The new cover of Time

[HarveyDarkey]

[Meiko]

1. Nice cover

I haven't had a chance to read the article yet. I know here in Arizona we have a large group of younger people who float in limbo year after year. They live in the US and have done so all their lives. They were brought here to the US Illegally by their parents or other family members. They bear no responsibility in the illegal act that brought them here. For all intents a purposes they are American citizens, most know nothing else but the US, Some have even forgotten how to speak Spanish.

Many of these young people fall under the "Dream Act" a totally worthless and confusing piece of legislation. Take a look at it sometime. The hoops these kids have to deal with. They can qualify for citizenship if they go to college, or join the military, stupid politicians. How about this; If they have a clean record they are qualified for immediate citizenship, remembering that they were brought here through no fault of there own. If they have a record work with the court system and get it cleared up, fines,jail time, community service, whatever it takes. Anyone convicted of a felony would have to follow a different path.

Long story short, stop playing games with these kids lives. If they qualify give them citizenship and allow them to get along with their lives. If they have blemishes on their records help them to clear the defects so they can get citizenship and a chance at a better life.

Many of these young people have promising lives ahead of them. If they are allowed to languish in the limbo they are in there is no telling what may happen but we can see what it has caused in many of our major inner cities. When you abandon kids you never know what is going to happen'

[woodsprite]

2. Am I the only one who feels that they really can't call themselves American

I have quite a few friends from Mexico, India, Russia and other different countries who have gone through the proper procedures and now can legally can call themselves "Americans". They are proud they did it the right way and they don't seem to like their fellow countrymen bucking the process, and I agree with them.

If people are here from other countries illegally, undocumented, then they shouldn't be able to claim title to calling themselves Americans. They are name-of-country-ans that just happen to be living in America illegally at the time. To call and think of them the same way that we think of immigrants who have come in through the proper procedures is wrong. There is nothing wrong with trying to fix the process, but to accept that they're the same when they're here illegally cheapens the status of immigrants who are here legally and have followed the rules. We have rules, other countries have rules -- that's just the way it is, deal with it.

If we need more govt workers to deal with the influx, the children, etc. then we need to provide that. We can straighten this out AND fix the process, but it takes effort, and it's going to take pushing from the people to get the govt to even budge in that direction.

I think we should also make Spanish AND English mandatory in school. I was not happy when my daughter chose Russian over Spanish in college, but I guess she'll be able to talk to the beach workers and students this summer. Maybe it's because I've started taking Spanish again and she didn't want to be in class with Mom. I didn't like feeling like I was an outsider when I went to certain areas on trips. Knowing a second language is a big step in breaking down that wall, and people should be encouraged to take that step.

[GObamaGO]

3. While Mexicans cannot call themselves US citizens

They certainly CAN claim that they are American. They are part of Central America.

[Puzzledtraveller]

4. As a social worker

I see both, documented and undocumented. I have such admiration for the ones who have completed the process legally. In fact when they show me their naturalization papers, which is a nice certificate they are often proud and I am proud of them. I then always welcome them and let them know I am glad they are here. I see people from all over the world. Those that are undocumented should not be calling themselves Americans.

[oldhippie]

6. You realize, I hope, that most of the Western Hemisphere ....

... is considered "The Americas?" Like, you know, North America, South America, Central America?

I think most educated persons would consider it definitionally and lingustically correct for most of the residents of the western hemisphere to refer to themselves as "Americans."

Do you not agree?

(The fact that some citizens of just one country in this hemisphere, the USA, have seen fit to appropriate the title to itself exclusively, seems somewhat ignorant to me.)

[Aerows]

8. Agreed

Sorry, the whole illegal immigrant thing is something I have an issue with. If I want to immigrate to another country, I have to follow procedure, why shouldn't others have to do so, likewise?

[RZM]

5. Needs more breastfeeding n/t

[Aerows]

7. I know people who have gone through

the naturalization process. I respect them.

If you are here illegally, and are just benefiting from being in America... not so much. Sorry, but I pay taxes, and my citizenship has never been in question, and I can't flee to a different country if I decide I don't like it here.

[Posteritatis]

9. Ahh, wankfest generators.. (nt)

[cynatnite]

10. I don't care who calls themselves American...not one bit...

It does me no harm and I don't feel like I'm less because of it. The people that are here illegaly are usually working and they pay taxes when they go to the store just like me. If they're here working and abiding by the law I have no problem with them being here or calling themselves American.

Being called "American" is a label. I'm not diminished by who chooses to use it.

[obamanut2012]

11. Where are all the obvious white people?

Like Irish and White Hispanics?

I have read in several places that the largest group of undocumented workers (per their home population) is the Irish.

That cover is crazy.