Submitted by Pam, Jun 12, 2007 09:59

We have a grandson that we have mostly reared due to his mother leaving him with his Dad, our Son.

She is Mexican (Dad) and Spainish (Mom). This boy is an anchor baby with a green card marriage, the price to keep the boy. This beautiful child is 100% American and proud of it. He has to defend himself to his Mother's friends for not speaking Spanish (she wasn't around to teach him) and being an American. He is only in 2nd grade and has to listen to how they dislike this country and how Mexico is better and he told me he ask them "..if Mexico is so great why don't you go home?" To an 8 yr old that was an obvious question but he was punished for saying it, got worse him claiming "Americans can say anything they want because they are Americans". I reassure him that all Mexicans don't believe that way and are glad to be Americans. I told him about the Mexicans who stood with CA and Texas settlers for those states to be part of America and helped built those states and others.

We have tried to teach him to be proud of all his heritage from an ancestor born in Jamestown to the Spanish Conquistors to the Native Central tribes who were already here but the most important that he is an American and "we are all a mixed up people" from all over the world no matter when they arrived.

This bill had many good things but the devil was in the details. It devalued being in this country and it's opportunity. We need a secure border, a path to citizenship to those that really deserve the privilege with time to process them properly separating out the people who have been here substanial time, worked, have extended family, no criminals, etc; a temporary guest worker visa for those that have no desire to become Americans just work and stay citizens of their own country, get sent home (enforced) maybe even to better their own country; crack down on employers who hire illegals and anyone who pays slave wages to ANYONE. That was the intent perhaps of the bill but it failed miserably because was trying to please two groups 1) plentiful cheap labor for employers 2) protester types that want open borders for I am not sure what reason. Neither represent what is best for American citizens or legal residents no matter where their country of family origin. My personal geneology has at least 30 nationalities represented and that was it is - nationality. All those people came here to be Americans. If many or most of those 12 M + want that I am for them, if not, let them enjoy the jobs that are available for a GOOD wage as guest workers.

Again, I thank you for your article.

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