He’s a quiet man, barely five foot tall. He moves with the slow fluid movements of a horseman and I can vouch for him, he handles and cares for his horses well. His name is Adrian Menlee and he is from Puebla in Southern Mexico. He is a groom and it is his job to care for the horses of a wealthy patrona. There is pride in his voice as he speaks of his horses and their different personalities. The farm is cleaner than many homes and his horses are not afraid of humans, a fact that makes my job so much easier and attests to the fact that these horses are enjoying their life.
I always try to engage the grooms in conversation; many of them are from different areas of the world and it is interesting to hear of their lives and ambitions. You see these people are doing the work that Americans refuse to do. I know there are American grooms on the race track and on the traditional horse farms of Kentucky and the South, but there are logical reasons for these Americans working as grooms. The race track provides the opportunity of the insider gamble and possibility of the big score. This is often enough to keep Americans working as grooms, until one day they realize they have lived out their life and still haven’t made that big score. In Kentucky and places to the South, there are many Americans who love this beast we call horse and are willing to trade the allure of money and prestige to work with the horse as a career. I am one of these people, I can’t tell you why, but I have already spent a lifetime working with horses.
Consequently, I am more comfortable speaking with horsemen; as long as they don’t have inflated egos and the insecurities that force them to try and impress upon the world an inflated sense of self-worth and importance. Adrian is the exact opposite of this unpleasant type of horseman: humble and soft spoken, almost to a fault, he feels no need to inflict the all too common overly inflated ego upon the rest of the world. I was immediately intrigued with his command of the English language and his attitude and in between horses, I would rest my body and catch my breath to ask him about his life and ambitions.
His limited English was perfect, but we had to rely on my imperfect Spanish to round out the conversation at different points. When I complimented his command of English, he blushed and said, “Doctor Skook, I am educated and I attend English language school at night”.
I am not a doctor, but to the Mexican compesino, I am a special guy performing unique procedures. I treat them with respect; consequently, they are overly respectful and sometimes dangerously honest, in regard to their own security, not that I care to use their honesty against them and compromise my reputation among these hard working horsemen.
I asked to what level he had matriculated; with pride, he told me he had a high school education. Now, before you look down on a man who is proud of a high school education, you must realize that education is paid for in Mexico and many fathers are desperate to just feed their families; under such conditions, an education is extremely expensive.
I asked about his legal status and whether he has a Green Card. He explained very carefully, that he didn’t need a Green Card, because he was here on a five year visa that only allowed him to work on horses and to attend school. This was a bona fide Guest Worker, the kind that is discriminated against by our government: since an illegal worker applies to any job that suits him, the Guest Worker can only work at a job or discipline for which he is designated to perform.
I asked him if he planned to become a citizen some day and he looked at me as if I had made a grievous error, “Oh no, Doctor Skook, I have my family at home and a small farm, I have been here 3.5 years, I will return home in 1.5 years and go back to school to become a teacher. I have a future at home with my family.”
I asked if he was married and again he blushed and said he was only 26 and there was plenty of time to get married; hopefully, he aded, after becoming a teacher.
He didn’t say anything about the situation and I didn’t ask, but he insinuated that he preferred the traditional girls of Mexico rather than the Latinas of America.
Adrian renewed my faith in my fellow man and made me realize that many of these Mexican Nationals are up here legally and striving to live their life with dignity and integrity.
Rather than expand this Guest Worker program, our legislators in Washington choose to ignore this practical and traditional program and act as if they are overwhelmed with the complexity of the problem. Their idea of a solution is to assume that all the illegal aliens are here with the best intentions and to offer a blanket amnesty. Our current administration has seen fit to hire thousands of IRS agents to harass American citizens while ignoring the fact that expanding the Guest Worker program that is in place would solve the illegal alien problem that is taxing our education, welfare, prison, and health care systems. Requiring aliens to have papers, insurance, and a job would end a great deal of the abuse: abuse that allows Americans to use a version of slave labor and allows Democrats an ever increasing pool of potential voters.
Adrian should stand as an example of how the system can and should work without greed and deceit on the part of out slothful and corrupt politicians.
Great piece as usual, Skook. I have come to expect no less from you.
This Guest Worker program is something about which I knew nothing until this article, thank you for educating me, Skookum.
As is the case most often with our politicians, the simple answer is something that they hardly ever consider.
Skook,
As always. A wonderful piece. As you well know, I come from your world and have known so many people on the backside such as Adrian. The man is the perfect example of the human species as we all could be, proud and responsible. Add his love for horses and in my book, a great guy!
