May Day Returns!
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070502/D8ORU6H80.html
First thing's first. Why the Hell would a group, trying to gain mainstream acceptance and benefits from the rest of American society, choose the high holy day in the communist calendar for annual rallies? Maybe many Americans do not remember what May Day is or ignore the connection, but twice in a row the "immigrant rights" people have chosen the day of international communist workers as the time for their marches. Since when has America been kind to Communists? At best a poor strategy or, more likely, an incite into the radical thinking of the organizers.
I found the cited article above as a link from the Drudge Report. The various protesters quoted in the article speak about immigrants being treated "as less than human is a travesty," and about how "Things are getting worse for our people - more discrimination, less benefits," and "It's OK for government to enforce the law but they have to give us a chance." Of these three quotes I grabbed from the article, at least #2 is honest and a reasonable interpretation of events since last May Day.
First, how are illegal immigrants being treated as less than human? I presume that the comment comes from the opinion that being forced to live underground lives, not being part of all government programs, possibly being deported if found, etc. constitutes sub-human treatment. A human who commits murder can be incarcerated for life or executed. Obviously those guilty of entering the country illegally and likely subsequent fraud (fake documents to work, etc.) are nowhere near murder, but the theory that certain freedoms/economic assistance/ways of life are inherent human rights ignores that 1) such rights can be denied when a person violates a law and 2) economic privilege is not a fundamental human right. The standard of living provided by even a meager existence in the United States is superior to their existence in their home countries. Hence, the mass exodus to the United States. If living the way many do now is a fundamental right of humanity than everyone in the entire world who makes less than $10,000 a year should be protesting because they are being treated as "less than human".
The guy from the third quote appears to be grasping at a compromise quote. If it is okay for government to enforce the law than the conversation ends there. Immigration law in the US is clear, legal, and has not substantially changed much recently. America even wiped the slate clean in 1986 with amnesty as part of a broader immigration reform package. The 13 million illegal immigrants in the country today have all entered since 1986. 13 million in 20 years is a fast pace.
Quote #2, as I mentioned is the most honest. The person, a social worker born in Mexico, was looking at the world from a purely racial/national perspective and considered "her people" as illegal immigrants from Latin America and not Americans or all people on the whole. Such a racial definition of who "we" are is the kind of divisive politics that are readily condemned when history talks about the 3rd Reich or the Segregated South. Is it okay when the person is likely an old member of the chicano movement with a picture of Caesar Chavez above her mirror speaking of Hispanics as the "we people"? A white person who ever says "you people" is presumed racist but the minority group saying "our people" is just fine. Another wonderfully perverse and illogical facet of American political discourse. One is allowed to be prejudiced so long as you belong to a group who is a numerical minority.
There are logical arguments to be made that it is financially and logistically impossible to merely enforce current law and basically deport 13 million people, some of whom have children and other family legally in the country. However, such arguments do not amount to anything less than pragmatic or principled restraint of the US government's rights/duties. If America, for reasons of public policy, should not deport them all and let God sort them out that does not amount to any rights for those in the country in violation of immigration law.
Generally speaking, I could support some manner of comprehensive immigration proposal if the price was right. However, people like me are less inclined to do so when a bunch of illegal immigrants make themselves the issue (and distracting the public from the debate on potential realistic solutions) by protesting on international Commie day. As I said last year... FIRE THE ACTIVISTS ORGANIZING YOUR CAUSE. Sixty years ago protesting on May Day might have brought down upon you reprisals far worse than being discovered as an illegal alien.
First thing's first. Why the Hell would a group, trying to gain mainstream acceptance and benefits from the rest of American society, choose the high holy day in the communist calendar for annual rallies? Maybe many Americans do not remember what May Day is or ignore the connection, but twice in a row the "immigrant rights" people have chosen the day of international communist workers as the time for their marches. Since when has America been kind to Communists? At best a poor strategy or, more likely, an incite into the radical thinking of the organizers.
I found the cited article above as a link from the Drudge Report. The various protesters quoted in the article speak about immigrants being treated "as less than human is a travesty," and about how "Things are getting worse for our people - more discrimination, less benefits," and "It's OK for government to enforce the law but they have to give us a chance." Of these three quotes I grabbed from the article, at least #2 is honest and a reasonable interpretation of events since last May Day.
First, how are illegal immigrants being treated as less than human? I presume that the comment comes from the opinion that being forced to live underground lives, not being part of all government programs, possibly being deported if found, etc. constitutes sub-human treatment. A human who commits murder can be incarcerated for life or executed. Obviously those guilty of entering the country illegally and likely subsequent fraud (fake documents to work, etc.) are nowhere near murder, but the theory that certain freedoms/economic assistance/ways of life are inherent human rights ignores that 1) such rights can be denied when a person violates a law and 2) economic privilege is not a fundamental human right. The standard of living provided by even a meager existence in the United States is superior to their existence in their home countries. Hence, the mass exodus to the United States. If living the way many do now is a fundamental right of humanity than everyone in the entire world who makes less than $10,000 a year should be protesting because they are being treated as "less than human".
The guy from the third quote appears to be grasping at a compromise quote. If it is okay for government to enforce the law than the conversation ends there. Immigration law in the US is clear, legal, and has not substantially changed much recently. America even wiped the slate clean in 1986 with amnesty as part of a broader immigration reform package. The 13 million illegal immigrants in the country today have all entered since 1986. 13 million in 20 years is a fast pace.
Quote #2, as I mentioned is the most honest. The person, a social worker born in Mexico, was looking at the world from a purely racial/national perspective and considered "her people" as illegal immigrants from Latin America and not Americans or all people on the whole. Such a racial definition of who "we" are is the kind of divisive politics that are readily condemned when history talks about the 3rd Reich or the Segregated South. Is it okay when the person is likely an old member of the chicano movement with a picture of Caesar Chavez above her mirror speaking of Hispanics as the "we people"? A white person who ever says "you people" is presumed racist but the minority group saying "our people" is just fine. Another wonderfully perverse and illogical facet of American political discourse. One is allowed to be prejudiced so long as you belong to a group who is a numerical minority.
There are logical arguments to be made that it is financially and logistically impossible to merely enforce current law and basically deport 13 million people, some of whom have children and other family legally in the country. However, such arguments do not amount to anything less than pragmatic or principled restraint of the US government's rights/duties. If America, for reasons of public policy, should not deport them all and let God sort them out that does not amount to any rights for those in the country in violation of immigration law.
Generally speaking, I could support some manner of comprehensive immigration proposal if the price was right. However, people like me are less inclined to do so when a bunch of illegal immigrants make themselves the issue (and distracting the public from the debate on potential realistic solutions) by protesting on international Commie day. As I said last year... FIRE THE ACTIVISTS ORGANIZING YOUR CAUSE. Sixty years ago protesting on May Day might have brought down upon you reprisals far worse than being discovered as an illegal alien.