# Looking for witty replies to emal about illigal immigrants **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087 "2010-08-04T01:28:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/1 "2010-08-04T01:28:17Z")
An associate sent an email out to several people we both know that I’d like to send a response to, but my best response deems sort of lame. Was hoping some of you could come up with great replies that will put him in his place. Here it is: > [@](#): > > The trash was coming from the Mexican laborers working at the construction sites and included bags from McDonald’s, Burger King and 7-11, plus coffee cups, napkins, cigarette butts, coke cans, empty bottles, etc. He went to see the site supervisor and even the general contractor, politely urging them to get their workers not to litter the neighborhood, to no avail. He called the city, county, and police and got no help there either. > > So here’s what his community did. They organized about twenty folks, named themselves The “Inner Neighborhood Services” group, and arranged to go out at lunch time and “police” the trash themselves. It is what they did while picking up the trash that is so hilarious. > > They bought navy blue baseball caps and had the initials “INS” embroidered in gold on the caps. > > It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand what they hoped people might mistakenly think the letters really stand for. > > After the Inner Neighborhood Services group’s first lunch time pickup detail, with all of them wearing their caps and some carrying cameras, 46 out of the total of 68 construction workers did not show up for work the next morning – and haven’t come back yet. > > It has been ten days now. > > The General Contractor, I’m told, is madder than hell, but can’t say anything publicly because he could be busted for hiring illegal aliens. My friend and his bunch can’t be accused of impersonating federal personnel, because they have the official name of the group recorded in their homeowner association minutes along with a notation about the vote to approve formation of the new subcommittee – and besides, they informed the INS in advance of their plans, and according to my friend, the INS said basically, “Have at it!” > > SO, FOLKS, I THINK YOU COULD SAY THAT TEXAS INGENUITY TRIUMPHS AGAIN! > > Reminder: Don’t forget to pay your taxes… 12 million illegal aliens are depending on you. > > No apology for sending this! After hearing they want to sing the National Anthem in Spanish - enough is enough. Nowhere did they sing it in Italian, Polish, Irish (Celtic), German or any other language because of immigration. It was written by Francis Scott Key and should be sung word for word the way it was written. The news broadcasts even gave the translation – not even close. I’m NOT sorry if this offends anyone because this is MY COUNTRY - IF IT IS YOUR COUNTRY SPEAK UP – please pass this along. Come through like everyone else. APPLY FIRST - Get a sponsor; have a place to lay your head; have a job; pay your taxes, live by the rules AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE as all other immigrants have in the past – and GOD BLESS AMERICA! > > PART OF THE PROBLEM > Think about this: If you don’t want to forward this for fear of offending someone – YOU’RE PART OF THE PROBLEM! It is Time for America to Speak up. No wonder California is in such financial trouble! > > Yep, I passed it on! > > Calling an illegal alien an ‘undocumented immigrant’ is like calling a drug dealer an ‘unlicensed pharmacist’ ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/2 "2010-08-04T01:34:19Z")
I’m not really that witty but my response would be to hit “Reply all” and provide this link: [ICE Badges | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigration/ingenuity.asp) and then say “If you want to send this recycled, narrow-minded garbage to your mailing list please do me a favor and remove me from it. It’s not the least bit informative, productive or clever and it disappoints me to see you spread it like herpes. Have a great day!” ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/3 "2010-08-04T01:46:52Z")
In the works of facebook: “I’d rather live with immigrants than racist assholes” like. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/4 "2010-08-04T01:51:00Z")
I don’t have a witty reply for you, but the (probably fake as hell) idea that immigrants might want to sing our national anthem in Spanish quite literally brought a tear to my eye. Seriously, who would object to that? ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/5 "2010-08-04T03:00:41Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I’m not really that witty but my response would be to hit “Reply all” and provide this link: [ICE Badges | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigration/ingenuity.asp) and then say “If you want to send this recycled, narrow-minded garbage to your mailing list please do me a favor and remove me from it. It’s not the least bit informative, productive or clever and it disappoints me to see you spread it like herpes. Have a great day!” Yup, I vote you write back with some variation of, “Texas ingenuity my ass, they stole that idea from some guys in Nuh Yalk Seedee” ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/6 "2010-08-04T03:09:36Z")
First of all, they might want to update themselves from INS to ICE, which sounds like it’ll change here shortly anyway to HSI. State it in a way that implies they know nothing about their own country or that they can’t even speak English. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/7 "2010-08-04T03:26:16Z")
This is going to be a tough one. The way the anecdote is written, it’s tough to say that they were intentionally being racist, and it was done in good cause (to stop people from littering.) On first read, I would say that the anecdote is fictional. I would question the fact that illegals would litter to such a degree that the neighborhood would notice, especially on a construction site, because a) litter could interfere with the construction, b) usually, construction sites have a relatively large surrounding area, c) a government agency would give permission for this, and d) illegals, who probably know more about ICE operations than average folks, would be fooled by a bunch of old people wearing only the cap and shorts/sneakers who were picking up trash. Imho, just about the only thing snark-able here is the Texas arrogance. My response would be something along the lines of: Congratulations! This might be the first time ever that “Texas ingenuity” didn’t come out of the muzzle of a gun, a lynching, the gas chamber, or a fag drag! Heil Texas! er, Hail Texas! ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/8 "2010-08-04T14:06:42Z")
