2006-03-26
immigration
Perhaps you think the Creator sent you here to dispose of us as you see fit.
If I thought you were sent by the Creator I might be induced to think you had a right to dispose of me.
Do not misunderstand me
But understand me fully with reference to the land
I never said the land was mine to do with as I choose
The one who has the right to dispose of it is the one who created it.
I claim a right to live on my land
And accord you the privilege to return to yours.
Chief Joseph, Nez Perce nation, late 1800s, in a speech to representatives from Washington DC
It should come as no surprise that the self-important dorks in Washington, DC are arrogant enough to put the screws to immigrants. Although since so many of these self-serving malcontents have short memories [and, no doubt, equally short pedeigrees when it comes to how many centuries their ancestors actually lived on this continent] I find it, hopefully, instructive for them to once again hear or see these words from Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph.
So when the Republican from Wisconson, Rep. James Sensenbrenner came up with a bill that makes 11 million undocumented dishwashers and nannies "aggravated criminal felons" and turns priests and nurses into criminals for "aiding and abetting" the undocumented. But there may very well be a reason for the suddent outcry against immigration; the voter may be more politically savvy on the gay marriage issue as a political wedge, so the raving hyenas from D.C. have to come up with some new bogeyman. Illegal [hell... even legal] Immigrants.
Joshua Hoyt is even more passionate about the cruel absurdity of HR4437, noting that Sensenbrenner is not alone in his no very crypto-racist hubris. In fact, none other than "...Illinois Congressman and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert made a decision last fall to use "illegal immigration" as the Republican Party's next emotionally charged wedge issue. The political calculation is that the resentment and latent racism felt towards our new Mexican neighbors can be demagogued for political advantage this year, dividing the Democrats and keeping the House of Representatives in Republican hands. Other political opportunists across the nation, including perennial candidate Jim Oberweis in Illinois, have piled on. If "gay marriage" worked in 2004, then why not "illegals" in '06?
Personally, I find it heartening to see an outpouring of protest from the populous and diverse immigrant community, in Chicago, Illinois [a state named after native peoples], Los Angeles [isn't that a Spanish name?], Milwaukee, Wisconsin [also named after native peoples, not white men], as well as in Trenton New Jersey, Providence Rhode Island; Atlanta Georgia, Kansas City, Missouri; Phoenix Arizona and elsewhere.
Of course, since migration of peoples, particularly oppressed, disenfranchised or disadvantaged peoples, is something that I believe ought to be encouraged, you might consider me biased. But I firmly believe that the cross-fertilization of cultures ultimately has a positive effect and impact on all of us, an unexpected bonus from mixing races and cultures.
And since the pea-brained, opportunistic boors [including, but not limited to the usual suspects like Tom Delay, Dennis Hastert and other well known Bushco syncophants, but also lesser known bigots such Colorado's Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) and the Senator from Arizona Jon Kyl (R)] that are running things in this nation right now are not likely to return from whence they came, the need for people to rise up and protest is paramount.
This isn't over yet. Rethuglican businessmen who think they can have it both ways [i.e. hire illegales at below legal wages and no benefits while grandstanding against wetbacks coming across borders to work] need to wake up and be chastised. This isn't about terrorism or stealing jobs or people who can't speak english on the telemarketing or tech support lines. This is about greed of the privileged, callously foisting blame for social problems they create on others who are rarely in a place to contest their lies.
True, there's the additional problems caused by fringe group know-nothings like the Minutemen or outright racist pigs, but if those assigned to shepard the nation through difficult times keep failing to be leaders rather than self-interested, narrow sighted porcine grunters, then we can hardly expect those bigot fringe groups to recognizing that their race-based anger is misapplied.
This has me obviously somewhat inarticulate, but disgusted enough to post this both at Blogspot and LiveJournal at the same time.
Perhaps you think the Creator sent you here to dispose of us as you see fit.If I thought you were sent by the Creator I might be induced to think you had a right to dispose of me.
Do not misunderstand me
But understand me fully with reference to the land
I never said the land was mine to do with as I choose
The one who has the right to dispose of it is the one who created it.
I claim a right to live on my land
And accord you the privilege to return to yours.
