A DUer in AZ, and I could tell you such sad stories

[Mike 03]

I live in a small town in AZ that has been devastated by a fictional phobia called Hatred of Illegal Aliens. I get a bit emotional when trying to discuss this, please excuse my incoherence. Some amazing, lovely, beautiful human beings have had to leave my small town in AZ because they were frightened out by sheer racism, no more, no less. It is so shameful that it is hard to own up to, but here it is. In all of it's anti-glory.

What I would love to hear from others is what to do about this. My state feels crazy right now. Everyone needs ten guns, everyone fears One World Government, people are not like they used to be.

So, my family lost a good friend because he was a so called "illegal" who had to leave our town, even though he worked hard, paid taxes, and was a good human being.

Eh, sorry for blabbing on. Just, there are things we need to think hard about. And I agree, we all suffer and feel horrible when others suffer, especially as we grow older and learn the meaning of suffering.

[BlooInBloo]

1. :(

[Delphinus]

2. The world feels crazy right now.

:(

Right now, I can only sympathize with what you and so many others are going through. What has transpired saddens and pains me.

[Desertrose]

3. I know how you feel.....

These people are neighbors and friends who have the same needs and wants and hopes we all do. To be the target of hatred for no reason...its very hard to deal with.

Living in fear is no way to live...ever.

:hug:

[Fridays Child]

4. My Hispanic friends are now discussing what papers they need to carry.

They're laughing...nervously. I'm vowing to stop any time I see a Hispanic person being pulled over. I'd like to arm myself (so to speak) with a video camera and with printed information about their legal rights.

[RandomThoughts]

5. Yea stuff like that is hard.

With the joys of empathy also come some sadness, you do what you can, all you really can do.

Hope you feel better about it.

[MineralMan]

6. I was born in Superior, AZ, way back in 1945, but my

parents moved to CA shortly after that. But, I visited my grandparents there many times. There was always an undercurrent of distrust and dislike of people of Mexican heritage there among the anglos. So, it doesn't surprise me that that is still going on. And that, despite the long, long history of people from Mexico living in Arizona that actually predates the anglo inhabitants.

People are strange and sad.

[RKP5637]

12. So true, "People are strange and sad." And it seems to be getting contagious, each

day it seems things get a bit stranger. Tolerance, compromise, compassion and logic seem to be declining each day as ignorance and intolerance seem to be growing.

[azmouse]

7. I'm so sorry Mike.

Sometimes I wonder if we humans will ever learn to get along. :(

[RKP5637]

13. I've been wondering that for decades and decades, sometimes I think we are

learning, but then it seems to go off the cliff. Frankly, it's all insane, this little speck called earth and the energy/time wasted on conflict, anger and hostility.

[SargeUNN]

8. Yeah so true and I can add to that

on my show last Saturday I had a woman call in and was in tears at time because of fears she has for her family even more than herself. I have several who will be affected by this horror including the ones who keep the apartment complex I live in up to a decent standard. People I have gotten to know and like. I really think we will overturn this law, but that won't solve the problem by itself since really this issue needs DC to move effectively. However people like Graham and the Republicans don't want this issue addressed because they know they have painted themselves in a corner on it.

[joe_sixpack]

9. What problems were citizens having...

That led to a majority believing this law was necessary?

[SargeUNN]

17. Immigration problems are real in Arizona and need sensible attention

Phoenix is the kidnapping capital of the world and since the Mexican Drug Cartels are coming across the border to increase their strength there are real problems. I have been trying to raise awareness of Banished Veterans and one thing that got my attention is that the Cartels are trying to recruit these veterans, some who are trained in the military in areas that can be useful to creating violence in the USA. One veteran named Fabian, that was awarded a medal by President Clinton in person, for his risking his life to save the life of his commander in Kosovo told me that he is in hiding to avoid the pressure the cartels are putting on him. They have offered him $10,000 a month, room board and other benefits but he would have to be willing to take actions against the USA which is exactly where they want to use him. He refuses so now he has to fear for his well being. He was deported for a bounced check. Sadly some veterans are taking these jobs out of anger for being deported and lied to by the military who were told they would be American Citizens but found that was sorta a lie. They were citizens as long as they were in the Military but when the left they were not. I guess I should point out that most, if not all, were already in this nation legally.

The drug cartels are the problem and people like Arpaio are lumping all into that group, but some are here without documentation are extremely law abiding and stay away from anything that might expose them. They are the ones Arpaio's sweeps are getting because of a broken light, or so minor thing that another citizen of white skin would just be told to fix. This is causing a strained relationship between the community and law enforcement and makes criminal acts harder to address.

[xchrom]

10. Recommend

[Jkid]

11. I think this is called xenophobia.

[William Z. Foster]

14. things are not going well

Times are hard, people are frightened. They look for a scapegoat. The rulers encourage that, lest the wrath be turned on the appropriate target - the rulers.

[pampango]

16. Well said. And welcome to DU. n/t

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

15. Mike, I am listening to our progressive radio station,

Norman Goldman, and he had a couple of not-so-legal residents call in and talk about their story, their American experience, and I wanted to cry....Really heart-wrenching. People that had been here for years, and have established lives.

One thing I did not know is, it is really hard to get legal residency, just road block after road block....

