“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-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” …unless you’re talking about Central and South American kids. Then send ’em back!
Is it just me, or do others see an empathy deficit when it comes to brown-skinned kids seeking refuge in the U.S.? Emma Lazarus‘ famed Petrarchan sonnet, “The New Colossus,” found on the Statue of Liberty, presciently foresaw our country’s current reluctance toward immigration. These most quoted lines—usually interpreted as an invitation—are in fact the personification of an imagined figure within the poem, responding to what Lazarus knew was coming … Andy Caldwell and his anti-immigrant ilk.
In an April 1 social media post, Caldwell railed against the news that Camp Roberts may be temporarily used to house the influx of unaccompanied migrant children currently stuck in overcrowded facilities on the U.S.-Mexico border while they await processing. The request for temporary use came from the Department of Health and Human Services, which is dealing with the humanitarian crisis.
“Truly, President Biden has opened a literal flood gate,” Caldwell claimed. “An estimated 1 million undocumented immigrants are expected to cross the border this year alone and that is just the beginning. We don’t have the ability to process, vet, house, and care for any of them.”
Not a single one! Zero! We especially can’t house and process them if we don’t open facilities such as Camp Roberts to the overflow, right, Andy?
The problem is the kids are here and being housed in inhumane and illegal conditions, and you claim in your post that we’re spending “tens of millions of dollars in hotel and motel rooms” and that we’ve “ceased vetting volunteers who are screening the immigrant children for crimes involving juveniles” and that “the feds are releasing many of these people on their own recognizance without ever as much as a court date to consider who these people are and whether they are qualified to stay.”
Hey, here’s an idea! Put some of them in Camp Roberts instead of hotel rooms, vet them, and hold them until they’re processed! You’re arguing against the very solution to the problem you outline, Andy, you big lunkhead!
Andy spent much of his post lambasting 24th District Congressman Salud Carbajal‘s response to the border crisis. It’s worth noting that Carbajal whooped Andy’s ass last year when he ran against the incumbent for the congressional seat. I mean whooped! That’s gotta sting still, eh, Andy?
“I, myself, am a son of an immigrant who is proud to be of a country of immigrants,” Caldwell dissembled. “But, what we are experiencing here is not immigration, it is an invasion.”
Fearmonger much, Andy? “Lock your doors! Batten down the hatches! The 12-year-old dreamers are coming!”
“Salud Carbajal became a congressman and evidently lost his soul in the process,” Andy claimed. “He has become nothing less than an apologist for the failed policies of the progressive movement in the face of a human tragedy that should shake him to his core.”
Oh, Andy! First, even if Carbajal “lost” his soul, which is arguably false since he’s trying to help these kids, at least he had one! Where’s yours? Is it in your mantra? “No Border, No Wall, No USA At All.”
And those “failed policies of the progressive movement” were good enough to keep you out of office. You lost, dude. You’re a loser! Your solution to this “human tragedy” is to stop Camp Roberts from opening its doors to unaccompanied minors. Seems like all your righteous indignation is a projection to mask your own lamentable lack of humanity toward refugees.
Speaking of lamentable, something’s fishy in Pozo. Recently, Levi Beanway, son of deceased former Pozo Saloon owners Brian and Rhonda Beanway and longtime Pozo resident, applied with business partner Tim Reed (instrumental in the development of the Vina Robles Amphitheatre) for a cannabis grow permit along Parkhill Road. County staff recommended allowing it, but the Planning Commission denied it, so Beanway and Reed appealed to the county Board of Supervisors. Here’s where it gets weird.
Fifth District Supe Debbie Arnold, who claims to have always had a “fine” relationship with the Beanways, recused herself from the vote because her family owns the property next to the Pozo Saloon, which is now being run by new majority owners, not Levi. If the relationship is “fine,” why not stand up for Levi?
Meanwhile, in a 2-2 split vote, which means the Planning Commission denial stands due to a tie, 4th District Supe Lynn Compton and 1st District Supe John Peschong voted no, and Peschong has tended to side with growers lately. What gives? Did Peschong vote no in solidary with Arnold, who secretly wanted to deny the grow but didn’t want to come out publicly?
A lot of anti-cannabis people complain that these growers are out-of-towners and big corporations, but here’s a native son of a well-known Pozo family, a young man who recently lost both his parents and is trying to make a living, and y’all still raise a stink for pretty flimsy reasons. Sad. Δ
The Shredder is American made but doesn’t mind sharing office space with imports. Send comments and suggestions to shredder@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Apr 8-18, 2021.
We have laws providing for legal immigration. These laws are far more generous than any other country on the planet.
We do not discriminate against non white populations in that process.
The objection (held by more than 70% of our population) is to “ILLGAL” immigration; that which is done without compliance with our laws. Note that these are laws made by our representative government; within the concept of a democratic free society in which the citizens elect representatives to carry out their wishes.
Those who insist on promoting open borders clearly have a lack of respect for both our laws and the concept of democracy.
And no, we do not have a duty to house and feed everyone in the world. First, we cannot afford it, and second, it destroys the middle class by undercutting their wages, as well as imposing destructive inflation by our deficit financing of the welfare for these illegal entrants.
More Andy Caldwell, LESS Shredder!
It’s simple really. If people in the US do not want refugees, immigrants and undocumented workers coming into the US, they should probably tell their politicians and CEOs to stop creating the conditions which make such a perilous journey seem like a reasonable alternative.
It would probably be a good idea for them to stop passing insane trade policies which make it impossible for a person in Latin America and elsewhere to support their family. That, and stop assassinating democratically elected leaders acting in the best interest of their people, stop training death squads, stop installing and supporting brutal right wing regimes, stop corporations from rampant pollution, and otherwise cease all activities which make coming into the US seem like the only option. When you burn down a persons home and make it impossible for them to support their family, you probably shouldn’t be surprised to find them sleeping under your porch when it is raining….
