This is a new survey, conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center. Clearly, the results reflect the feelings of the minority communities in Prince William County. How should we react to improve the negative perception of the people in our community? The amendment to the resolution on April 29th was a critical change, but more must be done. The split vote approval of the appointment of Robert Duecaster, although not necessarily a “win”, at least demonstrated that there are four Supervisors who find his language and mission offensive. This is progress.
Hispanics See Their Situation in U.S. Deteriorating; Oppose Key Immigration Enforcement Measures. WASHINGTON – Half (50%) of all Latinos say that the situation of Latinos in this country is worse now than it was a year ago, according to a new nationwide survey of 2,015 Hispanic adults conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center. These increasingly downbeat assessments come at a time when the Hispanic community in this country has been hit hard by rising unemployment and stepped-up immigration enforcement.
In the survey, nearly one-in-ten Hispanic adults report that in the past year the police or other authorities have stopped them and asked them about their immigration status. Latinos say they are experiencing other difficulties because of their ethnicity. One-in-seven (15%) say that they have had trouble in the past year finding or keeping a job because they are Latino. One-in-ten (10%) report the same about finding or keeping housing. On the question of immigration enforcement, Latinos disapprove of five key enforcement measures asked about in this survey–and generally do so by lopsided margins.
The report also explores how Latinos rate the political parties and their presidential candidates on immigration and Hispanic concerns. The report, 2008 National Survey of Latinos: Hispanics See Their Situation in U.S. Deteriorating; Oppose Key Immigration Enforcement Measures, is available on the Center’s website, www.pewhispanic.org.Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, is anon-partisan, non-advocacy research organization based in Washington,D.C. and is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts
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I feel sorry for the Legal Hispanics in this country, but they are the ones who should have banned together to aid in reducing Illegal immigration from the South. They were enjoying having all their old friends and relatives come over, illegally of course, as would any ethnic group. They knew more about what was taking place than the average US citizen, because they had the inside information. So I can see why they are unhappy, but what goes around comes around. Even minor law breaking gains more attention when it’s done in ever increasing numbers.
SA,
I think it is a big assumption on your part that as a community, Hispanics/Latinos with legal status are responsible for all Hispanics/Latinos in the country illegally. If this is truly about legality, and is not about damaging generalizations to a racial or ethnic group, then why are you OK with lumping all of them together negatively?
You feel sorry for them, but you seem to think they are not “average US citizens,” and that they maliciously hold some sort of secret spy info. You feel sorry for them, but they deserve it because of a perceived association they have with the rest of the members of their racial or ethnic group? You are sorry for them, but they are collateral damage in this debate?
“What goes around comes around.” That’s right. And it’s coming around for Duecaster and the CLAN.
“I feel sorry for the Legal Hispanics in this country, but they are the ones who should have banned together to aid in reducing Illegal immigration from the South.”
Hispanics have very little voice in government as we see in PWC when the BOCS ignored thousands of them, assuming they were all “illegals.” Band together? What a hypocritical assumption when even “real Americans” (GL and the gang love to put it) can’t even do that?
SA isn’t sorry in the least.
I’m sorry Duecaster got in. I’m sorry GL and the BOCS clan are in office. I’m so sorry I’m going to say it and do whatever I can about it. I’m tired of these people trying to speak for me like they are some kind of glorious majority. They aren’t. It’s more like the quieter are ignored.
Fortunately, many of us are not so quiet about our “sorrow”.
Trust me kgotthardt, we don’t in any way feel that we represent you! That would be a fundamental impossibility. We were born of two different ideals. You feel that humans should have free rein without discipline as though all would do the right thing if just left alone, and I know that isn’t the case otherwise we wouldn’t need laws or build prisons. Perhaps we should do away with those also, then you could parade around the false cost savings.
Reposted for you enjoyment:
So kgotthardt, if you’ll take a breath, explain to me why the Resolution was created in the first place. It’s obvious you don’t care for it, but why do you think it came about? Could it be that the existing county rules and laws couldn’t deal with the unusual circumstances presented by this new set of problems brought about by the illegals? If the problems could have been solved so easily as you state, then you are guilty of not having presented those solutions at ‘Citizen Time’ instead of railing against the proposed course of action. That would have been a perfect platform for your group to present all the many solutions you supposedly have, yet you chose to gather and complain. Not unlike the Dems in reference to the economy. Nancy P. is a perfect example. You had a great opportunity, and huge numbers (even if they couldn’t speak English), yet you blew it!
