You know, when I started blogging, I made a firm commitment not to blog about certain topics. Religion, no. Stupid baby names, yes. Politics, no. Current events that twist my panties, yes.
The illegal immigrant issue has become a huge hot topic these last couple of months in our nation.
You can't turn on the news or glance at a newspaper without some item slapping you in the face.
Although I have personal opinions about it, they are just that. My opinions. And I'm keeping them to my own sweet (and admittedly snarky) self.
When the national protest/walkout occurred on May 1st, it didn't affect our little mountain burg at all. Except that maybe a few people delayed a couple of minutes of their daily life to watch how the march was affecting the rest of the country.
So I can't comment with any authority or first-hand experience about how the "Day Without Immigrants" stopped anything in our town, because it was simply "business as usual". No civil breakdown. No protests.
My friend Texas Goodies posted a link to a guy who wrote a really thought-provoking post about the whole issue. He opened up his own gentle and reasoned can of Whup-Ass on the subject with Huddled Masses.
Take a couple of minutes to check it out. You might not agree with what he has to say, but I think you'll savor his writing every step of the way.
10 comments:
I’m sure my public flogging idea won’t be valid on this topic either. What does a guy have to do to get public flogging accepted in the mainstream? Just in case, I say we have public flogging of all illegals we find.
I think you have a word fetish. Flog flog flog flog flog....
;-)
I am in canada, But I have seen your news reports.
I just think when people come into another country and want to make it their home they need to do it legally and they also need to accept all the rules and regulations that are there.
I only get upset when newcommers want all the rights and freedoms and benefits of being a citizen but do not also abide by the rules and regulations.
Always hearing about these cases of people having their cake and eating it too has always left a bad taste in my mouth.
Attila - thanks for linking to that essay. It was great.
"Huddled Masses" is truly a well-reasoned piece of writing. Living in Arizona just 200 miles from the border, I can relate to what the writer is saying.
My biggest complaint, like his, is the ambivalence of the Mexican government toward taking care of its people.
I also have a complaint that wasn't mentioned: the notion that learning English is a threat to the Latino culture.
The U.S. is a melting pot because we speak a common language. Whether from Poland or India or China, immigrants, especially after the first generation, learn English. Otherwise, their voices cannot be understood because the majority of us cannot understand them.
There will always be separation, a cultural wall, unless we can commuicate in a common language.
Thanks for the links from me too!
It's a tricky topic to be sure and like all other hot button subjects, there's no easy fix-it for all the facets, but I really liked what "Jack" had to say on the subject and I thought he was being even-handed as well as logical and lucid.
Have a great, safe weekend, all!
Hi Attila,
thanks for the link, I can't comment because this is to close to home for me since my grandparents crossed over here illegally. To read about public flogging of illegals on one of your posts, makes me sick to my stomach.
Obviously, this system is way flawed, thats not what I'm arguing, I just don't like all the hatred that comes out of the woodwork with issues like these.
I read Huddled Masses and found it very thought provoking.
I agree with 34quinn and admiral pooper.
Like Miss Litzi said, the event seemed to create hostility and little sympathy for their cause.
As I write this, a new home is being constructed right outside my window in the lot next door. Guess who is building it and what language I hear them speaking?
It seems that we can't even provide for American citizens. When a pregnant young woman can't help, there is a problem. It also seems that Mexicans get more benefits than Americans. I agree that we need to do something to close our borders but what is beyond me. As a former mental health worker and a security officer of a mental health mental retardation hospital, I see people that would not be there if it weren't for the language barrier. I think learning the language of the country you want to be in is a must. There is so much prejudice out there. I see patients from other countries that have learned our language and hispanics are offended if we asked them to learn ours. Its a tough question for anyone.
Hmmmm, I agree and disagree with him on his piece.
His way of thinking on "how it is down there" with his parents is one point. I have a friend who lived and ranched down there who paints a much darker view of the illegals that come over. And of worse things they have done.
And his end there of securing the border, and bringing the law on folks who hired illegals, is he going to turn his parents in?
A bit two faced if you ask me....but nice piece over all.
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