Comments for The Pittsburgh Immigrant http://pittsburghimmigrant.com News by and for the Pittsburgh International Community Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:14:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on The Shrinking City by pittsburghimmigrant http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/2009/11/11/the-shrinking-city-by-eve/#comment-88 pittsburghimmigrant Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:14:15 +0000 http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/?p=285#comment-88 You are absolutely right. We live in a beautiful city that is being destroyed by policies that just do not take into account the needs of the city and its citizens. Taxing college student is a terrible idea in a city that needs to attract youthful talent. Our property tax structure, which results in individuals living in tiny homes with lower incomes paying signficantly more in taxes than the rich individuals in mansions living next door, just because they purchased earlier, was declared unconstitutional by our State Supreme Court. It’s time our legislators took a stand and did something about it. Instead, our policy makers seem more concerned about getting and protecting their votes than doing the right thing. You are absolutely right. We live in a beautiful city that is being destroyed by policies that just do not take into account the needs of the city and its citizens. Taxing college student is a terrible idea in a city that needs to attract youthful talent. Our property tax structure, which results in individuals living in tiny homes with lower incomes paying signficantly more in taxes than the rich individuals in mansions living next door, just because they purchased earlier, was declared unconstitutional by our State Supreme Court. It’s time our legislators took a stand and did something about it.

Instead, our policy makers seem more concerned about getting and protecting their votes than doing the right thing.

]]> Comment on Why Not Let Immigrants Fuel Our Economic Recovery? by TL Winslow http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/2009/04/01/why-not-let-immigrants-fuel-our-economic-recovery/#comment-57 TL Winslow Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:43:43 +0000 http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/?p=187#comment-57 The age-old pesky U.S.-Mexico border problem has taxed the resources of both countries, led to long lists of injustices, and appears to be heading only for worse troubles in the future. Guess what? The border problem can never be solved. Why? Because the border IS the problem! It's time for a paradigm change. Never fear, a satisfying, comprehensive solution is within reach: the Megamerge Dissolution Solution. Simply dissolve the border along with the failed Mexican government, and megamerge the two countries under U.S. law, with mass free 2-way migration eventually equalizing the development and opportunities permanently, with justice and without racism, and without threatening U.S. sovereignty or basic principles. Click the url and read about the new paradigm for U.S.-Mexico relations. The age-old pesky U.S.-Mexico border problem has taxed the resources of both countries, led to long lists of injustices, and appears to be heading only for worse troubles in the future. Guess what? The border problem can never be solved. Why? Because the border IS the problem! It’s time for a paradigm change.

Never fear, a satisfying, comprehensive solution is within reach: the Megamerge Dissolution Solution. Simply dissolve the border along with the failed Mexican government, and megamerge the two countries under U.S. law, with mass free 2-way migration eventually equalizing the development and opportunities permanently, with justice and without racism, and without threatening U.S. sovereignty or basic principles.

Click the url and read about the new paradigm for U.S.-Mexico relations.

]]> Comment on Why Not Let Immigrants Fuel Our Economic Recovery? by Michele J. http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/2009/04/01/why-not-let-immigrants-fuel-our-economic-recovery/#comment-35 Michele J. Sun, 17 May 2009 17:36:57 +0000 http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/?p=187#comment-35 Kudos! Our government and the media like to make the disparity between foreign and American talent in certain areas of expertise look like a problem rather than an opportunity. When we perceive ourselves as having a problem in society, the number one solution of the government is to throw money and legislation at it. Thus, instead of making it easier for talented immigrants to enter the country, we'll react by trying to jump-start the stagnation in American talent with taxpayer dollars thrown at the education system, with little accountability and questionable benefit. It would be nice to see a change in attitude toward this and a willingness to accept the natural changes that economies go through, which when left unhindered eventually produce more wealth and a greater standard of living. Kudos! Our government and the media like to make the disparity between foreign and American talent in certain areas of expertise look like a problem rather than an opportunity. When we perceive ourselves as having a problem in society, the number one solution of the government is to throw money and legislation at it. Thus, instead of making it easier for talented immigrants to enter the country, we’ll react by trying to jump-start the stagnation in American talent with taxpayer dollars thrown at the education system, with little accountability and questionable benefit. It would be nice to see a change in attitude toward this and a willingness to accept the natural changes that economies go through, which when left unhindered eventually produce more wealth and a greater standard of living.

