did your family come legal or illegal

kernow62 says on Dec 27, 2004, 21:17:

Legally, myself fom the UK, my wife from Bogotá. She was lucky enough to be born in NYC but raised in Bogotá so she has US and Colombian citizenship. She sponsored her parents and sister, however her sister turned 18 in the meantime and could not be sponsored by a sibling. The parents were admitted almost immediately. After my father-in-law became a US citizen he sponsored his daughter and 9 yyears after my wife moved here the US allowed her sister to join the rest of the family.

It is actually quite easy to make it to the US through the Bahamas, I know many who have done so, but she wanted to do things legally. She wouldn't want the stigma of being illegal and having always to be on her guard.

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RolaParaTodaLaVida says on Jan 1, 2005, 18:50:

mexico My aunt came through Mexico...she can not stand tortillas. She had a horrible trip out here. It took her over a month to reach New York. This was almost ten years ago. She is still in disbelief of her strength.
Today she continues to keep her head up and works very hard and is now a citizen of the U.S.
Not once has she asked for or received food stamps or welfare. She wasn't coming here to get any sympathy. She knew what she was getting herself into and knew that her daughter would receive the benefits of her struggle.

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ColombianoX says on Jan 1, 2005, 20:31:

"She was lucky enough to be born in NYC but raised in Bogotá"

kernow,

I too was born in NYC, but I don't consider those who weren't born there to be unlucky.

My family came here LEGALLY, of course.


CX

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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Gomezman5 says on Jan 1, 2005, 21:27:

Many personal experiences.....reasons to reflect My parents came here from Bogota' at a young age. Both were professionals, so coming here legally was easy. Then, like today, if your a professional, and something to contribute to the country in an area where there is a labor shortage here---your in--easily.

So, I was born here. I guess I am a lucky guy in that way...but my life is far from perfect. I have too many health problems...nothing too serious.....oh who knows.

Because of my circle of friends, I often meet many illegals---mostly Mexicans. It's amazing to see how they live. The enormous suffering and hard work for very little pay by American standards. And I have to say, without equivocation, that there is not a harder group of workers in this country than the Mexicans---nobody rivals them. They work 2 and 4 jobs to support their large families and to send money back to Mexico..

Some of my Colombian brothers and sisters have a grudge against them--for some reason. I guess because so much of the media in this country concentrates on them. But hey, Mexicans, legal and illegal now represent between 55 and 65 of the entire latino population the country. The Boricuas and cubanos are maybe another 15 percent. And All the other Latinos are only 15-20 percent. So, we Colombians will never have much voice....But.....

One point--though. Mexicans, have the "luxury" of being able to go home when they want. They cross the border and their home. And when they want to come back, although it's getting harder and harder, they find their way back, even if it costs more money than it did before.
When Colombians come illegally, or come illegally and over stay, while they miss their families terribly, the can't go home. It's almost impossible, unless they can find themselves a way to marry and become illegal. Imagine, living here 5,6 even 10 years without seeing your family in Colombia...what a horrible situation

That's about it..

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kernow62 says on Jan 1, 2005, 21:32:

ColombianoX, I should have used the term fortunate rather than lucky.

I shall rephrase it, "She was fortunate enough to have been born in the US."

I on the other hand, was fortunate enough to have been born outside of the US.

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ColombianoX says on Jan 1, 2005, 21:43:

kernow,

That's ok, man. Sometimes I get too jumpy, sorry.

CX

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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RolaParaTodaLaVida says on Jan 2, 2005, 14:39:

professional is not the only key my uncle is a lawyer with a practice, two travel agencies and a home in two locations. But he has not been able to recieve a tourist visa to visit his sister. so the key is luck.
some receive it and some don't

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Gomezman5 says on Jan 2, 2005, 16:31:

No, not the only key........ But it sur helps. If your uncle was a physical or occupational, he would have a visa--quite literaly, in no time. This is true even if you own nothing.

I know this for sure from all my Colombian female friends that came here on a work visa. For the most part, they are all young ladies
who had no personal assets before they got here.

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 2, 2005, 16:47:

I heard that it was possible to buy a visa in Bogota. What do you think? Just rumor?

