Article

2005-06-10 Caribbean-Latin America

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Posted by Steve 2005-06-10 08:55|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Monster Garage?

Heck, isn't Junkyard Wars still on some channel or another?

Posted by Phil Fraering 2005-06-10 09:09|| http://newsfromthefridge.typepad.com]">[http://newsfromthefridge.typepad.com] 2005-06-10 09:09|| Front Page Top

#2 or Overhauling.

Posted by Jert Flinert7749 2005-06-10 09:21|| 2005-06-10 09:21|| Front Page Top

#3 This is great news--this is the guy mentioned in yesterday's post. You gotta love happy endings!

Posted by Dar">Dar 2005-06-10 09:31|| 2005-06-10 09:31|| Front Page Top

#4 Excellent. Finally, an instance where the authorities did something reasonable.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-06-10 09:45|| 2005-06-10 09:45|| Front Page Top

#5 kewel!

Posted by 2b 2005-06-10 09:55|| 2005-06-10 09:55|| Front Page Top

#6 Okay, I have a question. And please don't flame because I'm seriously not trying to be a troll. Can somebody tell me why illegal aliens from Cuba are acceptable? Is it that there are less of them, or simply because Castro is a tyrant asshole? And if it's the latter, would Mexicans be more accepted if Mexico went the Stalinist path?

Posted by BH 2005-06-10 10:02|| 2005-06-10 10:02|| Front Page Top

#7 #6 BH;

It is because of a 1966 law, the Cuban Adjustment Act, that stipulated Cubans who made it to American territory could stay. (So, if you Cuban and make it, you are not illegal.)Until 1994, this meant that if you were caught by the Coast Guard, you could stay "American Territory", but following the 1994 exodus, Clinton 'reinterpreted' the law, to mean only those who made it to land could stay.

This guy is allowed to stay because he had a visa to enter the U.S., but Castro was being petty and not giving him an exit permit.

By the way, I'm a 1994 rafter, and I'm a little envious of this guy. I mean, I had to row in a raft made out of inner tubes for God's sake.

Posted by Sorge 2005-06-10 10:30|| http://www.faithfreedom.org/]">[http://www.faithfreedom.org/] 2005-06-10 10:30|| Front Page Top

#8 It's also a matter of numbers - open borders to Mexicans and 50 million would be here within 20 yrs (crossers and high birth rate). They can't be absorbed.

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-06-10 10:48|| 2005-06-10 10:48|| Front Page Top

#9 This Buick should have been saved, displayed at the entrance to U.N. in New York and in Europe and after a couple of years moved to Smithsonian for all the next generations to see the real history.

Posted by wonderer 2005-06-10 10:52|| 2005-06-10 10:52|| Front Page Top

#10 BH - Speaking for myself, I certainly have no problem with immigrants of any nationality. I have a problem with illegal immigrants however. This Diaz guy is not an illegal immigrant, and he's got panache and persistence to boot! He's the kind of new immigrant blood our nation needs to be infused with periodically to remind the rest of us just how lucky we are.

Posted by Dar">Dar 2005-06-10 10:52|| 2005-06-10 10:52|| Front Page Top

#11 So it sounds like a technicality based on the law that Sorge cited that makes these immigrants legal, even if the method of arrival is less than orthodox. That's fine, I just want to understand why it's assumed that, as Dar says, "He's the kind of new immigrant blood our nation needs to be infused with periodically to remind the rest of us just how lucky we are." We know nothing of his background. He may have been a doctor or a criminal. He's accepted by virtue of having made it onto US soil, whereas Mexicans who accomplish the same goal are not.

Sorge: I'm not trying to give offense. I'm glad you made it here and have made a life for yourself. I'm just pointing out that there seems to be a double-standard in place and wanted to know what factors make this logical. I'm guessing that Frank G. is correct: that the numbers make the difference.

Thanks all for the replies.

Posted by BH 2005-06-10 11:12|| 2005-06-10 11:12|| Front Page Top

#12 BH - He's displayed how innovative, persistent, and hard-working he is; how badly he wants to make a better life for his family; and he was approved for a visa--I think he'll make a fine addition.

Even if he is a criminal, he'll still raise the general IQ level of our criminal element! How many criminals display the ingenuity and persistence he has, while bringing his entire family with him? I think his travails to get to our shore speak volumes for his character.

Sorge--Can you speak about what repercussions you would have faced, if any, if you'd been returned to Cuba as Rafael had been at least once before?

Posted by Dar">Dar 2005-06-10 12:17|| 2005-06-10 12:17|| Front Page Top

#13 In additional the whole "law" thing, there is the matter than a Cuban refugee is not likely to put his former homeland's government and policy above his own. You don't have groups of people from Cuba advocating that southern Florida be merged into Cuba and separated from the US.

Contrast that to MALDEF, La Raza, LULAC, the Aztlan types, etc. Now most Mexicans probably don't support those radicals, but some will, and they can live here and still be Mexicans in all matters (voting in Mexico, speaking only Spanish, sending money to Mexico).

Posted by Jackal">Jackal 2005-06-10 12:21|| home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html]">[home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html] 2005-06-10 12:21|| Front Page Top

#14 Wow, Sorge - congratulations on making it. And a belated welcome.

(Inner tubes, huh? Couldn't make the rest of the car float? ;-p)

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2005-06-10 14:07|| 2005-06-10 14:07|| Front Page Top

#15 So what happened to the Merc? Did the USCG sink it like the Buick?

Posted by USN, ret. 2005-06-10 14:54|| 2005-06-10 14:54|| Front Page Top

#16

#12 Dar;

I would have been in deep trouble, because I left the day before I was suppossed to begin my military service. Trying to leave Cuba used to earn you a one-year sentence, but by the time I left it was only losing your job, losing your home if it was built by the government, and a hard time making a living. (Because the police would keep an eye on you.)

Posted by Sorge 2005-06-10 14:58|| http://www.faithfreedom.org/]">[http://www.faithfreedom.org/] 2005-06-10 14:58|| Front Page Top

#17

#14 Barbara;

Thanks for the welcome, and the excellent observation. In my defense, however, my low-tech solution using car parts got me here ten years before Rafael. He was very ambitious; floating a car when the inner tubes would do.

Posted by Sorge 2005-06-10 15:01|| http://www.faithfreedom.org/]">[http://www.faithfreedom.org/] 2005-06-10 15:01|| Front Page Top

#18 hell yeah anyone who could cross from cuba in a car made into a boat that didn't simk in the 90 miles is a useful person keep him

Posted by Thraing Hupoluper1864 2005-06-10 16:07|| 2005-06-10 16:07|| Front Page Top

#19 Pimp my ride!

Posted by Mark E. 2005-06-10 17:39|| 2005-06-10 17:39|| Front Page Top

#20 Wonder if the kids were in back saying, "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

Posted by BH 2005-06-10 17:47|| 2005-06-10 17:47|| Front Page Top

#21 Immediate job has spokes person for Mercury marine

Posted by Shipman 2005-06-10 19:00|| 2005-06-10 19:00|| Front Page Top

#22 Sorge--Ouch! I figured they wouldn't smile and say, "Better luck next time!"

Glad you made it! That would have been one hell of a swim if that raft gave out part way.

And that you are part of Rantburg proves Castro continues to chase away the best and brightest. :-)

Posted by Dar">Dar 2005-06-10 19:12|| 2005-06-10 19:12|| Front Page Top

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