October 16, 2007 5:57 AM

Speaking truth to demagogues and lunatics

Visiting Houston, Fox blasts U.S. xenophobia: The former Mexican president is touting his new memoirs in a cross-country trip

“You get the xenophobes trying to influence the debate and take it to their side,” he said in English during a meeting with the Houston Chronicle’s editorial board. “Fear, very unfortunately, is guiding the debate and the decision-making process on immigration. Immigrants are not terrorists, but still many people are dealing with the issue through fear.”

I’m not going to play Pollyanna and pretend that illegal immigration isn’t a problem. It is. I get that. What I cannot understand is why and how so many Right-wing blowhards (chief among them former DUMB@$$E$ Lou Dobbs and Bill O’Reilly) have decided to ride the immigration issue to fame and fortune. Instead of attempting to engage in a reasoned, honest, and forthright debate…which might actually result in some real answers and solutions…these trolls have decided to traffic in xenophobia, emotion, fear, and just plain ignorance. Then again, things are SO much easier to understand when you can divide things into black and white (or, in this case, Brown and White), eh? If one of us is right, then the other must ipso facto be wrong. No grey areas, no compromise. Show no mercy, take no prisoners.

This is all well and good in the athletic arena, but when it comes to trying to find a resolution to the problem of illegal immigration, to say it isn’t nearly that simple doesn’t even scratch the surface. In a perfect world, people would enter this country legally, not overstay their visas, and we would know that the people who are here are the people who belong here and/or we want here, for whatever reason.

The problem with being the most powerful and versatile economy in the world, though, is that a lot of people want their piece of Paradise. And you can’t blame them, really. I was born American, but I recognize that it was only an accident of birth. An American citizen like myself is only special insofar as they are fortunate. That millions have not been so fortunate as to be born American only gives them even more desire and incentive to come here in search of stability and possibility- things not available in much of the world these days.

Most people do come here legally…but what of those who don’t? You know, the ones who collect our garbage, build our houses, tend our gardens, build our roads, and mow our lawns…among other things. Too often, these folks can be identified by the color of their skin. Yes, I speak of the Evil, Dreaded Brown People. They come from Latin America, many risking life and limb for their piece of the American dream. Of course, they’re easy to identify (and demonize) because of their skin color and their resistance to assimilation. They’re not like you and me, and they don’t want to be like you and me…which is what I believe REALLY pisses off the trolls. They come here, take our jobs and our money…and they don’t even bother to become Americanized.

Well, they’re NOT taking our jobs…they’re taking the jobs Americans don’t want and won’t do. As for our money…well, it’s not as if they’re being overpaid by those willing to exploit cheap, illegal labor. And why should they become Americanized when so many hate them so much? Hey, if they were White, would this REALLY be a problem?

As the most prosperous and powerful country in the world, we have a responsibility to try to share the bounty. After all, what’s one of the old Reagan-era Republican bromides? A rising tide lifts all boats? (Wherefore art thou, David Stockman?) To whom much is given, much is and should be expected…but try telling that to Lou Dobbs and Bill O’Reilly.

The debate over illegal immigration will continue chasing it’s tail until and unless we as a nation can stop the propagandizing and the demonizing of the Brown People and begin to look at the root of the problem. Demagoguery will not solve the problem, nor will building a 700-mile-long fence along the Mexican border.

The reality is that the problem of illegal immigration will not be resolved until we take the initiative and decide to work with Mexico and other Central American nations to address the reasons why so many risk their lives to sneak into the US. Until and unless we can find a way to help nations create economic opportunities that will keep people home and families together, poor people will continue to stream north in ever-growing numbers…’cuz Lord knows nobody wants to have to mow their own lawns or weed their own gardens anymore.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Technorati

Technorati search

» Blogs that link here

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on October 16, 2007 5:57 AM.

Another DUMB@$$ AWARD wiener was the previous entry in this blog.

Like attracts like is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Contact Me

Powered by Movable Type 5.12