Abogados de Inmigracion

Recent studies indicate the need for greater investment in literacy, but our government has cut about two-thirds out of the adult education budget for 2006. Even with any small increases pointing to some future and distant success created by No Child Left, we are in big trouble and George Bush and the Congress have reduced adult education spending by two-thirds, leading to greater negative consequences.

You have to decide if the leadership of this country is helping America. For decades we fought communism in the classroom, in the media, in Congress, and in war. Now we see that much of the world’s wealth is drifting to a communist nation. Made in China prevails. It brings up the profits of Wal-Mart and other stores. Russia never focused on this kind of economic development, but imagine if it had concentrated on building good economic products that the West would buy. Did we fight communism to have our wealth taken away from us? Why do you think Americans are working longer hours to make ends meet?

What do soldiers and military strategists know about global economies? We have taken on new enemies now, but we all know that we got into the war based on wrong information. In addition, have we ever thought about the impact of the computerized war that George Bush, Sr. fought in Kuwait that killed thousands of Iraqi troops? Sure America is a symbol of hate in the world, but what about George Bush and his father. Is if possible that the new war technology and its use are a great part of the problem. Only the future will tell, but we should be absorbing this kind of information so we can change the course of history. The United States hardly lost any troops in the first stage (the computerized war) of the war, but now that we are on the ground, our losses have skyrocketed. Perhaps if we had started on the ground in hand to hand combat and many people would have surrendered, instead of been killed, there would have been less hate in Iraq. I do not know for sure, but I believe this may be part of the problem and it is not being discussed much. The atomic bomb was eliminated from use and maybe we have to think about the use of other modern tactics so we can live in peace.

George Bush is going around the world now fighting for religious freedom too. My thoughts on that are not being discussed in the news. From time to time, we have heard about plots and or attempts by Jews to destroy the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a section under the authority of the Palestinians. Even after the Jews took over Jerusalem, the Israeli government gave this control to the Palestinians. The United States must have had some say in this matter because of the importance of this region in our global strategy. Why can’t people pray together on the Temple Mount? Obviously because there can be no religious freedom there. And this is more than symbolic. If we try to bring religious freedom there and fail, we can have a global religious war. Is there any conflict resolution possible for the Temple Mount? Doesn’t it pay to explore that possibility now or is it too late? I personally want to see George Bush pray with Ariel Sharon and Muslim leaders on the Temple Mount in 2006. That would be a signal for peace all over the world. So do you think that President Bush is really leading us to religious freedom? Or is it just another wrong move based on wrong information.

Something that I wrote about in 2005 must be repeated here. I believe that Congress can lower the taxes of the poor and middle class, but requiring them to invest the difference in an investment account that would match the tax savings the rich get because Congress believes that only the rich can invest and save and protect our annual economic growth. I believe that Congress is wrong. Let us get this message out to people who can influence the Congress and we will be able to help future generations of people during their retirement with this new plan.

Finally I can speak out about the GED. I recently asked the Washington Post to speak out about the discrimination against Hispanics on the GED. I chose the Washington Post because it gave us the Watergate story. In many states nobody tests in Spanish (and it is even worse in French, one of the three “official” languages of the GED). The Washington Post is trying to profit by publishing Spanish newspapers, like El Tiempo Latino. The NAHP’s Hispanic Press division published my article months ago, because it is important to Hispanics. Hispanics know that it is hard to get good coverage of events and news from the English language press and I can tell all of you that it is hard to get good coverage of GED stories. Newspapers, including the United Federation of Teachers newspaper, basically present what I like to call “mediocre” stories. Nowhere will you see an article on my plan to bring the GED to Latin America, which should be considered major international news, but you can read about it in the biggest newspaper in El Salvador. I want to thank the National Association of Hispanic Publications for the support it has given in 2005, but this relationship goes back to the time when Zeke Montes invited me to impact on the Convention in Las Vegas. Thanks for printing the Danenberg Code and my article on Amnesty.

What is next? Hopefully a Roundtable for GED for the Hispanic Community in Washington, D.C. will take place in early 2006. I know that I have support for this, but it just has to be done right and I need the support of all of the largest Hispanic organizations and churches. I know that these organizations get large amounts of funding and sponsorship and a small part of those funds should eliminate the greatest educational problem in our nation. GED is for the youth that drop out of school. For the sixty-one percent in Antonio Villaraigosa’s Los Angeles, for the more than thirty percent in Mike Bloomberg’s (Ferrer’s New York too) New York City and they are hiding their heads in the sand showing you improvements in the third grade or something similar. San Juan, Puerto Rico recently told me that they are doing great things to improve their schools while forty-six percent fewer adults took the GED in 2003. These examples illustrate that officials that we count on know nothing about GED and they are hurting the Hispanic community now, and as standards get raised, you will probably see Hispanics get hurt in the long run. So they may be giving Hispanics false hope. And if you have listened to the news about the riots in France and other countries, how are our leaders adapting this information to our nation? If Hispanic leaders do not react in a different way or adapt, too, very little will change, but I can assure you that they will continue to maintain your power whether you do better or worse. That is how the system works. So let me bring the GED to millions of Hispanics (Haitians, African Americans, and others) here in the United States and to tens of millions of your family members and friends in your country of origin. After watching the decisions of the White House, I would be cautious about inviting a representative to a GED Roundtable.

Congress passed an anti-immigration bill this week. Congress has put itself into the same position, it seems to me, as President Bush when he moved into the War with Iraq, based on incorrect information. Ultimately, in my opinion, I see the tide turning and legalization of immigrants is possible. In order to accomplish that, huge demonstrations are needed, reminiscent of the Civil Rights demonstrations of Dr. Martin Luther King. The Hispanic community has to organize more effectively to accomplish this goal, but many of the people who speak about this issue are probably unwilling to take that action to bring about that result. If the late Israeli leader Golda Meir could turn the tide and convince President Harry Truman (after he had rejected the appeals of many people) to vote for the State of Israel, I feel that even President Bush could be convinced. Remember that is ok for President Bush to order illegal wiretaps, but it is wrong to permit people who are here to become legal. I have to shake my head in disbelief. But if George Bush gets his way and it may come sooner than we think, another feature could be added to the Hispanic GED Roundtable. Hispanic leaders and associations are unprepared for that challenge. I would recommend to all illegal immigrants that they rise to a new height educationally now. And I mean right now before being sent home by the United States government. They should get the GED, study English, and send the resources that your family members need to complete the GED in your country and learn English. It would be a sad commentary, if you do not achieve these objectives and will retard the progress of your countries.

Photo of a modern day David, professional harpist Jose Rodriguez of Puerto Rico, supporting the education of Hispanics by performing the songs of Juan Luís Guerra on the streets of Washington Heights. Ojala que llueva café, educación, paz, libertad de religión, amnistía y progreso económico.

MARTIN N. DANENBERG
7 BLAZER DRIVE
ISLANDIA, NY 11749
GEDHOTLINE@AOL.COM
631-348-1341
www.geocities.com/gedhotline
www.ahorre.com/noticias