Dear Editor,
The controversy over illegal aliens continues to be front page news and by the
responses, a surprise to many Americans. Unfortunately, Illegal aliens have
been with us for years, many years. As a youth in the early 60's I lived in
San Francisco and being in the food service industry, I was privileged to be
in close proximity to many ethnic groups from all over the world. Many of the
service people were from Asia, mostly the free Chinese from Taiwan, but many
were from the Philippines, Korea's, Japan and other areas of desperate
poverty. The majority of these "Illegals" were of no concern to the legal
residents and surely they did not compromise anyone's ability to make a living
nor did they prey off the public services for health care and financial
welfare available to all Americans. They kept to themselves and slowly, but
surely immersed themselves into society with little or no fanfare. San
Francisco was home to thousands of immigrants from all over the world who had
the passion and the desire to accomplish one of two things, make a better life
for themselves and to send cash back home to those who were barely surviving.
Today, Most of Asia is prosperous and their countrymen satisfied with their
lives. South of the Rio Grand 65 million people live in dire straits next to
the richest nation in the world. Most live is the same poverty mentioned about
the Asians 45 years ago. The government of the U.S. assisted the Far East,
along with U.S. Corporations input as well, all to assist these desperate
societies to become viable contributors to the worlds success and they did it
rapidly and with the zeal of one who appreciates the helping hand.
Asia is 14,000 miles away, Mexico is only a rowboat from us. If we can spend
billions building a new government in the Middle East, why can we not share a
small portion with our neighbor next door so they also can rebuild what they
are now running away from?
