Who is going to work at strawberry farms when there is no more illegal immigrants??

[RonD1120 62]

normiss

So it was entirely racist as suspected.

I can't tell if you are joking or uncharacteristicly dense this morning.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[normiss 898]

I'm honestly surprised that you cannot see the racism in your comments.
You think I'm being dense?

[RonD1120 62]

normiss

I'm honestly surprised that you cannot see the racism in your comments.
You think I'm being dense?

OK, I'm the one who is dense. I do not think like you do. But, I guess that is a moot point at this stage of our interactive relationship.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[normiss 898]

Quote

In my area it was mostly gang activity and the additional burden on the local ER.

[RonD1120 62]

normiss

Quote

In my area it was mostly gang activity and the additional burden on the local ER.

Fact not racist.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[LuckyMcSwervy 0]

I took this picture 5 minutes ago from my home office window. Over my back fence is miles and miles and miles of blueberry farms. This farm employes mostly Mexicans. Other farmers hire Jamaicans, Haitians and also Mexicans. I've never seen a person that wasn't white working the surrounding farms unless they were one of the owners or supervisors.

I know people who refer to over our back fence as "Mexico City". The workers start at sunrise and will go all through the heat of the day until sunset. These people (men and woman) work their asses off. I have a lot of respect for that.

Some of the box trucks have speakers which will broadcast some Mexican music. Frankly, I love to hear it as I lay by my pool or work in the backyard. Other neighbors hate it because it's "spic music". Whatever. Probably why I don't talk to most of them anymore.

As for social problems, I know for a fact harvesting season is dreaded by some agencies. It taxes the resources of the police, courts and EMTs. Let's see. Rapes at the migrant camps, stabbings, fights, assaults, drunk driving, drunk in public, unregistered/uninspected/uninsured vehicles (almost all with out of state plates), leaving accident scenes, shoplifting by mostly Jamaican and Haitian women from local stores. Those are just a few things at the top of my head right now.

At night, when the wind is right and if my windows are open, I can hear the music from one of the migrant camps drifting across the fields and it's pretty relaxing.

The biggest problem I've ever had with the seasonals is being followed around WalMart by groups of Mexican males. I've had to turn around and confront them and they scatter like roaches.

There's tons of kids around here whose parents were raised in town and had summer jobs on all of these farms. Hell, my Dad told me he worked as a kid with his friends at the peach orchard my development now sits upon. Do you think any of the kids in this little white bread town actually work in the fields along side those who truly know struggle? Nope. It would take away beach time.

I don't know what I'm trying to say. I just hate it when people treat the seasonals like trash. My family came here (legally) many, many years ago and started out as farmers and became very successful and well respected business people in this town. I see some of the workers walking down the roads after work and wonder which one of them has dreams and aspirations to be the next success story.

ETA: I forgot about the prostitution problem as well.

Always be kinder than you feel.

[rehmwa 2]

there's a whole mix of stuff in your post there - I'm interested in how the responses will be flavored

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Amazon 7]

normiss

So it was entirely racist as suspected.

One of the grandfathers houses was out south of Plant City which was his way of being far enough above flooding from storms that would innundate his property down at Ruskin.
I used to spend summers there and even back in the early 60's the migrant "problem" was decidedly latino. The older folks out there in the county were even then referring to the problem with a decidedly racist Hillsburrito County and not a one of them realized that was what it was....

[Amazon 7]

Iago

******So it was entirely racist as suspected.

One of the grandfathers houses was out south of Plant City which was his way of being far enough above flooding from storms that would innundate his property down at Ruskin.
I used to spend summers there and even back in the early 60's the migrant "problem" was decidedly latino. The older folks out there in the county were even then referring to the problem with a decidedly racist Hillsburrito County and not a one of them realized that was what it was....

I'm not quite following you here. If a group of people who are of a certain ethnic (or whatever) decent move into an area and bring a lot of problems with them, how is it 'racist' to refer to the problems in the area caused by that particular group?

Usually when the existing population... blames every "bad" thing on all those new immigrants or "THOSE" people.

The first step to eliminating any problem is to acquire knowledge and acknowledge that a problem exists. Usually most people not directly affected by discrimination will never be able to see a problem.