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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kernow62 says on Jan 2, 2005, 17:16:

RolaParaTodaLaVida we had the same problem. I think if there is known family in the US you might be denied a tourist visa.

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Gomezman5 says on Jan 2, 2005, 17:19:

Buying visas ????? Are you implying that there may be some less than scrupulous people working at the embassy??

Sad to say, I heard it too. In fact I heard it from two people,at different places and at different time.

They both quoted me about the same price. So much for national security. It's scary if you think about it.

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 2, 2005, 21:06:

How much? My wife has heard this too. I don't know if it's just a shaggy dog story or a real possibility. I wouldn't put it past them. They're dirtballs.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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isaactraveler says on Jan 2, 2005, 21:19:

i wonder if the idea that you can buy a visa is the reason they make you leave your stuff in lockers and have "teller" windows. Did they also have cameras?

i wonder who approves the tourist visas, and what the criteria is. I heard that they want you to own real estate, have a car, have a job or bank account... then I also heard that they will just as easily deny you, and let the next jobless imbecile come...... or IS he an imbecile? hmmmmm...

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Gomezman5 says on Jan 2, 2005, 22:09:

Utopia, Honestly. As you no doubt know by now, I am not a man short on words. But in this visa crap, I just heard it twice, but I don't even want to talk about it.

I will say it really scares me though. We're going through all these hoops and costs to make our country more secure,and then I hear crap like this. My God, what if one of these miserable terrorist end up with one of these visas???? They can literally come walking in here, and who knows what can happen....

All I can say, if this really is happening, these people should be caught, brought to justice, and be given life time jail sentences
without the possibility of parole.

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caslug says on Jan 2, 2005, 22:24:

Visa rumors?.. Well i was playing blackjack in Bogota w/ couple of US embassy guy, and we were having a good time beating the house. I joked w/ them about helping get a visa for me GF. They laughed, and said that it very difficult to get THEN said in a serious tone that even joking about helping someone get a visa will get them in trouble. Apparently the Embassy has told EVERYONE working there do not EVEN joke about it(helping someone). So who knows maybe stuff did happened and now their crackdown big time.

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kernow62 says on Jan 3, 2005, 05:24:

Gomezman5 do you really think the mock show of force will really stop a determined terrorist. America is less secure now than before the second Gulf War. If thousands of Mexicans can enter the US, why couldn't one or two of them be terrorists?

People enter the US all the time, legally and illegaly, how could any country possibly weed out terrorists. It can never be accomplished.

IMHO. The way to make America safer is for America to have better relations with other countries instead of bombing them.

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Gomezman5 says on Jan 3, 2005, 07:38:

Well God bless George Bush!!!! I think you know where I stand. Or you will know now.

Yes our borders are too pourous. But, I have not seen any Mexicans on the terrorist lists. Have you?

Don't you think that the fact we have gone 3 and a half years without a second attack means that Mr. Bush is doing something right? I would be a fool to think that our country is completely safe. I would also be a fool to think that we are not going to have another terrorist attact. But, our intelligence is much better than it was prior to 9/11. At this time, the terrorist are trying to survive and hide. They are on the run. And that fact alone makes it harder to carry out terroris operations.

The UK, would not even be there today if not for the US. Remember WWII ? The US has the support of most of the world. Like our defense secretary Rumsfeld said not too long ago, "Modern europe is moving a little more east these days."

If you think that the US is going to be like the fools in Europe who let these terrorist in on a massive lever, you are kidding. Now, should the US, or I for that matter worry about what France, or Germany think? I have 0, no respect for these countries. They are self serving. Both countries violating the sanctions against Iraq after the 91 gulf war quicker than any other country. And Why? No answer needed. Let's talk about the fools at the UN. Kofi Annon is a crook. Him and his son and who knows how many others, have profitted to the tune of mega millions of dollars in the "Oil for food program."

The US does not believe in appeasment. France, and that miserable Chirac are about as low as you can get. Muslims represent one third of Frances population. I am not saying that all muslims are terrorists. But, a lot of them are sympathizers, and if you don;t think that that fact helps mold foreign policy, you are kidding.

