It is time now, time to move towards community solutions for Prince William County. I have said this before, we will not fix the immigration reform debate from a local standpoint. There are many diverse views on illegal immigration AND immigration, but at some point, we have to come together and find what will work in our own communities, our own neighborhoods. Let’s use this thread to talk about community solutions, ones that WE can implement here, in Prince William County, solutions that will unite us as opposed to divide us. Part of the solution must involve the Latino community, so I hope that people will come up with some innovative ideas. Please, I urge everyone, leave the name calling behind and instead, focus on positive solutions. Some of the issues that need to be addressed are day laborer sites and a more dignified location for people to look for work, overcrowding issues, language barriers, community healing, immigration education, and a host of other issues that need to be addressed. I know I haven’t named them all, so please, feel free to add to the issues and solutions within the thread. I am hoping this will foster some great dialogue and bring us out of a “cyber world” and into “real life” idea implementation!
From Cindy B on a previous thread:
If you want to do more than just debate, take part in a webinar being hosted by the Center for Voter Deliberation of No Va (www.cvdnva.org) on July 9 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
This fall the Center plans to convene one or two pilot circles, of up to twenty people each, for an afternoon on one or more Saturdays in October. The goal for the pilot circle(s) will be to attract a diverse group of Prince William County participants, i.e., to include people who have concerns about the problems of immigration from the immigrant and non-immigrant sides, and who seek a way to discuss and do something about those problems.
So either register for the webinar if you’d like to be in on the planning, or go to the website to leave an e-mail that you’d like to be in the pilot study circles in the fall. The more diverse the viewpoints, the more valuable the study circles will be.
Since the article about Manassas City neighborhood services director Kisha Wilson-Sogunro and her young volunteers appeared in the WaPo, she has had many people call and ask about how they can help their community instead of calling in complaints. As the young volunteers made their way through neighborhoods, people sent their children out to help as well. And then they helped. Kisha might be a good starting point for suggestions for cleaning up impacted neighborhoods. Maybe she’d be willing to write a short list of suggestions though I imagine she has a full schedule.
I think that because the children came here with open minds and a desire to help, they contacted the folks that needed help. They didn’t look at a messy yard and judge the people. They asked if the homeowners needed help in removing the messes and then helped to remove the mess. Maybe it’s time to get younger people more involved. They seem to carry less baggage and they have the energy to get things done. (And they shame all the folks who just sit back and b!tch.) There must be several youth groups that could be willing to tackle some of these neighborhood problems.
I think there probably need to be a few well publicized seminars on immigration to dispel some of the info that circulates out there. I’d include spokespeople from the federal government as well as from universities and the business communities.
“we will not fix the immigration reform debate from a local standpoint.” – WRONG. We have made IMMENSE progress in making PWC a more lawful place, with NO support from either political party at the State or Federal level. Turns out communities CAN choose to enforce the law.
“solutions that will unite us as opposed to divide us” – IMPOSSIBLE. I will resist Amnesty or any type of reward for lawbreaking, as will most Americans, and that won’t change. It’s as if you’re proposing to give free housing next door to average Americans to ex-cons after letting them out of prison, and expecting us to pay for it (or subsidize it, more accurately). And some minority of you can’t agree to enforce current law, and you have the elitists on both parties riling you up and helping to falsely define the issue. The division between us may get much worse, it sure won’t get better until US law gets enforced.
“Part of the solution must involve the Latino community, so I hope that people will come up with some innovative ideas. ” Here’s one. Stop pretending that all Latino citizens support Amnesty or reward for lawbreaking, as many do not. And stop sympathizing with and providing any credence to those who do. Let’s communicate the fact that America is a nation of laws, which must be respected – as opposed to communicating the racial victim mentality so evident for example on Fernandez’ sign.
“Some of the issues that need to be addressed are day laborer sites and a more dignified location for people to look for work, ” Only for legal workers.
“overcrowding issues” Enforce US law. PS overcrowding is in and of itself a result of illegal immigration and the only real solution is to provide disincentive for illegal immigration.
“language barriers” Encourage use of English and for God’s sake don’t provide government sanction for use of other languages. Drivers liscence tests in Spanish? Asinine.