When was the last time you were pulled over in your car for "driving while white"?? Personally I have never experienced that... so I guess it does not exist.

[RonD1120 62]

Iago

******So it was entirely racist as suspected.

One of the grandfathers houses was out south of Plant City which was his way of being far enough above flooding from storms that would innundate his property down at Ruskin.
I used to spend summers there and even back in the early 60's the migrant "problem" was decidedly latino. The older folks out there in the county were even then referring to the problem with a decidedly racist Hillsburrito County and not a one of them realized that was what it was....

I'm not quite following you here. If a group of people who are of a certain ethnic (or whatever) decent move into an area and bring a lot of problems with them, how is it 'racist' to refer to the problems in the area caused by that particular group?

Thank you for the validation. You understand what I am stating. Keep in mind that I am a flame magnet. Many here work hard to pick a fight with me.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[RonD1120 62]

Not completely sure about this but, in the 50's I recall the strawberries were picked by the local children. Other produce tended by Haitians. Farm labor camps were a blight. I don't remember Mexicans entering the area until much later. I was out West most of the 70's.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[normiss 898]

That's not why I pointed out your racist comments Ron.

When I was a kid the 'nigras' were the "problem".
I drove a school bus for my grandfather picking up the migrant worker pickers that worked for him in the orange groves.
I did see the change to Latinos as I was in high school.
Given that I grew up in central FL in the middle of strawberry fields, citrus groves, and poor white trash crack heads, I missed the part where all the Mexicans were the "problem".
As a society we perpetuate the problem.
It's just fucking racism. Everywhere.
Justifying it because "it's fact" doesn't make it right.
Because it's neither.

[regulator 0]

normiss

That's not why I pointed out your racist comments Ron.

When I was a kid the 'nigras' were the "problem".
I drove a school bus for my grandfather picking up the migrant worker pickers that worked for him in the orange groves.
I did see the change to Latinos as I was in high school.
Given that I grew up in central FL in the middle of strawberry fields, citrus groves, and poor white trash crack heads, I missed the part where all the Mexicans were the "problem".
As a society we perpetuate the problem.
It's just fucking racism. Everywhere.
Justifying it because "it's fact" doesn't make it right.
Because it's neither.

oh I get it. Because he called them 'Mexicans' rather than 'undocumented Hispanic workers' then it becomes racist.

[Amazon 7]

RonD1120

Not completely sure about this but, in the 50's I recall the strawberries were picked by the local children. Other produce tended by Haitians. Farm labor camps were a blight. I don't remember Mexicans entering the area until much later. I was out West most of the 70's.

I remember the crews that were hired by my grandfather and the neighbors groves as well. Even then they were lamenting the good old days of hiring locals who no longer were available to do that kind of work.

[LuckyMcSwervy 0]

Amazon

******Are you going to bake underneath the sun for minimum wage??

Didn't think so.

Already did that for two summers on a farm.

Never liked picking strawberries. Too slow and too much time on the ground.

Didn't mind hoeing, picking bins of corn, banding cauliflower, planting sprouts.

It's actually pretty decent fulfilling work and generally not too dangerous as you're not working machinery. Gives you a good appreciation for the food on your table. Perfect for high-school ages 15-18.

Landscaping is good too and generally pays better.

Ever wonder how much insecticide you absorbed as a kid??

As a kid it was common practice to run behind the Mosquito Control smoker truck. I often wonder if that insecticide ingestion was one of the reasons for my MS. Everything is suspect to me.

Always be kinder than you feel.

[normiss 898]

Sorry I missed it with that clarity.
More along the lines of the white attitude of "THOSE people are always causing ALL the problems".
Proved yet again in this thread by fucking white people.

As I said in a restaurant once when I saw a bunch of rednecks calling a group of black men some off color names:
"Sometimes it's embarrassing to be white."

[LuckyMcSwervy 0]

airdvr

http://www.gentlebrook.org/news.html

Roxanne runs Gentleworks. A day rehabilitation center in Hartville Ohio. Who will harvest those fruits and vegetables? Developmentally disabled people will be thrilled to have a place where they have a job and contribute to society in whatever way they can. And they do a great job. They aren't fast but they are OCD.

