Quote:
Originally Posted by graciegirl
And the latest immigrants are allowed to take advantage of us.
Just before we moved here year 'round in Cincinnati where we lived I was standing in the grocery behind a young couple with their baby, obviously Hispanic. I waited for a long time while they put their groceries in order, all of the fruits and vegetables check, they handed the checker a slip of paper. Then all of their canned goods, check, another piece of paper, Then paper products. etc. etc.
When they left I asked the check out person what was all that paper? And she said that it was vouchers for Aid to Dependent Children. the young family had just arrived and needed help.
I am the granddaughter of immigrants. My father was the first in his family able to attend college. My grandparents and aunts and uncles worked hard and not one of their children or grandchildren have yet to get in trouble with the law, they all have taken care of themselves. At the time my grandfather immigrated from Germany, he had to have a sponsor and he was indentured for awhile. I too believe our lifeblood is our cultural diversity, but people have to be able to make their own way if they plan to make such a big move. I see people working hard here from other countries and I know they won't stay in menial jobs very long. They will succeed just like my family. But we cannot encourage people to live off of us without working.
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It appears that you prejudged this couple based upon you first impression without doing any background knowledge of their circumstances.
I am also had grandparents who were immigrants. However, at the age of 3 my mother contracted MS and was bedridden for rest of her life. My mother, my younger brother and I received welfare payments of $135 a month, our only income. $1600 a year was not a lot of money. At the age of nine, I delivered papers for $5 a week, however, the social worker threatened to cut those welfare payments by $20 a month. Our only other source of subsistence was the help of friend and bags groceries from the Sister of the Poor. My wife and I were able to go on to college without any help from anyone and had a career in Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics. By the way, I am not Hispanic but Italian.
Although we were able to make a very good life for ourselves, I would not go back to the era of my childhood for the support for the disadvantaged. Thank God we are much more humane.