As to the American grooms, you have in fact hit the nail on the head once again. For those of us who absolutely love the horse and racing, their is nothing like it. Hard work but the greatest of rewards as to satisfaction in doing a good job.
One other point you made so well. This man is here legally, something those on the left will never understand!!!
An aside here. I wanted you to know I mentioned you in my blog today and noted how I felt you are one of the greatest writers I’ve ever read. I mean that sincerely! I referred to this site and the post Dr. John put out he titled “Left Wingers Are Animals”. As you know, that particular thread got quite heated to say the least. As such, I used what I posted on that thread as the basis of my post today. Rather than change the names, etc., I left all as is and as such you and others were mentioned. Just wanted to let you know.
Interesting you hadn’t heard of it, anticsrocks. Bush was excoriated back in 2005-06 by conservatives when he pushed the same, with the heated cries of “amnesty!”. Personally, I thought the guest worker program was terrific. I was in the minority of conservatives….
But just as it divided the conservatives, liberals were also divided on the issue… with the AFL-CIO unions totally opposed. By 2007, the CFR jumped on the bandwagon, and called the program “deeply flawed”.
Bush, faced with opposition from all directions, got further flak when he use the Labor Dept to write regulations that allow Adrien Menlee to worth within that program’s guidelines.
Interesting Joe and thanks to you and Antics; your encouragement makes me strive to improve. It means a lot.
I have thought about this animal human comparison a lot since the comparison was made. In Syria we have the government killing unarmed people and it appears to be escalating. A horse has the ability to kill humans in the blink of an eye, and once in wail they will become aggressive and a human will buy that little farm, but most of them endure the most inhumane treatment imaginable, without complaint. Most of them seem to seek a human for a friend and often save humans from anguish and despair. Unless you have known the healing power of a four legged friend that weighs 1200 pounds, it will seem far fetched, but the healing power is there and I will need to write about it one of these days.
The wild animals are a different deal all together. The predators kill to eat except for the wolf and like most of the wild animal personalities that have been through Disney purification and indoctrination, there true spirit has been perverted. I have come upon the carcass of a Black Bear that was killed for sport by wolves; I don’t condemn them for their wasteful aggression. Not in the least, I admire their sporting heart to fight the bear at great personal risk just for the glory of the kill. This is their essence and I admire skill and ferocity; yet, I am sure the bear left scars on several of the wolves for their effort.
I was a hunter and trapper, I killed these animals, but I killed with respect for their abilities and skills. I would say that it is nearly impossible to categorize animals under but a few common characteristics. Humans vary considerably more with bizarre behavior patterns being all too frequent. I don’t put animal life above that of human life, but I think that if people learn the dignity and integrity of the animal world, they would be much better off. To be continued:
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Maestro Skookum–
I used to work alongside Mexicans in the construction industry and found them to be reliable and talented workers. I can say for a fact that contractors would hire the Mexicans any day over the local white trash who were mostly jailbirds, thieves, dopers and drunks. One thing that struck me was that the Mexicanos were always laughing and happy while working, and the anglos were always bitching about something.
Since I spoke a little Spanish, I talked to many of them as best I could – asked them where they were from and all that. They even let me share lunch with them! There was one time when I needed a 100′ long trench dug for an electric service entrance (I was the electrician). The contractor called in a couple Mexicans to do the job. Well hell, I was just standing around waiting, so I grabbed a pick and shovel and jumped in the trench to help. They were actually amazed that an anglo would get his hands dirty like that – a pretty sad commentary on the state of American labor. Oh, I really impressed them when, while digging, I started singing “Cuando caliente el sol…aqui en la playa…” It really cracked them up.
Your story caused me to look up the history of the Bracero Program. It goes back longer than I had thought.
Skookum
Thank you again!
From the men who take care of my lawn to the workers at the restaurant where I go for breakfast every day, those from Mexico are always cheerful and hard working. I always get a friendly greeting and excellent service. The teenager across the street will not mow the yard or put out the trash; single mom, no dad. Adrian Menlee is a man and I am glad to learn about him. With his attitude and ethics he will do well.
HEY SKOO: Great story about guest workers but as a city guy it is difficult relating from the pavement of NYC; although, I once stayed in Central Mexico for several months and came away with much respect for their industry and committments to faith and family. Some people are concerned that Barry the Bozo is formulating unnecessary border hostility imposed by the foolish ATF gun running fiasco exporting high powered firearms back into gang infested Mexico, technically that is an Act of War, then matching his hypocracy by playing the Immigration Card.
