“ 我沒想過你是移民 ”

同事素芝是個消息靈通人士 , 不時有群發電子郵件向大家轉發 . 有的好玩 , 有的好笑 , 還有的挺有用 . 這一天來到單位上班 , 打開郵箱 , 見到素芝的一封轉發 “  傳單 ”. 雙點擊打開信件 , 讀過之後 , 感覺不爽 . 當即按了回複鍵 , 也象她那樣群發 (reply to all), 於是 , 就開始兩個人一來一往的電子交流 .

素芝的轉發傳單是號召讀信人起來向各級民意代表反映意見 . 傳單極具煽動性 . 說什麽移民凡滿 65 歲都可以向政府申請拿 SSI 和 Medicaid ( 是社會保險金和醫療救助金 ?), 高達每月兩千四百七十美金 . 比寫信人的母親能拿的要多得多 . 他母親從 1944 年幹活幹到 2004 年 , 目前每月隻拿 791 美元 , 等等 , 是多麽的不公平不合理 , 雲雲 . 寫者大有把什麽破事兒的罪名都要轉嫁到移民頭上去的架勢 . 我回信問 , 真有這好事 ? 移民滿 65 歲都可以向政府 申請救濟金 ? 我是移民我怎麽不知道 ?

素芝的回件立馬就來了 , 道歉說 , “ 我沒想過你是移民  !” 不過 , 她告訴我 , 因為我寫給她的郵件 , 使她停下來想了想 . 然後再三道歉 . 我回素芝話 , 讓她甭道歉 , 我還樂意有機會讓她看到冤枉給移民扣的帽子可以摘除呢 .

移民是新來後到者 , 自然的弱勢群體 . 社會上一有風吹草動 , 移民總是首當其衝受攻擊 . 其實 , 這個國家除了北美印地安人以外 , 所有的人都是移民或者移民的子孫 , 反移民人士怎麽不想想自己的祖輩當年的困境 , 對今日的移民有一點點同情之心呢 ? 話說回來 , 若是世上的人們都有了同情心 , 天下的爭端又會少了多少 !

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Suzy wrote:

Subject: Fw: Fw: Fw: SS & SSI

If the immigrant is over 65 they can apply for SSI and Medicaid and get more than my mom gets for Social Security, and she worked from 1944 till 2004, only getting $791 per month because she was born before 1924 and there is a "catch 22".

It is interesting that the federal government provides a single refugee with a monthly allowance of $1,890.00 and each can also obtain an additional $580.00 in social assistance for a total of $2,470.00/month.

This compares very well to a single pensioner who after contributing to the growth and development of America for 40 to 50 years can only receive a monthly maximum of $1,012.00 in old age pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Maybe our pensioners should apply as refugees! Consider sending this to all your American friends, so we can all be ticked off and maybe get the refugees cut back to $1,012.00 and the pensioners up to $2,470.00 and enjoy some of the money we were forced to submit to the Government over the last 40 or 50 or 60 years.

Please forward to every American to expose what our elected politicians (Nancy P. Included) have been doing over the past 11 years - to the over-taxed American.

SEND THIS TO EVERY AMERICAN TAXPAYER YOU KNOW

I wrote :

Dear Suzy,
Thank you for the forwarded message! It is quite an eye-opener for me!
I was surprised to learn about the news that immigrants over age 65 can
apply for SSI and Medicaid and get more than the writer's mom gets for
Social Security. I wonder how accurate/reliable the information sent by
the writer is. As an immigrant myself, I have never been informed with
such things, not at the time I swore into U.S. citizenship in 2001 by
the immigration officials, or by human resources personnels at the new
employees' orientation meetings. Of course, there are still a lot for
me to learn about this country.
Thanks,

O.

Suzy wrote:

Please forgive the e-mail. It's just that I don't think of you as an
immigrant. I have to admit your e-mail made me stop and think about
others.
Again I'm truly sorry. Please accept my apology.
Suzy

I wrote :

Dear Suzy,
I don't think you need apologize. I think your message is informative.
I don't mind reading it at all. Really.
And I think it's a good thing to make people stop and think, too.
Do you agree?
O.

Suzy wrote :

Yes I do. Thank you. You're a VERY SWEET and KIND person. I hope
everything worked out alright with your cell phone.

Suzy

I wrote:

Thank you, Suzy, for your kind words about me!
My cell phone problem was fixed, very easily actually--Dave took the
battery out and put it back again and that's it.
Have a good weekend!

O.

好, 今天的故事講完了, 祝你周末愉快!