Famous sonnet written by Emma Lazarus in 1883. A bronze plaque, dedicated in memory of Emma Lazarus' contribution to the completion of the Statue's pedestal, has been affixed to the inner walls of the pedestal since the early 1900's. This plaque, currently located in the Statue of Liberty exhibit, has come to symbolize the statue's universal message of hope and freedom for immigrants coming to America and people seeking freedom around the world.

I liked this part very much: message of hope and freedom for immigrants coming to America and people seeking freedom around the world. Maybe the author of the sonnet forgot to add "as long as they come with a passport, working permit, Social Security card, driving license, bank account, etc.

I'm talking especially about our Mexican countrymen and women who illegaly try to enter the U.S. They are persecuted, their human rights not respected, shot at by ranchers in Arizona and other States, dispised by the Migra officers.

These people are poor, hungry and jobless, they are not criminals or terrorists, they only want to work and send money to their families at home.

How do the Catholics in the U.S. react to this cruel reality?

I remember what a relative of mine living in Los Angeles (his family has lived in California since the end of the XVIII century) told me about the abuses commited to Mexican-Americans: many of us didn't come to the U.S.; the U. S. came to us.

Does anyone know how much money the Mexican workers afford to the U. S. government?

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 01, 2002

Answers

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-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 01, 2002.

Enrique, I live on the Mexican border in San Diego and do business from time to time a couple yards from the fence, and have a brother that is a priest in South America that speaks Spanish so well he has to remember how to speak English when he comes to visit.

I have to tell you that it is not the clear cut situation that you make it out to be.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), June 01, 2002.

Hoping the self appointed patriarchs of the forum comment on this.

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), June 02, 2002.

Jean,

Why do you often direct backhanded insult for others? Do you have a problem with regular posters who believe in Jesus? On another thread, you wrote, "Those who read historical paperbacks please do not reply." Just curious, whom were you insulting when you wrote this?

Thanks,

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), June 02, 2002.

Jean,

I always enjoy your posts, however, I was wondering what you meant by that statement also - "Those who read historical paperbacks, don't apply" or something like that. What did you mean by that, Jean? Curious MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), June 02, 2002.

But, Jean:
You are appointed by --yourself. We can't make you come into the forum every day; even if we wanted you to.

If I were one of the ''self-appointed patriarchs of this forum,'' --I can't recall appointing myself, though--

I would say to Enrique, --We need the understanding of all men; not only the ''victims'' of cruelty by Border Patrol officers, and racists. But also the understanding of Mexicans who can't be stopped by ordinary laws. We have a friendly border; and with NAFTA, open trade between neighbors. The INS, even with all its well-known faults, will definitely honor a Mexican's green card, or pasaporte local. The documented Mexican is welcome; even if his anglo-saxon neighbor has racist attitudes sometimes.

We know that undocumented Guatemalans are blocked from crossing Mexico's southern borders. You have to know this. The Guatemalteco is even POORER than many marginalized Mexican citizens. Yet, Mexico demands he have documents in order to enter. Illegal aliens break the law.

I'm hispanic; and I've been very close friends with many illegals from the interior of Mexico. One man from Tabasco married my cousin; and we all love him. Only after maybe 35 years did he bother getting legal status. His own daughters made him do it. He wasn't persecuted. He lived FREE in the U.S., working in restaurants, etc.

I tell you so you'll know; my heart is sympathetic to the undocumented alien. But I don't find it wrong to send him back if he gets caught. It's a condition that all illegals know beforehand, about crossing illegally.

No illegal is innocent; he always KNOWS what he does is against the law. He's willing to take the chance.

The Lazarus verse, which welcomes good immigration to the New World is beautiful. Just remember, the Jews, Italians, Irish and Poles who came to this side all came by legal means. Not all-- but most of them. That's how it ought to be.