@MataHarley: You said:
I wasn’t politically active or aware during that time in my life. Call it “blissfully ignorant.” lol
As long as the dude is here legally I got no problem……..but………
An illegal alien caught in the US should be charged with a Federal FELONY! That way they can be held until deported. Not being a US citizen would allow for near instant deportation. No lawyers – no RIGHTS! The employers should be fined in the 5 figure area and personally be eligible for jail time if he knowingly hired an illegal. The “president” should put 40,000 ARMED troops on the border with orders to detain those crossing and shoot anyone armed and resisting. This would only need to continue til the word got around. Mexico should be FORCED (by military means if necessary) to take back their illegals. Flying plane loads of illegals into Mexico City with F16 escort would bring the press to bear on this problem also…….
Mata, I remember President Bush pushing for the Guest Worker Program, but either he didn’t state the plan clearly or I was too busy. Like Anitics, I didn’t become politically involved until Obama was dropped on the scene; at that point, I became concerned about the direction of my country. I have been writing and ranting since his nomination. I failed in my initial mission, but I haven’t stopped swinging.
I have met many of the Guest Workers, but Adrian is the first to really open up and tell me about his life. I assume many of the jobs are by referrals and the costs are probably assumed by the employer. After five years, the worker has the choice of renewing his visa or going home. I think it is a great system, but all of a sudden declaring all illegals Guest Workers will only cause rage within the country. These illegals should go home and have a relationship with an employer who can sponsor their return in an expedited system. If a worker completes eight years without breaking the law or causing trouble, he should be able to apply for citizenship or have the option of renewing his visa. With this type of system, we could acquire Adrian types who have integrity and are interested in becoming citizens. This is a solution to a growing problem and allowing the miscreants to invade and demand welfare status and services may be a liberal pipe dream, but it is a formula for our destruction. Good solid workers like Adrian actually command a solid wage and cause less resentment among our citizens. It is time to stand up and call Obama’s bluff and tell him to put our system in high gear and tell the illegal aliens to go home and apply from their home country. If we don’t move on this issue, the illegal alien welfare recipient will bankrupt the country even sooner, why not make them into respectable workers who pay into the system as well as the employer scum who use them as semi-slave labor. The present system is ruinous to America and is weakening us every day.
To the Cooper Boys, the Mexicans who are “good” are really good: the ones who are “bad” are really bad. I have known thousands and have seen them do everything from become an airline pilot to go to prison. Obviously our country has enough criminal types, their leaders are in congress. I don’t think we can make cheerful a legitimate criteria, but being a good worker and staying out of trouble are two of the most important, I will add not being a subversive.
A well conducted program using the ten thousand IRS agents to clean up America instead of strangling America could get the program under way.
To the Sooth, the weapons sales was a disaster, but what hasn’t been a disaster on the Obama Watch? I suspect there have been More Mexicans killed on the border than Libyans in their comical war of blunders, aided and abetted by our armed services unfortunately. When will we take it upon ourselves to stop the carnage just South of our border where police commanders are gunned down the day they are sworn in. It seem to me we could accomplish several things by neutralizing the drug wars on the border stop the flow of drugs, protect our border, stop the illegal invasion, and make life safe in Northern Mexico once again. Of course a president who was carrying a pair would require Mexico to clean up its corruption and not play patty cakes with the Mexican president.
Skookum
Fortunately I have not had any experience with the bad ones.
I do not think they would have enjoyed the encounter.
A great article, as always. When is your frontiersman book coming out? If properly advertised, you could fill your pockets and retire on your dream ranch.
I can’t remember how many times I saw, new “Americans” hollering ” Ju Ess Eh” and throwing water bottles at law enforcement, during some of the protests in Arizona.
The virtual fence with Mexico is a farce. I read that it would take 6 billion$ to complete and supervise a double layered fence. A physical barrier and the purposeful breach of one denotes illegal activity. I also read that illegals siphon between 120 and 150 billion from the welfare entitlement programs which hard working, tax paying Americans cannot afford. What a terrible mess ?
Skookum, Your writing as of recently represents only the finest of conservative thought and values. It is my personal opinion that a guest worker/citizenship program and an un-climable border fence are in the best interest of Americans and foreigners alike. A solution that is nether anti-immigration or the other extreme to sacrifice US sovereign and quality of life, will be beneficial but I’m not going to get picky or demanding on this thread.
@Zac:
I agree. I’ve never thought that we should close all borders to people wishing to enter our country to become citizens of the U.S. On the contrary, those who wish to come here, and become citizens, represent the kind of people with the desire and will to keep our country the best on earth. But that is only with those who wish to come here legally, so a less porous border is required.
