CULPEPER--Since establishing the first Minuteman Civil Defense Corps outside a U.S. border state, George Taplin has gotten used to being called a racist.
Taplin, whose group lobbied last year against a taxpayer-supported day-labor site in Herndon, as well as the town council members who supported it, told three dozen citizens in Culpeper last night that he's not bothered by the name-calling, and he's not a racist.
"I'm against illegal Greeks, illegal Russians, illegal Muslims, illegal Italians," he said during a talk at VFW Post 2524. "What am I against? I'm against illegal aliens--anybody who's an illegal alien.
"We don't need racism. Racism only causes problems," he continued. "But it's not about racism. This is about the law. This is about our culture. This is about respect."
Taplin, a Herndon resident, said he was invited to Culpeper by citizens concerned about the impact of illegal immigration on the community. Residents have complained in recent months about overcrowding in single-family homes and accompanying problems with parking, trash and declining property values.
Minuteman groups in western states have focused primarily on monitoring illegal crossings at the Mexican border, and much of the debate about illegal immigration has centered on the federal government's responsibility.
The Virginia organization, however, wants to educate citizens and government officials about what they can do at the local level, Taplin said.
"We're going to use this town hall-style meeting and educate people on what's going on around the country and what they can do in their locality to alleviate the results of poor immigration policies," he said.
Joining Taplin were Sandra Gunn, eastern field representative with the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), who addressed upcoming state legislation aimed at illegal immigration, and Bill Campenni, a Herndon member of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps who talked about a program that gives extra enforcement powers to local police.
Gunn mentioned several bills in the works by members of the General Assembly. One would require residents of Virginia to prove they're in the country legally. Under another bill, if an employer fires a legal resident but retains an illegal immigrant, the discharged employee would have cause to sue, she said.
Another would require schools to request proof of legal residency before enrolling students. Though they couldn't refuse access to an education, the school districts could keep track of the numbers of illegal immigrants they're serving, Gunn said.
MR: Taplin Great Grandparents don't have A birth Certificate(posted by
Tonyb
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
George A. Taplin, is just one of those that are scared of the real American's Reality and no matter what he does, America is a land of immigrants it does not matter if you come 100 years back or today you are a immigrant Period.. people come here for a better life, for political reason, today immigrants are not just Mexican but most Poor immigrants do jobs that Mr: Taplin Kids or himself would not do. but today we are 30% of America and we vote. 20's years from now 50%. I understand he is scared..
my great grandfather was the Commissioner of the INS(posted by
ehoberge
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Raymond Fowler Crist was the second commissioner of the INS. His father was Native American and African American and his mother appears to have been of Scandinavian descent. He worked his way through 3 degrees without benefit of Affirmative Action and created some of the toughest immigration policy ever, all of which our immigrant ancesters abided by. Don't you dare put the illegal aliens in the same category as our immigrant ancesters. They aren't the same.
since the advent of "Equality"(posted by
ehoberge
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Since the micromanaging of diversity and equality, the work ethic and the academic success has pejorated. We have fostered this idea that certain work is beneath us and that we are entitled to not have to do "menial" tasks but illegal aliens come here with the same attitude that they are entitled to all the benefits of citizen without benefit of legal process because anything less, is beneath them.
racism v. Nationalism(posted by
ehoberge
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Never in the history of immigration have people allowed to flow from other countries without legal process. No other country, especially not Mexico, allows masses of people to come to their country and assume full national rights without swearing loyalty to their country. My great grandfather was the Commissioner of the INS and if a natural born woman married an illegal alien, she lost her citizenship. These people aren't immigrants, they are invaders.
racism v. Nationalism(posted by
ehoberge
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Never in the history of immigration have people allowed to flow from other countries without legal process. No other country, especially not Mexico, allows masses of people to come to their country and assume full national rights without swearing loyalty to their country. My great grandfather was the Commissioner of the INS and if a natural born woman married an illegal alien, she lost her citizenship. These people aren't immigrants, they are invaders.
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