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02-22-2017, 06:22 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,033
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My Grandfather Was Picked Up As A "Wetback".
“I’m not a ‘wetback,’” my grandfather said. “I’ve never been to Mexico in my life,” he continued.
It was the Eisenhower years. My grandfather had traveled from Syracuse, NY to Houston, TX to visit his youngest son, my Uncle Louis.
As my uncle tells it, his father (my grandpa was a swarthy man) was up early one morning to have some breakfast at a local diner. After breakfast, as my grandfather headed back to his son’s house, he was picked up by immigration enforcement agents (The Eisenhower Administration had just started “Operation Wetback”).
Well, according to my uncle, agents took my grandpa to their headquarters in downtown Houston; they began interrogating him. Although my grandfather’s English was never crisp, he tried his best to explain to authorities that he hadn’t crossed into the United States from Mexico.
In the end, my grandpa called his son (my uncle) and told him where he was. My uncle came down to immigration headquarters and explained to authorities that the man they had in custody was a naturalized U.S. citizen who had never lived in nor visited Mexico. The thought of my grandfather, at the time past his 60th birthday, swimming across the Rio Grande was quite frankly, ludicrous. My grandfather was such a frail man that a strong gust of wind would literally blow him over.
Finally, after its implementation, “Operation Wetback” gave rise to arrests and deportations by the U.S. Border Patrol that were civil rights violations, which resulted in several hundred United States citizens being illegally deported without being given a chance to prove their citizenship.
As for my grandfather, he made his way back to Syracuse, NY. When I saw him a few months later, he said, “They should have known (immigration authorities), I can’t speak a word of Spanish.”
__________________
Walt (Teach)
"Walt, make a 'mental bet' and lose your mind." R.N.S.
"The important thing is what I think of myself."
"David and Lisa" (1962)
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02-22-2017, 07:27 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,149
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02-22-2017, 09:17 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 22,640
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It is much easier now for people from all over the world and get in legally with a student visa, and then stay to become an illegal, no need to swim across an ocean or river...
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02-22-2017, 12:38 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 10,999
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This sounds like a bad title to a country/western song.
Grandma and reindeer come to mind.
__________________
All I needed in life I learned from Gary Larson.
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02-22-2017, 12:54 PM
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#5
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Librocubicularist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 10,466
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davew
It is much easier now for people from all over the world and get in legally with a student visa, and then stay to become an illegal, no need to swim across an ocean or river...
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I don't know the details but if a foreign student with a visa can get a Ph.D. in certain fields (science/engineering) they can legally stay forever. The government seems to think that not many Americans will study that hard.
__________________
Sapere aude
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02-22-2017, 01:30 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: donkeys ride from ASD
Posts: 13,002
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Teach
“I’m not a ‘wetback,’” my grandfather said. “I’ve never been to Mexico in my life,” he continued.
It was the Eisenhower years. My grandfather had traveled from Syracuse, NY to Houston, TX to visit his youngest son, my Uncle Louis.
As my uncle tells it, his father (my grandpa was a swarthy man) was up early one morning to have some breakfast at a local diner. After breakfast, as my grandfather headed back to his son’s house, he was picked up by immigration enforcement agents (The Eisenhower Administration had just started “Operation Wetback”).
Well, according to my uncle, agents took my grandpa to their headquarters in downtown Houston; they began interrogating him. Although my grandfather’s English was never crisp, he tried his best to explain to authorities that he hadn’t crossed into the United States from Mexico.
In the end, my grandpa called his son (my uncle) and told him where he was. My uncle came down to immigration headquarters and explained to authorities that the man they had in custody was a naturalized U.S. citizen who had never lived in nor visited Mexico. The thought of my grandfather, at the time past his 60th birthday, swimming across the Rio Grande was quite frankly, ludicrous. My grandfather was such a frail man that a strong gust of wind would literally blow him over.
Finally, after its implementation, “Operation Wetback” gave rise to arrests and deportations by the U.S. Border Patrol that were civil rights violations, which resulted in several hundred United States citizens being illegally deported without being given a chance to prove their citizenship.
As for my grandfather, he made his way back to Syracuse, NY. When I saw him a few months later, he said, “They should have known (immigration authorities), I can’t speak a word of Spanish.”
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This tale reeks of BS. I call.
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02-22-2017, 03:37 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,883
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Actor
I don't know the details but if a foreign student with a visa can get a Ph.D. in certain fields (science/engineering) they can legally stay forever. The government seems to think that not many Americans will study that hard.
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Educate yourself. Learn where the U.S. ranks in math and science, thanks to dumb-down policies of most public schools.
__________________
Consistent profits can only be made on the basis of analysis that is far from obvious to the majority. - anonymous guru
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02-22-2017, 06:58 PM
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#8
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The Voice of Reason!
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Canandaigua, New york
Posts: 112,858
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Quote:
“I’m not a ‘wetback,’” my grandfather said. “I’ve never been to Mexico in my life,” he continued.
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Sounds like a racist to me.
