Therefore, I shall suffice to simply republish last year’s article as a literal expression not only of my frustration with the lack of progress but also of my groundhog determination to continue marching for this just cause:
________________________
Just as blacks marched in the 1960s for civil rights, Hispanics are marching today for immigrant rights. And, just as many non-blacks marched back then in support of black civil rights, today I, a non-Hispanic, march in support of Hispanic immigrant rights. [Although, as a Caribbean native, I am acutely aware that some of my people and illegal immigrants from Europe and Asia stand to benefit from the comprehensive reforms we seek.]
But…just as a few blacks risked undermining the political influence and moral authority of non-violent marches by rioting and spewing bellicose rhetoric, so too will a few Hispanics risk undermining these marches by donning gang paraphernalia and parading defiantly with foreign flags. Therefore, I say let’s march! But please, leave the gangsta attitude and all flags—except old glory (the U.S. flag)—at home!
Meanwhile, the issues involved in this fight for immigrant rights are complex. Indeed, unlike the fight for black civil rights, the solution to the problem of illegal immigration is not just black and white. But, as I lamented in a previous article on this problem:
…given the political grandstanding on both sides of this issue, it’s unlikely that any legislation will be enacted before the November 2006 elections.
Therefore, the political debate on immigration will rage on. But please ignore all of the talk about building fences to seal the border and making felons of people who help illegal immigrants (as some boneheaded Republicans want to do). Because such promises only offer comfort to fools.
Finally, I urge my black American friends to march in support of Hispanics to emulate whites who marched in support of blacks during the civil rights movement. See you on the road.…
Si Se Puede!
NOTE: Now that the Democrats have won control of Congress (in part by denying Republicans the ability to take credit for passing comprehensive immigration reform), it will be interesting to see how immigration reform fares on their legislative agenda. But if this Democratic Congress neglects to pass immigration reform this year, one of the organizing principles of our march next year should be clarions call to oust its leaders from power as well.
Related Articles:
My analysis of immigration reform issues
A day without Hispanic boycott 2006
illegal immigration rights
Tami says
I appreciate your views, but being a lawyer you of all people should know the meaning of “illegal” it is a CRIME to be an illegal here in the U.S. We are sick of the illegal’s (mainly Mexicans coming to our country and wanting it changed to suit them. They take our jobs (and yes we are well aware that some say they are the jobs no one else wants) but who do you think did those jobs before they came here and started underbidding us on all the work? WE DID THEM. We won’t do them for the price they do them for, and we don’t live with 8 to 20 people in a house with 4 to 10 working adults splitting the bills and not paying taxes and living on welfare and collecting food stamps while we work our ass off and try to make ends meet. We are denied Welfare and assistance because we have to provide documentation of all money we make (as in tax records and pay stubs). They are working illegally and getting paid under the table and say they live alone and can’t support their growing families and expect and get our government to pay their way. We have no problem with them coming here and doing it legally, working , paying taxes,(they actually say “we pay taxes every time we buy something at the store”) so do we morons, learn the laws and learn what paying taxes means. Why should we have to change our language for them? Does any other country do that? Name one. You can hardly get a job here anymore unless you are bilingual, that’s bull. We have talked to a lot of illegal’s and they don’t want to be legal because then they couldn’t get the benefits that they do now. They work here and send money to Mexico so that they can go back there and retire rich later on, since they are living here free. They pay nothing into our social security and yet they are drawing on it and it is almost bankrupt and those of us who have paid in for years will end up with nothing to retire on and they get rich. I have 4 children and have paid for each one with no help, no welfare or food stamps. When I had my last one we were in hard times and had paid cash for the doctor but needed help with the hospital and was told we didn’t qualify by 4 cents, 4 PENNIES, are you kidding me? But the lady across the street with 6 kids and 7 working adults in the house gets hers all paid for by our welfare and they all drive new vehicles while our newest is a used 1993, they all wear new clothes while mine wear handy me downs, all because we do things the legal way and they don’t. Yeah that’s fair. It will be fair when they cut all illegal’s off welfare and Medicaid and make them work legally and pay taxes like we all have to do.
HARSH YOU SAY??
There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools, no
special ballots for elections, all government business will be conducted in
our language.
Foreigners will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they
are here.
Foreigners will NEVER be able to hold political office.
Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no
food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs.
Foreigners can Invest in this country, but it must be an amount
equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.
If foreigners do come and want to buy land that will be okay, BUT
options will be restricted. You are not allowed waterfront property. That is
reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.
Foreigners may not protest; no demonstrations, no waving a foreign
flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his
policies, if you do you will be sent home.
If you do come to this country illegally, you will be hunted down
and sent straight to jail.
Harsh, you say?……………..
The above laws happen to be the immigration laws of
” MEXICO ” !
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice??????
Think about it!
All we have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS?
I celebrate Christmas………..but because it isn’t celebrated by everyone…………..we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season’s Greetings.
It’s not Christmas vacation, it’s Winter Break. Isn’t it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday?
We’ve gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that.
This says it all!
This is an editorial written by an
American citizen, published in a
Tampa newspaper. He did quite a job; didn’t he? Read on, please!
IMMIGRANTS,
NOT AMERICANS,
MUST ADAPT.
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we
are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,
we have experienced a surge
in patriotism by the majority
of Americans. However…… the dust from the attacks had
barely settled when the “politically correct! ” crowd began complaining about
the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.
I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to ! America.
Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants.
However, there
are a few things that those
who have recently come to
our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.
This idea of America being a
multicultural community
has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans……
we have our own culture, our
own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.
We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language.
Therefore, if you wish to become part
of our society, learn the language!
“In God We Trust” is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan.. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women…….on Christian principles………….
founded this nation….. and this is clearly documented.
It is certainly appropriate to display it
on the walls of our schools.
If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as
your new home………because
God is part of our culture.
If Stars and Stripes offend you, or
you don’t like Uncle Sam, then you
should seriously consider a move
to another part of this planet.
We
are happy with our culture and have
no desire to change, and we really
don’t care how you did things where
you came from.
This is
OUR COUNTRY,
our land, and our lifestyle.
Our First Amendment gives every cit
izen the
right to express his opinion and we
will allow you every opportunity to do so!
But once you are done complaining……. whining…… and griping……. about our flag…….
our pledge…… our national motto……..or our
way of life….I highly encourage you to
take advantage of one other Great American Freedom…….
THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.
It is Time for America to Speak up