Friday, June 22, 2007

Immigration is hard work

Expect to hear more about the 1965 Immigration Act in the weeks to come, as the right revs up to full indignation mode over the influx of non-white people crossing our borders. Lloyd Billingsley at the execrable Front Page is worried that brown people will demand to be treated fairly, and that just ain't right.

Why all the fuss? Here's a little background.

The Immigration Act of 1965 essentially repealed the immigration act of 1924. The '65 law had the support of Dems and Republicans.


The 1924 Immigration Act was a product of its time - namely, it was racist. It excluded certain ethnic groups, especially Chinese. America was all freaked out about communism in 1924, and KKK 2.0 had been recently rolled out as a user friendly Christian organization that attracted millions of white people. So naturally Congress gave America the immigration act it wanted.

But the issue today is illegal immigration. The 1965 act set quotas on legal immigration. But that's how the right argues. It conflates one thing with another. So Al Qaeda is the same as Shiites, and illegal border crossers are the same as foreigners with green cards.

As far as I can tell, critics of the 1965 act are upset because it lets in too many brown people. This is very upsetting to Republicans who think the US is meant to look like the cast of a Frank Capra movie. But the really cool part about America is that every nationality has contributed something to our culture. I challenge you to go one day without brushing against something that was brought to our shores by a non-white ethnic group. Jazz, margaritas, sushi, hummus, Pokemon, peanut butter, canoes, kung fu all vie for our time and dollars in the great American marketplace.

Immigrant fears and American xenophobia are nothing knew. Virtually every immigrant group suffered the wrath of ignoramuses at some point in the long American experience. Even the Swedes were abused at some point. How do you make fun of a Swede, for God sakes! "Hey Lars, we don't need your, uh, things that you do around here. Go back."

The Republican right talks a great game when it comes to staying the course in Iraq. The standard answer to every criticism of the war is "Don't be a quitter", and dissent is equated with treason. But the right's patriotic mettle turns to limp rigatoni when the issue is non-white people living here. Suddenly the knuckledragging wantwits who make up Bush's base turn white with fear, and dishonor 200 years of immigration history. "Oh no, immigration is hard work!"

We can't have that now, can we?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

We are a nation of Americans descended from immigrants, and I for one will always support LEGAL IMMIGRATION, as it is one of the building blocks of our REPUBLIC But I oppose illegal immigration, and giving preferential treatment to illegal immigrants in preference to American citizens. Many illegal immigrants are in this country killing, robbing, raping and even molesting innocent children!Many also bring with them various diseases and overload our social services. Also, many illegal aliens are involved in automobile accidents while under the influence of alcohol. Furthermore, illegal aliens are often given jobs that Americans will gladly do. Groups like LA RAZA AND MALDEF openly hate our nation and our heritage, while their grand plan to RECAPTURE THE TERRITORY WE "stole" from them (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) is under way. There are also Americans of Hispanic descent who are opposed to these illegal invaders as well, as are most LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. I am not in favor of repealing the immigrant act of 1965, but I am in favor of SEALING OUR BORDERS AND STRICTLY ENFORCING THE IMMIGRANT LAWS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT. Yes, the very same laws that are being flouted and ignored by politicians on BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE-REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, in order to placate big business lobbyists who want cheap, illegal labor, and the hispanic radicals who want our borders kept open. In this age of global terrorism, we must seal the borders. The failed attempts to attack Fort Dix, New Jersey and JFK Airport were going to be carried out by terrorists who snuck across the border. There are probably more of these terrorists in our country planning more attacks, which we must stop for the sake of our people. I welcome all LEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND ALWAYS WILL, BUT AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE EARNED. It is NOT an entitlement despite what the politically correct crowd, RINOS and the left-wing believe (No offense, as I surmise you are a Liberal. I am merely a realist). If I am a racist for wanting the immigration laws of my country strongly enforced, then I guess I am a racist. You no doubt disagree with me, which is your right since we reside in a Republic (Not a Democracy), and I respect your opinion, but I beg to differ. Therefore, please do not treat my opinion with disdain and please do not respond in a patronizing manner. Let us agree to disagree agreeably.

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