By the way, what do African Americans have to do with this? I don’t recall anyone complaining about overcrowding, or groups of African Americans at the 7-11, or any of the other problems presented. This is a vain attempt at enlarging your field of ‘victims’. From what I’ve see in the news, I really don’t think you’ve chosen the right group of people to become your allies. Their troubles in history came about a whole different way.
kgotthardt, we happen to have laws in this country, whether you wish to comply with them or not…and when you elect NOT to comply, you risk punishment…that applies to all of us, regardless of race, sex, or ethnicity.
Fact, my friend: Expecting compliance with our laws, even by Latinos, does not a racist make.
If you REALLY support the Latino population, I sincerely believe that you would get further by working to change laws rather than “…not so quiet(ly)…” encouraging acceptance of the violators.
Do you have other issues?? Have you had a check-up lately??
Segundo Alamo,
Family comes before country.
A real American would understand that.
SA,
On one hand you say it’s the economy on the other hand you try to say the resolution is responsible for so many leaving, which is it? And if so many people left, and we have NUMBER 1 in forclosures,still to this day, than who is responsible for the amplified mess this county is in?
I acutally do agree that we have a cultural clash here, but why do insist on saying that everyone was illegal? Do you equate latino with illegal?
SA,
Actually, your first comment was almost compassionate. You show a remarkable degree of understanding. I would be happy to be able to speak my own language with other Americans if I had immigrated to another country, for whatever reason.
I just think it should be easier to immigrate legally. I do NOT want open borders. I don’t mind quotas. I think we probably need them. I do think quotas should be tied to jobs needed to fill though.
Mackie,
“Family comes before country”, was that a quote from ‘The GodFather movie? They were a ‘family’ too.
Something like half of all Latinos in this country are here illegally, and I WANT them unhappy here.
Beyond that, boo-hoo. I really could care less. Everyone’s a whiner and a victim.
The recent Latino immigrants are learning to fit right in. They’re already b**ching and whining and identifying with racial identity politics. Whoopee! They’ll fit right in! One political party or the other will be able to puyt them to good use voting in a bloc every 4 years and keeping this credit-card society running at full blast to maximum profit for the ruling class.
Would you be included in that boo-hoo whiner and victim list, Rick, or is it just everyone else?
Fair point I’m sure!
SA,
“I feel sorry for the Legal Hispanics in this country, but they are the ones who should have banned together to aid in reducing Illegal immigration from the South. They were enjoying having all their old friends and relatives come over, illegally of course, as would any ethnic group.”
Why would anyone enjoy having their old friends and relatives arrive illegally?
KathyZ,
I think SA has some misguided opinions. His post seems to boil down to this: Because some Hispanics with legal status may be associated with Hispanics illegally here, we should not care about the treatment of the Hispanics/Latinos in general. In other words…they are guilty for just being Hispanic/Latino.
SA, maybe you think I’m way off base here, but that is what I saw when I read your post.
–So kgotthardt, if you’ll take a breath, explain to me why the Resolution was created in the first place.–
1. Because people were tired of their neighborhoods falling apart. (Which could have been resolved without the resolution.)
2. Because people were afraid of crime rising. (which is interesting since the crime rate was droppting; however, 287g is taking care of the “criminal” element, what little there is at 1%)
3. Because people are insanely angry at the federal government for either not enforcing its own laws, not reforming its own laws, and for using illegal immigrants as cheap labor which ruins our economy. (NONE of which the PWC Resolution can fix.)
4. Because people don’t want to pay for “illegals” who supposedly don’t pay taxes (which many do) or give them public services (which they don’t qualify for anyway) or give them schooling (refer back to #3).
5. Because some people (not necessarily you SA) can’t stand the sight of taco trucks in their neighborhoods. Because they don’t want to hear people speaking other languages. Because they assume these “others” are evil, bad, dirty, and I don’t know what else.
