Why all this immigration hoop-la really chaps my hide
My father and grandparents immigrated from Germany in 1951. They did it LEGALLY.
My grandfather recently (or at least I FOUND it recently LOL) wrote of their experience coming to America on his website (I'm going to copy/paste rather than link so as to protect their privacy):
Seas of memories of our crossing the Atlantic in 1951 as Immigrants on board of the Ship SS Constitution. Else, John and Karl Juergen our 3 year old on one of the most memorable experiences in our life. We did leave our hometown in Bendorf/Rhein on the 13th of December 1951 by train to Geneva, Italy. The train went through the Swiss Alps at night and it was just wonderful. In the morning we where in Geneva.Do to our departure we did have time to have a bus tour on the Riviera. On the 15th of December we board the Ship SS Constitution. Our voyage had begun; next port we stopped was Neapel's and then Cannes. This was as smooth as glass, so Else did not take her seasickness pills (big mistake) so the Mediterranean Sea gave us a nice cruise in December. On board ship the pool for swimming was open and some people did swim. Here I have to mention the tickets were 2nd class crossing so we had cabins on A-Deck. Because all ships were booked until May of 1951 so our Aunt and Uncle had to send more money for the extra cost. Oh how great was it up till now. But it should change very soon. W e got closer to the Straits of Gibraltar did one more stop, to pick up some passengers from Spain. During this stop some changes were being made at the dining hall table and such items were fastened to the floor and table. I knew what was coming after all this preparations: stormy sea ahead. Myself did serve in the German Navy during World War II on board the ship, HK Orion (7000 ton). The SS Constitution had 35000 ton but about 1200 passengers and crew. On the 16th of December we went through the Straits from Gibraltar into the Atlantic.
After leaving the Straits from Gibraltar behind us we did go just a bit southerly so we would pass the Azores to the east of us. By now we know were where in the Atlantic Ocean. By the second day our ship is taking a pounding as she is trying to make headway and all motors where running high in gear.
After passing the Azores the sea got rough, but the Master (Captain) kept the high throttle going. Passengers were getting sick by now. Good thing we where on A Deck and had privilege to the first class, here the Christmas tree had been put up and in the evening music would play to dance to. Oh the food was just out of this world, we had not seen so much food in a long time. By now, Else knew she should have taken her seasickness pills. The Atlantic Ocean had gotten to her. The waves were getting higher and higher and the crew closed up the out deck walking area. The ship was rolling and pitching so for me as a Navy Man it was no problem but most of the passengers where getting less and less in the dining area. Here I most say the ship was only 1 or 2 years old so for an ocean liner the Constitution was relatively a new ship.
We are now in the Mid-Atlantic and the storm is on us from all sides rolling and pitching and the propellers coming out of the water and making some real sounds. No matter what the Captain keep on going because the crew will go on vacation after we are in New York and the ship is in dry dock for some painting. THE WAVES WERE GETTING HIGHER!!!!
This is our 4th day out in the Atlantic Ocean. Else is not going to the dining area anymore, she can passed the elevator from the kitchen. The smell of food drives her right back to the cabin. I am bringing from the dining area some oranges and some hard rolls. She must have something in her stomach. Oh boy, the ship is still going strong against the storm. By now the bow is scooping up some of those waves and the water is running off on the main deck. Myself I am up on the 1st class deck and taking this all in and having a sailors delight. I did talk to the swiss Steward from 1st class and he told me we were suppose to have 2 more days like this, till it get better. Here I have to mention, we did not get a cabin together because we where only 3 persons and the cabin is for 4. So, Else had Karl J. and 2 other ladies. I did have the other side of the ship (starboard) sharing the cabin with 3 other guys, boy are they seasick. This is one of the reasons why I spent a lot of times on top of the deck. On this particular day, in the night the two ladies in the cabin and Else asked her to go and get me because they were afraid. Water was going past the portholes on A deck. So, Else went on her way to my cabin only the ship laid a little bit on the side and she slipped and her butt and scooted all the way across to my side of the ship. When she got to the cabin, all she heard was the guys doing their seasick throwing up (feeding the fish-HA). I was not in the cabin till later that night. The screws from the ship came out of the water and the girls got scared. I did sleep in the cabin with the ladies that night. The Captain slowed the ship down, only to have more rolling and pitching. It got real still and this even made it worse for the women. But we did make it through the night and we all made it!!
2 more days and we should have this storm behind us and we have smooth sailing into New York harbor. Else had taken 3 days ago her seasickness pills, by now she is doing fine. Only she tells me, if this is the only way back to Germany I never will make the trip again. We where in the Christmas spirit and so we did some dancing in the Oak Room and at 1st class. What a wonderful time we did have even with all the problems. One the dance floor, the Christmas tree did his thing to, if the ship went down, the branches went up, and if the ship went up the branches went down. Else did not look at the Christmas tree, she would make herself sick again. As fast as the storm came up, that is the same way it slowed down and it got nice on board ship, So we could walk on the deck again. On the 9th day they told us we would pass at 6:00 am the Statue of Liberty the next day. We got up in the morning early and waited on top deck. Only we did pass the statue until 9:00 am. language was our problem. Anyhow, the Lady out in the Harbor gave us the welcome to the United States of America, the home of the FREE!!
