… is painful sometimes.
I try hard to keep this space light and bright. Politics and religion and all that jazz get plenty of attention elsewhere… this spot is about food.
But Chris commented on a couple of entries suggesting a boycott of Mexican restaurants because they employ illegal aliens. This is a red-hot button topic… and a very complex one at that. All you have to do is read the story in last week’s New York Times about a gifted high school student — an illegal from Africa — who was abandoned by his parents and is now in danger of being deported. It’s heartbreaking.
Like so everything that has to do with race, this issue is certainly not black and white… still, in the interest of respecting everyone’s opinion, I decided to let the comment from Chris stand.
Care to add your two cents? Or, am I opening up a big ugly can of worms here?
Read this
Responses to “Freedom of speech…”
May 1st, 2006 at 10:17 am
In the interest of free speech, Chris’ statement should stand…though I certainly don’t agree with him. Having the freedom to express one’s thoughts & opinions is only a part of what makes our country great, regardless of how small-minded the statement may be.
May 1st, 2006 at 10:33 am
Fuzzy Worm:
1/4 oz. tequila
1/2 oz. peach schnapps
1/4 oz. orange juice
And give up Cinco de Mayo? No can do.
May 1st, 2006 at 11:16 am
I know there are heartbreaking exceptions to every rule, but rules are necessary to help keep order in this crazy world of ours. I think Chris’ suggestion is extreme, but sometimes if one feels strongly about an issue, one should take a stand! I for one, think the Hispanic population here in this country are great, hard-working, family~oriented folks. I have worked side-by-side with quite a few of them. However, I do not think they should be allowed to live here illegally, no matter how much they contribute to the US of A. If they want to live here, work here, and raise their families here, they should make sure they follow the legal route to do so. I know many, many, many who have, so I know the process must be fairly simple.
May 1st, 2006 at 12:47 pm
With that reasoning, how about boycotting all the American restaurants that employ illegal immigrants. Houston, Encore, Texas de Brazil, Benihana, and 90% of the restaurants in America should be in your list of restaurants to boycott.
May 2nd, 2006 at 8:43 am
This may be a touch of sour grapes - I wanted to eat Mexican food yesterday, but Las Margaritas was closed (I can only assume they were participating in the boycott). What would happen if Americans boycotted Mexican-owned businesses on May 5th (the most celebrated Mexican holiday)? Would we be called racist? Just wondering.
May 3rd, 2006 at 12:01 pm
As someone who just went through the process of getting a green card for my British husband, I can tell you the process is anything but simple and that’s for someone who already had a visa to work here and married an American citizen. It is a complicated, time consuming, and very expensive process.
6 comment.