“I didn’t think Texans were smart enough to pick up litter. Isn’t that why people have to hire the illegals?” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/9 "2010-08-04T14:11:57Z")
Well, you might ask why they named their organization after a federal agency that hasn’t existed for seven years. And lied about contacting the INS, of course - since it no longer exists (it’s now ICE and USCIS). ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/10 "2010-08-04T14:21:16Z")
PASS IT ON within the next 10 minutes and receive as your free gift this genuine white hood. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/11 "2010-08-04T14:28:06Z")
> [@emacknight](#): > > > [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > > > I’m not really that witty but my response would be to hit “Reply all” and provide this link: [ICE Badges | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigration/ingenuity.asp) and then say “If you want to send this recycled, narrow-minded garbage to your mailing list please do me a favor and remove me from it. It’s not the least bit informative, productive or clever and it disappoints me to see you spread it like herpes. Have a great day!” > > Yup, I vote you write back with some variation of, “Texas ingenuity my ass, they stole that idea from some guys in Nuh Yalk Seedee” Actually, the original e-mail used Washington, DC. So they are celebrating Washington Ingenuity, even worse! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/12 "2010-08-04T14:40:40Z")
I would like to take a moment to apologize on behalf of racist Texans everywhere. Those assholes are really giving the rest of us a bad name. Sometimes I feel like this state is going to hell. RNATB’s suggestions manages to be both snarky _and_ informative, so that one gets my vote. Maybe add a few jpegs of people holding [misspelled](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sefermpost.com/.a/6a00e55290c50488330120a77153e8970b-320wi&imgrefurl=http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2009/12/pictures-of-the-day-funny-signs-political-stupid-signs.html&usg=__TykPRL3oh0lTDDEsJ2GByi3Gcro=&h=461&w=300&sz=38&hl=en&start=5&itbs=1&tbnid=Oh1gGrBVJIDP0M:&tbnh=128&tbnw=83&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmisspelled%2Bprotest%2Bsign%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1)protest [signs](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IQiyoaS67kY/SaxApkCAfXI/AAAAAAAAA_w/jOG-qm8svMo/s400/gousa.jpg&imgrefurl=http://food.blogdig.net/archives/articles/March2009/02/_77__Misspelled_Protest_Signs.html&usg=__BuCDYjNynmSfJf6_sodFDR1Z574=&h=322&w=261&sz=27&hl=en&start=8&itbs=1&tbnid=XCNI0n_TPx9VPM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmisspelled%2Bprotest%2Bsign%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1)about how English should be our only langage. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/13 "2010-08-04T14:50:10Z")
I vote for a response including the Snopes link. Don’t waste your wit on these fools. About the [Star Spangled Banner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner#Translations): > [@](#): > > As a result of immigration to the United States, as well as the absorption of significant numbers of Spanish-speakers in the Southwest and Puerto Rico, the lyrics of the song were translated into other languages. In 1861, it was translated into German. The Library of Congress also has record of a Spanish-language version from 1919. It has since been translated into Hebrew and Yiddish by Jewish immigrants, Latin American Spanish (with one version popularized during pro-immigration rallies in 2006), French by Acadians of Louisiana, Samoan, and Irish. The third verse of the anthem has also been translated into Latin. > > With regard to the indigenous languages of North America, there are versions in Navajo and Cherokee. (Wikipedia includes cites.) ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/14 "2010-08-04T16:30:49Z")
While we’re on the topic, can anyone tell me why it’s such a big deal to “press 1 for English”? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/15 "2010-08-04T16:49:47Z")
Well if it were actually real I wouldn’t have a problem with it. I have nothing against immigrant workers but _litterers_ are the scum of the Earth and deserve everything they get. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/16 "2010-08-05T02:15:31Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > While we’re on the topic, can anyone tell me why it’s such a big deal to “press 1 for English”? [English-only movement.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_only_movement) I think they became birthers then tea baggers. ---
**Author:** ![jsquire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jsquire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsquire)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/17 "2010-08-06T02:44:05Z")
“If you think uninvited immigrants should go back home, the Native Americans will help us pack up our stuff.” A paraphrase of one of my all-time favorite political cartoons. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-witty-replies-to-emal-about-illigal-immigrants/549087/18 "2010-08-06T03:02:14Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > > [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > > > While we’re on the topic, can anyone tell me why it’s such a big deal to “press 1 for English”? > > [English-only movement.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_only_movement) > > I think they became birthers then tea baggers. Thanks **Superha** l, I know. I guess I was just asking why they don’t realize how stupid they sound. I mean, why would anyone actually CARE about pressing 1 for English? If it’s one of those computerized calls they’re going to have to press 1 for\* something\* anyway. They’re being told to feel angry. It’s already known that people started getting annoyed with the computerized help center calls, so they’re basically playing off that annoyance with giving people a common enemy. They have people convinced that there’s something wrong with providing services in other languages. They don’t realize it’s just good business sense. And they always bring up how the “official language” is English which probably every person on this board knows is an outright lie. No cite will satisfy them when you point this out. Pure ignorance, which breeds this ethnocentric nativism disguised as patriotism. I swear I have had it up to my neck with Facebook “friends”. I’ve been so disappointed in people I thought I knew. Every day I get to see how my sweet aunt “likes” “KILL ALL THE ILLEGALS AND LET GOD SORT THEM OUT!” or “SEPT 11 IS NATIONAL BURN THE KORAN DAY!” or how my high school friend puts out a link about how we should all support the repeal of the 14th Amendment to end this terrible scourge of anchor babies. I am not exaggerating. Every day I get something like this.