Yes-- the illegals here pay taxes, and contribute to the U.S. economy. --Also remember --about 25 million dollars a year in Social Security benefits go south to Mexico --dollars. From the labor these good people were able to perform here in this country for a few years. I'm happy that some good is realized in the Mexican interior. Even if Mexico never acknowledges, it must help the Mexican economy a little. I only regret that EACH side won't understand how nobody's injuring the other because they WANT to. It's because we have laws.

There's the law of survival, a poor family in Mexico, with nowhere to work for a living wage. And the federal laws of the U.S. They aren't NOT racist laws, like a lot of Mexicans see it-- just border surveillance like there is between France and Germany, Russia and Poland.

Did you see the troubles they're all having with massive invasions of Moslem immigrants into Italy these days? It would make you faint. There are tents! in the squares of Florence, with entire tribes of arabic or parsi-speaking people. They defecate in the streets, and litter all the beautiful tourist attractions with their daily waste. Why?

Because Italy opened its borders for just the last few years. There must be effective control of the borders of all countries. Not because you shouldn't love all mankind. --There are other ways to show your charity and understanding, without accepting ANYBODY who disputes your right to a border.

Even so, it is against the Will of God for a country to mistreat or hurt an illegal immigrant. He is a human being with an immortal soul. He deserves your respect; most of all if he expects to WORK HARD for anything he gets. He's not doing it for a bad intention. Except for certain evil men; Mafiosos; every Mexican works hard. Even the ''cholitos''. Here, or in his country. The old stereotype of the lazy little guy sitting by a cactus asleep-- it's a lie.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), June 02, 2002.

MaryLu - I do not recall stating that on this thread at all as it is not my thread.

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), June 02, 2002.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church -----

"2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him. Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens."

-- CaCaCh (Ca@Ca.Ch), June 02, 2002.

From "MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER FOR THE 87th WORLD DAY OF MIGRATION 2001" -----

"The Church recognizes [the right to emigrate] in every human person, in its dual aspect of the possibility to leave one’s country and the possibility to enter another country to look for better conditions of life. Certainly, the exercise of such a right is to be regulated, because practicing it indiscriminately may do harm and be detrimental to the common good of the community that receives the migrant. Before the manifold interests that are interwoven side by side with the laws of the individual countries, it is necessary to have international norms that are capable of regulating everyone’s rights, so as to prevent unilateral decisions that are harmful to the weakest. In this regard, in the Message for Migrants’ Day of 1993, I called to mind that although it is true that highly developed countries are not always able to assimilate all those who emigrate, nonetheless it should be pointed out that the criterion for determining the level that can be sustained cannot be based solely on protecting their own prosperity, while failing to take into consideration the needs of persons who are tragically forced to ask for hospitality."

-- CaCaCh (Ca@Ca.Ch), June 02, 2002.

Sorry, Jean, I saw it somewhere....and was just curious. Thought it was you. :( MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), June 02, 2002.

MaryLu,

Jean did in fact write the comment that you asked him about--see this thread. The only reason that I brought it up on this thread was because it seems to be a pattern of Jean's to make backhanded insults to belittle others. On this thread, he labeled some of the forum contributors "self appointed patriarchs."

Enjoy,

Mateo el joven padrino del foro! :-)

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), June 02, 2002.

Mateo, are you a "mafia style" padrino or a good Catholic padrino? In that case, I cry: El bolo padrino!!!!

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 03, 2002.

Enrique,

I don't think I'm a "mafia padrino," but I guess others will decide! :-)

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), June 03, 2002.

You are both my good ''ahijados,'' Mateo & Enrique. Padrino Gene prays for his godchildren. I hope you can find a moment to pray for him too- And while I'm thinking bout that:

My sister Berta, now 60, is suffering from cancer. Please remember her in your prayers. She's a very good woman, with a large family. I'm very worried; and I have begged God for nothing less than her full recovery, which would take a miracle.

That's just like me. I need all or nothing at all. --(Not really-) I would quote the words of my Uncle Eutimio. He heard the actual words of Jesus one day, when he lay sick in bed. He related this to my mother. Eutimio was in a darkened room, very ill.

