Again I have to take the time to point out how far off the mark the State of California has gone. There is phrase that many of us have heard over time, I am not sure who first spoke the words, “Everything we need to know in life we learn in kindergarten.” Some of the first lessons we learn in life is that we need to respect both other persons and their property. We also learn that we must share and cooperate with others. We also learn that there are rules in life, both moral and public rules such as laws. We learn that when those in authority direct us that we should pay attention, such as when a teacher requires our attention or a police officer gives lawful order to obey.
California is very proud of the fact that it has successfully signed into law the first bill of a two part package (http://www.kcra.com/news/28661566/detail.html). Assembly Bill 130 (AB130) (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/ab_130_bill_20110718_enrolled.html) is part of the “Dream Act” that will open financial aid to college students that entered the United States illegally. According to the text of AB130 that under existing law as long as a person that entered the United States illegally attends a California high school for at least 3 years and graduates or obtains the “equivalent thereof” and they register or attend an accredited institution not earlier than the fall semester of 2001-02 academic year along with filing the proper affidavit they will be exempt from paying non-resident tuition at a California Community or State University. AB130 will provide the enhancement to the law allowing these same students that have entered the United States illegally to be eligible to receive, “a scholarship derived from non-state funds received, for the purpose of scholarships, by the segment at which he or she is a student” after January 1,2012.
The second bill which has not been signed into law at this time is Assembly Bill 131(AB131) (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/ab_131_bill_20110527_amended_asm_v95.html). AB131 the more difficult portion of the package to sneak by everyone because it will allow persons that entered the United States illegally access both state funded financial aid and scholarships. Keep in mind these bills allows a person that has admittedly committed a crime access to financial aid in the form of a scholarship. For those that might not realize the difference financial aid generally must be paid back to the supplier of the funds and a scholarship on the other hand never has to be paid back and is considered my many people to be “free” money. I will not even get started on my rant that nothing in life is “free”.
This is not an issue of color, race or religion. This is an issue of the law and the concept that a country is defined by its border, language and culture. Both AB130 and AB131 have absolutely no mention at all of a person’s color, race, religion, or culture. Both of these bills only refer to a person that has abused the system and entered the United States illegally along with meeting a particular criteria. It is completely understood that many of these illegal students are the children of adults that chose not to follow the legal process for entering the United States. I am not saying that these children should be persecuted for the poor decisions and actions of their parents. What I would suggest is that the children be given the opportunity to enter the legal process of becoming a citizen of the United States with no penalties providing that they were a minor child when their parents committed the crime of entering the United States illegally. After these students have successfully and legally become United States citizens then they would have all the same educational rights and benefits of a natural citizen and there would be no need for additional legislation.
I know many people will read this and think that I am not being “tolerant” or embracing the divine concept of “multiculturalism”. Our great nation was created when people from one place decided that they needed a new start for whatever reason. Many might disagree but for the most part this was the result of white European settlers moving to a new land. Some left Europe for religious reasons others left to distance themselves from the persecution of oppressive governments. Hoping that I can leave out the history lesson that covers the American Revolutionary war and fast forward through the 17th and 18th centuries it was during the 19th and 20th centuries that immigration exploded in the United States (http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/timeline.html). While there have always been individuals that have had the desire to live in the United States it seems that only recently that we have decided to reward those that enter our country illegally. I cannot think of any other crime you can commit in the United States and gain benefits from not only committing the crime but when you actually admit that you have committed the crime. While we are at it why don't we just tell the kids they only have to stay out of the cookie jar unless they can reach it.
I often wonder how people would feel if it was acceptable for a person to enter your home and take whatever they like and it was not a crime as long as they don't get caught entering the house. Imagine this scenario, you are home enjoying your favorite book in your living room. Without you seeing them someone enters through the back door and is taking your wallet from the counter in your kitchen. You walk in and see them, call the police, and when the police arrive they ask you if you saw them enter into your house. You respond to the police officer that your were reading a book in the living room and did not see or hear anything. The police officer then explains to you that since you didn't see the person enter your home they now have the right to freely take your money. I would be willing to bet that this hypothetical scenario would make a lot of people angry. However, what is the difference between this scenario and AB130 & AB131?
With the exception of the Native American Indians it is 100% accurate that the United States was created by people from all around the world immigrating to our country. However, in the past it was fairly uniformly understood that along with following the legal process of immigrating to the United States that each person was expected to assimilate into the culture that had been developed within the United States. This legal process did not and still does not expect each cultural group to leave their traditions and customs at the door or on Ellis Island for that matter. In fact, in the past the many groups that immigrated to the United States kept their culture and customs alive and well by leading with the identification that they were American's first and always a member of whatever culture they brought with them second.
