I Dated a Guest Worker
Kerry’s spate of recent writing on immigration is making me think differently.
First, prior to reading her interview with Laura Agustin, I had not occurred to me to think of a Mexican gardner as an “expat” or that relatively poor people might also be interested in traveling across borders out of curiosity or a sense of adventure. That really is shameful. My inner Kant, my inner Christian, recoils at my failure to see persons as persons as persons, all with reasons worth taking seriously, all very like my own.
Second, Kerry’s latest reply to Megan makes me realize that I have dated a guest worker! She was an au pair from Germany, in the U.S. under a J1 “exchange visitors” visa. She worked for a living, taking care of children. She came because she wanted to see America. A year later, she left, having lived the expat life while helping raise some small girls. Like most transient guest workers, she left America no worse. On the contrary. Now, if you think this case is different because she was (still is!) German, then clearly your problem isn’t really with guest workers, is it?
December 28th, 2007 07:17
I think of the case as different because there aren’t very many au pairs in the country. I’ve dated men on several types of visas, all of them very limited in number.
I’m in favor of massively expanding legal residency, as is Matt. For us, at least, this has nothing to do with the ethnic origin of the migrants. I just think that guest worker programs are a very bad, quickie substitute for expanded legal residency programs that will ultimately undercut the cause of expanding immigration, and I think it’s rather unfair to imply that my real problem is that they’re poorer and darker skinned than me.
December 28th, 2007 10:34
Megan, I certainly didn’t mean to imply you have untoward motives. It’s just that I write enough about this that I know that many, many opponents of guest worker programs, and immigration generally, do.
December 28th, 2007 11:01
At the risk of seriously lowering the tone of discussion around here, I must say that I’m all for keeping the influx of au pairs high in the US. Any au pair I dated has always been an undercover bedroom freak. I’ve heard similar anecdotal evidence from others.
Au pairs rock.
December 28th, 2007 15:54
Immigration Wars: Making A Case For Guest Workers…
President’ Bush’s proposed expansion of guest worker programs has been widely denounced by critics on both the left and the right, but in a fresh analysis, Kerry Howley argues that guest worker programs might be good for the both U.S and for the worl…
January 3rd, 2008 03:12
i’m not single…but assume that i was. my attitude toward german au pairs is definitely + depending on how in shape they are….
January 3rd, 2008 13:28
This came in email last week, it is for your inner Kant:
A conversation with Jesus
Many times when I am troubled or confused, I find comfort in sitting in my back yard having a scotch and soda along with a quiet conversation with Jesus. This happened to me again after a particularly difficult day.
I said “Jesus, why do I work so hard?” And I heard the reply: “Men find many ways to demonstrate the love they have for their family. You work hard to have a peaceful, beautiful place for your friends and family to gather.”
I said: “I thought that money was the root of all evil.” And the reply was : “No, the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Money is a tool; it can be used for good or bad”.
I was starting to feel better, but I still had that one burning question, so I asked it . “Jesus”, I said, “What is the meaning of life? Why am I here?”
He replied, “That is a question many men ask. The answer is in your heart and is different for everyone. I would love to chat with you some more, Senor, but now, I have to finish your lawn.”
January 10th, 2008 01:53
Again the race card is trotted out to promote open borders and the widespread destruction of native cultures. Why is a so-called “libertarian” using the same tactics to suppress dissent as a totalitarian Cultural Marxist?
January 11th, 2008 17:37
Because the totalitarian Cultural Marxist is right about cosmopolitanism, and racist autarks such as yourself are wrong? Yay, playing the name-calling game is easy and fun for the whole family!