The American Contradiction

Printed on: Thu, Jul 26, 2007

We can't have our cake and eat it too

By Kelvin Wade

We want it both ways with illegal workers. Two weeks ago, the front-page news story on illegal alien day laborers waiting in the Home Depot parking lot rubbed a lot of readers the wrong way. Here are illegals out in the open soliciting work without fear of arrest of deportation. While I sympathize with the angry and thoughtful letters to the editor about the illegal immigration problem, I've also come to realize just how ambivalent we are as a nation about it.

When local students cut class to wave flags from their country of origin and demand rights, Fairfielders were angry. I received mail from naturalized citizens upset that illegals demanded special treatment that they did"t receive. I received letters from people describing the lengthy process they went through in order to become an American citizen, learning English, working two jobs and so forth.

I've written about the Hispanic gentleman who lived down the street from my brother, Tony, who would fly the Mexican flag atop the American flag. Last year on the 4th of July, he flew the American flag upside down.

It's frustrating trying to transact business with someone who barely speaks English, especially if they have that person manning the telephone for some reason.

In the Daily Republic article, illegal worker Ramon Hermidio is quoted saying, "We do the jobs they don't want, work that they think is beneath them." I'm tired of hearing that line. Among my brothers and me, we've worked delivering newspapers and worked at a sewage treatment plant. We've worked picking fruit, painting houses and as custodians. There's no shame in honest work. The truth is illegals will do the jobs Americans won't do at that price.

But there's a great American contradiction when it comes to illegals. While we lament their presence, we rely and benefit from their cheap labor. We both criticize them for depressing wages by working so cheaply and benefit when we hire them because they work so cheaply.

I'll give you an example that everyone should be able to understand. My girlfriend arranged to have some landscapers give me bids on landscaping my back lawn.

I'm not going to lie. I was shocked when I opened the door to a white landscaper. I didn't think they made those anymore.

I explained what we wanted as he toured the backyard, measuring the grass with steps, checking out the bender board and making notes in a notebook. He sat on the air conditioner and used a calculator to add up the costs.

"It'll take a week to do and cost $5,400," he said.

A week later, I had a Hispanic landscaper show up, who may or may not have been an illegal. We took the same backyard tour and I explained what I wanted done, just as before. He whipped out a piece of paper and jotted down some figures.

"It'll be $2,000 and we'll be done in three days," he said.

So I find myself the embodiment of the American contradiction. I want secure borders so we know who is coming into this country. I like the Minuteman down on the border assisting the understaffed, overworked INS. The American taxpayer shouldn't have to foot the bill for services for people here illegally.

Amnesty isn't fair to people who've come to this country legally. English should be the official language.

But I'm not paying $5,400 to have my lawn done.