6. Because some people feel Hispanics in this nation are an invasion, a plague, a hoard, vermin, parasites, etc. (i.e. HSM/John Stirrup and company)
7. Because groups like FAIR used us to forward their political agenda.
8. Because politicians like Corey Stewart want to use this issue to get ahead in his career no matter what it does to our economy, image, or community peace.
9. Because hate mongers and hate groups have promoted fear and anger to forward their racist agendas by latching onto our local government that decided HSM and CLAN were the majority.
10. Because people refuse to see that there IS another way, a smarter way, a more peaceful way and a CHEAPER way to create better communities.
No, I’m not for breaking the law, allowing the entire world to live here, or for illegal immigration. I am for STOPPING this madness that has cost us everything and gained us nothing except heartache, an increase in poverty, and social strife.
“You feel that humans should have free rein without discipline as though all would do the right thing if just left alone,” I most certainly do not feel this way which is why I support our police and have all along, which is more than can be said for GL and even Corey Stewart.
SA, we have not been “born” of different ideals. Ideals are learned. And reasonable solutions are created by WISE people. We do not have wise people in office. We have people who squander our resources, ignore the GOOD suggestions they have had (from us, from this blog, from letters, from groups like Unity in the Community and more) and refuse to stand up to a majority of unthinking, prejudice bullies. We have a government that WILL NOT LISTEN which is WHY SOME OF US ARE INDEED YELLING.
The “resolution” has FAILED. Our local polititicans have failed US. They have the opportunity to fix it, but instead they do things like appoint Robert Duecaster to Human Services. Therefore, with the exception of a few brave people, they continue to fail us and lead us into further ruin.
I hope I have made my position more clear.
KG,
Really, really thought-provoking and comprehensive post…I was glad to see it summed up so well. I am sure that you will have a lot of people criticizing in about 5 seconds, but I just wanted to tell you I LOVE what you said.
Segundo Alamo,
No, I don’t think it’s a quote from The Godfather. But even if it was, so what? The Godfather is a movie about a powerful family. A powerful family not so unlike any of the other powerful families that came before it like the rockefellers, bushes, kennedys, etc. Like life, it isn’t black and white. And the law is only a tool used by the strong against the weak.
KGOTHARD said, “…The “resolution” has FAILED. Our local polititicans have failed US …they do things like appoint Robert Duecaster to Human Services.” Simply stated, you’re wrong…and you know it. The real problem is that you don’t like losing.
Like most members of the BOCS, Robert Duecaster supports compliance with laws. Do you support compliance with MOST laws? Some laws? Any Laws? Lawlessness?
Excuse me Freedom,
But Robert Duecaster speading hate is what we oppose, THAT is what we are talking about. The resolution that is in place currently is NOTHING like the original document he and a hate organization prepared. Make sure you have your facts please. We don’t have issue with the resolution as it stands today, since the April 29th amendment, we have issue with the continued lies and rhetoric in relation to what the new policy does and does not do. Give me a break, there was this supposed illegal immigration crime spree, which, clearly now, given the FACTS from the Chiefs report, does not bear ANY resemblence to that propoganda!
Oh, KG, I second Diversity Gal, very comprehensive and thougthful post. Thank you 🙂
KG
Great post!
Kgotthardt,
You gave a comprehensive list of things that may have been the basis for forming the Resolution, or they may have served only a minor role. I don’t know, but could you now put together a comprehensive list of solutions that you feel should have been taken under consideration by the BOCS. I don’t mean emotional or theoretical, but actual workable solutions involving the existing laws and employees of the county. I would be very interested to see if the solutions you pose have ever been tried anywhere else with any success.
Thanks, DG and Marie! I figured I would get slammed.
SA, there’s nothing “emotional” about neighborhood cleanups, 287g, enforcing housing codes, and implementing neighborhood watches.
Furthermore, we can work locally but this resolution is an 11 million dollar bandaid slapped on a gushing wound. And that bandaid fell off long ago.
