Friday, 27 February 2004 - 9:09 AM EST

I gotta say, Marc, your position on this kinda surprises me. But you are, of course, right. Read this quote from Florida Governor Jeb Bush pulled from the link:

"They should be sent back to Haiti. They hijacked a boat, a large vessel, and unless they have a well-founded fear of persecution that is specific and meets the criteria of our laws, they should be sent back," he said.

I would think that your country denegrating into mass chaos and violence would give you some reason to try and get the hell out of there. This is pure politics, and it's really very sad.

Friday, 27 February 2004 - 10:15 AM EST

This is terrifying, we all agree on something.

Friday, 27 February 2004 - 11:12 AM EST

So like, right now for example. The Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, "What about the strain on our resources?" Well it's like when I had this garden party for my father's birthday, right? I put R.S.V.P. 'cause it was a sit-down dinner. But some people came that like did not R.S.V.P. I was like totally buggin'. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, and squish in extra place settings. But by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier. And so if the government could just get to the kitchen, rearrange some things, we could certainly party with the Haitians. And in conclusion may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.

Friday, 27 February 2004 - 12:55 PM EST

Where I differ from the Congressional Black Caucus and others is that I don't think all these people should get bilingual schools and ballots, welfare, food stamps, set-asides and quotas. The case for unlimited immigration would be a lot easier to make if it weren't for the welfare state.

Friday, 27 February 2004 - 12:55 PM EST

I think we can all learn something from Alicia Silverstone.

Friday, 27 February 2004 - 5:10 PM EST

I disagree. This country is not a dumping ground for as many refugees as possible who come to our shores to stay here. That doesn't nothing to help force internal reform.

Besides which, Bush is only enforcing US law. If you are so opposed to turning them back, urge the Congress to liberalize refugee laws re the Haitians.

Friday, 27 February 2004 - 6:09 PM EST

I disagree. This country is not a dumping ground for as many refugees as possible who come to our shores to stay here. That doesn't nothing to help force internal reform

That's not what Jeb said. He said that the refugees were hijackers, nullifying any debate about the merits or demerits of a new wave of immigration. So basically if you liberalize refugee laws regarding Haiti, you're supporting hijackers and criminals.
Just curious. How do you "force internal reform" from the outside? The CIA?

Saturday, 28 February 2004 - 12:54 AM EST

Yes! This country is a dumping ground for refugees. That's the whole point of America - the "last, best hope of earth". That is what makes us different from Japan or France. We are not a nation built on ethnicity, we are a nation built on ideas - especially the idea that all men have certain inalienable rights.

Now, I'm not saying we should go to other countries and impose freedom at the point of the sword, but we at least have an obligation to let people live free in America if they cannot live free at home.

Saturday, 28 February 2004 - 9:38 AM EST

Maybe this is out of bounds, but I don't think we'd be turning back boatloads of Italians if this was happening in Rome.

Saturday, 28 February 2004 - 10:21 AM EST

I thought you were going to link to Chef Boyardee or Mussolini or Sulla or Nero or something.