He was crying. --A man's voice said: ''Que me pides, Amado Hijo?'' And my old uncle answered Him. ''Que se haga Tu santisima voluntad, Senor . . . '' He recovered, Thank God.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), June 03, 2002.

Dear St. Peregrine Laziosi, patron saint of cancer sufferers, please pray for the recovery of Berta C. _____, sister of our amigo.
JFG

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), June 03, 2002.

Thank you, Gene, for taking me as your "ahijado". BTW as of this moment I'll be praying for your sister Berta.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 04, 2002.

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO, 4 junio 2002 (ZENIT.org).- Existe un «justo derecho a emigrar», afirma la Santa Sede en un mensaje enviado a la Organización de los Estados Americanos.

La misiva, firmada en nombre de Juan Pablo II por el cardenal Angelo Sodano, secretario de Estado del Vaticano, afronta algunos de los argumentos tocados por la asamblea ordinaria de esa institución, que se celebró del 2 al 4 de junio en la ciudad de Bridgetown (Barbados).

«Todos los hombres y mujeres de la región, deben poder gozar de un justo derecho a emigrar, que comprende el derecho a vivir dignamente con la propia familia, a conservar y desarrollar el propio patrimonio cultural, incluido el patrimonio religioso, y a ser tratado, en toda circunstancia, conforme a la propia dignidad de ser humano», explica el cardenal italiano.

«Los límites de la obligación ética de acoger a los inmigrantes no pueden estar determinados solamente por la mera defensa del propio bienestar», aclara.

La declaración tiene lugar en pleno debate sobre los derechos de los inmigrantes latinoamericanos en Estados y Canadá, así como de los que cruzan las mismas fronteras de los países del centro y sur del continente.

El mensaje, entregado al presidente de la asamblea Billie Miller, ministro de Asuntos Exteriores del país anfitrión, por el arzobispo Emil Paul Tscherrig, nuncio apostólico en las Antillas, reconoce que en los países que reciben «el flujo migratorio, puede fácilmente surgir la tentación de la intolerancia y la discriminación social de las minorías, del abuso de los sectores más débiles y de la defensa desproporcionada del bienestar adquirido, el empleo y otros beneficios sociales».

Por este motivo, la Iglesia pide afrontar este desafío de manera global, es decir, «a partir de la noción de bien común universal, que abarca toda la familia humana, superando cualquier egoísmo nacionalista».

El mensaje insiste en «la necesidad de una efectiva solidaridad intercontinental, entre los gobiernos y entre los pueblos de América, que procure ofrecer con generosidad los medios materiales para resolver los grandes problemas que aquejan a vastas áreas del continente».

«Una tal solidaridad supondrá necesariamente mayores sacrificios por parte de los Estados y los grupos sociales más aventajados --dice con claridad el brazo derecho del Papa en la guía de la Sede Apostólica-- , dejando de lado intereses sectoriales de corto plazo, tanto para recibir al hermano que llega buscando mejores condiciones de vida, como para facilitar su permanencia en las regiones de origen».

Ahora bien, el mensaje vaticano pide resolver también el problema en su origen «con un esfuerzo continental para la creación de puestos de trabajo en los Estados y áreas geográficas más pobres, que sean dignos, abundantes y estables».

«En tal sentido, el menor condicionamiento posible de la ayuda financiera y la amplia apertura de los mercados desarrollados en favor de la producción de los países más pobres, son un complemento indispensable de la normativa sobre el fenómeno migratorio», concluye.

Forman parte de la Organización de los Estados Americanos [ http://www.oas.org ], cuyo secretario general es el ex presidente colombiano César Gaviria, los países de América y el Caribe, a excepción de Cuba, que fue suspendida en 1962. ZS02060405

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 05, 2002.

Corte Suprema niega derechos a indocumentados Elbio Rodríguez

Apr. 04 (La Raza)-En lo que ha sido probablemente la determinación más importante en muchas décadas para la situación de los inmigrantes, la Suprema Corte de EE.UU. ha dictaminado que los llamados "ilegales" no tienen el derecho de agremiarse ni ser protegidos contra los empresarios que abusan de ellos.First graph

El fallo, en una dividida votación de 5 a 4 ha sido recibido con agrias críticas, tanto por las organizaciones latinas como por la poderosa central sindical AFL-CIO.

