BY RUTH ANN SATCHFIELD

In some areas of the country, too many people resent those who have come here from Mexico. Often, we do not hear much about the people who have come from other countries, but we have many communities of different nationalities throughout our country. In Texas, we have groups from not only Mexico but also Vietnam, Germany, China, Middle Eastern countries, and others. Many of the doctors in Texas come from the Middle East. I do not hear people complaining about them. Companies have been importing research scientist to South East Texas areas and hiring them at a lower rate than Americans. Our children get their education so that they can merit those jobs, but companies hire from overseas. Why don’t we hear about this? It is because the companies do not want us to know. My only problem with this is the fact that there are Americans who should be hired first, but they are not. It is not the immigrant’s fault; it is the fault of the corporations. That is all legal, some say; probably, but some sponsored employees have limited visas and just do not go home.

Why is there so much talk about the Hispanic communities and no others? I think it is because they are considered poor and uneducated. How many educated people do you think are going to pick the crops in the fields, clean houses, or do yard work? There are not many Americans who want those jobs. There are Americans who want the jobs of research scientist and the like.

Often, people do not take into consideration the emotions of the immigrant families in this country, or the rules that affect them so negatively. I have a friend who married a United States citizen and had a son. When that marriage did not work out, she married another man who was not a United States citizen. He ended up being caught and sent back to Mexico. Because of her divorce, her status changed. Since I am not a lawyer, I do not understand it all, but it was a hassle. By that time, she had three American children. She was doing house cleaning and getting help from friends until she got her paperwork straightened out. It was impossible to get a regular job, and law enforcement were even raiding churches looking for “illegals.” This was not in Texas, and that state’s crops rotted in the field that year. What do you think it feels like for children to know that their mom could be picked up at any time and deported, not for anything she had done, but just because of prejudice to Hispanics in that area? Two of her children had already lost their father. Some jobs she had to work for cash; employers would cheat her out of her pay, if it had not been for her American friends that called the boss on the carpet and threatened to have him arrested. This is very common in this country. We have laws to stop it, but most victims are afraid and do not have friends who can help them. I think this is a part of the reason Republicans do not want immigration “fixed.” As long as there is this subculture, they can keep wages low for everyone, and cheat those who appear unable to fight back. She was one of the lucky ones. Her paperwork was in the works, so she was safe. She was not accustomed to standing up for herself against a man. These particular men know this, and use it. 

BY RUTH ANN SATCHFIELD

The other day there was a rude Republican troll commenting in a group to which I belong. One of the things she said, made me think. She was trying to insult another member, and she said she lived in Spokane Washington for a year and she hated it. She called the people hateful. I lived there for six years, and found the people to be warm and friendly. To her and others of that ilk, I would say sometimes you get back what you put out.

That got me to thinking. Many of the polls are saying that the USA is starting back left. We want it to continue in that direction, so maybe we need to work hard at being nice to people with which we disagree in politics. I am not talking about the hateful Republican trolls. It is easy to think of all Republicans as like those trolls, but they are not. Many are Republicans because the NRA has them convinced that the Democrats are coming for their guns, or is banishing God from wherever they wish him to be. Republicans are all about control. If you have dealt with people who have been abused, they are about control too. They are afraid because one time they were abused, and had no control, so that becomes very important to them. The Republicans in this country are controlled by fear. We have watched their leaders use fear to get them to vote the way the leaders wanted. Some of their fear is irrational. For instance, no one is coming for their guns. Yet many on the right still believe they are. They believe it so much, that they won't even support reasonable gun laws. They don't realize they have lost control, and are being programmed by the NRA.