Welcome, Welcome

Proudly swore my oath in September of 2006 and pledged my loyalty to this country after paying the fees and passing the test to prove that I qualified to be a worthy citizen.

I got my green card in 1984.

For 22 years I paid taxes, social security, obeyed the laws - except for an occasional speeding ticket (who can blame me, I learned how to drive on German autobahns-) - and, lo and behold, I learned the language to the point where most people nowadays don't have a clue that I am not a native English speaker.

Having said this, I believe I have the right mindset to voice an informed opinion about the debate over amnesty for illegal immigrants. I am not prejudiced, or at least I try my best not to be.
Having resided in Germany during the years when guest workers were called to my native country to pick up the jobs Germans didn't want to do, I lived in the middle of a similar issue.
I am generally a forgiving, peaceful and generous person.

But, I also believe in earning certain rights. When I moved to the US, I gave it my best shot to live by this country's culture, language, ethics and everyday courtesies. I had to change in some ways; I preserved some habits, but I do not impose my idiosyncrasies on others.

Do I support the unearned naturalization of illegal immigrants as it has been recently proposed? Absolutely not.

Illegal immigrants come to this country because we have something better to offer than their native country. In exchange, I believe, it is their duty to thank us by learning our language, following our laws, keeping drastic cultural differences in the privacy of their homes and paying taxes.
We have a high unemployment rate.