[SargeUNN]

18. It really is

I had on the lady that is director of the group fighting for the Dream Act. She brought in a girl who was a junior at Arizona State University and had the highest GPA in the school of engineering ever. The girl told me when I ask about why she didn't just apply for citizenship that she would have to go to the country her family brought her from as a 2 year old, be denied to apply for 10 years because she was here already, and then be likely to be denied later for the same reason.

I guess I should also add that I have had several like her I have either had on my show or talked to that tell much the same story.

[jillan]

19. I was listening to Mike Newcomb today - it was so sad. Hispanics that have fought in the military

for the US because they were raised to believe that America is good now live in fear that they or their family member will be profiled.

This one guy lost it on the phone :( Heartbreaking!


I thought Payson was turning a little more blue - guess not....

I can't even recognize this state anymore since Janet left.

[Whisp]

20. I am with you and can share the sorrow. In my little way. nt

[Patiod]

21. How far south are you?

We were stopped twice on a short vacation, driving between Bisbee and Tombstone, and between Tombstone and Kartchner Caverns. Border Patrol, looking for illegals and smugglers. On other visits to towns further north, not stopped.

We were horrified by the attitudes and the obsession with guns. One thing I noticed is that many of the people we talked to had little if any exposure to the concept of city living, and couldn't even imagine a situation where walking around with weapons wouldn't be appropriate. We didn't dispute that someone living in an isolated trailer out of sight of anyone else and near the border would want guns for protection, but we asked them to imagine living in a city where 14 year old girls have gun battles in high school, and people shoot each other over dug-out parking places after a snow storm (yeah, I know, the snow analogy probably didn't register)

Heading out to Goodyear this week for my best friend's 50th birthday. I'd join the boycott, but the ticket was bought a month ago and is non-refundable, and I'm rationalizing that, other than a sandwich bought at the airport for the flight home, I won't be spending any other money in the state.

[blueamy66]

22. I'm with ya.

I haven't lost any friends, but I am saddened.

I love those who say that the illegals take our jobs. I couldn't tell you the last time I saw a "white guy" climb up a 100 foot palm tree with a machete hanging from his belt to clear out the dead fronds. These guys and gals are hard workers.

I don't know the solution, but something has to give.

[lumberjack_jeff]

25. .

The reason you don't see any white guys climbing the trees is because they can't compete on price with illegal workers.

Is it possible to be any more stupid? Evidence that illegals aren't stealing jobs is your observation that no white guys are out working? Really?

The "white guys" (and african americans, hispanic americans, and native americans) who used to climb trees (or plant trees, or pick crops, or fish) but now collect unemployment are hard workers too.

[blueamy66]

28. Don't call me stupid.

I live here. I know what goes on here. It was one example.

You live in Washington. When you have lived in AZ for over 35 years, I'll care about your opinion.

[lumberjack_jeff]

30. The shoe fits.

The racist observation that you see "no white guys" working is lackluster evidence for your contention that the people you do see working aren't stealing jobs.

It was one of the most idiotic things I've read here. Notwithstanding that, when you get a job in which you must work for a living in competition with ever cheaper labor, I'll care about your opinion, even if it remains stupid.

[blueamy66]

31. I think it's pretty good evidence.

Let's see....I've lived in my own home in AZ for over 20 years...probably had palm trees trimmed 3 times per year...so that's 60 times. Not one "white guy" has EVER climbed up the tree...not ONCE.

You are just bitter.

[lumberjack_jeff]

32. Cheap illegal labor: the key to nice landscaping.

I'll keep Washington.

[mimitabby]

23. I have an associate in AZ

i made a comment to her about the new law. She came unglued on me.
her sizzling response:

Oh stop. We have millions of undocumented people and they are all the "wrong color" because 90% of them are hispanic. So the other 10%, norweigans all, will skate. These undocumented people (law breakers) cost this state millions and millions of dollars in welfare and medical benefits. The local hospital maternity ward is full daily with hispanic babies being born to people with no medical insurance and NO papers, but they do have an interperter to show them how to sign up the infant for a ssn and welfare. We do not have any money in this state, this state is broke. State offices are being closed for lack of funds. These undocumented are NOT doing jobs americans will not do. They are your retail clerks in Goodwill, and the 99c store, and the buffets and much more. And, a significant portion of them are rude, totally, refuse to speak english even, if you question them with something like "what aisle is the ketchup?" They will say "no inglish" and turn their back, or they will tell you "aisle 5" and you get there and it's kotex and toilet paper. If you think this new bill is wrong, you should change houses with me for a year and then you will know.


yikes

[EFerrari]

26. The truth of the matter is, even if we deport every single last

undocumented worker (and lose the 30-35 billion dollars they add to the economy every year) Latinos will still be the fastest growing demo in the United States. Your associate is screwn.

[mimitabby]

27. screwn

hehe
yeah. she most definitely is screwn..

she'll likely die in that cesspool of hatred she stews in, sadly.

[blueamy66]

29. Your associate

sounds like a bigot to me.

[mimitabby]

33. well yeah

[Cleita]

24. When the racists succeed in driving out all brown people,

they will find that they have to do their own menial work and look after their own children. I wonder which underclass they are going to employ then? And I wonder how long it will take them to start hating them too?