Orange County Voices : The Debate on Proposition 187 : Racist and Mean-Spirited Measure an Embarrassment : Politicians worried about the ‘immigrant problem’ could learn by observing the life of gardener Bonafacio.

The “LOVE” stamp must be the most popular one sold by the United States Post Office.

Love is also popular on bumper stickers such as “I New York,” or “I Mario’s Pizza.” We use it to end letters and phone calls, with “I love you.” I do that.

I’d never given any thought to the loose use of “love” until I read that the majority of California voters were in favor of Proposition 187, mistakenly called SOS for “Save Our State.”

Also, I’ve never been involved in these things I never really understand.

This is different. It is such a mean-spirited, selfish, racist, inhumane, non-loving proposal that I’m embarrassed to be asked to vote on it.

I think of Bonafacio. He can neither vote nor complain. He has a green card and is working to become a citizen. He can’t vote, even if he had time.

Bonafacio and I share what might be called the same “apartment experience.” He does the gardening. I pay my rent. He was hired when I moved in 15 years ago.

Back then, he knew little English, and I knew little Spanish. We started a friendship with “Buenos dias” and “Buenos tardes.” Now he has learned English, and we can actually communicate.

When our politicians are not talking about the “immigrant problem,” they preach about values , especially family values. They might learn from Bonafacio.

We praise WORKING: Bonafacio’s day starts in Santa Ana at 5 a.m., and he takes the bus to our apartment complex where he starts at 6:30. With good bus connections, he is back home at 5 in the evening.

Weekends? He has another job, nearly the same schedule, for Saturday and Sunday.

We praise FAMILY VALUES: Why does he work like I’ve never worked? To support his family, and to save money for a two-week trip to be with his extended family in Mexico at Christmas.

“If you want to understand democracy, spend less time in the library with Plato, and more time in the buses with people” said Simeon Strunsky.

I take a main line OCTA bus that travels up Harbor Boulevard from Newport Beach to the Disneyland recreation area.

I share it with many for whom it is the only form of transportation--hotel housekeepers, waitresses, busboys, mechanics, gardeners, mothers and children.

Without them, most businesses would not be able to operate. And, if courtesy (which is in short supply) is a value , they are mostly good examples of friendliness.

I don’t know whether they are illegal residents or green card holders. With the mandates of Proposition 187, it could lead some overzealous informer to turn them in because of their dark skin, accents or names ending with vowels.

We send troops to foreign lands to fight for human rights and democracy. Is it possible that in the process we have lost our sense of human decency and freedom here at home in Orange County?

Is the Statue of Liberty now a symbol of selfishness and hypocrisy?

SOS is more than an embarrassment for me. It is without compassion or human understanding. It is a bitter, shameful proposal that undermines our American values.

Fortunately, Bonafacio merely shrugs his shoulders and smiles. He is used to this type of harassment.

We now say “Good morning” instead of “Buenos dias, “ and I always get a laugh with “Mucho trabajo, poco dinero.”

Unfortunately, I still have some “LOVE” stamps that I may never use again.