BK3K: I've been neglecting this thread, so I'll try and respond a little faster
Bastardking3000 wrote:GAM (The Kilted One) wrote:Seriously, the problem can be dealt with in better ways than ones that are proven to NOT work (like ship them home, build a wall, send them to war... They'll cross again, go over/under/through the wall/fight half-heartedly or run. They don't WANT citizenship).
Well I never said anything about forcing them to do anything like join the armed forces. I mean we should open the option. I'm sure that many immigrants do not want to be citizens - and they won't enlist. I'm also sure that many do. The future is alot brighter for those that can legally work here, and the military isn't a bad option for a career(for some people) anyways. Plus I think that many of them(obviously not all) would simply be proud to be a real American citizen rather than an illegal alien.
Certainly. It would be a lot easier if there was that kind of option, I was speaking more along the lines of enforced military service, that was tried during the civil war, and failed miserably. However, having the voluntary option to do it generally works out better (like in WWII with Itallian and Irish immigrants).
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Also you think they wouldn't fight hard - well GAM, your temporary immigration was from Canada - which does not suck - most come from countries that life does suck, so they would appreciate it here alot more than you or or I would I would imagine. I don't see many immigrants running back across the Mexican border(at least by choice). Many immigrants have been among the people who have worked hardest of all for this nation. Many of them love it more than we do, so why would they not fight hard? People thought the same of the black regiments who served in the American Civil War(that they wold not fight hard for a country that hated, oppressed, and disciminated against them) - and yet they proved to be among the hardest fighting soldiers the Union had. People also said this about the prisoner pilots of WW2, same story. Look up Casimir Pulaski - Illinois has a state holiday for him. American history is full of such things, but no one seems to remember them.
I wasn't inferring that they wouldn't fight as hard as an enlistee on the basis that they're not white (or black, asian, indian etc), more that they wouldn't fight as well as someone that chose to fight, again, assuming that when they were found out they were either deported or forced to fight in the military to gain their citizenship.
I've read a few articles and books about the immigrant's situation (legal and otherwise) and most that are here illegally would rather work at home close to their families, and given the choice, would prefer to have the work at home but dont want to become American citizens.
My particular situation was dictated by my job, if I didn't have to be in the US I wouldn't go... mainly because my family is here, and it's what I know. My situation was different because of the payscale, the work and the legality of me working there, but all the same, I'll stay a part of the
Eh Team 
I didn't have to go through the kind of work the illegals are going through, but the idea is the same. I'd rather do it at home than elsewhere.
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In a way, being an illegal alien is probably alot like living in the ghetto. Some people are there by choice and do not want it any other way, while others are there because they have no choice. I just think we should provide that choice. You can say that they all want to be illegals, but you can't know that unless you give them a (real) choice.
From what I've read, a ghetto would be nice. There isnt a lot of illegals making mad cash doing what they do (farming, piecemeal construction, landscape work), and a lot of them in farming live in 3rd world conditions. Think tin roof, tarpaper 1 room shack, 15+ to the building, no running water and one bare lightbulb.
As for giving them the choice, that would require the current administration (both Legislative and Executive) to start thinking outside the box. Coming up with long-term answers to the current problems and possibly forseeing possible other problems would be a good thing.
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I don't think the farms etc would be out of workers because many would want to remain as they are(not that there aren't TONS of workers to start with - easily replaced workers). But not everyone wants to pick strawberries for $10 a day. I don't think those who would take that option would all be enlisted at once obviously. As I said, you could put a cap on how many are enlisted at one time. Boot camps only has so much capacity anyways. Obviously they would fill that capacity with willing citizens first and willing immigrants second.
It would require a lot of advanced planning, obviously. This isn't something that's going to be solved overnight.
Giving those that enlist, the same pay, and benefits though? I think that might be a scoche insulting to US citizen enlistees, I can't say for certain, but I think I'd feel like I'd been slapped in the face if that happened. Again, it would need a lot of careful thought.
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Now for the language issue. Speaking Spanish is fine but they need to learn English too. Their drill instructors could know at least basic Spanish - but this is boot camp so they could have some English "drilled" into them. They would at least understand a basic amount of English getting out so that they could pick up the rest outside of boot camp(I have a feeling that numbers will be the first thing they learn - give me "fifty" push ups etc etc lol). They will learn it - a drill instructor is a good "motivator." They may also have a slightly extended boot camp if need be for just such a thing
This is where you could look up here for a bit of an answer. In Canada's military, you can get drilled in English or French, and you learn both (dependant on where you're sent), and in RCMP Depot (basic officer training) French officers HAVE to learn to speak English perfectly, accent excluded.
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You know - there has been an "immigration crisis" since America was founded - the Irish, the Chinese, etc etc. With each new waive - they where all unwelcomed at first but they built this nation to where it is today. Ever take a train(or own anything transported by train - trust me you do) - thank the immigrants of the past. They where only legal because they didn't have immigration laws like they do today. Even then they still would have came. Of course they did end up all learning English(although not always right away), and I think todays waive of immigrants will in time do the same(although I could be wrong). We are a nation built on the backs of immigrants. So be grateful and quit bitching about it.
More or less my perspective. Irish immigrants were condsidered the inferior, unwashed (barely white if I remember a letter from the civil war) and cast-off masses from the British empire, until New York, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans and many other cities were built up on their backs, and the Civil war was fought with Irish regiments. Japanese/Chinese were thought to be pretty much useless and expendible during the same time, and they were only useful for their ability to carry nitroglycerine into blasting caves... The same for Itallians, Germans, French (both european and Acadien), Russian/Ukranian, Ashkenaze Jews, East Indians...
It goes on and on.
The better idea is to find a way to integrate these people and increase add to the collective's perfection.
RESITANCE IS FUTILE.
Sorry...
Edited 2 time(s). Last edited Saturday, June 24, 2006 10:38 PM
Transeat In Exemplum: Let this stand as the example.