I predict that Europe will be substantially more muslim in the years to come. With that increase, the culture will change to. I don't know about you, but I don't particulary care for the backwards social values that they maintain. Women are still third class citizens in all of their mid east home countries.

The US has consistently done the right thing in it's war on terrorism and that includes the war in Iraq. That country has been liberated and modernized. It is a flowering democracy, that will not be built in a day. The problem you have Kernow is that you read the BBC too much. They are very liberal, socialists, and anti american

In summary, the US will do what it needs to do to fight it's war. And hopefully it will succeede.

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kernow62 says on Jan 3, 2005, 12:24:

Sure I know about WW2, that was the war when the majority of the US public did not want to help an ally by getting involved in actual combat. The US did not get involved in the combat until they were attacked. They did not want to get involved while millions of Europeans were dying. Sure in the end the US did the right thing, but the majority of American citizens prior to the US being attacked preferred not to enter as a combatant.

England, France and many other countries are grateful for the US in WW2. The US however thinks that France or England should jump in when Iraq did not attack the US.

Iraq is not modernized it is flattened. You have blinders on.

Iraq was one of the more liberal free Middle-Eastern nations, women had more freedom than in the nations the US calls its allies. Why aren't we freeing the people in Saudi Arabia. Why do we support Turkey with its human rights abuses against the Khurds?

I suppose you supported the dropping of millions of tons of bombs in secret on Laos?

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andrews says on Jan 3, 2005, 13:07:

Gomez .....wow If you really think about it.... didn't a number of years transpire between the first attack on the trade centers? would that mean that previous administrations were doing something right? As U.S. citizens it would be foolish and naive, 2 things we are often guilty of, to not realize that the networks against us, and the u.k. and spain, are, if nothing else, patient. Maybe it's because we have grown into such a immediate gratification culture that we just can't see it. It seems you bought the Rep./ idea that if we didn't elect Mr. B "they'd hit us again". Of course security is at a higher premium now, but look at some of the reactions; arming pilots? that's ridiculousness. The tragedies could have been avoided by a reasonable door seperating the cabin, or more to the point, a differnt policy towards airplane abductions (why not decompress the cabin?).
As far as Europe: Really, didn't the U.S. just fight the Nazis on European soil before inevitably fighting them here? I mean there are u-boats sunk of the east coast.
And, don't these other countries have the right free will on the foriegn polocies?
And finally, I really thought that most thoughtfull U.S. ers, even staunch G.O.P. ers can see the folly in Irag. How many dead troops? All of there now under constant threat and stress of distrust. Most of all wouldn't these troops be better served in Afgahn searching for person most responsible for the 9/11 attacks, or do you, like Mr.B simply not think about Osama B.? Look, no personal attacks, I don't mean to imply your not thoughtful, just it seems that as people see the results, and I don't think we really see the results, it just gets more disheartning. Plus, do you think Fox news in "fair and balanced"?

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kernow62 says on Jan 3, 2005, 15:26:

Gomez you really take the cake. Are you boycotting french fries? Do you call the French frogs?

"Pourous"? Did you mean porous? Perhaps you meant poorass, as in keep them poor ass wetbacks in Mexico.

How many terrorist attacks happened before the first attack on the WTC? Ergo security must have been exceptional prior to the first attack.

You are placing Western values on another culture. Just because we might not agree with another culture's ideas we should be careful not to interfere. I am sure you don't care for the caste system in India, you do know about the untouchables don't you. On the other hand and equally valid; I am sure millions of Indians think we are all heathens because we eat meat. Perhaps people in the Middle-east are equally shocked that Western women act like men, or believe we are unclean because we keep dogs as pets. We might be shocked that some Asian countries raise St. Bernard dogs for food.

It would me nice if different cultures could be more tolerant of each other, but that isn't likely to happen.

Who is right, who is wrong?

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 3, 2005, 15:34:

Geez, Kernow, it should be obvious. We're right and death to anyone who disagrees.

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Gomezman5 says on Jan 3, 2005, 19:08:

No Kenow--no blinders here You listen to the BBC---now that's blinders.
The BBC--anit semetic, anti israel, pro palestinian terrorists, socialist, pro UN...(the biggest bunch of crooks with Kofi being the
more of a disgrace than anyone who headed the UN since it was created.

