Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Some Thoughts on Immigration Rally – Denver, CO May 1, 2006
Sorry that this took a few days to post, but sometimes our priorities are not set by us. I continue to think a lot about this immigration issue. There are people I deeply like and respect who are on opposite sides of this, and not because they are racists (Laura Ingraham is funny and smart, and not a racist) or greedy (one friend is a recent immigrant and thinks the current policies just stink). Did Monday’s marches make any difference to my thinking?
I happened to get to witness some of the Denver March for Immigrants on May 1. This was one of the larger and more successful of the marches around the country. So much of this discussion is oriented towards the politics, but before I get there, I want to mention a few observations:
1) Calling it a “Day without Immigrants” is not a good idea. In lower downtown Denver (LoDo to those in the know), I saw a large number of immigrants working – Italians, Hispanics, Asian. It was clear from the looks on their faces, they didn’t like the fact that their contributions don’t matter to anyone, and yet there they are, first or 2nd generation immigrants working their tails off.
2) One of the things that ordinary American do not like is the sense of entitlement. I think this is one of the main reasons why Americans have been increasingly turning their back on the NBA – too many players act as if they are simply owed millions because of their ability. If you want to lose support, demand something, especially something that other are still waiting for (legally) and are doing so without a sense of entitlement.
3) The people I saw at the march were by and large families, younger, and carrying American flags (along with a few Mexican ones), some of which were clearly not bought that day. They seemed to be genuinely proud to be in this country, and I am guessing that at least half of the people there were not illegal immigrants, but legal ones who sniff out in the opposition a nativist element that is, unfortunately, bigoted.
4) This was one of the politest crowds I have been around. They were very careful to disrupt traffic as little as possible, to smile, and to be welcoming. Of course, I was dressed in a white T-shirt (the apparel for the day), so it may have been assumed I was part of the march, and I was carrying baby Xaris. People are always nicer when you have a baby.
5) As talkshow host from L.A. Dennis Prager has mentioned, I was not the least afraid for my safety in this crowd. Yes there are major issues with Mexican gangs. There are also major issues with white gangs, Asian gangs, Black gangs,…you get the picture. From the few folks I talked to, they don’t want to let the unsavory elements from Central America up here either, but that is not who the vast majority of these folks are.
6) The shouting match at the end of the march between anti and pro-illegal immigration put a poor end to the day, and was not indicative of the march in the least.
Having said all that…I still stand by my previous posting (http://www.rovingtheologian.com/index.php/weblog/more/one_theologians_take_on_immigration/_ ) I should add I am not happy with that posting…there is so much more I wanted to say, but didn’t have time to. Someday I may have to improve it. Thomas Friedman, the noted author of The Lexus and the Olive Tree and The World is Flat summed it up best – a tall wall and a wide gate.
The fact is that illegal immigration hurts illegal immigrants. Some do prosper, and I am glad for that. But many are hurt by the lack of legal protections that come with being illegal and what is more, not being legal and thus paying income and social security taxes (yes, some do, but lets be honest, most illegal immigrants do not appear on any payroll and file on April 15th) give truth to the idea of their being a “drain on society” which creates the goodwill that they build with their hard work and other positive contributions.
What is more is that the current system of illegal immigration favours the poor from Central America (especially Mexico) and is prejudiced against those from Africa and Asia that also would like to come to America. I hate to say it, but our current system is bigoted. If we are going to throw open the doors (which I would like to do…but legally and through a secure process), we must and should throw it open to everyone. The only person I have heard bring this up is Bill O’Reilly, the pompous if funny talk host from Fox News. If I am in Ghana or Cambodia, cannot find employment and want a better life for me and my family, I would not be happy with America right now.
Two last notes. First, why don’t we call these people illegal immigrants. Look, I am not being judgemental, but we owe it to the process of calm and cool debate to separate out the issue of legal immigration – from Mexico or Canada or Thailand – from the issue of illegal immigration. Personally, aside from making more slots available for legal immigration (along with some pro-assimiliation requirement to facilitate their citizenship), I and most Americans are not upset over legal immigration. The issue is illegal immigration. Legal immigration helps everyone – the poor, the rich, the worker and the employer. Illegal immigration only helps those business that are taking advantage of a source of below-required labour, without right to civic protection.
The second issue is one that has been coalescing since Monday. All those families and kids. All those American flags. All those smiling faces. The two groups right now pushing for more illegal immigration and amnesty are businesses (see above) and the Democrats. The Democrats see a sea of voters for their side. But, I have been to a lot of Democrat and liberal gatherings. The three things that I have never seen at these gatherings: families and kids, American flags, and smiling face. The Democrats see what happened in California and think it will happen nationally. But in California the Republican party, rightly or wrongly, allowed itself to be cast as anti-immigrant, regardless of legal standing. Duh, no one will trust you after that (much as most African Americans won’t ever trust Republicans after they sidled up to former segregationists like Strom Thurmond).
But on the national level, the Republicans opposed to amnesty are being careful to point the finger at illegality, not at the immigrants. They don’t think that illegal behaviour should ever be rewarded, since it encourages more of that behavior. What is more, the policies of the Republican party tend to be more pro-family (we can argue about things about paid-maternity leave and the like), pro-American (lets be honest, the posterboy of the Democratic Party, Michael Moore, has called American stupid), and angry. Long term, I don’t think that the folks I saw marching on Monday are going to stick with any one party, but are going to go with the party they see as best illustrating their values. The Democrats may get illegals the vote only to rue such a decision with the other 99% of their stands.
I will say that the March for Immigrants on Monday was quite refreshing. Now, if we could only do the obvious: 1) Protect the border 2) Create a pathway for people to come to this country to work and return home to their families 3) Increase the number of legal immigration spots 4) Punish employers who hire illegals knowingly 5) and create a way to make citizens of those here illegally who want to be, but without putting them first in line and rewarding them for their illegal behavior (which, admittedly, I would have done if I was in their place).
