<p>Basically illegal immigration is what many of our ancestors did until immigration laws were passed...</p>
<p>Besides, it's only because you lucked out that you weren't born in a situation so horrible that you had to leave your home country for better work.</p>
<p>And anyways, many "illegals" do the jobs you would never do... Unless of course you like bending dow day after day in hot, dusty fields picking produce and getting paid bare minimum wage, while people just glare and sometimes SPIT upon you. Many of my friends' relatives deal with that sort of treatment, so it's not like I don't know what I'm talking about.</p>
<p>They're not harming you, so what do you have against them? </p>
<p>Oh yeah, I forgot- you seem hate those people who simply have a different pattern of guanine, cytosine, thymine and adonine in their chromasones. Feel free to beg to differ.</p>
<p>And I'm still waiting for that enlightenment...</p>
<p>that is a really dumb argument. our ancestors weren't illegal immigrants. Explain to me how the vast majority of American citizens came here illegally. What law were they breaking in coming here? No one's saying that people can't come to this country to work. They just can't come illegally.</p>
<p>The only reason why Americans won't do the jobs illegals do is because they're so severely undercut by an entire class that will literally work for penuts and because it's been portrayed as...guess what...menial labor not fitting a citizen. And guess what you're doing in your post. The same goddamn thing. Do you really think that if all the illegals left we would just stop eating lettuce? The horrible conditions linked to those jobs are a direct product of illegal immigration. when employers realized that their entire workforce was easily replacable, desperate for any work, and breaking the law in the process, they saw an entire population that they could exploit. the process is very similar to what happened in new york and othere citys with regards to immigrants around the turn of the century and sweatshops. Business owners could abuse their workers and pay them next to nothing because there was always another immigrant to fill their shoes. Whats more, if the illegals ever did what legal immigrants can do now: go to the government and report the abuses, they could be deported. We're not offering the illegal immigrants the same land of opportunity that our ancestors enjoyed (which was hard enough as it was); we're offering them slave labor. You might say that this is a perfect argument against illegal immigration laws, but completely unlocking our borders would only make things worse. These abuses are an obvious impact of unmitigated immigration, illegal or not. it's a simple matter of supply and demand.</p>
<p>actually, illegal immigration does harm us. it decreases employment and wages. if all the illegals left the country, we'd be forced to make up the lost labor with our own workforce. This time, the supply of labor would be limited AND the fact that all workers would be legal would force employers to shape up their act. wages would rise dramatically too.</p>
<p>Sempitern555, Your post is so insulting, I hardly know where to begin. I am southern and I am conservative. But - Bible toting-no, gun loving-no, xenophobic-no, homophobic-no, racist - definitely not. In fact the only true prejudice I have is against so called "intellectual" snobs who believe they can characterize an entire region populated with many different types of individuals with different ideologies as "Nazis"</p>
<p>Untilted, yes, some Republican racists hate Asians. Some Democratic racists hate Asians. Some Libertarian racists hate Asians. Some Communist racists hate Asians. Racism, unfortunately, isn't limited to one political party.</p>
<p>If you had close relatives waiting in line to get into this country, while Mexicans play a big ole game of capture the flag at the border, you wouldn't be so sympathetic to people who cut the line to become a resident of this country.</p>
<p>"Sempitern555, Your post is so insulting, I hardly know where to begin. I am southern and I am conservative. But - Bible toting-no, gun loving-no, xenophobic-no, homophobic-no, racist - definitely not. In fact the only true prejudice I have is against so called "intellectual" snobs who believe they can characterize an entire region populated with many different types of individuals with different ideologies as "Nazis"</p>
<p>Thank you very little."</p>
<p>Of course there are some who are conservatives on par with eisenhower, however, that breed of conservative is very rare. You cannot disagree with me however on the fact that in the 1970's following the Civil Rights Reform in the 1960's the southern racist democrats became republicans. The republicans have been using racism for their purposes ever since 1968 with Nixon's Southern Strategy.</p>
<p>Now, however, it is no longer socially acceptable to be racist towards blacks. So, southern republican racists have found other "undesirable" groups to push southern racists to the ballot box. The anger against the following groups usually drives racists to the polls: latinos, gays, smart people, liberals,etc etc.</p>
<p>Fyi I am going to be in the south next year as well, specifically, in Durham, NC. When I visited I found the vast majority of people to be nice. However there were a few people whose tone of voice and body language changed when they realized I wasnt one of them. I am a minority amongst minorities but my outer appearance is very waspish. I was chatting with a waittress at a diner when I happened to let my last name drop, she inevitably asked me where I was from and then proceeded to harangue me about illegal immigrants even though I am a legal immigrant and a naturalized citizen. It is these close minded racists which the republican party has taken advantage of for an electoral advantage.</p>