“community healing” will never happen until average people see their govenmnet respond to their needs, not those of the cheap labor pool.
“immigration education” Teach everyone, even the youngest schoolkids, that America is a nation of laws, and these laws are not jokes.
Look this issue straight in the face, stop pretending there is some genteel solution. People are coming over here from nations with lesser standards of living, and propogating them into our cities. It is in some sense bringing us closer to third-world conditions. We can absorb some number of legal immigrants but not nearly so many as are coming in. It contributes towards a wage gap and degradation of life for lower and middle class Americans, and is only tolerated because it drives wages down.
There is NO PLACE in our communities – save certain liberal jurisdictions – for these people. They should go back home.
So long as they stay, overcrowding and conflict and friction will predominate, and poverty will rise in America, ands wages will stagnate. The rich will get richer, if that’s what you want.
Anger management seminars…they need to be incorporated into any solution.
Imagine 5 years ago someone says to you “Hey I know how we can increase the poverty rate in America, reduce wages for working people, increase the gap between rich and poor, introduce a massive strain on hospitals and on health care prices, introduce a large strain on local school systems, and create a subculture of working poor who speak their own language and can’t even communicate effectively with us or with our law enforcement system”.
Would you have said “Let’s go for it! I think it’ll promote a greater sense of inclusion and diversity in my community and make me feel good about myself”.
If your are going to make a Day Labor site, you proablly better do it with complete private funding. Herndon’s Day Labor model was really good, it’s flaw was in using tax dollars to fund it. the general perception in the community is that, though they may disagree with helping Illegal Immigrants in general, if it’s a interfaith or private group doing the help, there is really nothing that can be done to stop it.
The Herndon Model was set up with the communities best interest in mind because an Organized site…
-Keeps workers off the streets.
-Allows you to screen workers to seperate those who want to work from those who want to scam.
-Allows law enforcement to obtain information on the general mood of the working community and perhaps information on the criminal element within it.
-provides insurance that workers are not cheated.
The Herndon site was run by a charity organization. The general site manager had served high up in the U.S. Peace Core and could speak about three diffrent languages but his deputy managers were picked from amoung the workers themselves. There was a shelter for bad weather and a trailer that served as a classroom for learning safety and English skills for those who wanted help during the lull.
The Worker Center was equal oppertunity, Nationality was never in question, no matter who you are, if you needed day work, you were allowed to use the center.
I was involved in the early discussions about the nature of the site so i know a little bit about the logistics of how the Herndon Model was to opperate in general.
Unfortunatly, the town made it very difficult to find a perfect site. Some of the best sites were zoned for upper scale development. Ironically some of the origional sites they denied us are still overgrown empty lots to this day. The Local churches who were interested in voulenteering space were in the middle of either historic districts or resedential areas so the zoning regulations usurped their good intentions. In the end the town agreed on a location that was doomed to fail. It was in a location far from the working class neighborhoods, it was hard to enter and leave in an organized fasion and to top it off, the now defunct “Herndon Minutemen” were out there with their cameras on a daily basis, then dwindled to a once a monthly basis. The Police depertment really disliked them and the DHS thought they were a joke. The IRS accecpted their photos and reports but never took action, but despite all this, many contractors avoided the worker center.
I know a PWC worker center, even privately funded and located on private property with ample parking in an industrial district would still draw protest, but I would like to point out, we are not living in 1999 anymore, many people who at one time thought themselves an unstoppable success are finding themselves on the street. G-d forbid, but it could happen to you and me. These centers should not be designed to only cater to a Latino Working Community, they should be a place where everyone can find quick low-skill jobs. These should be places where, if circumstances were tough, you would not feel uncomfortable being there. Fixing our economy will require an army of dedicated workers at all levels, and our Army runs fine on a don’t ask don’t tell policy. The immigration status should not be an issue, the dedication to working an honest job should be the prime focus. The bad elements in society will become more marginalized and leave the community on their own accord.
Those who really want to help build, maintain and live in a strong community will remain and proove themselves…you just got to give them a chance. Herndon never did, but you could succede where we failed.