A nivel internacional el inusitado fallo ha incentivado la ola de críticas que recibe EE.UU. por cuestiones como la pena de muerte, la negativa a asociarse a las políticas sobre el medio ambiente, o a la reducción de armas nucleares.

Desde este momento, las empresas han recibido un salvoconducto para explotar, abusar y despedir sin explicaciones.

En pocas palabras, la decisión de la Corte Suprema quiere decir que si una empresa deja sin trabajo a un empleado por intentar organizar sindicalmente a sus compañeros o porque defiende sus propios derechos laborales, NO tendrá la protección de las leyes si es un inmigante "ilegal".

La controvertida sentencia, obtenida por el mismo estrecho 5 a 4 que puso a Bush en la Casa Blanca, vino como consecuencia del caso de José Castro, un trabajador de la compañía Hoffman Plastic Compound, de California.

El hecho ocurrió en 1989, cuando Castro fue dejado cesante junto con otros tres trabajadores por su apoyo a los intentos de sindicalizar la planta.

La agencia federal encargada de atender las violaciones del código laboral, entendió que los derechos de Castro habían sido avasallados. Este organismo, llamado Junta Nacional de Relaciones Laborales, resolvió que Castro debía recibir una indemnización de 67 mil dólares y restituido a su cargo.

La justicia aprobó lo actuado por el organismo federal, hasta que el caso llegó a la Corte Suprema, que, por el estrecho margen de un voto, cambió todo el panorama.

Los magistrados ultraconservadores que detentan la mayoría en la Corte Suprema, decidieron que "el pago de salarios atrasados a inmigrantes indocumentados contradice las políticas subyacentes" de las leyes migratorias de Estados Unidos, según explicó el presidente de la Corte Suprema, William H. Rehnquist. Según el fallo mayoritario, Castro obtuvo su empleo mediante un "fraude criminal", por lo cual no se había ganado legalmente su salario.

En cambio el juez Stephen Breyer, uno de los cuatro que emitieron su voto en contra de la empresa, opinó que Hoffman Plastic es culpable de una violación "burda y evidente" de las leyes laborales de la nación y que este fallo motivará a los empleadores a violar estas leyes.

Y no solamente en ese caso, sino que creó un precedente que, según la AFL-CIO, convierte en "víctimas a los trabajadores indocumentados, sin ninguna consecuencia económica para los empleadores".

"El fallo de la Corte socava las normas de vida y las condiciones de trabajo de todos los estadounidenses, ciudadanos o no ciudadanos", declaró John Sweeney, presidente de la central sindical que representa a 13 millones de trabajadores.

Decisión devastadora

Arturo Rodríguez, presidente de la United Farmworkers of America, (el sindicato de trabajadores rurales fundado por César Chávez) proclamó que el fallo "deja a los trabajadores sin protección legal y los despoja de toda posibilidad de ser tratados igualitariamente".

En conexión telefónica con La Raza, Arturo Rodríguez manifestó que:

"Esto es una señal para que los patrones puedan reclutar trabajadores sabiendo de antemano que están a su merced, que no gozan de ningún derecho legal".

"La Corte Suprema ha colocado a los trabajadores indocumentados en un situación de casi esclavitud. La decisión está creando una subclase de trabajadores semiesclavos fáciles de explotar", dijo Rodríguez.

"Cuando justamente estamos celebrando la fecha de César Chávez, este fallo de la Corte Suprema es un ataque devastador a los trabajadores indocumentados y todos los latinos en este país", dijo el presidente de los mitológicos "freseros" de Chávez.

"Un paso atrás"

Rob Paral, investigador independiente en asuntos demográficos basado en la ciudad, declaró para La Raza:

"Cada año llegan a Estados Unidos unas 23,000 personas que probablemente son indocumentados".