I personally had the pleasure of growing up in a military family and we moved across the United States several times throughout my life. I have lived in many communities all across this great nation. The most interesting experience of my life took place when I was approximately nine years old. My family was moved to the New England, Northeast coast. Exactly half of my family was 100% Irish (mothers side) and the other half (fathers side) was 100% French. Living in the New England area I was introduced to many different cultures that for the most part at this point in history coexisted with each other perfectly. The Irish had their portions of the community, the French had their area, and the Italians another. It actually made dining out very simple whatever cuisine your stomach desired you knew exactly where to go. Some people might refer to this type of situation as segregation but nothing could be further from the truth. Segregation refers to boundaries that cannot or should not be crosses. These areas had no arbitrary boundaries that should or could not be crossed they simply had areas of each community where their home culture and customs were alive and well. Within these areas they could successfully teach their children about their heritage and share their culture with outsiders.
Just in case something had changed that I was not aware of I did double check and we do have a process for anyone that would like to ask to immigrate to the United States (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis). It seems very wrong that we have a process for foreign people to enter our country legally and yet we reward those that choose not to follow the rules. How are we as a nation emphasizing that we have a defined set of rules, regulations, and laws when we selectively choose which of these should be enforced? What message are we sending as a nation to the good people around the world that have knowledge, talent and experiences that our nation could benefit from when we force them to follow a lengthy process and procedure and others get benefits from breaking the rules?
I really wonder how this will play out in the future. Will employers in the future be barred from hiring criminals? I suppose this might help explain why San Francisco, CA is moving towards a system that would eliminate using a person’s criminal history as a reason to reject them as a tenant or employee (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43873369/ns/business-personal_finance/).
Just for clarity let me summarize the current situation in California. The state has a current budget deficit of around $25 billion dollars and we are enacting a new entitlement program to basically reward people that have blatantly broken both federal and state immigration laws. It should be noted that at the same time AB130 was signed into law by the Governor of California, Jerry Brown he vetoed Assembly Bill 96 (AB96) (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/ab_96_bill_20110714_enrolled.html). AB96 would have provided funding to help cover adult day care programs for California's elderly (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/27/california-adult-care-centers-vetoed-funds_n_911088.html). Governor Brown wrote in his veto message for AB96 that the bill was similar to other existing programs. Wow, that never stopped California in the past we have program after program that are all nearly identical what made this one special? Maybe criminals now hold a higher position in California society than our elderly.
Thanks for listening...
California is very proud of the fact that it has successfully signed into law the first bill of a two part package (http://www.kcra.com/news/28661566/detail.html). Assembly Bill 130 (AB130) (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/ab_130_bill_20110718_enrolled.html) is part of the “Dream Act” that will open financial aid to college students that entered the United States illegally. According to the text of AB130 that under existing law as long as a person that entered the United States illegally attends a California high school for at least 3 years and graduates or obtains the “equivalent thereof” and they register or attend an accredited institution not earlier than the fall semester of 2001-02 academic year along with filing the proper affidavit they will be exempt from paying non-resident tuition at a California Community or State University. AB130 will provide the enhancement to the law allowing these same students that have entered the United States illegally to be eligible to receive, “a scholarship derived from non-state funds received, for the purpose of scholarships, by the segment at which he or she is a student” after January 1,2012.
The second bill which has not been signed into law at this time is Assembly Bill 131(AB131) (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/ab_131_bill_20110527_amended_asm_v95.html). AB131 the more difficult portion of the package to sneak by everyone because it will allow persons that entered the United States illegally access both state funded financial aid and scholarships. Keep in mind these bills allows a person that has admittedly committed a crime access to financial aid in the form of a scholarship. For those that might not realize the difference financial aid generally must be paid back to the supplier of the funds and a scholarship on the other hand never has to be paid back and is considered my many people to be “free” money. I will not even get started on my rant that nothing in life is “free”.
This is not an issue of color, race or religion. This is an issue of the law and the concept that a country is defined by its border, language and culture. Both AB130 and AB131 have absolutely no mention at all of a person’s color, race, religion, or culture. Both of these bills only refer to a person that has abused the system and entered the United States illegally along with meeting a particular criteria. It is completely understood that many of these illegal students are the children of adults that chose not to follow the legal process for entering the United States. I am not saying that these children should be persecuted for the poor decisions and actions of their parents. What I would suggest is that the children be given the opportunity to enter the legal process of becoming a citizen of the United States with no penalties providing that they were a minor child when their parents committed the crime of entering the United States illegally. After these students have successfully and legally become United States citizens then they would have all the same educational rights and benefits of a natural citizen and there would be no need for additional legislation.