That is wonderful!

Always be kinder than you feel.

[Amazon 7]

LuckyMcSwervy

*********Are you going to bake underneath the sun for minimum wage??

Didn't think so.

Already did that for two summers on a farm.

Never liked picking strawberries. Too slow and too much time on the ground.

Didn't mind hoeing, picking bins of corn, banding cauliflower, planting sprouts.

It's actually pretty decent fulfilling work and generally not too dangerous as you're not working machinery. Gives you a good appreciation for the food on your table. Perfect for high-school ages 15-18.

Landscaping is good too and generally pays better.

Ever wonder how much insecticide you absorbed as a kid??

As a kid it was common practice to run behind the Mosquito Control smoker truck. I often wonder if that insecticide ingestion was one of the reasons for my MS. Everything is suspect to me.

I remember the foggers quite well... we also had people who came round from the county to make sure the ditches were not becoming weed covered preventing water from flowing. Any standing water was sprayed... heck they would even check the crotch of every one of the orange trees.
Grandfather would not allow us outside until the pesticide settled. Also every night he would go into all the bedrooms turn on the lights then fog the whole room including the screens on the windows with his little hand sprayer.
We would never have been allowed to do like a lot of the neighbors and apparently you did.

[normiss 898]

As part of the sample group, I do not have MS.

[LuckyMcSwervy 0]

Amazon

************Are you going to bake underneath the sun for minimum wage??

Didn't think so.

Already did that for two summers on a farm.

Never liked picking strawberries. Too slow and too much time on the ground.

Didn't mind hoeing, picking bins of corn, banding cauliflower, planting sprouts.

It's actually pretty decent fulfilling work and generally not too dangerous as you're not working machinery. Gives you a good appreciation for the food on your table. Perfect for high-school ages 15-18.

Landscaping is good too and generally pays better.

Ever wonder how much insecticide you absorbed as a kid??

As a kid it was common practice to run behind the Mosquito Control smoker truck. I often wonder if that insecticide ingestion was one of the reasons for my MS. Everything is suspect to me.

I remember the foggers quite well... we also had people who came round from the county to make sure the ditches were not becoming weed covered preventing water from flowing. Any standing water was sprayed... heck they would even check the crotch of every one of the orange trees.
Grandfather would not allow us outside until the pesticide settled. Also every night he would go into all the bedrooms turn on the lights then fog the whole room including the screens on the windows with his little hand sprayer.
We would never have been allowed to do like a lot of the neighbors and apparently you did.

We (the neighborhood kids and my brothers and I) were never allowed to do it. I remember the old dudes who drove the truck were nasty to us saying we were a bunch of "retards". My Dad didn't have complete control of us playing outside since one of our rules was be home when the street lights come on. We could've been across town on the bay or back by our house along the bay creek. It was awesome. Sitting on our ass inside the house was frowned upon, my Dad worked 4-12 or midnights so we were on our own to self police a lot.

ETA: There's a Facebook Group for running behind the mosquito truck: https://www.facebook.com/groups/61035084415/

Always be kinder than you feel.

[LuckyMcSwervy 0]

normiss

As part of the sample group, I do not have MS.

Thank God!

Always be kinder than you feel.

[ryoder 1,590]

LuckyMcSwervy

The biggest problem I've ever had with the seasonals is being followed around WalMart by groups of Mexican males. I've had to turn around and confront them and they scatter like roaches.

McSwervy shops at Walmart???

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[LuckyMcSwervy 0]

ryoder

***
The biggest problem I've ever had with the seasonals is being followed around WalMart by groups of Mexican males. I've had to turn around and confront them and they scatter like roaches.

McSwervy shops at Walmart???


It's 2 miles from my house otherwise it is 20 miles to Target.

Always be kinder than you feel.

[normiss 898]

They both sell the same shit.
Junk shit.
Cheap shit.
Disposable shit.

[LuckyMcSwervy 0]

normiss

They both sell the same shit.
Junk shit.
Cheap shit.
Disposable shit.

I just go there for toiletries, paper and plastic products for the house. So yeah, disposable shit.

I'll be closer to Cuba than a Walmart soon so I'll be happy.

Always be kinder than you feel.