Not sure of course, but maybe if the US stopped giving $Trillions to CEOs and corporations and otherwise ceased to subsidize such entities, and put an end to spending $Trillions on numerous illegal wars, bombings, dronings, and facilitating the slaughter of innocent men, women and children throughout the world, as well as removing the close to 1000 military bases situated around the world, and use that money and resources to improve conditions in the nations where refugees and immigrants leave from, the so called immigration problem would largely cease to exist….
Curiously, I wonder how many of those who protest the loudest against refugees and immigration are “pro life” and or identify as “Christian”…
Personally, I’d rather exchange any refugee, immigrant and undocumented worker with the type of hateful, ignorant, and intolerant troll which has become so plentiful as of late in the US….
That, and for those in the cheap seats, NO HUMAN BEING IS ILLEGAL….
Of course, those “poor, your huddled masses…” were not coming to an already crowded country which provides very expensive benefits like healthcare, education, housing, food, etc to everyone within its borders, and in the case of California even throws in some stimulus spending money. But if the Shredder feels strongly about it, why does ‘t he take in a couple of dozen illegals in his home, where he can provide for their needs.
Our nation is now on the path to recovery. We truly do need to build back better.
Joe Biden is doing a good job as president. I trust he will be of more benefit to our nation than those who eagerly and selfishly spew misinformation, hatred and division in our community. President Biden deserves widespread support and if he gets that he will be well-equipped to provide strong leadership aimed at solving or reducing many of our nations most pressing problems. More power to him. Long live Joe Biden.
Here is a fact: Our nation can absolutely afford to feed and house and provide quality healthcare for everyone within its borders. We have all the resources to do so. The only thing lacking is the unity and will to make it happen. But when it does happen, a new advanced level of happiness and well-being will spread across our continent and beyond.
Send children and their parents back to Mexico, regardless of their country of origin. That was the last border they crossed illegally. There has been a long history of a nefarious chain of criminals, beginning with private and public media campaigns,coyotes to Mexican government officials who support illegal immigration into the USA. Let Mexicans care for the people who crossed their border into the USA. Mexico must be responsible for caring for their own people and their own illegal aliens who cross their borders. Instead 9f caring for illegal aliens, the Mexican government closed to send aliens North to America so we can pay for housing a largely unemployed, uneducated,
unhealthy, Hispanic population. Then, let’s see Salud “Mexican” Carbajal go to Mexico to survey how Mexican authorities treat Hispanic children. Those children are treated worse than we treat our homeless populations. Yes, let’s not talk about that….while American children and veterans are suffering.
Blight turd 2 is some kind of democrat hack. If I walk into DNC headquarters somewhere, I’m sure to hear bullshit talking point after bullshit talking point. SAME shit, different day. Whoever you are, you will never get what your party seeks. FACT: Regardless of what this country CAN do, what we DO is what matters. Feeding, housing and providing health care is not what needs to happen. EARN your income to eat, EARN your income to pay for housing and EARN the money to pay for your health care. (By the way, make healthy choices, because if you don’t, YOUR output in dollars and cents goes up.) Otherwise, you will live by the MERCY of charitable foundations and nice people. NOT GOVERNMENT! The government is not your family, nor is it a charitable organization. It exists to maintain property rights and ensure that agreements between folks are carried out honestly. It also must maintain a military force formidable enough to deter those who would endanger our way of life, those who would destroy us and render those who rise against our nation forcefully obsolete or unable to rise again. UNIFY with that. “new advanced level of happiness???” BULLSHIT!
Once again it’s clear that the biggest threat to the well-being of our nation comes from selfish desires and inability to Appreciate that our world has enough resources for all. Being blessed with a life on earth is our great opportunity to express love and find our greater purpose before our brief time on this planet is over. So much of what we strive for will mean little or nothing to us on our deathbeds when we realize we have wasted our life in hatred and selfishness.
I am not affiliated with any political party. Why would I be?
End Illegal Invasions
Build the Wall!
Deport Stupidity!
Illegal is a crime, not a race.
No Amnesty for Illegals.
Biden for prison, 2024.
Support Gang Injunctions
Support ICE
Support LEGAL immigration by Ending Illegal Immigration!
Love all, serve all.
It worthwhile to note that the incidence of violent crime among non-citizens in the United States is lower than the crime rate among citizens. In other words, within our borders those so-called illegal aliens are less likely to kill, maim or destroy property than United States citizens.
Rightword2….you have your head far up your ass
I think it’s best for our community to embrace truth rather than ignore or deny it.
We have enough resources for everyone, and plenty of space as well. Take a drive across the country and you can see that’s true The most crucial factor in bettering our community is the attitudes of the people. When a unified, loving optimistic and ambitious attitude spreads like a virus across our nation, we will do well and joy will Multiply across the land.
Upgrading attitudes should be easier than up grading a computer. Unfortunately, enough people are not yet ready for that. But the time is coming. Rejoice!
Building a wall on our southern border has been a tremendous waste of energy and money. All along the wall one can find easily-constructed ladders used to overcome the wall. The wall is a joke. As Ronald Reagan once said: “tear down this wall!”
If you want to stabilize migration in the world we need to work together to make sure the people of every nation in the world have access to food, and quality healthcare and education. We have the Ways and Means to make this happen. What we need now is the will to do it. And when that happens, peace and joy will reign supreme throughout the globe. It’s hard to imagine anything more worthwhile to work toward.
Ignore those who wish to spread hatred and division, selfishness and greed throughout the world.