Writer sets the record straight on her letter
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Michelle Parker
Published: April 14, 2008
Judging from the Grundys’ letter on April 13, they obviously did not get the message I was trying to convey.
First of all, Mr. and Mrs. Grundy, Mexico isn’t my adopted country. My mother is Mexican-American. Her parents were Mexican and their parents too. How dare you insinuate that I’m just an American pretending to be Hispanic? I am also not obligated to this country or by any other. No one owns me and the same goes the other way around.
Do you really think I must turn away from my Latino side to be an “obligated” American? You really did not understand my message. I brought up that I am a foreign service brat not to brag. I truly understand and know how it feels first-hand to live in a country that does not want “my” kind. Let me tell you, it hurt really bad. In some countries overseas, being an American is a crime. The same way it sometimes is for the immigrants here. I have lived in Canada, Mexico, Chile, Africa and El Salvador. Living in those countries opened my mind.
I find shameful the way Mr. Stewart and his ilk on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors have pandered to the worst instincts of a portion of the population of this county. Just think about all those letters that speak so disparagingly of “Latin businesses, Latin music…” etc. I submit that these people exhibit quite convincingly the racism that is behind the immigration initiative.
My family has resided in PWC for over twenty years. We too have watched the population of the county change, but unlike some, we like diversity. We are enamored of all the different ethnic restaurants and stores that have appeared since our arrival. When I had moved here for the first time, I had moved from Africa. I was berated, discriminated and singled out by my peers in school because I lived in such countries. They couldn’t understand how I can be an American and live away and out of this country. I was reminded that the KKK had their own P.O. Box in Manassas.
As I can see, the racism here still lives here to this day. Do the Grundys still think I have had too much Cabernet Sauvignon? People should have all the facts before they try and personally attack somebody.
MICHELLE PARKER
Manassas
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( zcxnissan ) on April 22, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Sorry Ray i refuse to make this an issue of race like you have, illegal is illegal no matter where you are from. Upholding the law is the best solution. I will not make this a racial issue like the pro illegal apologists have made it. Case closed. Chris Cummings
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Posted by ( raywilliams ) on April 20, 2008 at 1:40 pm
zcx, let’s not fool ourselves into saying this is not an Hispanic issue.
My point on race is we can discuss it without being demeaning towards a race.
While your funding program may help PWC short term, it does nothing for ICE or sealing the border. But, hey - if you’re happy, I’m happy. Proof will be in the 2009 budget. When the construction jobs come back, and the immigrants come back and ESOL rates go up again, we’ll see where the savings are.
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Posted by ( zcxnissan ) on April 19, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Obviously if you belittle someone and say that they monopolize certain professions then of course that is racism Phdee, whether you think so or not. By the way Ray your generalization about race is racist and your assumption that all the illegals in PWC are Hispanic is racist as well. Did you know that their was a man who was from Nepal detained this past month. Phdee it appears that you are bitter person clinging to racism, like an individual clings to God or guns, paraphrasing what Barack Obama said the other day speaking of “effite snobs”. We need the “Resolution” in order to get the Fed to enforce laws that are already on the books. Ummm Ray the funding comes from the budget, and has saved at least 1.6 million from the budget just from the at least 800 person decline in ESOL enrollment, this doesn’t include drops in other services of course, we won’t know these total figures until the end of the budget year. The Pope brought up the stories about blacks and Native Americans to cover the churches sexual misadventures of altar boys and priests and the ongoing coverup. We all understand that blacks were brought against their will to America, nobody is belittling that atrocity, or the fact that explorers and settlers of all nationalities persecuted, killed, and hounded Native Americans on to reservations, stole their land, etc. As for blacks the Civil War ended slavery over 143 years ago, unfortunately racism still lingers and it comes from all races, i know this is a difficult concept for phdee and raywilliams to grasp. Their continual support of illegal immigrants is racist and discriminatory towards us legal immigrants. Chris Cummings
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Posted by ( MikeG ) on April 17, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Phdee, As usual and ad naseum, you bring complete irrelevance to every post you submit. Why don’t YOU go for it, and make it far and soon.
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Posted by ( phdee ) on April 17, 2008 at 2:14 pm
MikeG: Today, the Pope in his mass in DC brought up “native Indians” and “blacks”. Perhapsx you should correct him…Let him know that he is out of touch with history - and to stop using “lame” statements. And inform the newspazperas. This would make a great story and get publicity for PWC, its kooks, and the anti crowd. Go for it!!!
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Posted by ( raywilliams ) on April 17, 2008 at 2:09 pm
And to barnun I ask - where is the funding coming from? Great deeds require great amounts of money. Without funding, we end up with .. with what we have now - open borders and free-range immigrants!
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Posted by ( phdee ) on April 17, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Barnum we’ve had law aftrer law after law on every imaginable subject. Polic e were supposed to arrest lawbreakers. Bur5 there was still racism and racial profiling. If the aim is to arrest all lawbreakers, then why do we need the resolution?
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Posted by ( phdee ) on April 17, 2008 at 12:35 pm
mikeG. Those who don’t learn from history, often have to repeat the course. You obviously didn’t learn - or is it that some of it is so unpleasant you close your mind to it. I guess you thin k you are qualified to speak for everyone - but not me. I don’t make a claim I can always walk in someone else’s shoes, but I do know something about the shoes. You show - an abysmal and dismal knowledge of “life” iin general. While I don’t know you, it appears you are what Spiro called “effite snobs”, part of today’s ignorant youth or boomers. I am glad you think you are so “gifted:. Your arrogance is surpasszed only by your ignorance.
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Posted by ( barnun ) on April 17, 2008 at 12:32 pm
It’s actually very easy to take all suspicion of racism out of this. Just arrest and prosecute anyone who breaks the law.
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Posted by ( raywilliams ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Folks, I think we can all agree the PWC Resolution is directed towards the illegal immigrant population in which I do not think there is any dispute that in this area, that population is majority Hispanic. I am pro-immigrant and I do not view the Resolution as a racist position, but simply a fact of numbers. Where I do draw the line is when writers use myths and stereotypes to label all of a population as ‘undesirable’ due to the actions of a few. Such as “I met a HSM member who was a fat ugly slob therefore all HSM members must be fat ugly slobs. Those types of comments add nothing to the conversation and should be avoided by BOTH sides of the issue. But to say this is a Hispanic issue to me is not a racist comment, but a fact of the times.
I would like to focus on the programs you want to put in place and where and when the funding coming from. PhDee, that along will stop them in their tracks!
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