I’ll leave securing the borders to someone else, but this is my opinion on how to deal with an awkward situation in the near future.
-R
Rick, we made PWC an embarrassing place of intolerance, fear, and fiscal ruin.
1. Censored, YES! Anger management calsses.
2. My church offers a course called “Non-violent communication.” I’m taking it. It will help diffuse anger. It will not reduce actual threats, I am afraid, because people who threaten usually do not want to remedy the situation. They have other issues.
3. Pick up trash.
4. Call the Prince William Clean Community Council (702) 792-6272 and ask how you can help.
5. Volunteer to teach ESOL courses.
6. Smile at people in the streets and say hello no matter what language you think they might speak.
7. Don’t “report” people automatically or based on suspicion of immigrant status. Talk to them first. If the situation isn’t remedied, THEN call.
8. Don’t participate in BVBL or other anger-based, hate-based collections of people. If you think this is a hate-based blog, then don’t participate. Do your own positive thing.
9. Write letters to your local and state reps. Give them ideas for immigration reform. Do so logically. Give reasons why you think your ideas will work and what SPECIFIC problems you are trying to address.
10. “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” No one said it would be easy, especially when you think you are combating what you might consider “evil.” Sometimes you can “love thy neighbor” by ignoring them. Other times, as we see here, agree to disagree or just discuss logically even if you do not agree. TRY to control anger. Again, this isn’t easy. I know!
11. Try to clear up miscommunications. People might take this as your attempt to justify yourself, but state, “I am trying to clear up miscommunications.” If they cannot accept that, then it’s their problem.
12. Don’t generalize. Don’t use words like “all” and “every one” and the sweeping “they” or “those people.”
” think there probably need to be a few well publicized seminars on immigration to dispel some of the info that circulates out there.”
Unity in the Community
in collaboration with
George Mason University
Manassas Campus
University Life
presents
Crossing the Line
An Immigration Film Series
at the
George Mason University Manassas Campus, Verizon Auditorium
Sat, Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m. Da Nadie — Prepare for the journey as an unknown, a nothing, no one. Prepare to leave everything behind and travel alone. Prepare to face the same intimidation when you cross into the United States–if you live through it.
Sun, Aug. 3, 2:30 p.m. Letters From the Other Side — A much-needed examination of the collateral damage of illegal immigration, sensitive. effective and emotionally potent. John Anderson, Variety
Sat, Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m. Golden Venture — A shipload of immigrants runs aground creating a media circus and symbol of a growing national concern over undocumented immigration.
Sun, Aug. 10, 2:30 p.m. Ramchand Pakistani — A true story of the accidental crossing of the Pakistan-Indian border, two members of a Pakistani Hindu family belonging to the ‘untouchable’ (Dalit) caste, and the extraordinary consequences of this unintended action on the lives of a woman, a man, and their son..
Sat, Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m. Alienated: Undocumented Immigrant Youth —
Undocumented immigrant youth face the challenges of life after high school without options for legalized work or college.
and Beyond the Border — Latinos seeking a better life have migrated to Kentucky, for low-paying jobs in the tobacco, manufacturing and horse racing industries. As Latino communities swell, so does the xenophobia and discrimination they face.
Sun, Aug. 17, 2:30 p.m. Under the Same Moon — The reunion of 9-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario, who works as an illegal domestic in Los Angeles.
Sat, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m. Farmingville — The shocking hate-based attempted murders of two Mexican day laborers catapult a small Long Island town into national headlines,
Sun, Aug. 24, 2:30 p.m. To Be Announced
Following the films, join discussions facilitated by students from George Mason’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution.
Rick
You know as well as anybody that the jobs being ‘taken’ by illegal immigrants are not the jobs that effect the lower middle classes. When were the middle classes picking fruit, working in meat processing or cleaning dishes?
Your anger is misplaced and your argument ill-founded.
13. Fiddle while Rome burns
uk visa, actually my mother-in-law used to work as a janitor, a family friend used to work in landscaping, I know people who worked in meat processing plants in the past, and I myself worked at McDonalds when i was a teenager. All job paths more or less gone in areas like ours where illegal aliens dominate the lower paying jobs.
