All of the comments on WFMZ’s story about immigrant children coming to Berks County were negative, many showing the type of ignorance that fuel knucklehead politicians who pander to populist, nationalist fear to get votes, and then arrange policy to keep people ignorant.
Comments at Reading Eagle were mixed. I’m glad the Eagle has resumed accepting comments on its website to publicize reader reaction – although it’s clearly not a valid survey of people in Berks.
Perhaps the comments show that people with vicious attitudes look for venues to get their message out. Others commenters are suffering and accept the propaganda by so many of our leaders that our problems are caused by undocumented immigrants.
The facts are that the vast majority of Latinos in Berks County are here legally. Many are citizens! Many speak English better than many Berks residents speak English, and certainly better than most Berks Countians will ever speak a second language.
Even most of those without proper visas are here to improve themselves, learn English, work hard, and send large parts of their earnings home. They do not cost American jobs or reduce wages, and on the whole contribute more to our economy than they take.
As readers pointed out, so many commenters have such un-Christian views. An almost prehistoric sectarian hate. That’s the same mindset the Nazis channeled. Blame the Jews! Shiites, blame the Sunnis! Hutus, blame the Tutsis! Hindus, blame the Muslims! Buddhists, blame the Hindus!
“More than half of Reading residents are illegal as well so they don't deserve any saving either.”
-- Virginia Houseman
“As long as one veteran goes without proper care we should not spend one red cent taking care of someone else's kids.”
-- Rochelle-Brian Foreman
“There are sooo many illegals ALREADY living in Berks collecting benefits attending schools using up resources not speaking English. How come no one has a plan to get rid of them?”
-- Kim Bak
“Berks schools are struggling to make their numbers now what do you think will happen when you bring all these uneducated none English speaking kids into your schools. All of the money will be spent on them and what they need and to hell with your kids. Face it you are going to get screwed.”
-- Virginia Houseman
“I would rather support the animals in our humane society over these kids. Until every child, adult, ederly and heck even our american pets have homes ship these kids back.”
-- Tamarya Heminitz
“How about we house a few of them next door to you. You'll be singing another tune after the first backyard cock fights.”
-- Andrew Price
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -Jesus
-- David Delozier
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
-- Joan Baker
Hey Steve,
ReplyDeleteI like how you selectively showed posts without showing the full discussion or original comments to which the quote was in reply to. The editors at NBC would love that selectivity. Then again, no one around here expect much from bush league reporters who cycled through the third tier Reading Eagle. It really took some talent to tie together 50's era hooded cross burners, blond hair blue eyed goose steppers, and Africa's worst genocide in the last 30 years. Then again, people who scream racism have little left to offer.
You ignore the economic impact of 1,000,000+ undocumented kids who have been or will be dumped in our school and on our property tax payers. These kids are a billion dollar a year expense that falls on anyone owning a property. Maybe this is why 77% of Americans, according to the poll released today from The Economist, want these kids sent home. The same poll shows 66% of hispanics want the kids sent home.
But, hey, before we get too far here. Let's talk about my experience with the immigration system and my "off the boat wife". Yeah, I bet you didn't know I'm married to an immigrant - but Berks County need better journalism, right. Should we talk about the endless fees and waiting for student visas, or the constant trips to philly for fingerprints that are required with every application, or the thousands of dollars in fees to an agency that constantly contradicts itself, the hope that comes every fall with a new DV lottery and the heartbreak that comes when you get the small rejection envelope. Should we talk about the years of waiting only to watch line jumper get rewarded? Yeah, I bet this wasn't the answer you thought you were going to get, was it? So tell us about your vast personal experience with the USCIS. I'd love to hear it. I don't think I'll wait for that answer. You can just keep calling me, and others, racists before you look in the mirror each morning.
Maybe you should ask some recent immigrants what they think. Then again, I don't expect better journalism. I expect the same from you as what come from every other Eagle staffer who was thrown aside - opinion pieces that lack empirical data as well as the constant blame the knuckle dragging mouth breathing GOP and tea party. You really do cater to your seven readers.