By William Craig
The Aggravated Press
OMAHA, Neb. (June 7, 2006) - New arrivals to this country urged President Bush to learn English and adopt American values, a spokesman for immigrant workers said yesterday.
The president touted his immigration reform plan at a community center that offers immigrants English classes and business start-up help. However,
many in the "illegal" community said he needs those services more than they do.
"Most of us learn fast, by necessity," said community leader Angel Maria Morales, "as immigrants to the U.S. have always done. We learn English to understand our bosses here, or to negotiate with customers, since many of us start our own service or construction businesses. The president, on the other hand, has never had a job or a business that wasn't bought for him, and he can't say 'nuclear' or 'terrorists.' He definitely needs help."
President Bush wants to offer citizenship to long-resident "illegals," but is feeling political pressure from constituents worried about costs sometimes associated with immigration, including increased expenditures for schools, police and health care. In response, the president has pandered to fear by sending National Guard troops to the border and talking tough.
"You got to repay a debt to society," Bush told immigrants yesterday, "and learn the skills necessary to assimilate into our society. Show us you've been working hard."
"'Show us you've been working hard'? Is he kidding?" asked Teresa Gutierrez, a frequent visitor to the community center, where she is drawing up a plan for an office-cleaning business. "What's he think we're doing here? Illegal immigration has always been about jobs. The only welfare queens left in America sit on the boards of Halliburton, Exxon-Mobil and GM."
The Aggravated Press
OMAHA, Neb. (June 7, 2006) - New arrivals to this country urged President Bush to learn English and adopt American values, a spokesman for immigrant workers said yesterday.
The president touted his immigration reform plan at a community center that offers immigrants English classes and business start-up help. However,
many in the "illegal" community said he needs those services more than they do."Most of us learn fast, by necessity," said community leader Angel Maria Morales, "as immigrants to the U.S. have always done. We learn English to understand our bosses here, or to negotiate with customers, since many of us start our own service or construction businesses. The president, on the other hand, has never had a job or a business that wasn't bought for him, and he can't say 'nuclear' or 'terrorists.' He definitely needs help."
President Bush wants to offer citizenship to long-resident "illegals," but is feeling political pressure from constituents worried about costs sometimes associated with immigration, including increased expenditures for schools, police and health care. In response, the president has pandered to fear by sending National Guard troops to the border and talking tough.
"You got to repay a debt to society," Bush told immigrants yesterday, "and learn the skills necessary to assimilate into our society. Show us you've been working hard."
"'Show us you've been working hard'? Is he kidding?" asked Teresa Gutierrez, a frequent visitor to the community center, where she is drawing up a plan for an office-cleaning business. "What's he think we're doing here? Illegal immigration has always been about jobs. The only welfare queens left in America sit on the boards of Halliburton, Exxon-Mobil and GM."