Well, here’s one way we can ALL help the county out. Every neighborhood including the “gated/golf” communities have FORECLOSURED properties sitting empty. The county has a form that you can fax to Neighborhood Services. I am attaching the link for those of us that live near these vacant properties. I’ve witnessed squatters for months, and then finally the police came and took away a prostetute, her “john”, and her “pimp” if you will.
We must all take an active and positive roll in our communities here’s one of many ways to start. Please, take the time to help the county out with our 7,000+ foreclosure properties in the county.
Here’s the link for the Neighborhood “Eyes and Ears” Checklist for Vacant Houses.
http://www.pwcgov.org/docLibrary/PDF/008268.pdf
KG, thanks for the information on the film series.
Thanks for the link, Chris.
Rick, it seems to me that you feel that Hispanic People are genetically prone to be criminals and only survive in third world climates… Is that true, is that what you believe?
You also seem to be implying the USA is a cut above all other nations, the most technologically advanced, the most moral, the most wealthiest, But all of this technology and consumables are produced outside of the U.S. Do we have the infrastructure now to imediatly cut off all trade relations with the rest of the world and produce our own technology and materials?
No we don’t, those are factories that have to be built and staffed by our citizens. Do you know how to build a microchip? A capacitor? do you know how to assemble a mother board? neither do most Americans, they will have to be taught.
Are you willing to pick apples 10 hours a day at $7.00 an hour, or are you willing to pay $10.00 per apple at the grocery store so an American worker can get and American wage?
And lastly, would you be proud of your son or daughter if they spent the rest of their lives working on an assembly line inspecting the plastic red handles of “Dora the Explorer” lunch boxes, even though the job you worked was much better than theirs?
Keeping America running on her current rate of consumption and living the current standard of American living is impossible, on an internal workforce alone is immposible. We can have a strong internal economy, but it will come at the price of loosing our materialistic lifestyles… which is fine with me, but are you ready to have one car per family again? Are you willing to live in a smaller house or appartment? Are you ready to take a pay cut and learn how to live on a budget, grow your own produce, base your life on what’s in biking distance?
You may not be ready Rick, but your kids will need to be for by choice of nesessity we will have to stop our capitalist lifestyles, But America would do well to do it without burning bridges with the rest of the world. There may come a black day when a more powerful east invades us and steals our national resources. A stronger fair trade union with our neighbors and a peaceful working relationship with the rest of the world would lesson the odds of that happening, but be warned, we are living in a Neutron age, it is possible to wipe out the Americans and keep America for yourself, espcially when you are using global capitalism to fatten America up like a blind hog, a hog being eyed for the slaughter.
We have got to wise up.
Great comment ROD
Keeping America running on her current rate of consumption and living the current standard of American living is impossible, on an internal workforce alone is immposible. We can have a strong internal economy, but it will come at the price of loosing our materialistic lifestyles… which is fine with me, but are you ready to have one car per family again? Are you willing to live in a smaller house or appartment? Are you ready to take a pay cut and learn how to live on a budget, grow your own produce, base your life on what’s in biking distance?
On the upside of this, imagine how much healthier we’d all be!!
I heard that America lost 400k jobs last year. But, that small business increased by 200k. Problem there is that I don’t know how many of either were full time positions and the small business probably doesn’t provide health care or retirement options. Just like the Wal-mart employment method – part time positions with limited benefits.
“it seems to me that you feel that Hispanic People are genetically prone to be criminals and only survive in third world climates” No
“You also seem to be implying the USA is a cut above all other nations, the most technologically advanced, the most moral, the most wealthiest,” Yes
“Do we have the infrastructure now to imediatly cut off all trade relations with the rest of the world and produce our own technology and materials?” If we had to – we’d do better than they would
“would you be proud of your son or daughter if they spent the rest of their lives working on an assembly line inspecting the plastic red handles of “Dora the Explorer” lunch boxes, even though the job you worked was much better than theirs? ” Conceivably, yes. See unlike some of you I am not willing to completely abandon our weakest citizens
Rick,
I totally agree. They are focusing on Hispanics here. Oh the poor Hispanics! they cannot do anything without anti-bvbl’s help! I’ll say that’s hogwash, many hispanics I know are just as adamant about illegal immigration as you or I. They dont want anyones help as they are proud people who make themselves on the backs of themselves, not others. The illegals know that people like the blog owners will come to their defense because there are always people out there looking for a cause to support. Look at Nancy Lyall, she migrated from helping the gays out to now focusing on helping illegals. and one of the blog owners here is active in environmental stuff and anti-development which was what put her in touch with corey stuart. and what about other immigrants? koreans, etc…what are they saying about them? nothing!
illegals count on people to back them up, oh the poor babies.
