No Civility in this Disobedience
Here I was, all ready to write about Draw Mohammed Day, and the various ins and outs of why I think we should all participate (even those among us who cannot draw) and then news hit: an "immigration reform" rally had disrupted life in downtown Seattle.
I have probably written and cast aside half-a-dozen blog bits pertaining to illegal immigration, the May Day protests, the Arizona law and adjacent topics. And now I'm going to put one down for keeps.
The big problem I have is that it seems that there won't be any rational debate. Those who approve of the law (and that's a majority and steadily growing number, mind) are stonewalled by those who don't. The opponents bring with them cries of "racism!" "profiling!" and other demonization and name calling. And after that, we get rioting and temper tantrums.
I actually don't mind all of the shenanigans from the anti- crowd, because it exposes them for who they are and what they stand for. They blocked an entrance to a federal immigration courthouse and an ICE office. They blocked traffic on several downtown streets. They marched for a few blocks and no one was arrested as Seattle police watched.
Do you think they had permits for any of that? I surely don't. Local media called it "civil disobedience," but I saw nothing like what MLK or Rosa Parks did for what they believe. No arrests even though the protestors surely should have been, and I bet they would have loved it. Instead, a bunch of petulant whiners got in the way of people and chanted their slogans and so on.
In fact, there's a great parallel between their cause and what happened today. The protestors paid no heed to the laws because to do so would mean that they couldn't protest. And they're backing people who pay no heed to the laws because to do so would mean they'd have to go home and enter the country the correct way, and not make suckers out of law abiding immigrants! How about that!
Earlier this week, the Seattle City Council passed the most toothless and empty boycott by a 7-0count. The city would do no new business with the state of Arizona, and wouldn't send city officials down there to conventions and stuff, unless it was a real emergency. But you better believe that they're going to hang on to the contract that they have for the red light cameras that catch people around the city. And the company that makes those cameras, that splits the money 50-50 with Seattle? They're based in...Scottsdale, Arizona! How about that. But that's not even the worst bit. The City of Seattle, by their Useless and Grandiose Gesture, basically said "We identify more with the plight of the illegal immigrant than we do with our own citizens". That's just terribly, terribly sad.
All the while, the folks at OneAmerica and similar activist organizations are trying to blur the distinction, to turn "illegal immigrant" into "undocumented worker." When they caterwaul for "comprehensive immigration reform," mentally transpose that with "complete and total amnesty," because that's what they want. They want the millions of illegal immigrants to magically become citizens of the United States, just like you and me, and just like all of the suckers who went through the line and filled out the papers and did things properly. Want to be a citizen? Do things right.
But the anti- crowd would not listen to reason! They wore shirts bearing the legend "Don't Deport Our Families!" I was not aware that just because one person in the family was deported that everyone else, including those cute photogenic kids who tug at the heart strings, has to follow them. What about Jose Madrigal? He was deported four times (four times, I tells ya!) and was arrested a couple of nights ago after raping a woman outside an Edmonds Safeway. Sure, he's probably someone's family, but I'm not terribly concerned about their plight if Jose is told to please leave and never come back. And the subject in the Worst Case of Police Brutality in Western Civilization? He wasn't exactly blameless himself, but one of the guys who was eventually apprehended for the robbery for which the police were called? He's wanted on...you betcha!...immigration charges! But hey, Seattle City Council cares more about machete wielding robbers and sexual predators
So today, Mexican President Felipe Calderon came to the White House, and basically said "Could you please tell those racists in Arizona to cool it with this law thing?" And why shouldn't he? He gets to rid himself of poverty, crime and all sorts of bad stuff and foist it off on us, of COURSE he's going to oppose a crackdown on illegal immigration. What I don't quite understand is the warm reception he got by the Congressional delegation. Every single representative that stood and applauded while Calderon slapped us in the face also slapped the country. They choose lawlessness over right. They choose those who do wrong over the citizens of our country and the immigrants who did it right. Sadly, I didn't hear any booing or catcalling from the chamber.
It seems that all we hear from our public officials is that defending our borders and (gasp!) enforcing immigration law equals racism and profiling. But every Sanctuary City, every blind eye by government is a choice they make to say "Arizona? You want to send us your illegals who will do bad things in our area? Why yes, we will happily take those people off your hands for you! Send for them right away!" instead of protecting the people that they're supposed to.
Besides the fact that the Arizona law is constitutional and merely reinforces our federal law just at a state level, it forces Americans to deal with the issue in a real way. This is a really good thing. We can't just sweep the idea under a rug and not just plug our ears and sing a happy tune. We are going to directly deal with the consequences of what our elected officials decide. Find and read the law. It is about 20 pages double spaced, and will be a well-spent hour. When someone trots out a canard like "walking while Mexican" or "papers, please!" you can dismiss the myrmidon with a wave of your hand and set him or her straight.