I know many people will read this and think that I am not being “tolerant” or embracing the divine concept of “multiculturalism”. Our great nation was created when people from one place decided that they needed a new start for whatever reason. Many might disagree but for the most part this was the result of white European settlers moving to a new land. Some left Europe for religious reasons others left to distance themselves from the persecution of oppressive governments. Hoping that I can leave out the history lesson that covers the American Revolutionary war and fast forward through the 17th and 18th centuries it was during the 19th and 20th centuries that immigration exploded in the United States (http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/timeline.html). While there have always been individuals that have had the desire to live in the United States it seems that only recently that we have decided to reward those that enter our country illegally. I cannot think of any other crime you can commit in the United States and gain benefits from not only committing the crime but when you actually admit that you have committed the crime. While we are at it why don't we just tell the kids they only have to stay out of the cookie jar unless they can reach it.
I often wonder how people would feel if it was acceptable for a person to enter your home and take whatever they like and it was not a crime as long as they don't get caught entering the house. Imagine this scenario, you are home enjoying your favorite book in your living room. Without you seeing them someone enters through the back door and is taking your wallet from the counter in your kitchen. You walk in and see them, call the police, and when the police arrive they ask you if you saw them enter into your house. You respond to the police officer that your were reading a book in the living room and did not see or hear anything. The police officer then explains to you that since you didn't see the person enter your home they now have the right to freely take your money. I would be willing to bet that this hypothetical scenario would make a lot of people angry. However, what is the difference between this scenario and AB130 & AB131?
With the exception of the Native American Indians it is 100% accurate that the United States was created by people from all around the world immigrating to our country. However, in the past it was fairly uniformly understood that along with following the legal process of immigrating to the United States that each person was expected to assimilate into the culture that had been developed within the United States. This legal process did not and still does not expect each cultural group to leave their traditions and customs at the door or on Ellis Island for that matter. In fact, in the past the many groups that immigrated to the United States kept their culture and customs alive and well by leading with the identification that they were American's first and always a member of whatever culture they brought with them second.
I personally had the pleasure of growing up in a military family and we moved across the United States several times throughout my life. I have lived in many communities all across this great nation. The most interesting experience of my life took place when I was approximately nine years old. My family was moved to the New England, Northeast coast. Exactly half of my family was 100% Irish (mothers side) and the other half (fathers side) was 100% French. Living in the New England area I was introduced to many different cultures that for the most part at this point in history coexisted with each other perfectly. The Irish had their portions of the community, the French had their area, and the Italians another. It actually made dining out very simple whatever cuisine your stomach desired you knew exactly where to go. Some people might refer to this type of situation as segregation but nothing could be further from the truth. Segregation refers to boundaries that cannot or should not be crosses. These areas had no arbitrary boundaries that should or could not be crossed they simply had areas of each community where their home culture and customs were alive and well. Within these areas they could successfully teach their children about their heritage and share their culture with outsiders.
Just in case something had changed that I was not aware of I did double check and we do have a process for anyone that would like to ask to immigrate to the United States (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis). It seems very wrong that we have a process for foreign people to enter our country legally and yet we reward those that choose not to follow the rules. How are we as a nation emphasizing that we have a defined set of rules, regulations, and laws when we selectively choose which of these should be enforced? What message are we sending as a nation to the good people around the world that have knowledge, talent and experiences that our nation could benefit from when we force them to follow a lengthy process and procedure and others get benefits from breaking the rules?
I really wonder how this will play out in the future. Will employers in the future be barred from hiring criminals? I suppose this might help explain why San Francisco, CA is moving towards a system that would eliminate using a person’s criminal history as a reason to reject them as a tenant or employee (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43873369/ns/business-personal_finance/).
Just for clarity let me summarize the current situation in California. The state has a current budget deficit of around $25 billion dollars and we are enacting a new entitlement program to basically reward people that have blatantly broken both federal and state immigration laws. It should be noted that at the same time AB130 was signed into law by the Governor of California, Jerry Brown he vetoed Assembly Bill 96 (AB96) (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/ab_96_bill_20110714_enrolled.html). AB96 would have provided funding to help cover adult day care programs for California's elderly (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/27/california-adult-care-centers-vetoed-funds_n_911088.html). Governor Brown wrote in his veto message for AB96 that the bill was similar to other existing programs. Wow, that never stopped California in the past we have program after program that are all nearly identical what made this one special? Maybe criminals now hold a higher position in California society than our elderly.
Thanks for listening...
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