The Veiled Chameleon: May 2007: Caption: "Mexican flag over U.S. dishonored flag"

I read this on another site:

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Amusing... So, we have people demonstrating in the streets that they want their citizenship rights, but aren't willing to follow the protocols and procedure for procuring said rights. Yes, these are people I want to naturalize.

When I went through the process, I had a college education from an American university, had lived in the States for years, and worked my entire professional life for American companies. I went through the process of filing paperwork, photos, background interview, test [which I needed to study for], and proving to a naturalized Latino INS person that I had a command of the English language--being as I was from a foreign country called England. There was a process which I happily obliged. After many months of this process [and after having been a law-abiding, tax-paying Alien Resident for over five years], I was finally honored by being Naturalized in the Superior Court of Arizona.

I did NOT demand to be given rights which weren't mine in the first place. I did not parade making obscene demands with the flag of the Cross of St George propped above a skewed 'Old Glory'... Such an act would dishonor the very thing I was attempting to attain....
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When I saw this picture all sais was OH HELL NO! They are every ware taking over! I live in the Riverside area I feel out of place in my own country!!!!!! I work in retail I am tired of selling washers to 7 year olds because the parents refuse to learn english! And I am expected to speak spanish to them. While thier snot nosed kids run around our store! They want rights!

Vonie ,

I believe you our school is filled with
Mex. RED WHITE AND BLUE!!!!!!!

all we want is the american dream just like everyone here.. just trying to get rights.. blacks did it back then.. so why cant we??
all of you are just mad because we are doing jobs you white people wont do.. so stop being bitches saying were taking all your jobs because most of you others wont do it!!Go to LA and check the majority of homeless...blacks and whites..

I'm mexican and all i can say is that most mexicans work there butts off so they can have money and whatever they'd like.I think mexicans and americans should get along after all were all family in Gods eyes and what happened i thought we were all equal in the USA well that's sure not what i think.Americans get mad at us cuase they say were taking there jobs but thats not true cuase americans dont really look for jobs and that's why they don't have one.

I'M A MEXICAN AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAY IN AMERICA BECAUSE WE COME TO THE U.S TO WORK TO SEND MONEY TO OUR FAMILYS IN MEXICO.BUT THE WHITE PEOPLE THINK WE ARE HERE TO TAKE THEIR JOBS AND DO BAD.BUT ITS NOT TRUE BECAUSE ALL WE WANT IS TO WORK TO GET MONEY SO WE COULD BE ALBE TO BUY US A MEAL,SHELTER,CLOTHES,AND EVERY THING WE NEED TO LIVE.BUT THEY WON'T GIVE US A CHANCE HERE.ALL THEY WANT IS TO KIK US OUT OF HERE AND GO BACK.

i'm mexican all the way and i'm totlay against wat you guys say. MEXICANS and other LATINOS come to this country to have a better life for their families. i want to see a gringo go to the fields and work there for 10 to 12 hours in the hot sun with hella little pay.if you say that "MEXICANS" come to this country to take your jobs, go work there and then you can say all the shit you want. And yet you are nothing to say those things about us. and remember this "a day without a mexican you wont be FELIZ"

We all need to STOP bitching at each other because whether Americans like us (Hispanics in general) or not, WE ARE NOT LEAVING THIS COUNTRY ;P... That is a proven fact. Check what race is going to be a majoriity by 2050 and which ones are going to be minirities. This will prove to you that WE ARE NOT LEAVING. For those insuting Mexicans and Hispanics in general, I feel sorry for you because you do not have the courage nor confidence to step up in front of a Mexican and say it to his/her face. I apologize for the dishonoring display of the US flag by my people. They were, perhaps, influenced by anger, just like many of you all were at the time you your offensive comments. Therefore, why don't we work out a legimitive compromise that will satisfy everybody?

Us mexicans just try to make a living, so white people shut up about taking ur jobs, we just take the jobs you people wont do.