What is wrong with helping people and the environment, Elvis? Some people believe that is our purpose on this planet. If people don’t WANT our help, that is something different. Those who don’t want help usually communicate it.
I’d help gays if I could, but the most I can do is defend my friends from discrimination and hatred best I can.
I’m tired of people getting picked on, Elvis. I don’t want to live in a world where we destroy our planet and one another because we refuse to find solutions.
Hey Elvis, glad to see you. Would you mind answering the outstanding questions posed to you about the many many officers that think Elena is smoking something??? Or is it just your MO to drop in, spew rhetoric and make parting shots????? Looking for some substance here pal to be able to deal with you….. 🙂
elvis, 6. July 2008, 12:37
the bottom line is that illegals DO hang out in front of the stores, usually around the marumsco area. the 7-11’s are horrible as is tacos ricos moya or whatever it’s called. I would have to say that elena’s description of her ride-along is a fallacy, it’s what “she” saw, everyone see’s with different eyes and apparently she thinks everything is ok. I guess she doesnt get out of haymarket much. have the cops take you out at night, like after 10pm and then you’ll see something. I think you got the standard company tour because I know MANY PWC police officers who think you are smoking something. why dont you tell us the officers name who escorted you on your ride along so we may verify if that’s what he really told you? I would hazard a really good guess he gives us a different story. am I calling you a liar? not completely, but I think you are seriously embellishing things to cover your agenda. I mean cant you just leave the illegals alone and go back to saving the tree’s or something?
I can’t imagine how anyone could consider themselves to be pro-environment and controlled growth, yet support the scheme to use illegal aliens to create wage disparity and to enable continued construction.
Rick,
You believe that the “USA is a cut above all other nations, the most technologically advanced, the most moral, the most wealthiest” but your mother-in-law used to work as a janitor. Is she American? If she is how do you justify that the system calls her “middle class”? I don’t want to sound elitist and I don’t see a janitor below me. In fact, a lot of janitors are my friends where I work because I speak Spanish. You said it right, illegal aliens dominate the lower paying jobs. You have to recognize that capitalism put some individuals into this situation (low class economically speaking), right? The problem is that the global economy is challenging our politically correct views about society. We have a marginalized group of people who cannot do anything but to compete for these low paying jobs. It is not a problem that illegal aliens are taking those jobs and bringing the wages down. The real problem is that we have a group of individuals in our society who we have failed. We have told them that they are part of our society but the “most wealthiest” nation doesn’t share a piece of the pie with them. We have lived in this fictional world in which we are sold the idea that Americans can achieve anything. That is a problem when you don’t have the schools or the system to support the poorest in America.
You can get rid of all immigrants today and the system won’t change. Why? Because we depend on that hierarchy that puts some people in the bottom of our economy.
Do you believe that the market will fix itself and suddenly a janitor in DC will make $60,000 (to survive in the DC area)? It is not about offer and demand but greed (See the oil industry).
We lived so many years in this imaginary world just because no other country challenge our power(Now even the Canadian dollar is worth more than the US Dollar).
For a moment I wish we could get rid of all illegal aliens so we can unmask all the fallacies we are fed every day.
In a smarter U.S. economy there would be no reason for your Children to have to work on red plastic handles for “Dora” lunch boxes because WE DON”T REALLY NEED THEM!!!!!
We should build, weave, carve, mold, sew or forge our kids a lunch box , the rest of the world seems to be able to do this, why can’t we?
