This week, the hot button issue is immigration and the Devil is not one to back down from a good, clean debate. I think this nation has lost its way and is severely short on memory when it comes to immigration. This is a nation of immigrants. From the Murphy clan to the Duttas to the Patels to the Savones to the Carpenters all the way to the Martinezes, this is a nation of immigrants.Right now, we have so many proposals in Congress to limit immigration from the South. Most of the scare tactics being used these days is that terrorists might use the open deserts to cross into the United States. What is never really openly mentioned is that not one of the 9/11 terrorists snuck into this nation. And they certainly wouldn't sneak in from Mexico risking life and limb to get in. Al Qaeda and any terrorist organization is well funded and would certainly spend the money to get a terrorist into this nation drawing as little attention as possible. If anything, they'd simply fly one of their clowns into Canada and have them cross with some black market US identification.
I have to admit that I feel a little of both sides of the issue on this. I completely understand the desire to leave your country to provide a better life for your children and your family. This isn't a crime. However, I can understand the argument that it is still illegal immigration and that you shouldn't "reward" people for breaking the law. However, the people are here working the jobs that most Americans won't work for under $15 an hour.One of the most interesting things I have heard from the right wing on this topic is that during the walkouts and protests, many people weren't waving American flags. Many were waving the Mexican flag or the Colombian flag or the Venezualan flag or any Latin American nation's flag. The more radical right wingers insisted this was the signal that the influx of immigrants is an "invasion".
I can actually understand this argument to a point. I understand that you're proud to be a Mexican or Cubano or Colombiano. But you're out in force to protest the fact that your adopted homeland might force you to leave. You want to prove that you belong here as an American. You know that some Americans are a bit unnerved that you're here and that you don't really want to be a part of American society. So why would they go and wave flags of foreign nations?
Now ... yes, I understand we have freedom of speech. Yes, I think you should be proud of your heritage. I'm not saying that you should abandon your heritage, your culture and submit your everything to America. However, there is a time and place to tailor your message to your audience or to the public in order to achieve a greater good. I think this might have been one of those times.
I just imagine the impact that seeing 500,000 immigrants marching in Los Angeles would have if they would've waved only American flags. Who in the Evil Empire (the Republican party or the right-wing) could then doubt that these hard working people want to be part of the American fabric? They couldn't point to pictures and say "Look!! It's an invasion."
This is only one small part of the whole argument. This nation was founded by immigrants. This nation was built on the backs of those willing to do the dirty work that most "citizens" wouldn't do. America has lost her way ... she's lost the spirit of "your huddled masses". We know have a nation of privileged who don't want to admit that this country has a dirty little secret of using migrant labor. We attack those who work the hardest, the longest, for the least amount.
Again, this is only the Devil's point of view and any comments as usual are welcomed. I am curious what other nations have done to curtail immigration problems and tension.
6 comments:
We have much of the same issue, albeit on a smaller scale in the UK. Obviously there are issues with immigration that need to be dealt with, however at the end of the day, people that whinge about immigrants taking jobs are short sighted assclowns as they forget that they wouldn't be doing any of these jobs anyway. Our economies would be screwed without these people.
I like this issue. Because it crosses boundries of what is an appropriate labor wage, immigration, and rights of men.
I think this is a difficult choice for Americans; to pay for immigrants' benefits and pay them less for undesirable jobs or do you want to limit immigration and start paying people more? To me it's all economics.
Al Qaeda and any terrorist organization is well funded and would certainly spend the money to get a terrorist into this nation drawing as little attention as possible
Some of the 9/11 terrorist got driver licenses which allowed them to board doomed plane with help of illegal aliens
Acquisition of Virginia identification cards. Three Salvadoran immigrants living in Virginia, two illegally and one as a lawful permanent resident, were found guilty of helping four September 11 operatives use fraudulent documentation to obtain Virginia identification documents.
see page 29 of this document
http://www.9-11commission.gov/ st...errTrav_Ch2.pdf
NML-
I'm curious as to how the immigration problem is confronted in the UK. I know that there are some in the US who are saying that Europe is having problems with Worker Visas in that it creates a separate and distinct underclass of immigrants who don't have the same rights as citizens.
Mariemm-
This is a great topic to discuss. As Americans we are now faced with the ugly truth in that much of our "dirty" work that most of us won't do is being done by a permanent underclass. So far though, most Americans in polls seem to favor letting those here already stay and get citizenship while strongly enforcing the border.
It's similar to the whole fast food flap in Florida where produce pickers are asking for a penny more per pound so that they can get a little better wage. McD's, of course, is not going along with it.
MP-
Welcome. Thanks for the comments. I like that I used a fairly broad brush to paint an issue and you had the facts. Interestingly enough, of the 48 9/11 terrorists, 16 (one-third) of the 48 terrorists were on temporary visas (primarily tourists); 17 (another third) were Lawful Permanent Residents or naturalized U.S. citizens; 12 (one-fourth) were illegal aliens; 3 of the 48 had applications for asylum pending.
Both citizens and illegal aliens helped facilitate the attacks. I think better enforcement of the current immigration laws would've prevented alot of problems were having now. There isn't enough enforcement of current laws and the funding is consistently being cut. It just can't keep up like this.
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