So when I read about what all is going on and see all the signs that protesters were carrying on Monday...it makes me sick.
I feel for the families who believe that coming to America to work is the only way their famlies back home (wherever that is) can survive. I really do. And I don't really blame them per se. For all I know, they may have heard through the grapevine that "all you have to do" to get a job in America is do such & such, and they may have no idea (at first anyway) that "such & such" is illegal.
(Of course, the word "illegal" implies that there are consequences, so I wonder if it's truly "illegal" anymore. GRRRRR.)
Just who do I fault?
Companies who are out for super cheap labor.
The people who are making all the false documents, since in many cases, the employers THINK these immigrants have legit papers, but they don't.
The people who have been preaching the "these immigrants are working the jobs that Americans won't work" mantra. That's a load of hooey. At least it used to be. Now that mantra has been repeated so often that Americans think "that work" is beneath them.
The parents of the Americans who SHOULD be doing "that work." We are seeing a generation of people who have been catered to, spoiled, and indulged - we have generation of people who don't know how to work.
The government who has indulged that generation even more. Who needs to work when you can get paid MORE by not working and being on welfare?
The government who has done NOTHING to curb this increasing problem. And now that the illigal immigration problem is HUGE, I'll be surprised if our government comes up with anything to actually solve it.
The government who is pandering to all this illegal activity.
The government who scares employers from firing workers who skipped work to attend the protests Monday.
The illegal immigrants who KNOW they are doing wrong and don't care and who snub their nose at our country. (Note that they are last on my list.)
Pictures like this and this are a slap to the faces of my father and grandparents. And I won't stand for it.
whimsy wrote,
I’m pretty conflicted about the whole thing. I don’t know where to point the finger or how to fix it. My great-grandfather came here from Greece when he was 14. Illegally. He never did become legal because he was too afraid.
I don’t think the problem is the immigrants at all. I think it’s us. You are right. We (as a country) are lazy and spoiled. We want cheap food (when we should probably try to grow our own if it’s possible) and disposable goods.
As an employer, it is hard to find anyone who will work. In my part of the country, they can make more cooking meth than they can at a job. It would be hard to turn down an illegal who wanted to work when we are struggling to meet our deadlines due to lack of employees.
We live in farm country. It used to be that teenagers worked in the hay fields during the summer. Now farmers are struggling to get their hay in. Dh usually ends up taking some time off of work to help friends. The teenagers who should be doing the work are too busy with all their activities with their parents footing the bill. (Usually because the mom is out working)
Gosh, I didn’t know I had so much to say!
I better get myself back to work!
Link | May 4th, 2006 at 11:14 am
whimsy wrote,
I should probably mention that I think almost all of the problems in our country stem from the fact that women left their homes and children. I know that’s a strong statement (please direct all flaming to me directly)
If it was only the women that worked outside the home out of need, there would be enough other women to fill in the gaps.
That’s how important I think we are as wives and mothers. Civilization falls apart without us!
I’ll go make my own post so the flamers have someplace to direct their fury.
Link | May 4th, 2006 at 11:21 am
razorbackmama wrote,
EXACTLY, WHIMSY!!!!!!!
My dh has an INCREDIBLE work ethic, which I know is not the norm (and certainly not the norm for people about 10-15 years younger than he is). At one point in college he needed a job and had an application in at a chicken plant. He was willing to do it. But I know that he is highly unusual, and most folks wouldn’t “lower” themselves.
Yup, in general, I don’t really blame the immigrants themselves. But they sure do make easy scapegoats.
Link | May 4th, 2006 at 11:23 am
beth wrote,
Oh, hunny! It chaps my hide too… and there is certainly plenty of blame to go around. You’ve summed it pretty well though. However, I’ve read plenty of evidence that points out quite clearly that unfortunately a large percentage of illegal immigrants turn to lives of crime, are bringing diseases, and expecting the USA to accomodate them, and provide handouts, rather than learning the English language, etc… as did the Immigrants of times past… It’s like comparing apples and oranges, me thinks.
Definitely a complex beast, which is around to stay, I’m afraid… like you said.
Link | May 6th, 2006 at 8:11 am
beth wrote,
clarification; I meant that immigrants in the past have contributed to the strong multi-cultural fabric of our country’s heritage, unlike what’s happening now…
Link | May 6th, 2006 at 8:13 am
razorbackmama wrote,
I hear ya Beth!!!!! Those “unsavories” are definitely taking advantage of our broken system. There are some illegals who are out to provide for their families, there are some who INTENDED to do that but turn to a life of crime because the mantra of “Americans aren’t willing to do the work” has created a subservient class of people, and some are just out to “get” America. *sigh*
Thanks for the reminder about the language…when my grandparents came over they refused to speak German at home. They didn’t know a word of English, but they were BOUND AND DETERMINED to learn it. When my dad played with the neighbor kids or went to school, when he came home my grandparents would grill him on the new English that he had learned. They were bound and determined to become AMERICANS, and that included learning ENGLISH. They never expected to be accomodated by having things written in German for them.
Link | May 6th, 2006 at 12:15 pm