Immigration, an insurance salesperson and

[rebeccajo 14]

Some of you know I started a new job last week.

My orientation started today. There are three of us in the class. We were schooled in HIPAA; Clients Rights and Responsibilities; etc.

The end of this first day's session ended with a presentation which still seems very strange to me. Essentially we were pitched by an insurance rep for some weird identity theft insurance and another insurance which provides you legal representation. I guess this was supposed to be relevant for us as we work in a mental health facility, and our clients are ....well.....unstable.

At any rate, the sales lady was pretty sure we would want the ID theft coverage for a number of reasons, including all the things we've heard of in the news lately about immigrants (her first use of the word - my ears perked up).

"Yes there are a lot of people who are out to steal your identity. Drug abusers, gambling addicts, immigrants" (did I just hear her say that again?)

"People steal your identity in many ways - they file an address change for you with the postal service; they go through your trash at work; immigrants use your SS number when looking for a job......."

At this point my justice meter went completely over to red. I shifted in my chair and not bothering to raise my hand, I loudly said ..."Pardon me for interrupting you, but my husband is an immigrant".

"Is he"?

"Yes. A legal immigrant. I'd appreciate it if you would change your verbage when you speak about this issue and not use media rhetoric . Okay?"

She starts sort of doing a standing version of a candle out in the hot sun too long.

I was livid. She never met my eyes again during her presentation, which was pretty noticeable given there were only four of us in the room to begin with.

[MrsCat 6]

wow - how gauche on her part - I like how she avoided you after that instead of just saying "I apologize, you're right."

[Jenn! 918]

Good for you, Becca. What a bonehead.

[Nearly Done 8]

Good for you!!! I bet she was embarrassed or at least I hope she was!

[natty bumppo 289]

you might have considered correcting her use of words to ...

a chopf#ck illegal alien

[Ban Hammer 12,897]

while the use of the term immigrant is an issue, there is also the issue of being a captive audience while they make a sales pitch to you too.

[aidan80 9]

Congratulations on the job! I've came across the similar remarks in the past from people talking about the big bad evil immigrants... etc. Stupid people, even more so when they say things like.. ohh I'm sorry I don't mean you (when they discover I'm an immigrant), I mean the other one's, of course referring to Mexicans /South Americans because all immigrants or illegal immigrants as they like to call them have to be Mexican/South American? The stupidity of some people is unimaginable.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Did you clearly inform the salesperson that illegal immigration is the issue not legal immigration?

[rebeccajo 14]

while the use of the term immigrant is an issue, there is also the issue of being a captive audience while they make a sales pitch to you too.

Exactly. That's why I mentioned in the post that I thought the presentation was strange to begin with.

Immigration or not, it seemed like one of those 'rip-off' insurance schemes to me.

Edited June 24, 2008 by rebeccajo

[rebeccajo 14]

Congratulations on the job! I've came across the similar remarks in the past from people talking about the big bad evil immigrants... etc. Stupid people, even more so when they say things like.. ohh I'm sorry I don't mean you (when they discover I'm an immigrant), I mean the other one's, of course referring to Mexicans /South Americans because all immigrants or illegal immigrants as they like to call them have to be Mexican/South American? The stupidity of some people is unimaginable.

I couldn't believe how utterly stupid to stand in front of people and use bigotry as a sales pitch. I guess she thought she was 'safe' in a room full of white people, because as you say to most Americans the 'enemy' is 'brown'.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Correct her. I'm not surprise that a lot of people are not aware about the difference between illegal immigrants versus legal immigrants. She may not know, but, at least let her know.