Ever eat a grape?

I was driving through the Orange circle in downtown Orange yesterday afternoon and I saw a cute-looking old guy standing on the corner. From far away I could see he was waving at people as they drove through the intersection. White hair, stereotypical senior clothing including white orthopedic shoes. Just precious. Then I finally pulled up in front of him and read a sign he was holding: Wells Fargo - No loans to illegal immigrants. You know me, so of course, I yelled "You racist old man. So unAmerican," at him. (I've been holding back on the explitives because I have Grandpa Tom's truck and the license plate is his name- though he probably would have plenty to say, too!)

I don't know how I kept myself from going around and around that circle, but I went on to pick Nash up from work. I told our friend, Jeff, what had happened. "You ever eat a grape, old man?", I said. Jeff suggested I deck him with some grapes, oranges, mangoes....whatever you can buy off the side of the road from an hard-working "illegal immigrant." Screw you, old man.

Not everyone can wait to get into the United States legally. Not everyone is born in a country with the same opportunities that America offers. Not everyone is born in a country where they will be guaranteed food on their table every day. Not everyone is born in a country where education will be available to all. You have no idea, you ignorant jerk. And don't you dare tell me that "the illegals" take jobs from "Americans". Let's see you pick grapes or strawberries or cotton in the hot fields in inhumane conditions for unfair wages. Let's see you pay an arm and a leg for your fruit and produce or your soft cotton undies. Not gonna happen, you jackhole, because you will never get "Americans" to do the work. How dare you?

I know many immigrants who had NO choice but to get into America one way or another. Papers or no papers. I suppose they did have a choice - stay where they came from and face poverty, starvation, death. I guess it's an easy choice when your life depends on it. When you're willing to work but there are no jobs. When you want to feed your children, but you have no means. When you want to succeed, but your circumstances don't allow it. And let me tell you--the "illegal immigrants" I know contribute to our economy. They work, pay taxes, buy homes, pay their bills including your precious loans AND they love America.

Let us also try to recall the last time you heard about illegal immigrants holding up liquor stores, or drowning their children, or shooting up banks or post offices. I don't pretend to say that immigrants don't commit crimes, but don't you pretend that Americans don't either. Immigrants in America are no less American than you, my dear bigot. Every American came here from somewhere else at some point. (...oh, that's right, except for the Natives you stole it from.) You need to stop trying to impede American's right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, old man. And I'll stop now, because I love America too much to waste another breath on you.