]]> Comment on Our Vision by Milana ("Mim") Bizic http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/our-vision/#comment-9 Milana ("Mim") Bizic Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:32:46 +0000 http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/our-vision/#comment-9 Dear Kamana, Congratulations on your new website of PITTSBURGH IMMIGRANT and the ideas you would like to foster herein. As a grandchild of Pittsburgh Serbian immigrants from 1897, 1900 and 1906, I would like to share with you and your readers the website I've developed. My www.babamim.com website documents much of the love, hope, dreams, hardships, successes and exciting adventures that our early Serbian immigrants had here in Pittsburgh at the beginning of the last century. Most of all, it shows their burning desire to be the best Americans they could be, but at the same time, to cherish and maintain their Serbian cultural heritage and values. I'm sure you will love Pittsburgh. Several years ago while still teaching for Quaker Valley School District in Pittsburgh, we had several In-Service classes on Diversity Training. It was hard not to chuckle at even the thought, as I grew up in Pittsburgh where we celebrated EVERYONE'S heritage, starting with my neighbors of every ethnicity around me, the Pitt Nationality Rooms and the Annual Pittsburgh Folk Festival days. To us, it was always "Unity Through Diversity!" Even my High School Music Teacher, Mr. Schmidt, was ahead of the curve. He made us learn at least one song from every culture, so that if we ever went to a party or celebration, we could also sing along. While I don't remember everyone's song, I do remember ours. The words were printed on the blackboard for all of us to learn, "Oj, Devojka oj.... primish pozdrav moj, samo nemoj, moj Majci kaziti." Welcome again. And best of luck to all of you there. If you need any help learning more about Serbian immigrants, I'm here to help. Sincerely, Milana (Mim) Karlo Bizic Dear Kamana,

Congratulations on your new website of PITTSBURGH IMMIGRANT and the ideas you would like to foster herein.

As a grandchild of Pittsburgh Serbian immigrants from 1897, 1900 and 1906, I would like to share with you and your readers the website I’ve developed. My http://www.babamim.com website documents much of the love, hope, dreams, hardships, successes and exciting adventures that our early Serbian immigrants had here in Pittsburgh at the beginning of the last century.

Most of all, it shows their burning desire to be the best Americans they could be, but at the same time, to cherish and maintain their Serbian cultural heritage and values.

I’m sure you will love Pittsburgh. Several years ago while still teaching for Quaker Valley School District in Pittsburgh, we had several In-Service classes on Diversity Training. It was hard not to chuckle at even the thought, as I grew up in Pittsburgh where we celebrated EVERYONE’S heritage, starting with my neighbors of every ethnicity around me, the Pitt Nationality Rooms and the Annual Pittsburgh Folk Festival days. To us, it was always “Unity Through Diversity!”

Even my High School Music Teacher, Mr. Schmidt, was ahead of the curve. He made us learn at least one song from every culture, so that if we ever went to a party or celebration, we could also sing along. While I don’t remember everyone’s song, I do remember ours. The words were printed on the blackboard for all of us to learn, “Oj, Devojka oj…. primish pozdrav moj, samo nemoj, moj Majci kaziti.”

Welcome again. And best of luck to all of you there. If you need any help learning more about Serbian immigrants, I’m here to help.

Sincerely,
Milana (Mim) Karlo Bizic

]]> Comment on Events by pittsburghimmigrant http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/events/#comment-6 pittsburghimmigrant Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:08:00 +0000 http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/events/#comment-6 Thanks Aaron, It was a real pleasure being there and meeting everyone. I got a wonderful response from everyone there. I look forward to your comments and contributions of articles, photos, and events to include in this blog and the newsletter. Kamana Thanks Aaron,

It was a real pleasure being there and meeting everyone. I got a wonderful response from everyone there. I look forward to your comments and contributions of articles, photos, and events to include in this blog and the newsletter.

Kamana

]]> Comment on Events by Aaron Williams http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/events/#comment-4 Aaron Williams Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:39:15 +0000 http://pittsburghimmigrant.com/events/#comment-4 Kamana Mathur, I just wanted to thank you for coming out to Khalil's the other evening and presenting your information on the newsletter. One of the biggest complaints I hear of from people who visit the city are concerns regarding not only the diversity of the region, but also of limited tolerance or acceptance for other cultures. Being caucasian, I can't say I have a good sense as to the accuracy of these comments. However, I think that should these concerns be accurate, publications such as this can go a long way in helping to make the region more open and accepting. Thank you again Aaron Kamana Mathur,

I just wanted to thank you for coming out to Khalil’s the other evening and presenting your information on the newsletter. One of the biggest complaints I hear of from people who visit the city are concerns regarding not only the diversity of the region, but also of limited tolerance or acceptance for other cultures. Being caucasian, I can’t say I have a good sense as to the accuracy of these comments. However, I think that should these concerns be accurate, publications such as this can go a long way in helping to make the region more open and accepting.

Thank you again
Aaron

]]>