The Mall

[arbit]

I dont support illegal immigration either.

But, note that these immigrants work for less than american workers. It may be argued that this balances out the other benefits they recieve (eg., health insurance).
They get less money, but they also get insurance.

This is unfair to the public at large I agree. A small segment of the US population (who employ illegals at lower wages) gets to reap the benefits, while the general public hs to foot the bill (seeing that the illegals earn so little that they dont pay taxes). A large portion of your beef must be with US citizens who employ the illegals.

Also, I'm not aware of any ethnicity who would be offended if you just call them "Americans". I dont think a black person would go "I'm not american, I'm African-american !!".

PS: Unless you are a native american-indian, you are an immigrant. Actually, you are an invader who massacred the native population and took land by force.

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by arbit

But, note that these immigrants work for less than american workers. It may be argued that this balances out the other benefits they recieve (eg., health insurance).
They get less money, but they also get insurance.

This simply drives down wages for legal American citizens and residents. For example, people might claim they can't find an American to scrub a toilet. The problem is that they (employers) aren't paying enough. Let's say that toilet scrubbers will be paid $100,000 a year. I bet you would have lots of Americans willing to do it then. The problem is that an illegal will do it for $2 an hour.

And by the way, they are illegals, not undocumented workers.

I don't have a problem with private businesses wanting to offer their services in multiple languages. If they believe that's the best way to run their business, I won't tell them otherwise. Where I have a problem is when government does it, and our tax dollars have to finance it.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by arbit

Also, I'm not aware of any ethnicity who would be offended if you just call them "Americans". I dont think a black person would go "I'm not american, I'm African-american !!".

PS: Unless you are a native american-indian, you are an immigrant. Actually, you are an invader who massacred the native population and took land by force.

Then you need to get out more. Most blacks I know refer to themselves as African-American, and it's practically a requirement (a la ACLU). To refer to someone as black who is black is considered racial slurring because we're referring to their skin colour. Law enforcement, health care practitioners,...everyone must refer to them as African-American, and this is also reinforced as a way to indicate uniqueness. I know more white people who feel it's overkill to have to say such a mouthful, and I see more, especially in the public eye, where the entire contraction must be employed for fear of discrimination or being viewed as racial slurring.

As I said, we all come from Africa anyway if you trace all of our roots back far enough.

I am for immigration, my grandparents were immigrants, and again I see no problem with it, nor with the cultural diversity. My problems lie with the illegal immigrants being permitted to reside here, work here, and get benefits that many American-born people cannot afford. It's the "illegal" aspect I am bugged by. How do they get jobs, how do they cash checks, rent apartments, buy houses, get insurance if they are illegally here? I sincerely don't get it!

[arbit]

Originally Posted by Merrida

Then you need to get out more. Most blacks I know refer to themselves as African-American, and it's practically a requirement (a la ACLU). To refer to someone as black who is black is considered racial slurring because we're referring to their skin colour.

Call them American. Noone will mind.

Labels change and African-American, I guess, is the current politically-correct label.

The label lineage (excluding racial slurs) according to my understanding has been negro, colored, black and the current label.

Ditto for Asian-Americans who were called oriental when I was young.

I like using the label American to describe those born in America. It keeps us guessing.

I like the label my friend uses when jokingly talking to an "African American". It always draws a laugh. They are either are a "brother from a a different mother" or a "sister from a different mister."

[Firehawk]

Just don't call them colored. lol

This is relevant to some of the posts made on this thread:

San Francisco to give illegal aliens ID cards - Yahoo! News