How is your racial barometer working with immigration?

Most Utahns are not racists. However, commentaries from community members in The Spectrum & Daily News indicate that racism and bigotry are still a problem. As a racial tolerance barometer, let me tell you our story.

My children are descendents of illegal immigrants.

Many years ago, coming from a foreign land, our family attempted to enter the United States. Family members were turned away at the border for unclear reasons. Nevertheless, owing to their economic hardships, our family knew that returning to their homeland would be more impoverishing than the risks of living in the U.S. illegally. Consequently, they avoided the proper channels but managed to find employment as "illegals."

After years of saving money, our family moved into the Midwest, miles away from the U.S. border where they would be, hopefully, insulated from any immigration investigation.
From which country or ethnic origin did our family come?

Stereotyping is where individuals base assumptions of a race of people on conventional, formulaic and oversimplified observations, often assuming that members of a particular race will look or act the same way. Racism and racial bigotry are, essentially, severe pejorative forms of stereotyping.

From stereotyping comes some of the most ignorant and painful admissions of one's character. For example, many times people are anxious to tell me off-color jokes about Mexicans, yet cannot understand why I don't laugh. Often, I will declare, "I am of Mexican heritage," with a typical reply being, "But you don't look like one of them." Further, at my place of employment, I dress professionally and I am typically attended with respect by the public. In contrast, I have noticed that after having worked in the yard where my skin turns a dark bronze after a long summer's exposure to the sun, many times I am treated with indifference by cashiers in stores - until I demonstrate that I speak English.

http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071228/OPINION/712280314

The comments after the article are a warning against freepers....