Because your child’s attitude on consumption starts with you. First you have to raise them to be proud of themselves, that they should care less when other kids make fun of them for not posessing that got-to-have “Ben 10” backpack or “barbie lunch box.” If we work hard to make a rebel life of non consumption the “Cool” trend, it will catch on. All of us must re-asess what is the definition of the “American Dream”? It used to be as broad as the rights to life, liberty and the persuit of happiness. Then we valued capital over these rights and made it near impossible for anyone to live a life outside of meaningless production and consumption.
I think we should take the Buhtan Approach, be more concerned with gross national happiness over gross national product. Though you can’t take your fortune with you, I believe hapiness can work as wealth beyond the grave.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CXJwNSkdTH0
capitalism. uh-huh. Now here’s why I’m so mad.
We collectively agreed on laws that would protect our lower-paid workers and enable them a decent living. It’s no surprise to me that the rich want to abandon those agreements. But to allow them to do it by just FAILING TO ENFORCE laws they SWORE TO UPHOLD is disgusting.
If there is an honest debate and Amnesty becomes law of the land (for the 17th time) that’s one thing. But what is happening is a dishonest manipulation of Americans by their elitist “leaders”, who are lowering wages and chasing votes.
I agree with you that the “war on poverty” is a fiction. But that doesn’t excuse our leaders from TRYING to do the things they PRATTLE ON about and MANIPULATE people based on. Both parties are in collusion against the American people. I’m not willing to swallow that status quo. Go defend America in Iraq to protect Shell Oil’s interests, while your home town becomes a sanctuary area for illegals without any vote or public discussion. The heck with that.
“It’s no surprise to me that the rich want to abandon those agreements. But to allow them to do it by just FAILING TO ENFORCE laws they SWORE TO UPHOLD is disgusting.”
Agree all the way on this Rick. Problem is, ethical capitalism has become an endangered species. Our government and employers stomp on the basic rights of people and call it “free market.”
The “war on poverty” won’t be effective until our leaders change their minds about whom they want to serve—-the people or the corporations. Right now, the system doesn’t serve most of us via corporations because the corporations are not engaging in ethical capitalism.
For the first time Rick, we agree on something! We need a real War on Poverty. We might not be affected by it but it is always in the background. It comes to light when we have situations such as Katrina. I have been in so many neighborhoods that people resort to gates to protect their “islands”.
We need to start by teaching people to “think”. We should be capable of challenging what we are told. We will pay for the Iraq war and we won’t get a lot out of it.
I am going to have to have a change in name to “Chasing Elvis”. Just can’t get that boy to answer a question. Maybe he is a politician? 🙂
Juturna,
Remember “The Patriot” would call out those that didn’t answer his questions.
Yet, he never answered the question asked of him about attending GL’s church. The Patriot or at least that moniker has disappeared I wonder did the devil get him. 😉
Maybe, “Elvis” is a figment of one’s imagination.
Here’s some more useful information and links from the PWC Neighborhood Services.
http://www.pwcgov.org/default.aspx?topic=010013000250004020
PWC’s Neighborhood Services Publications
Neighborhood Services provides publications for communities to use to inform their residents on topics related to neighborhood improvement and community building. Click the links below to view the publications. Articles may be reprinted – we just ask that you give Prince William County the credit given. If you don’t see a publication that you think would benefit neighborhoods contact the Neighborhood Coordinator at 703-792-6892.
Neighborhood News – Current and Archive
Approaching Neighbors on Difficult Topics
DID YOU KNOW? Common Code Violations
¿SABÍA QUÉ? Comunes Violaciones
Over Occupancy Flyer
Complaint Form for Property Violations
Neighborhood Resource Guide
The Difference Between Neighborhood Associations and Homeowner Associations
HOA / Condominium Transition Information
HOA Common Area Transition Flowchart
Graffiti Prevention Strategies
Responding to Graffiti
Recognizing Tagger and Gang Graffiti
Trash – Out of Sight!
