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 ( PWCMom ) on April 15, 2008 at 4:39 pm
phdee, you still haven’t been able to show where the resolution is applied to one group and one group only. In fact, you STILL haven’t shown where the law is only applying to one group and one group only. THAT is racism-and what you are peddling is a weak excuse for breaking the law. When will you back up YOUR allegations with fact?
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Posted by ( phdee ) on April 15, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Barnum, you’re showing no knowledge of history. The world moves aheasd and changes. Today it is the Hispanic turn to be the “victim”. The chinese have been discriminated against. So have the Japanese (We even rounded ujpmJap-SAmericans, took their possessions, put them in camps - but never found ONE disloyal one), Koreans have been discriminated against, Irish have been, Poles hae been, Mexicans have been, Indians have been, blacks have been - the list goes on and on. Twenty years from now there will be someone other than Hispanics…it never ends. How one goes about “hollering” it changes also. The world doesn’t stand still.
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Posted by ( barnun ) on April 15, 2008 at 1:43 pm
It is funny as one side pushes for enforcement of the immigration laws, it is 99.9% of the times that the hispanic community cries racism. I dont recall seeing discussions of all the Russians crying racism, or the japanese, or the koreans, or the chinese. Why is that ? The Hispanic community in general would not be under the microscope and so much in the public eye if they had overwhelmingly been the primary offenders of breaking our laws.
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Posted by ( kgotthardt ) on April 15, 2008 at 1:14 pm
“Those against illegal immigration are against those who try to sideskirt the laws of this country while others wait their turn.“ Many of those against illegal immigration in this county use citizen status as rationalization for discrimination and persecution of FOREIGNERS.
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Posted by ( phdee ) on April 15, 2008 at 12:27 pm
SEB21. This particular resolution in PWC IS about race (ethnic cleansing is more appropriate). The pro-resolution crowd likes to talk about “legal:, i,e, no documents. But the argument is shown to be phony when these “legalists” go further and speak of DUI, ESOL cost, social services, ER, food stamps, crime, tall grass, trash, culture, not learning English, assimilation, no drivers license, murder, disease, overcrowding, taking merican jobs, loitering, day loborers, having children, sending money back home, parking on grass, displaying signs, etc. Need I go on. That’s a pretty impressive list of topics to consider as “legal” vs. “illegal”. It comes down to more than “legal’, which is just a pretext for blatant racism, hate, prejudices, etc. Let’s be honest about the situation and quite playing make believe games.
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Posted by ( Abril Broma ) on April 15, 2008 at 9:31 am
It is not inherently racist to call for enforcement of immigration laws. However, the disparagement of a particular culture because some members of that culture have broken immigration laws (as Ms. Parker notes in her letter) is racist. My apologies for guessing, but it seems to me that Ms. Parker’s complaint about the immigration initiative is based on the question of whether the issue of illegal immigration would receive so much attention if most of the illegal immigrants were Anglo-Saxon rather than Hispanic. I have to say that I share her concern.
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Posted by ( seb21 ) on April 15, 2008 at 9:22 am
The illegal immigration issue is not one of race. No matter how clear it is made to people like you, the truth just does not stick. Those against illegal immigration are against those who try to sideskirt the laws of this country while others wait their turn. You should feel fortunate that you live in a country that is so accepting to others immigrating here. If you have traveled abroad, you should know that most other countries have much stricter or non-existent laws regarding immigration. There is simply no logical argument that can be made by illegal immigrant supporters like yourself.
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Posted by ( Mike ) on April 15, 2008 at 7:38 am
You know you’ve lost an argument when you have to resort to calling people racists. Being against being taken advantage of by illegal aliens and those that employ them does not equal being a racist.
People should have all the facts before they try and attack other people.
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Posted by ( zcxnissan ) on April 14, 2008 at 11:57 pm
We are all Americans as long as we follow the rules and laws and respect others.
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