The more people hear, the more people like how Arizona is dealing with immigration. And the more that groups protest, the more they're going to hear about it. So carry on, OneAmerica! You're doing all the heavy lifting for me, and I don't mind a bit.
I have probably written and cast aside half-a-dozen blog bits pertaining to illegal immigration, the May Day protests, the Arizona law and adjacent topics. And now I'm going to put one down for keeps.
The big problem I have is that it seems that there won't be any rational debate. Those who approve of the law (and that's a majority and steadily growing number, mind) are stonewalled by those who don't. The opponents bring with them cries of "racism!" "profiling!" and other demonization and name calling. And after that, we get rioting and temper tantrums.
I actually don't mind all of the shenanigans from the anti- crowd, because it exposes them for who they are and what they stand for. They blocked an entrance to a federal immigration courthouse and an ICE office. They blocked traffic on several downtown streets. They marched for a few blocks and no one was arrested as Seattle police watched.
Do you think they had permits for any of that? I surely don't. Local media called it "civil disobedience," but I saw nothing like what MLK or Rosa Parks did for what they believe. No arrests even though the protestors surely should have been, and I bet they would have loved it. Instead, a bunch of petulant whiners got in the way of people and chanted their slogans and so on.
In fact, there's a great parallel between their cause and what happened today. The protestors paid no heed to the laws because to do so would mean that they couldn't protest. And they're backing people who pay no heed to the laws because to do so would mean they'd have to go home and enter the country the correct way, and not make suckers out of law abiding immigrants! How about that!
Earlier this week, the Seattle City Council passed the most toothless and empty boycott by a 7-0count. The city would do no new business with the state of Arizona, and wouldn't send city officials down there to conventions and stuff, unless it was a real emergency. But you better believe that they're going to hang on to the contract that they have for the red light cameras that catch people around the city. And the company that makes those cameras, that splits the money 50-50 with Seattle? They're based in...Scottsdale, Arizona! How about that. But that's not even the worst bit. The City of Seattle, by their Useless and Grandiose Gesture, basically said "We identify more with the plight of the illegal immigrant than we do with our own citizens". That's just terribly, terribly sad.
All the while, the folks at OneAmerica and similar activist organizations are trying to blur the distinction, to turn "illegal immigrant" into "undocumented worker." When they caterwaul for "comprehensive immigration reform," mentally transpose that with "complete and total amnesty," because that's what they want. They want the millions of illegal immigrants to magically become citizens of the United States, just like you and me, and just like all of the suckers who went through the line and filled out the papers and did things properly. Want to be a citizen? Do things right.
But the anti- crowd would not listen to reason! They wore shirts bearing the legend "Don't Deport Our Families!" I was not aware that just because one person in the family was deported that everyone else, including those cute photogenic kids who tug at the heart strings, has to follow them. What about Jose Madrigal? He was deported four times (four times, I tells ya!) and was arrested a couple of nights ago after raping a woman outside an Edmonds Safeway. Sure, he's probably someone's family, but I'm not terribly concerned about their plight if Jose is told to please leave and never come back. And the subject in the Worst Case of Police Brutality in Western Civilization? He wasn't exactly blameless himself, but one of the guys who was eventually apprehended for the robbery for which the police were called? He's wanted on...you betcha!...immigration charges! But hey, Seattle City Council cares more about machete wielding robbers and sexual predators
So today, Mexican President Felipe Calderon came to the White House, and basically said "Could you please tell those racists in Arizona to cool it with this law thing?" And why shouldn't he? He gets to rid himself of poverty, crime and all sorts of bad stuff and foist it off on us, of COURSE he's going to oppose a crackdown on illegal immigration. What I don't quite understand is the warm reception he got by the Congressional delegation. Every single representative that stood and applauded while Calderon slapped us in the face also slapped the country. They choose lawlessness over right. They choose those who do wrong over the citizens of our country and the immigrants who did it right. Sadly, I didn't hear any booing or catcalling from the chamber.
It seems that all we hear from our public officials is that defending our borders and (gasp!) enforcing immigration law equals racism and profiling. But every Sanctuary City, every blind eye by government is a choice they make to say "Arizona? You want to send us your illegals who will do bad things in our area? Why yes, we will happily take those people off your hands for you! Send for them right away!" instead of protecting the people that they're supposed to.
Besides the fact that the Arizona law is constitutional and merely reinforces our federal law just at a state level, it forces Americans to deal with the issue in a real way. This is a really good thing. We can't just sweep the idea under a rug and not just plug our ears and sing a happy tune. We are going to directly deal with the consequences of what our elected officials decide. Find and read the law. It is about 20 pages double spaced, and will be a well-spent hour. When someone trots out a canard like "walking while Mexican" or "papers, please!" you can dismiss the myrmidon with a wave of your hand and set him or her straight.
The more people hear, the more people like how Arizona is dealing with immigration. And the more that groups protest, the more they're going to hear about it. So carry on, OneAmerica! You're doing all the heavy lifting for me, and I don't mind a bit.