Twelve Tips to Improve Your Neighborhood
On a local level, the coolest, most unique or socially and spiritually bennificial jobs all seem to be low pay or part time jobs. I would love to work a part-time or low pay job where I could help people and do something I love, but the standard of living in Fairfax County is SOOOO High, many people have no choice but to hunt for those high paying corporate jobs just to afford a small place. I refuse to work in government contracting, the clandestine services or weapons production corporations, so my choices of labor are limited, which is why I work in State Education, but I still can’t afford to rent a decent place yet.
We need to find ways to preserve a quality of life, but lower the cost. We need to de-vest in these giant corporate chain franchises and focus on small local business. My attempts to get education jobs in countries where I could live on an educators sallary have not worked out, so I’m moving to plan “B” trying to find a way to live a life without excess consumption so I can move to a part-time or low pay job that I enjoy and respect.
Even something as simple as growing your own produce can reduce your reliance on market consumption, it takes time, but good things are worth waiting for.
I also try to be socially minded when I shop, I try to invest in local products and produce. It’s too bad the Farmers Markets seem to happen only on Thursday Mornings, I can never get off of work to go and shop. I guess the thought still is there is at least one Woman or Man in the family who is home during the day, who can go out on Thursday and shop. How many of us are so busy that we can only shop on weekends?
I also invest in “Fair Trade” products which are made with ingredients cultivated in third world countries paid for as if they were farmed here. These Items can be a bit pricy, but I know the money is going to help hungry people, so we both eat that night.
Social investment and curbing consumption are just a few small things we can do Right Now to start reform. The best influence you can have on your neighbors and family is through self-example.
That said, let’s start having micro economy parties. Save some money so that your family can get together with other families on Friday night and go in groups to local resturants. Some of us will hit up American Fare, others International. I tend to switch between a local Afgan “All You Can Eat” Buffet and a Persian Kabob resturant once or twice a week for lunch.
Be one up on your co-workers, bike or walk to lunch…or at least carpool (I would if anyone else here was brave enough to hit up an Afgan AYCE Buffet)
They may not be the richest, brightest or good looking people in the area, but these local workers are our neighbors, they are our brothers and sisters in humanity. Investing in their wellbeing is investing in your own. And for those of us who have faith, for what you do in this life, you will be twice rewarded in the afterlife, so matter how small a deed.
That goes for good and for evil…
“we have situations such as Katrina.”
Let’s not forget Iowa.
Chris
Yeah, what ever happened to Patriot?? or Legal2, Monticup, or all the others???? Victims of multiple personalities or did they just wise up????
“We need to de-vest in these giant corporate chain franchises and focus on small local business.”
Right on!
Iowa. The red state where they want less government in their lives at election time. Well, they are now moving toward being a blue state. Guess they’ve had a few disasters in their time – enough to know where their bread is buttered.
Katrina – how much worse was Katrina than Andrew. Serious question. Anyone know?
Elvis,
You may want to look at the thread where you initially denigrated my integrity, there is a message waiting for you. You know, I wish I could refocus my full attention on the environment, I really do. However, given the rising tide of hate, I didn’t feel like I could just ignore it. Tell you what, you stop being so angry and work towards credible, humane, and reasonable solutions, many of which have been shared on this thread, and I’ll go back to “saving trees” and preserving a future, not only for my kids, but all kids.
Excellent job to the several posters who have made some truly concrete suggestions for positive change, Rod, Chris, KG!
Juturna and Chris,
Thanks 🙂
Elena – no one pays serious attention to Elvis. In a credibility stand off, you have nothing to worry about, babe. Let’s just see if he can actually say something rather than spew!! I tend to doubt it.
Hope all is well.
OK Cleaning up the Communities..Great thing except my Community has done that for the past 8 years. HOA brings in a dumpster twice a year blah blah blah..Still doesnt provide a solution to “Involving the Latino Community”…and bringing “everyone” together.
I see alllll these ideas by different people, Whats your plan in getting your idea in action?
Ok just read an interesting article,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/07/AR2008070702845.html?hpid=topnews
Its about an illegal immigrant who was not given his wages for 72 hours. He made 10.00 an hour and was due 720.00…but the employer failed to pay him, so he obtained a lawyer..and sued…and WON…The judge hesitated since obviously Jose ( his name was with held since he is here ILLEGALLY) wasn’t taxed on his earnings.