“Freedom” I support compliance, but I also support legislature and a justice system that works. Both of those systems are broken when it comes to immgiration. Duecaster doesn’t give a crap about compliance. What he cares about is inflicting his hatred on anyone he feels is undersireable and that includes people who have fought for YOUR country, “Freedom.” He’s about the most illogical, counter-productive, hate-filled human being I’ve ever encountered that has been appointed by another hate-filled, crazy-assed human being (that would be John Stirrup) and supported by an egomaniac who could care less about this county (that would be Corey Stewart).
“You’re wrong and you know you are” is stupid. I don’t fight for things I believe are wrong. Duh. What a waste of time?
Thanks, Elena, and I second that the “resolution” is better than it was. The reason this has come up again is because of the Stupid-Caster appointment. Thank your Chair and VICE for that.
“refuse to stand up to a majority of unthinking, prejudice bullies.”
I meant a “minority” of bulllies. I don’t think the HSM/Clan crew represents the majority in the least, and the numbers of protesters last year proved it.
kgotthardt,
You’re telling me all we had to do was: “neighborhood cleanups, 287g, enforcing housing codes, and implementing neighborhood watches”. It’s the enforcing housing codes that I don’t believe could help as Manassas tried all different codes to no avail. We already had neighborhood watches, and you can’t clean up your neighbor’s property without permission nor do I feel I should have to. The 287g program is the only part that makes sense. Forget history for one second, and tell me what is so wrong with the existing Resolution, and I don’t care if you feel it has completely destroyed all humanity. I just want to know what is unjustified.
BTW, kgotthardt, you’ve really got to stop with the names it just doesn’t help resolve anything. If every issue was approached in this manner, then I can understand why people may not care to hear what you had to say. I know, I know, now you’re going to give me an ear full about the other, and how you could care less, but you really should consider it.
SA, I really don’t care about the “other.” I “go off” on blogs, but I’m not telling anyone to threaten those of the dark screen, to hurt them, to buy guns to scare them, to hate Catholics and Muslims, etc. I think “the other” has a right to their opinion. I don’t think they have the right to threaten, intimidate, or to implement and standardize racism in our county and then as ME to pay for it. No one is paying me to spout off here, so you can feel safe about that at least. But I am paying the BOCS to listen to me and others, not pander to FAIR or hate-mongers.
In my presentations and formal letters, I’m pretty mainstream. I let myself “go” here. This is a blog after all and not “citizen’s time.” So forgive me if I spout off. If you knew me and heard me speak “offline” you’d know I wasn’t really as bad as you think I am from reading my posts.
Please make no mistake: I can rant and rave like the best of them, but I will never tell people to hate, intimidate, or hurt others. I WILL tell people to fight racism and I do NOT have a problem calling it that when it applies. (I’m not directing that at you, SA.)
“It’s the enforcing housing codes that I don’t believe could help as Manassas tried all different codes to no avail. We already had neighborhood watches, and you can’t clean up your neighbor’s property without permission nor do I feel I should have to. The 287g program is the only part that makes sense. Forget history for one second, and tell me what is so wrong with the existing Resolution, and I don’t care if you feel it has completely destroyed all humanity. I just want to know what is unjustified.”
Okay, lots to address here.
First, Manassas tried to define “family” to clean up over-crowding. Um….you can’t do that. If someone tried to define MY family, I’d be having a fit as well. But safety codes are ALREADY defined and so long as the city/county stuck to those, there can’t be any real lawsuits about it. Codes like that are usually pretty objective and straight forward. So use them! But apply them consistently and not just in Hispanic neighborhoods. We have to be consistent here.
If people already had neighborhood watches, then what wasn’t working? Did they feel like the police weren’t being responsive? What?
I know you can’t clean up someone’s yard. That’s part of the foreclosure problem, though, and has little to do with the resolution. If the person is still living there and there’s a health hazard, then YES! By all means, clean it up or mandate clean-up. I think there probably has to be some kind of new statute that does allow the government to contract lawn cutters because of the high foreclosure rate. I don’t think many people would have a problem with this, but I could be wrong.
I have little problem with the existing resolution EXCEPT for some denial of services. For example, you have an elderly immigrant who can’t prove his/her citizenship. Um….you have many elderly people who can’t remember their names, find their i.d.’s or have family to do it for them. You aren’t going to bring a dinner to this person? How about fixing their houses? You don’t want their houses falling apart and bringing down the neighborhood but you don’t want to help and elderly person out? What about addicts? You want them running the streets? I don’t.