Skookum
I should have stated that all the Mexicans I spoke of are here leagaly.
And, allows conservatives, an actual pool 0f slave laborers.
@anticsrocks, I pine for the days of “blissful ignorance” of late. Unfortunately, once you get the political curiousity bug, you’re history. The belly churns, the steam pours from the ears, and you become a news/political junkie.
The pols do have drugs for it, and likely a government funded program so you can get yer “soma” fer free…. prozac and ritalin.
To @Liberal1 (objectivity), who appears unable to formulate individual opinions of value, but is pretty good at parroting vague socialist talking points sans substance….
Lib, I can assure you, as someone who works primarily for extremely wealthy liberals, the premise that Conservatives are the only ones who exploit this semi-slave labor pool is a lie. Liberals are only too willing to hire an illegal alien if it suits their purpose and keeps them from doing the mundane chores that go along with keeping a horse. In recent years, the ones who appear regularly on the news are making sure their workers have legitimate papers, but that is only because of the liability and notoriety associated with being caught. It was only a few years ago, that they could care less whether a worker was legal or not; in other words, their pompous and self-righteous concern for the downtrodden was a ruse to be worn on their sleeve, a mere dog and pony show for the gullible and the stupid.
This system has been tolerated by legislators and executives from both sides of the aisle for decades; their is culpable guilt enough for all. If Liberals were innocent of hiring illegals, would they be less guilty for importing them as voters and wards of the welfare system and the prison system. This article was written as a possible solution to this growing and festering solution and in the worst Progressive tradition, you barge in with partisan guilt and manure slinging. your contribution to the problem is as substantive and helpful as “Bush did it” and “he inherited too big a mess to clean up”. America has grown weary of these pathetic schoolyard chants that pose as excuses for incompetence and stupidity; you should try to come up with something to solve the problem rather than contributing to the problem or is that too much to ask from the people that promise the world and up to this point, produce nothing but more misery and despair.
Thanks for your contribution, you have served to confirm our worst impressions of Liberals, may you continue to damage good will and sincere efforts to fix a major problem and reenforce America’s growing distrust and distaste for all things Liberal.
@Skookum, as @John Cooper pointed out, the sister program to Bush’s Guest Worker program goes back to the 60s. I believe it only lasted a decade or so… can’t remember. But I’m sure his link will elaborate.
@Liberal1 (objectivity):
Do you mean like that conservative stalwart, Nancy Pelosi?
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2006/11/pelosis_illegal_alien_employee.html
Skook and johgalt…. love you two immensely, but I disagree with your attempts to give an amoeba with typing skills credibility by arguing “both political party types do it”.
The extreme distaste I find with droppings such a the unobjective lib/prog deposits here is that it’s an insult to slaves of history. Slavery is involuntary. You are chattel… personal property… of another human being. There is no volition involved. If you start agreeing with lib/progs that working for low wages is “slavery”, you have then set the stage for government to intervene even further to define what is “slavery” via wage controls…. much as they do with the minimum wage now.
A foreign national has the option not to come to the US on a worker program, or illegally. They have the option not to take any specific job. They are not the personal property of any human, and may return home as they wish. Commentary, exampled by this latest troll who’s taking a liking to visiting of late, is meant to trick you into just such erroneous thinking. Argue that “both sides” do it, and you’ve just conceded his point that working for low wages is “slavery”.
The original premise of this comparison is not only wrong, it’s offensive to the memories of those who were actually human property, owned by others.
Good article Skook. I remember when Bush suggested the Guest Worker Program as well Mata. I remember the cries of “Amnesty” from conservatives, even on this board. One of the programs mentioned was guest worker programs for those already in the States, albeit illegally. That is what set a lot of conservatives off. There are some that want illegals rounded up and deported at all costs. I understand their views, I just see it as something that will never happen. What I do see with a guest worker program, even for those that are here illegally is tracking and accountability. They have to return to Mexico to receive a guest worker visa. Then they pay taxes and if they commit a crime, they lose their visa.
I also hear those that say emloyers should be fined for hiring illegals…today. I agree. Georgia has very tough penalties for hiring illegals and employers must use the electronic program the Feds have. Still, illegals remain and work. Employers cannot be fined for following the rules, and still illegals are able to trick the system.
People are going to come here, legally or illegally, in lieu of letting their families starve. I would. There is no fence man could build to keep me from trying to save my family.
Mata, an excellent point; however, having a pool of labor that can be exploited, even though they willingly accept status is unfair to those poor souls and to those Americans who lose a decent wage to the labor of illegal immigrants. I think our vocabulary has failed to provide an adequate descriptive word for these illegal aliens who “toil on our soil”.