"Es un problema cuando limitamos sus derechos de alguna manera, porque se limitan los derechos de una población creciente que juega un papel tan importante en la economía del Estado. La medida, naturalmente, sólo puede hacer más difícil su oportunidad o fortuna económica aquí".

Afectará a los trabajadores en general. "Claro, si los trabajadores indocumentados no pueden unirse a un sindicato, esto beneficiará a los empresarios y perjudicará a los gremios".

Indicó que, aunque la decisión de la Corte Suprema es un "paso hacia atrás" en este renglón, las declaraciones de representantes sindicales que la medida crea una clase de trabajadores "semiesclavos" son exageraciones.

"La palabra esclavo es muy exagerada", indicó y reiteró que "la decisión de la Corte Suprema es un paso hacia atrás. No creo que la comunidad inmigrante debe tomar la medida de una manera muy alarmista. La verdad es que la gran mayoría de los trabajadores indocumentados están en empresas donde no hay sindicatos o donde hay muy poca posibilidad que haya sindicatos, ya sea porque están trabajando en restaurantes, o cuidando niños, etc. La decisión realmente no va afectar demasiado porque antes de esa decisión había poca probabilidad de que ellos se unieran a un sindicato".

"Normas hipócritas"

"La economía estadounidense necesita la mano de obra de inmigrantes indocumentados pero las leyes de inmigración dificultan su legalización", dijo en una reunión con la prensa hispana la legisladora demócrata por Colorado, Diana DeGette. Según la legisladora, llegó la hora de desmantelar el doble juego de "normas hipócritas" que regulan la inmigración en EE.UU., ya que las compañías de este país siguen usando trabajadores indocumentados, pero no los ayudan a regularizar su situación.

"Necesitamos la mano de obra de estos trabajadores indocumentados, pero parece que queremos que sigan siendo indocumentados", dijo DeGette, que cumple su tercer periodo en el Congreso de EE.UU.

"Desafortunadamente, los ataques del 11 de septiembre detuvieron la reforma inmigratoria que estábamos promoviendo," agregó. DeGette dijo que la Cámara de Representantes estaba lista para votar sobre la reforma inmigratoria precisamente en la semana del 11 de septiembre del 2001. Pero después de los ataques, se detuvieron las negociaciones sobre inmigración entre el Presidente George W. Bush y el Presidente Vicente Fox. Y también desapareció la voluntad de muchos políticos de votar a favor de reformas inmigratorias. Para complicar el tema, los ataques del 11 de septiembre crearon un ambiente de temor tanto para inmigrantes documentados e indocumentados, por miedo a arrestos y deportaciones.

"La Corte Suprema, de hecho, ha establecido un sistema de castas en EE.UU. Ahora hemos legalizado las diferencias económicas y legales entre los pudientes y los carenciados", dijo DeGette.

La legisladora sostuvo que la ley debería ser la misma para todos en todo el país, sin importar la situación inmigratoria.

"Incluso si alguien está aquí ilegalmente, eso no significa que esa persona no tenga derechos legales", dijo. DeGette teme que la decisión de la Corte Suprema pueda ser usada por varias compañías para continuar con la práctica de despedir a trabajadores indocumentados, sin pagarles ni la compensación necesaria ni los sueldos atrasados".

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 05, 2002.

Gracias, Enrique, por los informes.
Pues; los indocumentados de hecho carecen de aquellos recursos, o bastantes de ellos para poder ganarse ciertos derechos. Yo diria nomas que esos editores que aberiguan incendiariamente encontra de la Corte, no acatan tampoco que muchas cosas malas nos han pasado segun los Justices; peores que aquella. Nomas vean el aborto. Eso no fue apoyado con ultra-conservadores. En todos paises puede haber hipocresia; tanto aqui como en los latinos. Han votado, y no con tanta solidaridad; apenas se logro el margen para los explotadores. --Habiendo prensa libre podemos verlo. Quisas sin la mortificacion no se gana nunca lo que llamamos justicia.

