Tuesday, April 11, 2006
WHO GETS IN ?
The New Colossus, written in 1883 by Emma Lazarus, appears on the pedestal
of the Statue of Liberty:
"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name, Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
SHOULD THE IMAGE OF AMERICA
BE A BEACON OF FREEDOM AND WELCOME
OR A "GO AWAY" WALL BETWEEN OURSELVES AND MEXICO?
As Americans - what is our image to the world? Immigration is one way we present our image. The recent debate on this issue is heating up and Congress is trying to put a new system in place. This is one of the most divisive issues we have today involving so many other issues like race, class, power, wealth, security. I fear the conservatives will win this debate and our image worldwide will suffer more than it has already under the current administration.
At least President Moron's plan allows for Guest Workers. Some of the hard line Republicans are calling for felony charges to be filed against every person caught over here illegally. Our jails and courthouses are overflowing now - can you imagine the clusterf**k it would be if we had millions of new felony offenses added to the docket and our prison systems? Unrealistic and impossible. Time magazine recently did a poll and a large number of Americans support tougher penalties on illegal aliens. It saddens me to hear the rhetoric of the far right on this issue. And frankly, it saddens me to hear some of my fellow American's opinions on this issue. Barely concealed racism and nationalistic behavior. This is how Hitler began turning the tide of public opinion prior to WWII in Germany. It started slowly with a nationalistic viewpoint and spread unchallenged until it was too late to change it.
This brings me to the so called Minutemen project in some of the border states. To read about these border guard groups - check out my the link to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Southern Poverty Law Center was started by a couple of really dedicated folks including famed civil rights attorney, Morris Dees. They are a nationally recognized clearinghouse for information on hate groups. They report that individuals and groups with white supremicist ties are using the border guard projects to promote their racist messages.
I live in the Kansas City Metro area. These issues don't have a day to day effect on me or others in the midwest. Not really..........the worst thing people here can say is that they have to listen to a Spanish speaking option on the phone when they are trying to pay their Sprint bill, or they have to select the "English" option on the ATM machine. Believe it or not, I hear people bitching about that. Well, I have something to say to these people and if you don't want to hear it - leave my blog now !!
GROW UP AND GET OVER IT !!! If the biggest bitch you have in your life is how you have to waste a precious millisecond of your Plaza Shopping time having to hit the button to pick English before you get $200 out of your account to have lunch at The Cheesecake Factory before you go buy your Ann Taylor Loft outfit - then you need a real job. And most of all you need some human compassion and empathy for those less fortunate than you that are just trying to provide a little food and hope for their own families. And not in the form of a slice of Turtle Cheesecake and a size four pink cardigan twin set.