Aqua, I have traveled the length of Mexico several times and can attest to the fact that the situation is often so desperate that putting food on the table is all a father can do and that can be an unbelievable task for many. The temptation of becoming a bandit or a thief is there and it is a moral dilemma for many Mexican fathers. In the past, I have inquired if a particular family with an outstanding work ethic and integrity would consider working the ranch of my retirement dreams. The answers ranged from absolutely not to they might consider the possibility someday; the truth is they loved their homes and their culture. Time passed and my economic fortunes declined, but I have received several calls asking if my ranch was ready. Unfortunately, I had to tell them I was unable to retire or buy a ranch in the near future. This indicates to me that the agricultural situation in Mexico has taken a turn for the worse and unless we amend our own neglected system, our problems will soon escalate exponentially.
Skook, in today’s unemployment world, and businesses that are attempting to survive on a shoestring, you can say that “having a pool of labor that can be exploited” is nationwide and most feel they are “underemployed”, as our old CRAP (aka “real american patriot) called himself while he collected unemployment for a year or two, waiting for something he felt measured up to his personal standards and just desserts.
This doesn’t make us “slaves”… which was my main point.
I don’t think there is a singular world to describe illegal aliens working here. That would be class/group classification when they are individuals, just as each working American is. Some have a work ethic to be admired. Others don’t. How would you come up with a one-size-fits-all description for individuals’ work habits? That isn’t based on nationality or citizen status. It’s based on a sense of self worth and personal pride in accomplishments… no matter how small.
Just a brief comment on lib’s “slave labor” comment. Five years ago when I was was working as a residential electrician in Cashiers, NC, I was making $14 per hour. Out of that were taken state and federal income taxes as well as FICA and Medicare. The Mexican day laborers I worked with were making $12 per hour in cash with no taxes taken out. These “slave laborers” were making more than I was!
Mata, whether it is intentional or not by this administration, the goal or purpose of the International Socialism is to make us all equal in income “according to our needs”. I think the Obama policies are pushing us ever closer to this threshold, along with the illegal aliens from the South. Rather than a hindrance to recovery, they are viewed as a valuable tool to aid in this great “Redistribution of Wealth” plan of Obama’s. The end result is arguably the establishment of a huge class of classless serfs who live in a monotony of equal-ness with everyone except the Elites and their sycophants or Useful Idiots who are Elites in waiting, waiting to share in the wealth, power and prestige of the Elites. I tend to think of this serf class as Socialist slaves for the Elites or the Obama/Soros Reid/Pelosi crowd and their underlings that encourage Obama to burn 53,000 gallons of fuel to do a little butt licking in California and promise a slot in the elitist class and a certain amount of dispensation for cold hard cash paid to the Obama, the front man for Soros, who views himself as deity material and the Elite of the world. In this regard, if we can’t stop this wholesale dash to Socialist Utopia, I see America being reduced to virtual slavery by the great “White Slavers” of the world who are all too ready to dictate how much toilet paper and water we should flush down the great porcelain throne. These “White Slavers” or Socialist Dictators are making their move and Americans are all too complacent about loading up on Obama’s Freedom trains. The trains that take us straight to Socialist slavery.
Am I a radical, I was a radical for predicting the Socialist policies of Obama at this stage before he was elected. How fast can you expect someone to implement slavery on an unsuspecting and gullible electorate used to freedom. It is quite a trick, but a trick that is paying off handsomely for Obama’s benefactor’s in hundreds of millions of our money and if they get their way they will own all the labor of America along with the ingenuity and creativity of its once great gene pool. Once they own your freedom for dubious claims of providing for you and your care from cradle to grave, they effectively own the people without investment an unbelievably clever way to enslave a nation and steal the creative license and labor of an entire country. That, my Fearless Mata, can be considered slavery with virtual chains and no investment and like Stalin’s and Mao’s genocides, there is no investment in the providers of said labor; so when famine strikes, go ahead and starve off tens of millions, so what, it only helps to relieve the famine by having fewer mouths to feed. Slave owners of the past had investments to insure, starving off huge numbers was ludicrous, in that way the slavery of Socialism is far more cruel than the slavery of the past. In the past, the owners actually cared about the survival of their slaves: the virtual slavery of Socialism often needs to cull the herd, a move that improves the balance sheet.
JC, there is a logical solution to the problem. Get a suntan, dye your hair, practice your Spanish, and reapply. The problem goes away. Life’s problems are simple if you take the time to find a solution.