There are no jobs that Americans won't do. Illegal aliens are doing jobs that Americans can't take and still support their families. Illegal aliens take low wage jobs, live dozens in a single residence home, share expenses and send money to their home country. There are no jobs that Americans won't do for a decent wage.Illegal aliens are NOT critical to the economy. Illegal aliens constitute less than 5% of the workforce. However, they reduce wages and benefits for lawful U.S. residents. Yes Hispanics should be able to provide for their families and make money but they do not have the right to do it the illegal way just like Americans can't just pick up their stuff and move to another country. If we were to just let anyone in that wanted a better life, our country would go down the drain.

YOU STINK WHY DID YOU EVEN MAKE THIS WEBSITE BORING

i hear the same thing all the time you hate mexicans, we are here to stay and control the usa thats the truth just look around you!!cry all you want biootch!!!

EVERY1 IS OFF TOPIC. THE POINT IS U ARE IN AMERICA...U DO NOT DISRESPECT THE PLACE U LIVE IN BY PUTTING UR FLAG ABOVE IT. IF AN AMERICAN DID THAT IN MEXICO THEY WOULD BE STONED TO DEATH IN A MATTER OF MINUTES...THE ITALIANS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS DIDNT PUT THEIR FLAG ABOVE THE UPSIDEDOWN USA FLAG WHEN THEY CAME OVERSEAS BACK IN THE DAY DID THEY??? AND BACK IN THE DAY IT WAS A MUST THAT U LEARN ENGLISH. NO1 WOULD ACCOMODATE ME IN MEXICO IF I WENT OVER THERE WITHOUT LEARNING SPANISH. AND I BLAME THE US GOVERNMENT PARTIALLY TO FOR BEING TOO ACCOMMODATING AND ALLOWING THIS SHIT TO GO ON FOR TOO LONG...NOW THERES NO TURNING BACK

well i'm mexican and i think that it's best if we just come together and find a legal way for illegal immigrants to work and be here legally. I don't see why us mexicans HAVE to go back. We are here and althou they may send some back to their country immigrants will ALWAYZ BE HERE!!.people tend to think we love commiting crimes,that's not true, if we were given a way to be legal, we wouldn't be driving w/out a license,using fake id's and SS,identity theft, etc because we no longer would have to. so the government should provide resources for us to work,LIVE,and make America what it's known for......LAND OF FREEDOM!!.

I am producing a video for a campaign for congress and want to use the photo of the Mexican flag over the U.S. flag. Please give me a name and phone number of somebody that I can talk with to obtain permission.

Joe H. Ferguson

hey i just want to say that why do white homeless guys just stand there and wait to have some monye; they are U.S. citizins why dont they work and make a living. most mexicans don't have papers but they make a living, i don't think that wait for people to give them monye.

Honestly, being half mexican and half german... i have to say that for one, the skewing of the american flag was a mistake. i am mexican but above all american. we live here in america. i look at some of these fellow mexicans as mis lead. only because they are taking the wrong approach. whats 5 years out of your life? and the main language here is english. so out of respect the mexicans who want to get rights must first become citizens and in order to do that they should learn english. for some it might be too hard but im sure 5 years is plenty of time. so be a real and represent la raza the right way. viva la raza!

ok bye

To those who think Hispanics don't try:

First, learn how to write English correctly since you are such a fanatical American who gets upset because other people can't speak English the way you do (incorrectly). Second, you need to get your facts straight. If you want to use that as a way to defend your values, well, I am sorry to say but you sound wishy washy. English IS THE THIRD HARDEST LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD! The majority of those people DO TRY. The majority of Americans don't even speak right. It's all slang. And some times Hispanics and others from other countries can't learn English even if they do want to because 1) they work to the point that they have no time to go to a school where they can learn 2)maybe they do speak but feel more comfortable that their children help them out since their child usually speaks better than them. And maybe it high time that you people learn how to speak another language. English is not eveything. Soon, in the business world, you will need to know how to speak Japanese or Chinese or both.

