I drove past yesterday's anti-Mexican rally in Kansas City and I saw around 200 people gathered around the J.C. Nichols Fountain in Mill Creek Park. Channel 9 counted 400 protestors but I think they were including the joggers. Anyway, that's about one tenth of the people who showed up for just one of the immigrants rights rallies held recently.
To be fair, everyone at Mill Creek yesterday was white, looked to be affluent and probably was able to vote so that definitely gives them an edge but the crowd seemed just about the same size as the protests against the war in Iraq that everybody in KC ignores.
Actually, this was kind of encouraging. First of all it tells me that Spanish language radio has a lot more power than I realized and that nobody listens to Jerry Agar. Also, it seems that it's harder to spread hate on the street than I had originally thought. Anti-Mexican rhetoric and one-sided reporting is easy to tune into in the privacy of your own home, in your car and, of course, on the Internet . . . But it's another thing to identify yourself with that kind of mean spiritedness and reactionary thinking in public. Also, I'm guessing that people had a few things better to do than try to ensure that the price of a cheeseburger is raised to $10 on such a nice afternoon.
Finally, I would love nothing more than a 2,000 mile wall at the Southern Border because I always thought there should be a monument to American xenophobia and a sign to indicate that when it comes to brown people, this country has learned nothing from the Chinese or the people who once lived with the Berlin Wall.
It was amusing last night watching these people interviewed on TV. Every person they spoke to threw in a nervous "Now I'm not racist, but..." or "I love Mexicans, but..."
ReplyDeleteTony, so so glad you referenced the Berlin Wall. That was exactly my thought as I saw Kris "KKK" Kobach screaming in all his Aryan-Supreme glory on the news last night. No one else is saying it, though: If there's a wall to keep them out, it can also be used to keep us in.
ReplyDeleteGod, I love the bias and word spin you use, "anti-Mexican"? Bwwwaaa ha ha ha I love how you pretend to hate the Right, but you are using the same damn tactics they use. So according to the bullshit way you spin words and people's views, those of us who are against the war are anti-American, right? Childish, son, childish.
ReplyDeleteI'll be back with response around one, breaking this bullshit down, piece by piece.
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ReplyDeleteAren't we all created equal?
ReplyDeletedid you know -
ReplyDeleteagar's a canadian, here on a green card?
Your point? He did it LEGALLY, you idiot...That's the premise of what he's arguing, doing it LEGALLY. It has nothing to do with being "anti-Mexican". I swear, Tony and those of you that swing from his sack must be missing the part of your brain that deals with simple logic and comprehension.
ReplyDeletebaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteLou Dobbs would cover a monkey who used sign language if it had something bad to convey about Mexicans. Funny he didn't have as many probing questions for CEO's before the crash of 2000.
ReplyDeleteI was there, I saw 200 white people who all probably had more money and influence than I yet they still seemed scared. Unfair (like life) that Mexicans are the ones paying for the war against terror. I know it's easy to get your brown people confused.
For well over 100 years, people have been coming to America, and they mostly entered legally! They were 'processed'. Why? To check for diseases, to check their background, and to insure they would be productive in our society, and not a burden (as in social welfare recipient, etc). Once they went through the appropriate steps and showed that they were useful to the rest, they were given the opportunity to become citizens, and to deny their allegiance to their former country. Like it or not, if one is going to ask to become a citizen of this country, one better be willing to forsake the other.
ReplyDeleteThere were also limits to how many people were allowed to enter at a time. Again, this was to promote immigration in an orderly and positive fashion. It also enabled those 'new' immigrants interested in partaking of this country's benefits and opportunities, to learn enough about the history and ideals of it to assimilate into this culture and not to attempt to form a sub-society within it.
These reasons were and still are common sense to anyone with half a brain, and are why a people group will not be allowed to illegally shove their way into our country, hide within it's society, and then demand to be allowed to become instant citizens at a time of their choosing. This is the real injustice. These people were not cleared. They were not screened, and they only showed right off that they were willing to break our laws, as long as it benefited them.
It also shows utter and complete disrespect for the current citizens of this country, the citizens who once were immigrants and took the high and legal road to citizenship, and those who gave their lives in the cost of freedom for this country. We who were born here, without a doubt will not stand idly by and allow such a highjacking of our country. Those who insist on demanding what is not rightfully and lawfully there's, instead of asking for the privilege in an orderly and humble fashion, will face the fury of the rest of this country. We will not allow this to happen. Be assured that the more we are pressed, the tougher the response will be.
In addition, those politicians who show an inability to hold to a strong and courageous position on this issue will find themselves the victims of political war when their term is up. They will be replaced.
This is a great country. It is only great because we have certain laws and rules that guide us, and allow us to take part in the opportunities available. It is only great because immigrants throughout it's history have come here offering to be part of America, to become an proud American, respectful and allegiant to this country, knowing that English is the language of this country, and they have mostly come here within the legal process. This will continue, undoughtedly. The only thing that the selfish, disrespectful and abhorrent protest will do is to drive a wedge further between these people and the rest of this country.
Let us see a backing down of 'demands', and a desire to become a true American, the legal way, and we will be glad to accept all those who take part in the process. The humble approach, showing respect and appreciation for the priviledge will result in a better outcome, than is currently underway.
As always, thanks for the comments. However, John T, I simply disagree with your sentiments.
ReplyDelete"they mostly entered legally!"
If you examine the history of immigration policy you'll discover that it's basically a history of racism dating back to when people brought slaves over here. Also, a guy standing at the end of a dock with a clipboard is a far cry from helicopters with night vision and all terrain vehicles.
"allow such a highjacking of our country"
Again, this is another misconception. I'm always amazed people have such a strong objection to brown people, tacos and a bit of music.
"respectful and allegiant to this country, knowing that English is the language of this country"
Again, this is a misconception. Mexicans by and large are respectful and allegiant to this country and many of them have fought and died for this country throughout the years. Please refer to the GI Forum and their documentation of the numerous contributions of Mexicans and people of Mexican decent to the military of this country. And, you obviously don't know many immigrants because Mexicans in general are very adamant about learning English and having their children learn English. In fact, it's only the liberal contingent of this country which promotes the multi-lingual garbage that has seeped into the public education system.
"Let us see a backing down of 'demands', and a desire to become a true American"
Non-violent protest is not a "demand." I'd call it more of a plea. What is a "true" American? And why is none of your screed directed at the many "true" Americans who employ and benefit from the cheap labor supplied by the so-called "illegals" whose presence here might be legally sanctioned but still remains a "de facto" and integral part of American life and this economy.
There's nothing wrong with people striving for a better life; however, this country has laws that are being broken. You can't expect to break the law by "sneakig" into the U.S. illegally. How can a country protect itself if it can't protect it's borders? The actual definitive truth is not one of racism but law. What about the immigrants who go through the legal motions? You can't illegally enter the U.S. and expect amnesty. How about giving amnesty to first time DWI offenders? Yes, they knew it was wrong, but we need them in our economy, and to run it right George(Bush)? Or a more practical offense. Give amnesty to all first time offenders that get caught speeding under 15 miles over the designated speed limit. I can only say there isn't a gray area on the debate. There's law and breaking the law. It's that simple.
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