Here’s the thing. If you are going to deny these people human services, you will make the community worse (never mind that saying “too bad so sad” is mean as crap). There has to be a middle road. IF any undocumented people need these services (and I’ve heard they don’t even ask overall), there must be somewhere they can go. So I would propose IF there are any people who can’t get services that they be referred to a private agency or non-profit so they can get the help they need. Then Duecaster and Clan can’t complain about having to pay for green beans and milkshakes.
Finally…..my latest rants are not about the resolution per se. It’s about first, the worst appointment in the world, Duecaster to Human Services. Second, it’s about people being allowed to spread their hatred and implement it through our government (read especially Stirrup and Stewart). Third, it’s about the way we treat each other here in this county (and universally).
I have a fair solution for the Stupid-Caster appointment (sorry, I know, but it was a stupid appointment and I like to play on words) but people won’t like it because it means regulating the system for appointments, and it would apply to EVERYONE. The cronyists won’t like it and most likely won’t go for it even though it would be fair, consistent, and safer.
kgotthardt,
Well said, now that’s the kind of discussion I can get into. I think you made some good points. I honestly believe that the thing that is most important to me is the standard of living. After spending many years in one location you tend to call an ever larger and larger part of your surroundings ‘home’. It starts with your house, and eventually spreads. The thing that I saw was this impending downfall of our standard of living due to no fault of our own, but the huge influx of, and you have to admit, people who came from a much lower living standard. That may sound harsh, but it is a fact. There have always been areas with different standards of living in the country, but when you choose yours and start a family you don’t want anything to destroy what you’ve worked and planned for. If I was younger, and not been here so long, then I could have decided to move to an area with a new standard of living. The problem is that all surrounding areas were being affected in the same negative way. This is a national not a local problem. I only wish that the illegals had shown some respect for the communities they moved into, and a wish to become American citizens, then I don’t think this would have gotten so out of hand. You can’t illegally walk into someone else’s country and then basically defy them to throw you out without something happening. This is the US of A and we won’t stand for it any longer. We’re simply protecting our ‘homes’.
–I only wish that the illegals had shown some respect for the communities they moved into, and a wish to become American citizens, then I don’t think this would have gotten so out of hand.–
Glad to “talk” SA 🙂
When you say you wish the illegals show respect for communities, what exactly do you mean? Since we can’t tell who is “legal” and who isn’t, isn’t this more of a cultural problem than anything else? Isn’t this something that can be taken care of via cultural education and assimilation? Yet, the scare-em-off crew makes it worse for their own communities because scared people don’t want to assimilate. They want to hide. Tell me how we can fix that, SA. “Deport them all” just isn’t an answer, especially at the local level.
I’d say 4/5 of the issues we see here are not immigration issues. They are issues of growth, for one thing. We have towns that have suddenly become cities, and that has little to do with the immigration debate. When you have massive growth, you have an influx of people from all classes and countries. This is a time-worn issue– the “bad” neighborhoods vs the “good ones.” Heck, compared to some of the people who live around here, I’m a low class you-know-what! When people start MAKING us feel “low class” we kind of tell them where to go 🙂
That said, better city planning, more open space, and pretty parks make a community, any community, more enticing. So do libraries and community activities. When I look at 28 in Manassas Park, I don’t see an immigration problem. I see a zoning problem (just like I see around my house when I can look over at the Potato Bread factory). YUCK! It’s ugly.
–You can’t illegally walk into someone else’s country and then basically defy them to throw you out without something happening. This is the US of A and we won’t stand for it any longer. We’re simply protecting our ‘homes’.–
You know, for the most part, it’s not the hard workers who are trying to “defy” anyone. Criminals are. That’s why they are criminals. Other people are trying, really trying, to live better lives. They don’t see themselves as some conquering race trying to take over the world (and neither should we, for that matter).
