Wednesday, September 5, 2001

I'm writing in response to LeGay Saul's letter printed in the Aug. 22 edition of The Citizen. LeGay had "a few questions that maybe one of your readers might answer."

The first two questions are about speeding and parking, but the next three (numbered 3,4, & 6; I don't know what happened to 5) concern the current Mexican population and all of the frustration their presence brings.

My initial reaction to LeGay's letter was anger and disgust, but now I'm simply sick-hearted at the sight of such outspoken ignorance. Unfortunately, LeGay Saul's perspective is narrow, but widely shared. "The Mexicans" are the increasingly popular "white man's burden."

Okay, here are my answers to numbers 3, 4, and 6:

3. In my experience and opinion, "illegal immigrants from Mexico" do not really "expect" much from "the people of the U.S." They are here as a means of survival, and they do what needs to be done to survive. One of those things happens to be learning English.

Many Mexican children speak very fluent English and serve as interpreters for their parents. It is not easy for adults of any nationality to learn a new language, particularly English. Nonetheless, there's a pretty steady growth of adult Mexican attendance at classes offering instruction in the English language.

4. Many Mexicans come to America for the opportunities that exist for them, and yes, a lot of those occupational opportunities do exist exclusively for them. Generally, Mexicans work incredibly hard at jobs that a lot of Americans consider beneath them. They demand less money and don't complain nearly as much. The attitude they bring to the workplace is sincere and simple ­ they want to help their families stay alive back home, and they are determined to do so.

The question LeGay Saul may want to be asking is why Mexicans are hired to perform manual labor instead of Americans. If Americans were truly concerned about the "economy" and "unemployment rates," we would actually go after the jobs we'd really hate instead of skipping past them on the way to the unemployment office, like a lot of us do.

6. Something LeGay may not be aware of: the numbers in Mexico mean the same as the numbers in America, as do the colors and the shape of an arrow. None of those things translate when you cross the border. Therefore, speed limit signs, school zone signs, and the one-way signs shaped like arrows don't require a grasp of fluent English to comprehend the meaning. That is how all of the millions of illiterate Americans get by, too.

Additionally, most government agencies provide Spanish and other interpretations of distributed literature, forms, and signs. That helps those Mexicans who are eligible to obtain driver's licenses get them. However, LeGay was speaking of "illegal immigrants," and if you're not here legally, you're pretty much out of luck on getting a valid driver's license, anyway.

I'd like to emphasize something many Americans fail to realize ­ Mexicans are human beings, too. I sincerely hope we people will keep this in mind. Mexicans are treated outrageously in the U.S., as are a lot of other foreigners and our own poor and minorities (LeGay apparently only has a thing for Mexicans).

The typical American attitude toward "outsiders" is arrogant, ignorant, and against the basic principles of freedom and goodness. LeGay Saul, please ­ at least try to keep your mind open.

Rebecca Raymer

Peachtree City

rebeccaraymer@earthlink.net

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