by Steve Jones, Corvallis
Barb, I lived in Arizona.
Barbara McNey’s appalled at ICE protests. I’m appalled she feels that way. If the situation has devastated the southwest, why is ICE then terrorizing Minnesota, Maine, Oregon, and Froid, Montana? EVERYONE, in their hearts knows this ICE terror is wrong. C’mon! Arresting 5 year olds?!
I was stationed at Ft. Huachuca, AZ in the late 70’s. Going back and forth across the border line was common and mutual. I had great times on the San Pedro river. I took my wife back there 40 years later, because I wanted her to see where me and my buddies had enjoyed ourselves. On the way down to the river we passed two javelina hunters. One said, “You got a gun?” I said, “I don’t. Why?” “Illegals,” he said. We just continued past. When we got to the river what we saw was “appalling,” “devastating.” The dirt path was hard as concrete. No one was around. However, there were diapers, water bottles, empty formula packs, a stroller, single shoes, backpacks. Did I say diapers? Diapers were everywhere. There’s a better word than “appalling” or “devastating” and that’s desperation.
Barb, your hyperbolic examples of crime, homelessness, and crappy healthcare all caused by illegal immigrants certainly raises the fear factor. We should not fear the act of crossing a line, but the society that compels anyone to deny a desperate person basic aid.
Kevin says
We all do know that Illegal Immigration is wrong. Aside from that let’s just fix the initial law that has been broken and ignored. Problem and blamed solved!
Bill says
The violent crime rate of illegals is less than the rate of U.S. citizens. Look at the research.
Barb McNey says
You lived in Arizona in the 1970’s when the people who came across the border worked here and sent their money back home to Mexico and went home themselves when their work was done. They didn’t cause a whole lot of problems. The people coming over today are not the same kind of people. I see in the news every day where an illegal raped, assaulted, burglarized or killed an American Citizen. Maybe the news you watch doesn’t tell you this, as I have looked at mainstream news and they are not reliable. Also, I do understand desperation as my ancestors were indentured servants who came here from Ireland and were starved by the Brits and Americans. But we assimilated and did not burn the American flag or expect Americans to speak with an Irish brogue. And it’s the ranchers who have owned their land for hundreds of years who have to clean up the mess left by those crossing illegally, or are you going to do it? When illegals start camping out in your yard, intimidating your family or using your emergency room, remember my editorial opinion..
Gomez says
Barb. You are stereotyping all those that are undocumented based on the actions of a few. Of course, anyone that is here & committing crimes needs to be arrested, charged, tried & then deported. But as others have pointed out, those who are undocumented are actually less likely to commit crime than are natural born, US citizens.
What news sources do you trust to bring you unbiased, fact based news?