Some people get really mad when they see ANY immigrant waving their other country’s flag. Just because you leave a country, doesn’t mean you hate it. Human beings love their “homes” even when those homes weren’t so good. They might feel the need to go elsewhere, but most of us can never really “leave” for good if we have been attached to a place. Immigrants need to be able to be proud of their heritage.
Being proud doesn’t equal being defiant. And demanding reform doesn’t make anyone Un-American, a terrorist, or a dangerous rebel.
I don’t think some “illegals” really understand why it pisses people off so much that they haven’t done their paperwork. To some of these people, so long as they are working hard and minding their own business, they don’t see an issue with it. They have taken great risks to be here. They’ve escaped war and death in many cases. Paperwork is the least of their problems.
These are the people that I say we should allow to fix their papers, pay back taxes if they owe them, pay a fee, and work towards citizenship. Or if they don’t WANT to be citizens, then have a work program.
I understand the idea of protecting our “homes” but we are making our “homes” WORSE with these cultural wars we are fueling via these extremist and hate groups. Tell Congress to FIX the DAMN problem. Don’t give up until they DO fix it.
You know why they haven’t of course. First, the businesses have loved having the cheap labor. Second, we’ve been too damn busy fighting in the Middle East to do anything about our domestic policy. You see the results: undocumented immigrants, terrorism on our own turf, banks going out of business, student borrowers and home owners going under, corporations being allowed to rip us off when we have no recourse, the poor getting poorer while the rich flip us the bird….the immigration issue isn’t an issue in a vacuum. It’s a symptom of a larger problem that if we don’t come together as a nation to fix DOMESTICALLY, we are going to crumble from within.
Off to watch Casablanca on channel 26. I’ve never seen the entire movie. It’s a classic so I’ll sit through it just be able to say I saw it.
You know, I haven’t either! Might just have to turn that on! Have fun.
Very funny SA! I’m watching it now. Alas…PWC. 🙂
Thanks for the heads up that it was on, SA.
….You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by….
That movie was considered high romance back in the day, I have been told.
Hate spreads. Especially on the internet.
In recent years, internet blogs are the easiest places for hate to spread. There is little we can do about it, except be certain that blogs and emails never again be the basis of public policy decisions as they were in 2007. And, provide examples, such as this blog, of how there will always be resistance to hate where there is free speech and not censorship. For this, I say thank you to all who participate here.
I am now certain that Second Alamo is indeed Tom Kopko, a prominent PWC Republican party leader who has unfortunately calculated that “Hate Spreads” is a good motto for GOTV.
Whether he actually feels that Hispanics should only be hated during election season, or always … whether he actually feels all Hispanics should be hated, or just the ones who commit 1.6 percent of the crime here … we’ll not learn from Tom Kopko. He has no accountability due to his pen name. If I were to ask him why the types bigoted views on this blog, he might just say he doesn’t know what I’m talking about. That he has no time for such things as blogging.
There is one very important thing that distinguishes Robert Duecaster from “Second Alamo.” Mr. Duecaster owns up to his hate. He speaks it proudly at Citizens Time, and when uses a pen name, he does not deny his identity.
In this way, I greatly prefer Mr. Duecaster’s courage to Mr. Kopko subterfuge.
With Mr. Kopko, it’s no mystery why he chooses to spread ignorance and prejudice anonymously. But is he merely hoping to bait less intelligent people to embrace these views, as a way to help his party win elections … even in years they don’t deserve to win?
Or, is he a calmer, more savvy version of Mr. Duecaster, who keeps his prejudice bottled up and lets it surface only in clandestine and controlled bursts, only as “Second Alamo?”
My experience is that such wily changelings, given an opportunity to enter politics, face little opposition in the Republican party, no, not if they are useful.
If Mr. Duecaster were a younger man, I could see him rising through the ranks, running for office, or even becoming party chair … if not for his honesty.
In Virginia’s Republican party, bigotry is a deranged first wife we don’t love anymore but can’t divorce. She is locked in the attic most of her days, but she sometimes escapes at night. Still, we perform our duties and dream our dreams, even at times forgetting she is lurking, seething, and hating us for shunning her. And we are forever haunted by the premonition that she will one day burn down the mansion.