Por mi parte, yo puedo soportar una Corte Suprema bien equilibriada pero dando a la derecha. Los Democratas en poder tenian potencial para atazcar por siempre nuestro pais al favor de muchas mas devastadoras y gruesas cosas que el desamparo de indocumentados, Enrique. Claro, tienen de que quejarse.

Lo conservador, sin embargo, es lo indispensable para atajar poderes del homosexual sobre su vecino. (No he dicho sus propios derechos humanos)--Y alguna esperanza de poder darseles justicia a los ninos con derecho a la vida. Por poca que fuese, hay esperanza, sin una Corte izquierdista-- Con favor de Dios. Y varias otras ''lobbies'' que atacan a nuestros derechos. Por esto prefiero una Corte aun mas conservadora en futuro. Cosa que con Democratas no puede suceder.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), June 05, 2002.

I live in Arizona and know many "illegals" who live here. My husband works in the construction industry here and works with several immigrants, both legal and illegal. He works in insulation and most of the labor force at his company are Mexican nationals. He said that most "Anglos" are not willing to crawl up into attics during the summer when it can be as hot as 120 degrees and install itchy insulation for paltry wages. If it weren't for these workers, they would have to pay triple the wages that they do now, which in turn would drive up the cost of housing. The same is true in agriculture and other industries. Some people here think that these people are coming over here to "steal jobs", when they are working jobs that nobody wants anyway. Most of the illegal immigrants that I know here don't even want to be here, they would prefer to be back home but they can barely survive there. My friend Juan just became a Naturalized Citizen, but still plans to return to Mexico in a few years. Maybe the U.S. Government should help the Mexican Government get it's economy going so that average working people can prosper there, or at least survive.

I pray that the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe watches over her precious children of Mexico.

-- Marcella (marcellack@yahoo.com), June 05, 2002.

Thank you very much, Marcella, for your fine commentary on the "illegal" situation. I live in Oaxaca, one of Mexico's poorest States. As many as 200,000 people from this State (mostly indians or of indian descent)are working in California alone. I know some families that have relatives in Florida, Michigan, NY, Arizona, New Mexico, etc and they all have migrated due to poverty and lack of jobs. I don't know if you have noticed that many of these immigrants don't speak Spanish correclty, due precisely to their indigenous origin.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 06, 2002.

Enrique,

Since my Spanish-speaking skills are lacking myself, I wouldn't notice. Many of these immigrants are brought over by "coyotes", who promise to safely bring them across the border, then hold them captive for ransom money. These people are victims in every sense of the word. Some coyote houses have been recently found here in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, where the people inside where literally starving. It makes me very sad...

-- Marcella (marcellack@yahoo.com), June 06, 2002.

Marcella

Why did it take so long for the border patrols to discover this problem. It is beyond belief that humans still do this stuff. It is not a new thing as I have heard of these things for years as many immigrants from Europe and Asia have suffered similar fates for many decades especially during the late eighteen hundreds to the early nineteen hundreds.

I heard on the radio that the child slave trade is still a big business and many young girls still disappear yearly from this country to Asia for the prostitution trades by force. The commentator said that it has caused as many as 4 million people to disappear yearly.

I have wondered for years as to how this happens so easily and goes unreported. It scares the daylights out of me how some have so little regard for human life to this day.

Blessings.

-- Fred Bishop (FCB@heartland.com), June 06, 2002.

Fred,

The abuse and exploitation of people is so widespread that I don't think we have a clue how bad it really is. Some people who will go unnamed that post biggoted comments on this forum would have us believe that it's only a problem in our Church, but the truth is, that if every time a child was abused in any way, it was reported in a newspaper, the paper would be as thick as the New York Times Sunday edition every day. My sister-in-law is a advocate for abused children and was a victim of child abuse at the hand of her of her own father, so she is a witness to abuse and exploitation of children every single day. Why this goes on unnoticed by most people is beyond me. Even more beyond me is how someone could hurt a child or any other innocent person for that matter in the first place.

-- Marcella (marcellack@yahoo.com), June 06, 2002.

Hi, Marcella.