No sir. How many Iraqu's do you know. I know several who are doctor here (3) and one who is in his residency at University of Chgo hospital. All 4 of them have favored the US actions...I guess Sadam was better...I guess you forgot about his attrocities rivaled by no other country. But the liberal press, shows of the isolated problems and terrorism...but it does show all the good we are doing. Jam 31 for the first time, they are going to have an election. But, I guess that means nothing too.

Now as to the Americans not wanting to go into WWII...Kernow, please please don't distory history

We did not enter WWII, because we had adopted an isolationist forein policy many years earlier...aproximately shortly after WWI, when, by the way, we saved the UK and the rest of europe for the first time. Remember that? So...IT was NOT because a consious decision that was made to not enter the war. Additionally (you are going to get the real story now Kernow) we were in our Great Depression. Now, it's a little hard to convince people to go fight on the other side of thw world, when you have nothing to eat and you are starving here...Ok ? And even then, although not the majority, there were a huge number of Americans that favore intervention.

Finally, by the time we saved Europe in WWII, it was years after we were attacked by Japan. So Japan's attacking us, did not cause us to immediately run to save europe. It was something the America had to do because without the US, you would be under the Nazi empire today. You certainly couldn't count on the useless French, who happily went colluding with the Nazi's almost immediately after the occupation of France...The wonderful Vichi government.

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Gomezman5 says on Jan 3, 2005, 19:21:

No Kernow I'm not tolerant of muslim militants And I never will be tolerant of muslim militants..AFter 9/11, Osama said "The US is a paper tiger, they will never strike back."
I guess we fooled him -- kind of caught him off guard the way he did us.

Muslim militants need to be killed. Not negotiated with. Not appeased. They need to be enhilated. It's nice for liberals like yourself and those in my country that say..."make peace..not war."

Sorry, like or not, sometimes you have to make war to keep the peace.
The worst militants in the world are those that kill in the name of God. Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and al quaida...all are terrorists of the highest order. They must be stopped, and I don't care how many American soldiers have to die. I was an officet in the army. I retired at the rank of Captain. I wish I was healthy enough to reeinlist...it would be an honor for me to do so.

And as to my mispelling. Hey, let's not get personal ok??? Lot of themare just typos...my typing is worse than my spelling.

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Hunter says on Jan 4, 2005, 12:04:

Gomezman5 The US had a very limited role in the WW1, certainly not enough to affect anything one way or the other.

As to WW2 the population in the US was against entering into WW2, although many people of influence were pushing the population and aiding the UK (and its allies) as much as they could. When the Japs eventually attacked it was easy for them to finally help out the UK openly.

As to the US winning the war in Europe, I am afraid that the Russians were the main people who helped the allies win the war in Europe, nine out of ten German soldiers were nearly always on the Eastern front. Although the UK and the US did supply hardware to the Russians, the Russians produced most of their own goods.

As to Europe being under the Nazi yoke if the US had not helped out, I don't think so, more likely the Communist yoke.

On the Pacific front, the US certainly won the war against the Japs with their superior naval tactics.
But it must not be forgoten where was the majority of the Jap Army while the US was Island hopping its way through the Pacific, they were tighed down but the UK led allied forces in Burma.

I agree with what the US is doing at the moment in Iraq and most of the other things you are saying, but not connected with the two World Wars.

Hunter

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RolaParaTodaLaVida says on Jan 4, 2005, 14:26:

Farenheit 911 http://www.fahrenheit911.com/trailer/

If you haven't watched it...get it and take it all in.
There is so much in it that you know there is no way it can all be false. Bush is out for his own gain. He doesn't care about the world. He cares about his family and friends and how he can get more $$.
He doesn't care about stopping the violence and drug trafficking in Colombia because somehow he is gaining something.
Pick any other country and if he doesn’t gain something from it he is not doing anything for that country.

Even helping Mexican's receive immigration help all of it is connected to what Bush is gaining from it. I'm happy for those few people that will get their situation settled. But then here are other people that need his help and he won't be doing much about it.

Watch the movie!

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