Immigration

There have been rallys and protests to the proposed Immigration laws. Kids in Dallas/Ft Worth walked out of school 3 days in a row in "protest". One girl, when asked by the media why she was protesting, her response was to turn to her friend and ask her why. Ummmm okay....why are you walking out of school and you don't even know why. What is wrong with her? Oh wait, it was a "free" day from school...let me just follow the dayum crowd.

I have to say illegal immigrants are NOT just Mexicans or even Latino. There are illegal Irish, Brits, Australians, French, and Italians. They don't walk or even risk their lives to get here- they fly and never use their return ticket. So stop blaming Latinos for the immigration problems in this country.

One of the things the Bush Administration is pushing is the Guest Worker program. Is it too much to hope that maybe this will go through? Canada has had a guest worker program for the past 15 years. It has been very successful. Guest workers can come and go to and from their "home country" to Canada, up to 6 months at a time. Most immigrants don't want to leave their families, but they do because they need "more" for their families than what their country can offer. The Canadian guest worker gets a permit that is like a "green card" here. It depends on their profession for the amount of time they get to work in Canada. They work in Canada for 6 months then go back home for 6 months. How perfect is that? There aren't just construction workes or fruit pickers, there are nurses/doctors, computer workers, etc. They come from all over the world to work in Canada. The guest workers pay Canadian taxes, pay housing, etc, but it isn't done in secret, using false documents or in fear. They make the money they need for home and Canada gets the goods and services they need. What is the big deal? Guest workers get health care while they are there because Canada has a socialist health care system...meaning government funded health care. Guest workers who bring their children pay a small fee for school for the children. Why can't the U.S do the same? Canada's economy has not been hurt in any way. In fact, they have a very low unemployment rate and have very generous labor laws. We can learn a few things from our neighbors to the north. But we are to selfish and egocentric to try new things.

Americans think we are the center of the world, the example for the world to follow, but we AREN'T!!! We can learn from other countries and try some of their successful programs. I truly believe if we institute a program like this, it would alleviate some of the problems we are having with illegal immigrants. It just all seems too simple to me. It wouldn't take away jobs from anyone. It helps with "professional shortages", like nursing and doctors.

WAKE UP AMERICA!! WE ARE FALLING BEHIND THE WORLD!!! WE ARE NO LONGER THE EXAMPLE, BUT THE JOKE!!!!

LOVE IS...

Children are such innocent and simple beings. Every now and then I have to be reminded of things. Here are some examples of answers children gave when asked about love:

From a survey of children ages 4 to 8, here were some of the best answers to the question, "WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN?":

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." - Rebecca, age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." - Billy, age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." - Karl, age 5

Love is...
"When you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." - Chrissy, age 6

"What makes you smile when you're tired." - Terri, age 4

"When my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." - Danny, age 7

Love is...
"When you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more."- Emily, age 8

"What's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." - Bobby, age 7

"When your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." - Mary Ann, age 4

"...Like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." - Tommy, age 6

And a few more of their best thoughts on love:
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." - Nikka, age 6

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." - Karen, age 7

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." - Jessica, age 8

See how simple they make it? Why can't we all do that?

Vacation

I need a vacation. I decided to take one. I am going to Cancun for 6 fabulous nights. I really wanted to go on a cruise but in light of all the crap happening on cruises, I decided I better stay on the land. I am going to stay at a resort I have never been to before. It is called the Tucancun by Barcelo Hotels. I hope this is a fun place. I usually like to stay at the Cancun Palace or the Moon Palace, but they both are closed because of Hurricane Wilma or Rita. I can't remember which one. The rate was really good for the Tucancun and I couldn't pass it by. So I am making my vacation journey in April 24th. I will be sure to take lots of pics when I go.
But I need a mental rest and break!

Cuban Feet

A Carnival Cruise line picked up 28 Cubans from the sea. I don't know where, but they were in the ocean in search of freedom. The cruise ship makes a stop in Galveston, TX. The migrants are not allowed to get off the ship because of the U.S law of wet foot, dry foot. The cruise line has to meet a U S Coast Guard cutter boat in the middle of the ocean and then transfer the 28 people from the ship to the boat. Then they will be sent back to Cuba. Because Carnival Cruise lines is not registered under the U.S., the dry foot rule does not apply in this case. So they have to sit on a ship while it is docked in Galveston, looking at the people come and go. I think I would be tempted to blend in and get off the ship. Cuban Rescue

If a Cuban makes it to dry land, without the help of someone on the land, they will be given automatic asylum in the U.S. If someone on the land helps the Cuban by pulling them to land, they can go to jail and the Cuban is "disqualified" and sent back home. That is MADNESS!! This kind of previledge is not given to any other group, except Cubans. I understand the premise of it, but I think it is wrong. I think any group that has to brave shark infested waters to get some place should be given the opportunity to stay. I am speaking in terms of Haitians in particular. Haitians are turned away in droves. NOT FAIR! The only difference between them and Cuba, is that they have a quasi "democratic" government. I am all for getting my fellow Cubanos here, but only if it is fair and equitable to everyone. I know there is going to be someone out there pissed off at me for saying this. Hey I am Cuban too. I know all too well the suffering they are living with, the oppression they are under. But we need to be fair to everyone.

I know we are trying to fight Communism with stupid embargos and trade bans, but we are hurting the Cuban people more than we are helping. Cuban exiles can only visit the island once every 3 years. You can only take less than $500 in cash when you go. You can only visit immediate family members, parents and siblings only. No tios no primos, etc. How is that fighting Communism? How is that helping the Cuban people? It is more frustrating than helpful. I don't understand the thought behind all of this. I know someone out there will school me.

I want Cuba to be free. I want to be able to go there and vacation, visit familia. Go to the places of my ancestors. I hope this happens in my lifetime. CUBA LIBRE!!