Of the topic here. I wanted to say, hello. I hope everything is going ok with Brian and yourself. I have missed you, and have been Praying for you guys.

Your brother in Christ.

David

Gene, I just read your post. I will be Praying for Berta to have her full recovery from her sickness. I will ask St. Seton to say some Prayers for her to. I am sure you know this, but a Holy Mass celebrated for her, would be very helpful.

God bless you.

David

-- David (David@excite.com), June 06, 2002.

Marcella

Everthing you are saying is very true and I truly do appreciate your telling us of these things. I sometimes wonder why people are so anxious to hide the bad things instead of facing it and dealing with it as your sister-in-law does. I have great admiration for people like her. God has given her a lot of courage. Bless her heart.

Blessings.

-- Fred Bishop (FCB@heartland.com), June 06, 2002.

Hi David!

It's good to be back to the Forum. I hope things have calmed down here a bit. My spiritual life has flourished since the Easter Vigil. I have more faith than I could ever imagine. I actually think my husband is starting to come around a bit, even though he still won't go to Mass with me, but I know your prayers are helping!

Gene,

I will be praying for Berta as well. All my love and strength to her.

Fred,

I think we all forget sometimes that we are one family, even those outside the church, because we are all made in the likeness and image of God. I have an affinity to Mexican immigrants, not only because part of my ancestry is from them, but because I live among them as well as many indigenous peoples here in Arizona. When one of us suffers, we all do, and we should not rest until the suffering ends.

-- Marcella (marcellack@yahoo.com), June 06, 2002.

Marcella

I have been to Cancun twice and it tears my heart to see howpoor the Mexicans are, especially the Indians. They are so desparate to earn monies to support themselves. I get so mixed up with emotion when I see the conditions they have to live under and the stories I hear from some of them is not pleasant. I can readily see the separation of the Spanish/Mexicans and the Indian/Mexicans. The Indians are treated so poorly, almost as bad as the blacks in this country. I pray constantly daily that we see an end to that.

Blessings.

-- Fred Bishop (FCB@heartland.com), June 06, 2002.

Destruyen estaciones de salvación para indocumentados en Arizona

Dos estaciones de primeros auxilios, instaladas en la frontera de Arizona para salvar las vidas de inmigrantes indocumentados, fueron destruidas por parte de vándalos. Los actos de vandalismo...

"Es importante que paren estos ataques, ya que de ninguna manera detendrán nuestros esfuerzos. Pero sí pueden poner en peligro la vida de personas inocentes".

Buscando ayuda AP

se registraron el fin de semana, y el presidente de la asociación "Fronteras Humanas", el religioso Robin Hoover, no descarta que se traten de ataques racistas enfocados en los indocumentados. Según Hoover, cuya organización instaló una serie de estaciones de auxilio en la frontera luego que 14 indocumentados murieron de sed, los vándalos destruyeron dos contenedores de agua de 60 galones cada uno y el asta con una bandera azul que marca la ubicación de la estación. El religioso agregó que el ataque se suma a amenazas anónimas recibidas por la organización humanitaria, que ha instalado 17 estaciones de agua en el desierto en la frontera entre Arizona y Sonora, México. "Hemos recibido avisos de que algo le puede pasar a los contenedores o quizá le puedan echar algo al agua", indicó. El reverendo señalo que los contenedores fueron reemplazados inmediatamente y se reinstaló el asta de 30 pies que fue tirado al suelo. "Lo que más nos preocupa es que puede haber gente que necesite el agua y debido a estos ataques no la puedan tener", señaló Hoover, que junto a un grupo de voluntarios del grupo semanalmente abastecen las estaciones con un promedio de 1,030 galones de agua. La organización humanitaria, que recientemente celebró un año de colocar agua en el desierto, denunció los ataques ante el Departamento del alguacil del Condado Pima, Arizona. "Es importante que paren estos ataques, ya que de ninguna manera detendrán nuestros esfuerzos. Pero sí pueden poner en peligro la vida de personas inocentes," dijo Hoover. "Especialmente ahora que se acerca la temporada de calor", concluyó. Precisamente este mismo fin de semana murió en el desierto de Arizona, Esteban Bulmaro Olvera Alvarran, de 41 años, quien intentaba cruzar la frontera con un grupo de indocumentados. El inmigrante murió el viernes santo, luego de desmayarse durante su trayecto, informó la Patrulla Fronteriza. Aunque un compañero de viaje y el guía, construyeron una hoguera y utilizaron un teléfono celular para pedir ayuda, el hombre murió antes de la llegada de los equipos de rescate.

