If This Is An Issue, Can Our Own CPE Be Far Behind?

They were fired "for standing up for their rights," Herrada said.

Now the issue in the United States is becoming very much like France: Can you fire a worker? And under what circumstances? And what if that worker is illegal? And what if they demand their "entitlements" -- like a job?

From the Detroit Free Press:

A manager at a Detroit meatpacking plant said Monday that 15 immigrant women were fired last month after attending a protest for immigrant rights. He said they had been told that they would be terminated if they missed work on the day of the protest. The fired workers were natives of Mexico and many had worked at the plant for several years. Most have children and are worried about supporting their families, Herrada said.

Many were employed by Minuteman Staffing. So when Wolverine wanted to fire the workers, the meatpacking company told Minuteman to let go of the workers, he said. A manager with Minuteman said he couldn't comment on the case.

But the workers say they were treated wrongly.

"It was not fair,'" said Mercedes, a 31-year-old Detroit woman who attended the rally and was fired. "We went to fight for our rights." Mercedes is undocumented and asked that her last name not be used.

"It was really unfair of a company to do that," said Edith Castillo, head of the Detroit-based Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development.

The photo: Activists wait to see the owner of the Wolverine Packing Co. in Detroit on Monday.(MARY SCHROEDER/Detroit Free Press)

As The Entitlements Turn:

Allow me to examine the issue just a bit.

First: is life really fair? Has it always been "fair" to you? Oddly enough, as shocked as you may be, this older, male Anglo has not always been treated "fairly" by life. Is that a proper expectation? Is that a realistic expectation? I submit this: those who expect life to be "fair" shall experience their life's path in two fashions -- with a chip on their shoulder and with great disappointment. Life is Attitude. Life is what you make of it -- and no one else. Why is it said that Republicans are generally more happy? Spiritual people more happy and more able to weather adversity? I think you have a bit of the answer already.

Second: it is indicated in the article that some of the workers may be or are illegal. And they have a "right" to a job because. . . . ?

Third: let's assume everyone is legal. The workers have a right to a job because they decided, collectively or individually, to leave the job? After management told them what would occur?

Fourth: anyone hear or recall something about Free Will? About the ability to make decisions, and then accept responsibility for one's chosen actions? Ring a bell? Because a person is illegal, does that mean that person is by nature inherently stupid and unable to reason out the foreseeable consequences of one's actions?

Fifth: some or all of these people are illegal. See my previous posts for my clear and obvious opinions. Hello? Illegal.

Sixth: like France, we are becoming enthralled with the notion that more and more things are due us because we breathe and stand on two legs. Did or did not the ol' BZ write, in past posts, that the issues before us now not only include illegal immigrants but also enfold the concept of more and greater entitlements?

What's past is prologue, dear readers.

BZ

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(My apologies for the formatting. Blogger is pitching a tantrum with me and I cannot delineate paragraphs at this time. -- BZ)

Also: I am leaving for my monthly week-long trip to San Diego for school. I will be away from blogging until Monday of next week, the 17th. If I acquire an earlier flight I may post on Sunday because, after all, I just can't stay away. And who knows what might happen in the interim?