For those who think Illegal people are taking jobs and are disturbing the advancement of other Americans:

I only have one thing to say: I would love to see you work in the fields or factories for 10 hours for LOW-MIN. WAGE! Or any job for that matter. And if you think for a second that businesses that hire these people are going to be paying you more, it's obvious you need to take college American History. This has been a controversy for over a hundred years. And the situation is the same... so WE DO NEED THESE PEOPLE OR AT LEAST have lazy gov. sucking leeches get from their butt and work the same as these people with out recieving any more welfare. Medicad does not count!

Accomadations:

Seeing that you are American, trust me...They WOULD try to accomadate for you so that you have no problem communicating. In Spanish-Speaking countries there are people who speak English better than Americans! And there are Americans in those other countries...how about you staying other here and not take THEIR JOBS. Ever thought of that?

And no, I don't agree with what they did. But you need to learn how to look first before making hypocritical statments, cause making them makes you look ESTUPIDO!

viva mexico vatos locos

I think it is very wrong to dishonor are country's flag. And also I think it is wrong that Americans are angry about Mexicans taking there jobs we all came from a different a country why can't we all just get along? Tips: 1)Learn how to speak English it will be much easyer to live there. 2) Please don't dishonor are flag it isnt helping any.3)Americans Should never complain about Mexicans taking there jobs as I typed before we all came from different countrys and besides that Mexicans have familys in Mexico they need to feed.

you guys know that right know that the usa needs money they are getting it from the mexicans living here. police are giving nor tickets to mexicans. and for your information most mexicans DO pay taxes you f!cking r@cists. i never told you guys that all blonds are dumb so why the heck you telling sh!t about my people you a55hole5 have no right because you don´t even know us we don´t judge people by their race but i guess you do.

you hear

hmmm.... I notice only one US flag upside down under a Mexican one.

The other US flags appear upright...

So just one idiot?

British immigrants don't deal with the same discrimination Latino immigrants do. The ignorant want to deport even the legal immigrants. They harass naturalized citizens to scare them from voting. I'm pretty sure they'd want to deport all those damn Puerto Ricans as well, if they could (Puerto Ricans are natural born US citizens, for those that don't know, such as possibly the "omg they're everywhere!" commenters...)

America boasts itself as being the Land of Opportunity, have no problem going to other countries and exporting democracy (which I am not saying I disagree with, the idea is good) and then when people have the nerve to take up some of these ideas, people give out about!!! It's crazy since you don't have to go to far back in any American's family tree to find when their ancestors moved to the US.

I'm Irish by the way and I did live in America for a while (legally), but don't any more.

OK, I am a Mexican, too and I am commenting to what that lady up there said (Vonie), the snot nosed Mexican's, as you said are NOT the only ones running around the stores, so don't be hating because you couldn't get a better job, ,being born w/ Citiznes rights!!!!

she didnt even spell some words correctly and she is an "American".....what does that tell u? Not just us Latinos need to take some English classes!

