Dear Editor:
(The following is a copy of a letter sent to U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ).
Dear Senator Menendez:
I voted for you many times in the past because I believed in your principles. I thought you followed the laws of this nation. However, you seemed to have made some really bad decisions and bad turns in your career on your way up the political ladder.
Your recent comments in the Reporter are sickening to all of us U.S. citizens. You are a lawbreaker by siding with the illegal immigrants. They are breaking the law by crossing our borders ILLEGALLY!!! Do you understand??? You are breaking the law by representing these people!!!! You are not a representative of the U.S. citizens of this country, nor of the U.S. Constitution. Do you understand English???? I will never vote for you again.
You support 360,000 illegal immigrants who are without legal U.S. papers as of January, 2009, according to the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. Where are your ethics? You should step down from your position as a Senator. You disgrace the position and this nation. You do not deserve to represent us any longer.
When I visit the Union City Town Hall and see people arriving in their pajamas to go to government offices, it is a disgrace. Years ago, people would be sent home to wear proper attire. Now, Union City is a disgrace. My family helped found Union City in the 1850s, started businesses, learned English, wore decent clothing in business, and made excellent and decent careers for themselves. They were hard workers. They did not sit home all day, drain the U.S. of its economy, listen to rap music, drive big gas-guzzling SUVs, get their hair and nails done, wear tons of gold jewelry and accessories, have multiple babies in high schools, and sit in parks all day.
I hope to God almighty that you get impeached. You have no plan to get these illegals registered as U.S. citizens. You continue to be a patsy and patronize them, and not us as citizens. You shame us to the highest degree.
Give us your plan to get them registered as U.S. citizens. Make them fight for our country. Have them go to the Gulf and help with the clean-up. Make them do something to earn the high taxes that I have to pay to contribute to their idleness. I do not want to contribute to their rent, free health care, cable shows, jewelry and accessories, monthly cell phone charges, designer hair, nails and clothing, and SUVs. For God’s sake, do something to earn your high salary and pension.
Sincerely,
Susan Scherman, RN
1. Andy writes: "One major difference in the current imigrant wave and prior generations is the desire to assimilate into society by learning and speaking english."
Are you sure? I think that is a false belief because there are a lot of Latino immigrants around, and marketers are making money by targeting Spanish language TV shows, papers etc. to them...and there are signs in Spanish and English for newcomers, etc. But HOW DO YOU KNOW that they are not making the attempt to learn English? Some probably are. It is the older people who find it harder, and who can blame them - have you moved to another country for a better life and learned the language right away? If you base this on conversations with other people, that's one thing, but it seems like you are just drawing a lazy conclusion.
2. No one is denying Susan the right to her opinions. I think if she said some people were taking advantage of a system, she might get some symaphty. But as Andy says, some are just trying to have a decent life in America, just like all of our great grandparents did.
Italians, Irish, Germans, Jews etc. now blend in so they dont' always remember how they were discriminated against 100 years ago, how they were hated or how their elders never learned to speak the language even if the younger kids did.
Latinos (and sometimes Indians) are an easy target nowadays because they stand out. We are sympathetic to the 80-year-old whtie woman struggling thru Italian in Hoboken who we encounter, but not a similar Latino man.
Examine your inner motives and feelings and you may realize you are being unfair - ESPECIALLY YOU, SUSAN!!!!!!!
One more thing - it is more expensive to live in this country now than it was for Susan's ancestors, Andy's, and other people's when they came here. It's harder to become successful. So don't be so quick to judge.
I disagree with the way Susan is expressing her frustration with her neighbors, but in many ways she is only seeing the worst examples in that community of apathy and laziness. She doesn't see the people who work 2-3 jobs to make a living for their family taking work that no one else wants because they want to change their lives. I can think of many places in our country where "white trash" behave worse than those people Susan describes. Does it mean we kick everyone out of the country that don't fit your idea of America? No. For all you know the ones here legally are the people lazing about the park and listening to loud rap music as you describe.
Ultimately, we should all strive to be better contributors to society and lead by example. Engage your neighbors and show them how they can lift themselves up rather than disrespect entire communities for a few bad apples.
I voted for Menendez, but he has taken it too far this time. He may not get the chance for another vote....hopefully the recall will go forward and in effect we can say "YOU'RE FIRED!"
I really admire a racist who admits being a racist and doesn't try to hide the face behind the usual rhetoric.
I never voted for Menendez, but since someone has to make up for you vote, now I will.
Are you saying that when you first voted for Menendez, you thought he was actually against all these things?
Also, why do you think it is the illegals who have big hair and nails or who have babies as teenagers? Don't lots of New Jersey natives do this?
I am curious - does RN mean nurse? If you see a person who you suspect might be from another country, do you treat them worse than if you are sure they're not?
Just asking.