not with my view points but different viewpoints is what makes america the country that it is.

I feel that it is racists to say that hispanics do jobs that even blacks won't do. I am of black and hispanic descent and want only the best for my cultures but it is those who think like that that make it hard for both of them.

Yo me siento que soy racistas para decir que hipanos hacen los trabajos que aun negros no haran. Soy de bajada y necesidad negras e hispanas N el mejor para mis culturas pero soy los que piensan como que eso lo hace duro para embos.

Yo me siento que soy racistas para decir que hipanos hacen los trabajos que aun negros no haran. Soy de bajada y necesidad negras e hispanas N el mejor para mis culturas pero soy los que piensan como que eso lo hace duro para embos.

Jatoria your spanish SUCKS as much as my english lol.

Im a Mexican, live in Mexico, never gone to U. S. and Vicente Fox has a BIG mouth; but you have to understand that is not easy to know if you been a racist if there is not so much of a variety here, when we go out to the streets everybody speaks the same, look more or less the same, maybe there is ignorance in the president words but not hate, at all.

Besides many people leave to U. S. as a kind of tradition, For example: I live in the state of Mexico of most inmigrants (GUANAJUATO), and many of my friends have already they father sendin DOLLARS to live well here and yet they leave just because dont want to study and become a person with succes in his own country, I think they are the ones that become gangs and stuff, if you work hard believe me you will be someone, my father was very very very poor but he got a... (that money that school give for your good performance i dont remember the word) anyway we have two houses of our own, im studing for Engineer in Comunications, and he and mom are "just" elementary school teachers.

I just want you to know situation in Mexico before debate about it, we are not as screwed up as you think, if you work hard and use your brain you move on just like in any other place in this world. Gracias Nos vemos

and we only racist with persons from HONDURAS, EL SALVADOR and GUATEMALA jaja sorry mexican inside joke

I think your way of react (American way)is contagious because a few months in the TV news politicians were talking about a videogame in wich President Bush was kidnnaped in...MEXICO CITY!!!! jaja.
And they wanted to buried this game in the highest mountain and burn it because of the representation of the city and shit. but why dont they do something about the insecurity and change the image of that godforsaken city of Hell?, Well i think we are picking a few new "population control" moves from our neighboor in the north.

Which racial group does vincente fox belong to?
Mestizo,white,or native american.

He is a pure white guy running mexico which is sad.Most mexicans are either mestizo or native american,and yet some white guy is running that country.In my opinion only mestizo hispanics should count as minorities.Why dont you guys consider yourselves to be 2 or more races?You are half white-half native indian aren't you?

If Vicente Fox is white or purple does not matter he was born in Mexico grow up in Mexico, me and my mom knew him when he was gobernator of Guanajuato (where I live) and visit her school, and he speak like a mexican (we dont speak spanish like suposed to be, like in spain).

Many people regrets that he is our president but not for some reason as stupid as been white (wich i dont think he is). RACE IS NOT AN ISSUE HERE.

The first time i meet an African american person it was in the university, he was from Texas and i feel weird only the first 5 minutes of knowing him, then was normal, except because i look like a kid next to him.

John, you say is sad that he was president and white because Mexicans are not whites SO...

Are you saying that a black person could never be president of US because that will be sad?

wow i can not believe some of the thing that some of you are posting on this websit. Ok i know that everyonre has his/she own right to believe what you want. But have you ever put your self in the shoe of these people trying to come to the u.s. these people leave their family they life everything for the same thing that your ancestors left their lives for and dont tell me that this didnt happen in your family because the only way that it didnt happen some way down your blood line is if your native american. these people come to the u.s. thinking about how their going to make their lives better and all they is a country that treats them like trash instead of helping them they send them back where they came from. The go though the trouble of putting there life on the line and all u can say is send them back. ok what vicent said might have been politically wrong to say and i'll give ya'll that but to say that these people don't deceive to be here is wrong they work hard and get practiclly nothing in return. There are a lot of people in this country that don't know what they have. The whole reason they bother to go through what they do to get here is because people make America seem like such a wonderful place and all they want is to be able to give their family a better life. What they dont see is how hard it is and what they have to give up. But most of the people writting about how they want these imigrants out of the country know that. they know all the trouble it is to leave their family behind. they know how it feels to know that they might die on the way to America, the promise land. They know that to get a visa it can take years.

Wow, I can not believe some of the thing that some of you are posting on this website. Ok I know that everyone has his/she own right to believe what you want, but have you ever put your self in the shoe of these people trying to come to the United States. These people leave their family; they leave their life everything for the same thing that your ancestors left their lives for. Don’t tell me that this didn’t happen in your family because the only way that it didn’t happen is if you’re Native American. These people come to the U.S. thinking about how their going to make their lives better and all they find is a country that treats them like trash. Instead of helping them, you rather send them back where they came from. They go though the trouble of putting there life on the line and all you can say is send them back. Ok what Vicente said might have been politically incorrect, I'll give you all that, but to say that these people don't deceive to be here is wrong they work hard and get practically nothing in return. These people are not here to rob, steal, or kill there here to work and no matter what anyone says there are jobs out there that most people won’t even think twice about doing. I know most of you wouldn’t dare work picking grapes of practically nothing. So who do you think is going to do it? I know you’re not going to want to do it! There are a lot of people in this country that don't know what they have. The whole reason they bother to go through what they do to get here is because people make America seem like such a wonderful place and all they want is to be able to give their family a better life. What they don’t see is how hard it is and that they won’t get anything in return. But most of the people writing about how they want these immigrants out of the country know this. They know how heartbreaking it is to leave their family behind. They know how it feels to know that they might die on the way to America, ‘the promise land’. They also know that part of this country was theirs to begin with. They know that to get a visa it can take years. They know the dreams that people have each and everyday of being able to come too America and doing something with their lives. I bet most of them don’t, but I know that most of them know that the dream that these people are searching for will not be found, at least not in America. Now imagine that all of a sudden your wish came true and all the illegal immigrants did leave. How are all those jobs going to be filled? How are these businesses going to stay open see as how now they have to pay their employees a higher salary? All these people want is to accomplish the ‘American Dream’ instead of worrying about people for are trying to make a decent living how about we all turn our focus on though who don’t? If you got as heated as me over this topic because you felt like I did, or if you got heated because of the total opposite please please e-mail me I would love to hear your excuse.