All your relatives talk like that?
__________________
Who does the Racing Form Detective like in this one?
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02-22-2017, 09:41 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,450
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Teach
“I’m not a ‘wetback,’” my grandfather said. “I’ve never been to Mexico in my life,” he continued.
It was the Eisenhower years. My grandfather had traveled from Syracuse, NY to Houston, TX to visit his youngest son, my Uncle Louis.
As my uncle tells it, his father (my grandpa was a swarthy man) was up early one morning to have some breakfast at a local diner. After breakfast, as my grandfather headed back to his son’s house, he was picked up by immigration enforcement agents (The Eisenhower Administration had just started “Operation Wetback”).
Well, according to my uncle, agents took my grandpa to their headquarters in downtown Houston; they began interrogating him. Although my grandfather’s English was never crisp, he tried his best to explain to authorities that he hadn’t crossed into the United States from Mexico.
In the end, my grandpa called his son (my uncle) and told him where he was. My uncle came down to immigration headquarters and explained to authorities that the man they had in custody was a naturalized U.S. citizen who had never lived in nor visited Mexico. The thought of my grandfather, at the time past his 60th birthday, swimming across the Rio Grande was quite frankly, ludicrous. My grandfather was such a frail man that a strong gust of wind would literally blow him over.
Finally, after its implementation, “Operation Wetback” gave rise to arrests and deportations by the U.S. Border Patrol that were civil rights violations, which resulted in several hundred United States citizens being illegally deported without being given a chance to prove their citizenship.
As for my grandfather, he made his way back to Syracuse, NY. When I saw him a few months later, he said, “They should have known (immigration authorities), I can’t speak a word of Spanish.”
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Lesson learned. Next time, towel off.
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02-22-2017, 11:17 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Behind the Pine Curtain
Posts: 10,646
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Who is more butt hurt? Psychotic Trump haters, or Falcon fans and Tom Brady haters? They all seem to post some weird shit the past couple of weeks
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02-23-2017, 12:37 AM
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#11
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Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,222
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Where did ol' Grandpa immigrate from?
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02-23-2017, 05:13 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 10,861
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Good story. It just shows how much ignorance there is in the world.
Remember Keith Hernandez of the New York Yankees?
He was doing a TV show in NYC for a Spanish TV station. During the commercial break, the host of the show asked him to say something in Spanish to the audience. He turned to the host and said, "I don't speak Spanish."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teach
“I’m not a ‘wetback,’” my grandfather said. “I’ve never been to Mexico in my life,” he continued.
It was the Eisenhower years. My grandfather had traveled from Syracuse, NY to Houston, TX to visit his youngest son, my Uncle Louis.
As my uncle tells it, his father (my grandpa was a swarthy man) was up early one morning to have some breakfast at a local diner. After breakfast, as my grandfather headed back to his son’s house, he was picked up by immigration enforcement agents (The Eisenhower Administration had just started “Operation Wetback”).
Well, according to my uncle, agents took my grandpa to their headquarters in downtown Houston; they began interrogating him. Although my grandfather’s English was never crisp, he tried his best to explain to authorities that he hadn’t crossed into the United States from Mexico.
In the end, my grandpa called his son (my uncle) and told him where he was. My uncle came down to immigration headquarters and explained to authorities that the man they had in custody was a naturalized U.S. citizen who had never lived in nor visited Mexico. The thought of my grandfather, at the time past his 60th birthday, swimming across the Rio Grande was quite frankly, ludicrous. My grandfather was such a frail man that a strong gust of wind would literally blow him over.
Finally, after its implementation, “Operation Wetback” gave rise to arrests and deportations by the U.S. Border Patrol that were civil rights violations, which resulted in several hundred United States citizens being illegally deported without being given a chance to prove their citizenship.
As for my grandfather, he made his way back to Syracuse, NY. When I saw him a few months later, he said, “They should have known (immigration authorities), I can’t speak a word of Spanish.”
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02-23-2017, 05:42 PM
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#13
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Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by highnote
Good story. It just shows how much ignorance there is in the world.
Remember Keith Hernandez of the New York Yankees?
He was doing a TV show in NYC for a Spanish TV station. During the commercial break, the host of the show asked him to say something in Spanish to the audience. He turned to the host and said, "I don't speak Spanish."
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That's not ignorance. That's just a wrong assumption.
Teach, are you going to answer my question?
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02-23-2017, 05:58 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Denver
Posts: 4,163
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Quote:
Originally Posted by highnote
Remember Keith Hernandez of the New York Yankees?
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Speaking of ignorance, I'm not sure the Yankee fans or the Mets fans would be more irritated about placing Hernandez on the Yankees. He played for the Cardinals and the Mets, and even played a few games for the Indians, but he wasn't a Yankee.
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02-23-2017, 09:48 PM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 10,861
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fager Fan
That's not ignorance. That's just a wrong assumption.
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Definition of "ignorance": lack of knowledge or information.
Last edited by highnote; 02-23-2017 at 10:03 PM.
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