thats freedom of speech you have to take the good with the bad so live with it

I agree with A Half Latina. It is unfortunate that the media has made this one person out to represent the sentiments of immigrants and Mexicans alike when the majority are fighting to be accepted into American society and to stay here. What's most disturbing is that the majority of people are easily believing that crap! This person does not represent the sentiments of every Mexican immigrant!!! Just like George Bush does not represent the ideals of every American in this country!!! Also further above Jeff says it took him 5 years to become a naturalized citizen and that he didn't complain through the process and did everything he was supposed to do. Well you're lucky Jeff because a lot of the Hispanic/Mexican immigrants try very hard and pay lots of money that they don't have (especially since lots come from developing countries, not an economically sound and powerful country like the U.K) to get citizenship BUT for some reason it takes them MUCH longer than 5 years to get legal status - sometimes a decade or more! No doubt there is institutionalized racisim there that you as a Caucasian British immigrant did not and will never have to face. Which is not you're fault or something that I would wish on you, but it is a fact, it is a harsh reality that brown immigrants have to face when they try to make a life in the US. Shit I, my family and close friends who are Mexican-American have to face this racism too and we were born in this country!!! Plus, Mexican or Hispanic immigrants don't have the time to wait around for a decade to see if MAYBE they might become a citizen...so what do they do? They go find a job where a business is willing to pay them. This war on "Illegal" immigration is degrading, racist and unrealistic. You can't fight the market. My point is if there is a demand there is a way - immigrants are not going anywhere. Unfortunately they have become an easy target to blame national and state problems on. If you look into U.S immigration history of the Mexican migrant, he/she has always had to face a higher level of racism/discrimination verses other groups of immigrants, ESPECIALLY more than CAUCASIAN, light-skinned immigrants. In addition this is the 2nd/3rd period of time that the Mexican immigrant has been used for lower wages then put through massive deportation as "Americans" get tired of them, blame societal problems on them and/or criminalize them. Does this sound familiar? It is definitely a vicious cycle that Mexicans need to get out of, one that I don't understand how it can happen again and again! What is happening to the Mexican immigrant is nothing new, but as a Mexican-American I'm proud to be apart of the movement to stop these racist cycles. As Hispanics, Mexican immigrants and other groups fight for their rights within this particular issue, other important ideas and facts are coming through - Mexicans do not drain the economy or the healthcare system, Mexicans have not increased crime like the media has led you to believe, they are not taking jobs away from Americans, with many more misconceptions or racist stereotypes being proved wrong by various institutions and research studies. I have statistics from the U.S. government and educational organizations to back up these statements. In regards to Mexican immigrants being only 5% of the labor from a post way above - if that's true than why are people saying that Mexicans immigrants are taking jobs away from Americans? In fact until this recent recession-like period in our economy, employment of native-born citizens had been on the rise and unemployment was in a decreasing trend despite an influx of Mexican immigration during that same time. And recently as many states are passing employment laws that are anti-immigrant and making it harder for immigrants to find jobs, unemployment has been increasing while employment has been decreasing for American citizens - that's with less job opportunities specifically for immigrants! Also, corporations are physically shipping out jobs out to other countries, not keeping them here while taking them away to give to the lower-paid immigrants who come here "illegally." And since most have limited education, they can't compete for the remaining better-paying jobs...Americans do. And that's just one example.

I'm not trying to spur or encourage hate between races. But many people aren't aware of wrong vs right, factual vs fictional information when it comes to race, jobs, economy, etc. There needs to be awareness and education on these topics as well as a consciousness that the status of and opinions on race in the United States definitely contribute to issues like immigration becoming overtly racist and bigot-like, whether you admit it to yourself or not. If you're letting racist stereotypes or false information convince you of the negative images of Mexicans, or any other immigrant or minority group for that matter, without educating yourself first, you are no better than the very people you are trying to put down! Usually you find the highest racism among people who have little or low education and therefore are limited in the amount of income they can make over their lifetime. Naturally, us people in the "lower class" feel the hits of a slowing down economy first, with massive lay-offs, even lower wages, etc. So as times get tough, these people usually try to look for a group as a scapegoat, a group of people they can blame for their problems, and look to politicians and the government their in charge of for help. Then we have the majority of people easily believing politics when politicians, who are supposed to be the ones with the information the data the answer, blame the country's problems on immigrants, minority groups, etc. They're the ones in charge and should look to their mistakes first and should try to find a solution as soon as possible rather than wasting time on media campigns to shift the public's view away from them and onto easy targets!!! Since immigrants don't have rights as "illegals" they do become an easy target. Since you can easily distinguish them physically as "different" with their brown eyes, hair and skin, they are an easy target. That is not the solution.

Another thing to think about is that this whole dilemma started gaining support and speed when the economy started slowing down. When it was strong, nobody cared about "illegal immigrants." Everyone was happy making money. I hope we get a President who can make the economy stronger and who can bring all the races to work together to make it better for everyone!