Chief Joseph, Nez Perce nation, late 1800s, in a speech to representatives from Washington DC
It should come as no surprise that the self-important dorks in Washington, DC are arrogant enough to put the screws to immigrants. Although since so many of these self-serving malcontents have short memories [and, no doubt, equally short pedeigrees when it comes to how many centuries their ancestors actually lived on this continent] I find it, hopefully, instructive for them to once again hear or see these words from Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph.
So when the Republican from Wisconson, Rep. James Sensenbrenner came up with a bill that makes 11 million undocumented dishwashers and nannies "aggravated criminal felons" and turns priests and nurses into criminals for "aiding and abetting" the undocumented. But there may very well be a reason for the suddent outcry against immigration; the voter may be more politically savvy on the gay marriage issue as a political wedge, so the raving hyenas from D.C. have to come up with some new bogeyman. Illegal [hell... even legal] Immigrants.
Joshua Hoyt is even more passionate about the cruel absurdity of HR4437, noting that Sensenbrenner is not alone in his no very crypto-racist hubris. In fact, none other than "...Illinois Congressman and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert made a decision last fall to use "illegal immigration" as the Republican Party's next emotionally charged wedge issue. The political calculation is that the resentment and latent racism felt towards our new Mexican neighbors can be demagogued for political advantage this year, dividing the Democrats and keeping the House of Representatives in Republican hands. Other political opportunists across the nation, including perennial candidate Jim Oberweis in Illinois, have piled on. If "gay marriage" worked in 2004, then why not "illegals" in '06?Personally, I find it heartening to see an outpouring of protest from the populous and diverse immigrant community, in Chicago, Illinois [a state named after native peoples], Los Angeles [isn't that a Spanish name?], Milwaukee, Wisconsin [also named after native peoples, not white men], as well as in Trenton New Jersey, Providence Rhode Island; Atlanta Georgia, Kansas City, Missouri; Phoenix Arizona and elsewhere.
Of course, since migration of peoples, particularly oppressed, disenfranchised or disadvantaged peoples, is something that I believe ought to be encouraged, you might consider me biased. But I firmly believe that the cross-fertilization of cultures ultimately has a positive effect and impact on all of us, an unexpected bonus from mixing races and cultures.
And since the pea-brained, opportunistic boors [including, but not limited to the usual suspects like Tom Delay, Dennis Hastert and other well known Bushco syncophants, but also lesser known bigots such Colorado's Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) and the Senator from Arizona Jon Kyl (R)] that are running things in this nation right now are not likely to return from whence they came, the need for people to rise up and protest is paramount.
This isn't over yet. Rethuglican businessmen who think they can have it both ways [i.e. hire illegales at below legal wages and no benefits while grandstanding against wetbacks coming across borders to work] need to wake up and be chastised. This isn't about terrorism or stealing jobs or people who can't speak english on the telemarketing or tech support lines. This is about greed of the privileged, callously foisting blame for social problems they create on others who are rarely in a place to contest their lies.
True, there's the additional problems caused by fringe group know-nothings like the Minutemen or outright racist pigs, but if those assigned to shepard the nation through difficult times keep failing to be leaders rather than self-interested, narrow sighted porcine grunters, then we can hardly expect those bigot fringe groups to recognizing that their race-based anger is misapplied.
This has me obviously somewhat inarticulate, but disgusted enough to post this both at Blogspot and LiveJournal at the same time.
PIX CREDITS: First People for the Chief Joseph image and Chicago Indy Media for the demonstration march | OBSERVATION: Representative Sensenbrenner has a particularly personally opportunistic bent to his support of legislation. While he pushed the xenophobic document that was HR 4437, at other times he's promoted increasing quotas for immigrant labor in high-tech industries, weakening the USA labor movement and he co-sponsored constitutional amendment to deny citizenship to babies of illegal aliens [didn't pass, but the thought was there] FOR MORE DETAIL: Stop by Pam Spaulding's site, where she sakes the question: Immigration vs Invasion |
Labels: Amerindians, immigration, protest, social justice
¶ 22:14
Comments:
<< Home
Whenever one of these yoyos gets started (I was once told by a Southern racist that I just didn't have deep enough roots in America to understand the true nature of our traditions), I remember my grandfather coming here from Italy, making a life.
Who am I to deny that right to others?
Post a Comment
Who am I to deny that right to others?
<< Home