The story goes on and on…But my point is…This is PART of why Citizens are upset..
His name was with held cause he is ILLEGAL
No tax was issued on his earnings
Illegally here and still protected by local labor laws
Free Counsil since he met his lawyer at Church
Wow all that evasion makes me think of big business and tax laws….. 🙂
I get the point, but…..
Just Cause,
I thought part of the anti-illegal argument was that illegals were easy to take advantage of because they would not sue. But, yet, they are entitled to the same employment protection as the general public and they do exercise that right as evident by this article that you cited. Thanks for bringing that to our attention.
But what???
I am simply showing you one of the many scenerios and trying to enlighten on why there is some animosity…but I got the typical “one line zinger” response instead..
Chill. This is America and we have not exactly discouraged playing by the rules. It’s like watching a group of kids get away with something on the playground and thinking “I want to do that, too”.
It does not excuse it and of course there is animosity. It feels funny to say that we reserve that type of evasion for legal residents. But, we should.
not exactly discouraged playing by the rules – make that ‘encouraged’.
…. because there has to be a starting point. Legal resident or working toward it is that. Do we agree, JC?
Well JC, the point was, if We start now and ween America off of Global Capitalism, it would be less appealing to the rest of the world because they would see they could promote simular change in their own countires.
It’s not “Juan’s Unidos Tacos Corp.” that is promoting 3rd world conditions in South/Central America, It’s Nike, Adidas, Craft, Coca-Cola, Gucci, etc.
If you invest in local companies instead of being suckered by the colorful adds of the Giant Globalized Corporations, you will do more to insure a mutual recognition of borders in the future, as opposed to this band-aid ‘Kick em all out and lock the door” plan.
…unless you are prone to believe that Hispanics are genetically prone to be Criminals and thrive only in third world conditions… Is that your belief.
Major corporations believe that all people from South America can be bred to be slaves by promoting third world conditions, while North Americans can be brainwashed to be endless consumers by threatening 3rd World Conditions if they fail to consume.
All of us are being manipulated by a handful of greedy heartless men, we can defeat them by conforming to a global revolution of non-consumption and smart cultivation.
Unless you have no reason to live but to make more money.
“it would be less appealing to the rest of the world…”
I mean it would be less appealing for the rest of the world to come here when they can promote simular change in their own countires and reap simular benifits.
Just Cause, 8. July 2008, 12:57
Get a grip chick! Did you not look at the links put up by Chris? Some of the information on the links were in Spanish. That’s nice and good for you that you have an HOA that you can run to for help. I guess you can’t see past your little HOA community. There are many older established neighborhoods that must work with the county.
rod- Easy on the Novels…Man!
I know where you are coming from, you turn questions into more questions and to answer them:
No.. Not an HSM Member
No.. I dont believe ALL hispanics are criminals
Yes ..I have Minorities in my Family
Yes.. I am making money so I can live
Yes.. I am a legal citizen
Yes..I pay taxes
Yes..In favor of Amnesty ( certain restrictions)
Yes..My opinion is based on Experience
No..I have never met Greg
Yes..I believe due to the influx of illegals, we have serious issues in this County
anything else?
” see alllll these ideas by different people, Whats your plan in getting your idea in action?”
Um….go out a couple of times a week and pick up trash yourself?
Write a flyer in English and Spanish and organize a community clean-up? Get kids involved? Do some of the other things mentioned in these posts? Go to one of the Hispanic/immigrant organizations and request mediation and help arranging these activities?
to :
Jorge Pollo, 8. July 2008, 13:45
OK CLEAN YOUR COMMUNITY..WHOOHOO..Is that your resolution to bringing all sides together??? LMBO….Now thats funny…I dont care if it is written in Spanglish, How does ” Clean up your Community” get the latinos involved??? Yea I have an HOA but did you know these OLD communities can START THEIR OWN HOA???
Taking the “chill” or the “relax” attitude is what got the County into this mess to begin with and if you dont “believe” that….
Mythology- Creating your Own beliefs to disguise the truth…
to kgotthardt, 8. July 2008, 13:57
You missed the fine print.. I said “YOUR” plan of action..Not mine