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 08, 2002.

Enrique,

This is such a sad story. Every year during the summer months many people die that have crossed the border, especially down near the town of Douglas, Arizona. It is hard for me to fathom that people would intentionally destroy the water stations that were installed to save peoples lives. They think that it will prevent people from crossing the border, but all it does is cost people their lives. I want to organize a group of people to install more water stations near the Mexico border and keep watch over them so that no one can vandalize them. I hope that I can find enough people to help.

-- Marcella (marcellack@yahoo.com), June 08, 2002.

In the name of my compatriotas thanks very much for the magnificent idea. You'll certainly find many people eager to help, after all the vandals are always a minority, and the people with a good heart are always more. Over here I often get together with persons that try to go to the U. S. every year, some make it and send money to their families, others don't, but that does not discourage them, they'll try again and again. They are poor and hungry, and hunger is a tremendous "acicate".

God bless you, Marcella, and may He give you strength and perseverance in your good work. You'll become a good Samaritan. Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 09, 2002.

I really appreciated this topic. As I said in another thread, the Church where I attend Mass is 90% Mexicans and other Latin Americans, and I am reasonably sure that a large number of them are illegals, especially since this Church is located in the L.A. area.

There is no doubt that they're breaking the law; however, most of them are coming here in an effort to make enough money to feed, clothe and put their children through school. It is terrible that the countries they come here from are not helping them to do that! It is also terrible that so many people in this country want to send them back without helping them.

Yes, we have the right to protect our borders, especially now with the threat of terrorism. But it must be done humanely, and we should do our best to help them make their own countries better places to live. Many of the people I know would LOVE to return to their homes, if it were possible to do so but too often it's a choice between staying home and seeing their kids starve, or leaving home, breaking the law and keeping their kids alive -- not a very easy choice for anyone!

Love, Christine :-)

-- Christine L. (christinelehman@hotmail.com), June 12, 2002.

Publicado en la Jornada, México D.F. 14 de junio:

Vigilarán más elementos de la Patrulla Fronteriza el paso de migrantes

En Tucson, Arizona, la Coalición de Derechos Humanos de Arizona y otras organizaciones defensoras de migrantes lanzaron una campaña para poner freno a las muertes de indocumentados en el desierto y la militarización de la frontera.

En tanto, el jefe de la Patrulla Fronteriza sector Tucson, David Aguilar, anunció la llegada de 100 agentes más provenientes de California, así como de 100 agentes adicionales del grupo Border Star, entrenados para administrar primeros auxilios.

Los representantes de organizaciones Alianza Indígena, Fronteras Más Humanas y Servicios Católicos responsabilizaron de las muertes de migrantes a las leyes opresoras impuestas por el gobierno de Estados Unidos.

Por otro lado, cinco migrantes están a la espera de la decisión de un juez federal que demandaron al Sistema de Salud del estado de Arizona pidiendo les aprueben fondos para cubrir los gastos de tratamientos de diálisis.

Los cinco migrantes, entre ellos tres indocumentados, llevaron su petición este viernes ante el juez William Browne, radicado en la ciudad de Tucson, Arizona, después de más de dos meses de espera.

La representante legal de los indocumentados, Sally Hart, informó que uno de los migrantes que llevó su caso a la corte es Dora Morales, quien es sometida a tratamientos de diálisis por lo menos tres veces al mes, ya que la saturación de toxinas en sus riñones podría causarle la muerte en menos de 24 horas.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 15, 2002.