Keep em in, keep em out, what immigrants!?

My girlfriend’s daughter attended one of the many rallies held across America this last week regarding the various issue around immigration and the Bills addressing it.  She was concerned that we would be angry at her for missing some classes at High School.  My reaction was somewhat bemused – she did not know whether it was a Congressional Bill or a State Bill and mentioned Governor Schwarzenegger.  To her credit, she had gone online the night before and done some research so there may be some hope.  I am proud of her having a conscience at the age of 15 (almost 16) as I think back to myself at that edge I shudder in realizing I don’t remember having a conscience.  I was 15 in 1975, definitely against the Vietnam War and was/felt betrayed by President Nixon and his cohorts for that war and Watergate.  However, I was also the son of an Air Force pilot with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (who retired in 1973) and was raised somewhat conservatively.

As an aside, I met Henry Kissinger the summer of 2005.  It was not a personal meeting but there he was face to face with a few people and for a few hours.  He could be nice enough if he wished but appeared taciturn and none too friendly.  I heard through very reliable channels that he tends to treat his staff fairly badly (except for the pay I can only imagine).  Imagine treating the people who are tasked with protection badly!  That makes me laugh, foolish boy.  It was a very weird experience to meet the man who consorted with the traitorous Nixon in lying to the world about Cambodia and who was linked to the right wing military coup in Chile and everything else on the historical record.  He won’t travel to a lot of countries because he is afraid of being arrested for war crimes.

I digress though.  I told her that we were not angry but from now on to speak with us first before just unilaterally deciding to attend a protest.  I also told her that I was proud she had a conscience and that she was willing to accept whatever consequences may exist regarding her not attending (or ‘cutting’) classes.

This was a tremendous opportunity, opening the door for a discussion about what immigration is and to examine our own attitudes toward immigrants and people different from ourselves.  I admit great ignorance about the different immigration bills but let me state that like it or not, immigrants are here to stay, legal or illegally.  Many Americans are descended from immigrants.  How they enter the country and what benefits they receive should be up for debate but not their right to stay, live, eventually vote and receive the benefits of health care.  Many contribute so much to this country and they should benefit if they are participatory members of this society.

I passionately reject the racist radical Minutemen who take it upon themselves to patrol the border and assist the border patrol.  At the same time, I would strengthen the Border Patrol significantly with more personnel, equipment, training and an eye toward safety.  I embrace a workers program (similar to the ‘Bracero’ [?] program during the 1940’s – 60’s).  Let’s face it people, if all the workers were deported we would have a labor shortage on our hand quickly and all those strawberries, fruit and lettuce we eat would be in short supply.  It is very true that immigrants work in jobs that most Americans would not take . . . I would not work in the fields for 10 hours exposed to pesticides, sometimes abusive bosses and live in miserable conditions.  

This touches upon much larger issues.  Americans have one of the highest living standards in the world that has long been known to be unsustainable.  Another issue is that the world population is skyrocketing and there are (and will be) too many people on the planet so resources will become increasingly strained and scarcer.  We can only compensate so much with technology (and for the Americans that is our greatest weakness – unbending faith in technology).  No wonder the poor Norte Americanos feel so threatened.  Pigs at the trough want everything they can get.

Nothing like ending on a happy note!

Veronica are you still out there . . . .