<p>true but the percentage of the population that characterizes themself as "very liberal" is 1% whereas the percentage of the population that characterizes themselves as "very conservative" is 15%</p>
<p>simply put, there are a lot more racist closeminded bigots than there are communists or socialists</p>
<p>Few characterize themselves as "very liberal" because they do not want to be seen as "very liberal". They want to be seen as closer to mainstream.</p>
<p>Many deeply religious people characterize themselves as "very conservative." They are not "bigots." I would describe my family as very conservative on social issues (not including my generation), yet they vote Democrat in every election. My parents and their brothers and sisters are Indian immigrants.</p>
<p>I characterize myself as conservative, but I am not religous at all. So I can hardly be characterized as the "religious right". I am also not a bigot by any stretch of the imagination. I am what you would consider a WASP, but my sister in law, who I adore with all of my heart is hispanic. I associate with many other "conservatives" who are very much like I am. You are practicing the same bigotry that you are railing against. Perhaps you should take a long look in the mirror and see if the face that looks back is as open minded as you think it is.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Now, however, it is no longer socially acceptable to be racist towards blacks. So, southern republican racists have found other "undesirable" groups to push southern racists to the ballot box. The anger against the following groups usually drives racists to the polls: latinos, gays, smart people, liberals,etc etc.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>I have lived in the South all of my life. I have met one racist convervative. Ever. And if anger against those groups supposedly drives racists to the polls, the same could be said about Democrats and Christians, pro-life advocates, and gun advocates. Absurd? Of course. Very few people on either side of the political spectrum vote solely in response to prejudice. Your stereotypical assumptions, while possibly based on your experience, are far from universally accurate, and are as close-minded as the stereotype you decry.</p>
<p>I respectfully disagree with most of your post. I too have lived in the South all my life and have never met anyone who was blatantly racist but I have met people have voted based solely on misconceptions and prejudices. The majority of people in my town and my predominantly black community voted for Bush because of his discriminatory policies against gays.</p>
<p>I am a conservative Christian, but I am not at all racist. In fact, my closest friends are from Vietnam, India, Ethiopia, and China. I can count the number of "Christian" racists I have personally met on one hand. They do exist, but their numbers are small. Those in the minority are the most vocal. I've met racists of nearly every race and religion. It is as ridiculous to say that all republicans are racist as it is to say that all the poor are lazy, or all liberals are communists. Anyway, racism is completely incompatible with Christianity and my political philosophy. I believe in treating all people with equal respect, and judging no one based on the color of their skin, national origin, etc. It is unfortunate that a vocal minority gives Christians a bad name, because most are adamantly opposed to racism.</p>
<p>
[quote]
true but the percentage of the population that characterizes themself as "very liberal" is 1% whereas the percentage of the population that characterizes themselves as "very conservative" is 15%
[/quote]
Sources? Last time I saw, the numbers were not nearly this skewed.
[quote]
I have lived in the South all of my life. I have met one racist convervative. Ever.
[/quote]
No offense to you, but if you really live in the SOUTH, you are either lying or are extraordinarily sheltered and do not interact with the common people very often. Don't jump to the conclusion that I am an outsider trying to characterize you, because I am a lifelong Southerner who lives in the "beltbuckle" of the bible belt. I have met southerners all my life and I am a realist and most are conservative and there is a minority that is racist. Most of the racists are definately closet ones though. I have oft had discussions in private with people when they suddenly bring up a racist thought. Be realistic. Don't try to exculpate the South unnecessarily. Trust me, I love the South and am extraordinarily angry at the bad press that it is given, but truly - be realistic.
[quote]
Religion has caused more hate, violence, and deaths than any other entity. It's rather ironic.
[/quote]
How so? Inexplicably, the Crusades will be brought up which gives me a perfect method to refute your assertion. You might consider revising it to saying religigous extremists and people full of hatred have caused more hate violence and deaths. Let me give you an example. If someone perpetrates an act inconsistant with religious teachings (such as many crusaders, Templars etc..., did during the crusades) then they are no longer representative of the religion due to the fact that their actions are not representative of the ideologies of the religion in question. You cannot blame the religion, you can however blame individual people who say they are representing a religion.</p>