I gather that on the “other” board elvis is hallucinating again. As he did here a few times, he has twice again said he thinks I am Nancy Lyall. This is something like the 5th or 6th time he has claimed it. I have no idea why he thinks it, especially after what I have said about the dubious strategies of MSF and what I consider Lyall’s responsibility for those horrendous tactics, but he persists in his illusions. Truly elvis, it would be very inconvenient for me to be Nancy Lyall. I mean for god’s sake she lives in PWC! I think I’ve heard it’s Woodbridge, a place I have never been that I know of. Maybe it is the Paris of Northern Virginia, I have no idea, but do you realize what living in Woodbridge would add to my commute? I live in the people’s republic of Arlington (Tejada country not Stewart Country, thank goodness) and my commute is about 15 minutes on public transport to DC. I realize if I were Nancy Lyall, I would probably own a car (she must own one, right?), but there is no way owning her car would be worth that trouble. I have lived in Arlington for more than 25 years to avoid the hassle of traffic, now you want to bring it on me?
I also really don’t wish to look like her (no offense Nancy, but I won’t do short hair. I refuse.). Does it mean I have to cut off all my hair and lose my ethnic background and ethnic features? Elvis, can you help me out and tell me where she’s from at least? On clips I seem to detect a slight note of New Jersey or somewhere northeast in her voice, especially when she gets rattled. But I may be imagining things. In any case, I would have to work on that since I am from several hundreds of miles to our West. You’ve heard of it, I’m sure, the heartland (TM). Are you going to pay for the accent lessons since this is *your* exceedingly goofy hallucination elvis? Pretty please? I will happily pay for you to get a clue.
WHWN,
I don’t think so. I have my reasons.
Moon-howler,
It was Palmieri’s favorite. Did you know Professor Palmieri?
No, I didn’t know him. I think he might have been after my time. The famous one from his dept in my day was Professor Bowen.
I fell into SA’s category. I had never seen the movie in full. Just bits and pieces.
Casablanca should not just be watched in full. It should watched in full many times, its best lines committed to memory, and its passion be taken to heart.
I love that movie. I love the integrity of its ending. I love the writing. I love the fact that in the famous Marseillaise scene, which makes me cry every time, many of those on the set were actual refugee actors that had fled the Nazis and were singing with real heartfelt emotion.
(Sigh) What a movie.
“Family comes before country.
A real American would understand that.”
Then you’re in the wrong country, Mackie. You do remember U.S. history, I trust…specifically, the Civil War. In that era, principle (and country, as well) trumped family for many who fought for the North, and for many in the South (from a different perspective). There were many divided families, fighting on both sides. I happen to be well aware of this, despite NOT having been born in this country…what’s your excuse?
That was a great movie! I really had no concept of the plot until last night. And the humor…subtle one-liners…
I went to bed feeling better about humanity 🙂
AW, tell me you aren’t using the Civil War as an example of American values? The particular horror of that war was that it DID divide families. It had nothing to do with putting “country first” either. Why?
1. “Soliders” (read “kids”) enlisted believing like everyone else that the war wouldn’t last a week. Recall the Battle of Bull Run where people picniced while watching to see which side would stand down first.
2. These children entered the regiments for glory and honor. Go read their statements at the Manassas Battlefield vitistor’s center. How much “glory” do you think their choices gave them? Do you think if they knew they would be fighting family they would have made different decisions?
The Civil War hardly represents putting country before family. But it DOES represent the insanity brought on by our having a slave (under) class, division in the nation, and institutionalized racism.
….among other spelling errors, “picnicked” (in case you asking, “What the heck does picniced mean?)
Kgotthardt, it represents American history, as does the American Revolution…another war fought on this soil where families were also sometimes divided in their loyalties. Perhaps the problem is that the younger generation (and I include you in that) are not adequately grounded in the history of this nation. It’s little wonder that, as time goes by, people are less able to relate to the very foundations of this nation…freedom, liberty, rights, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, and the courage of the founders of this country. Everyone wants to put their own spin on it, to suit themselves and their narrow viewpoints. It’s that “ME” generation attitude. If you are a citizen of this country, it comes with responsibility…something the attitude displayed by people like Mackie, and you, and of course those leading us down the path to ruin seem to care little about.