Paddington Bear, illegal alien?
The name, the toggle coat, and the obsessive marmalade consumption might have fooled us all, but it turns out that the adorable anthropomorph Paddington Bear is not an English native, or even a legal immigrant.
After a three-decade-long hiatus, Paddington Bear will return to children's lit only to find he's not as welcome as he was in 1958. Back then, Paddington managed to enter quickly into British society, stepping off at a train stop after leaving his home in "darkest Peru" by stowing away. Since he looked sufficiently cute and helpless, labeled with a tag reading "Please help this bear," he immediately won the affection of an ordinary British couple who took him in, launching several stories' worth of wacky intercultural and inter-species misunderstanding.
In a new set of stories by 81-year-old Paddington creator Michael Bond, the refugee bear will face questioning by British immigration authorities. But Bond promises that all will turn out well in the end for Paddington who is, of course, a model immigrant, regardless of his legal status. The first words out of his mouth in the television series happen to be "Can I help you," which of course charms his soon-to-be keepers, the Browns. (And English natives, or American ones, could learn from the Browns' response -- "We were wondering if we could help you.") Then, of course, he happily adopts the name "Paddington," since his Peruvian name is apparently too difficult to pronounce, setting a precedent for at least one present-day politician. Paddington joins Mr. Brown for tea, and despite not quite understanding the custom and making a mess of his food, the bear quickly volunteers to clean up. Within a few decades, after winning the affection of generations of kids, he's even doing what only true Brits can handle -- eating marmite.
Photo courtesy paddingtonbear.co.uk.
LOL - 38 million illegal aliens, roughly 13% of the US, more than 1 in 10. They work here with, buy things from, and rent homes from US companies. With the figures & current laws, the entire population is guilty of 'aid, support, transport, shield, harbor illegal aliens.' We indirectly aid and support them by supporting others who help them so we must all go to jail if you go by the book. (Only a few thousand visas are issued to Mexicans each year, not millions, mostly tourist visas, not for work, and only to stinking rich people like drug dealers, the only rich people in Mexico, so there is no legal way for any poor innocent Mexican to come here legally. It is not a baby's fault it was born in Mexico, and how much hard work did we do to become citizens? NONE! Instead we should stop this madness, open up sweatshops, and get rich quick!)
Posted by: John Character | December 14, 2007 at 02:42 PM
Illegal aliens can't get an apartment or pay rent if they're not documents nor have any sort of credit. You can't feel sorry for a group that doesn't want to become citizens but wants the government to hand them every thing rather than work for it. Damn shame that those who work their asses off have to pay for their welfare checks
Posted by: Mike | October 13, 2008 at 01:43 AM
Another lame attempt by ultra-liberal LA Times to trivialize the massive disaster caused by uncontrolled illegal immigration.
California is in a financial disaster and the LA Times can just snicker. Disgusting.
Posted by: Marianne | October 13, 2008 at 11:48 AM
umm you cant get welfare without documents...just an fyi
research is everything
Posted by: cb | October 13, 2008 at 12:10 PM
I have loved the Paddington Bear series since I was 10 and I do not think that Paddington would be considered an illegal alien because he is adopted by the Browns.
Posted by: Mallory | October 13, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Illegal immigrants are definately not as bad as some people say they are; they help our economy by doing jobs that no one else wants. I really dont see how that could cause a financial disaster...
Posted by: Noah | October 13, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Noah, you do not have adequate information to form an educated opinion. Read up on it.
Posted by: Marianne | October 14, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Paddington's tag did not say, "Please help this bear." It said, "Please look after this bear."
Posted by: Kevin B. O'Reilly | October 18, 2008 at 08:46 AM