My girlfriend and I were having a conversation last night about the Rhode Island immigration fiasco and its bigoted policies being the newest obsession for the state’s policy makers. Her being a Latina Puerto Rican she asked me if I would be as observant of immigration policies if I weren’t a Chicano. After I answered, she benignly stated that Mexican immigration is not a real issue in terms of Puerto Ricans and therefore couldn’t empathize. I then thought to myself for the first time, that in reality, and this is just a deduction and I commit myself to any correction, it is probably in the best interest of most Puerto Ricans to try to implement stricter immigration policies towards Mexicano migrant workers. They are already able to enjoy the fruits of American citizenship and able to benefit from the additional spending, in one way or another, that stricter immigration policies, they believe, may perpetuate.

This is not to say that it didn’t concern her on a moral level though, and I am writing as objectively as possible. She just wasn’t able to relate to it the way that that I could. I myself am not a product of illegal immigration nor does the issue have much to do with me or my family. Even though, my grandfather was a migrant worker, except that in his time there were no “illegal” migrant workers. I am sure that this has a bearing on my ideas even though, it seems, that I am not wholly aware of its implications. Yet, in spite of this, I still find myself being inherently interested with the welfare of migrant workers. Why? Because I am a Chicano, and therefore “By default am concerned with eradicating the defamed image the U.S. has conjured up for Mexicanos and Chicanos and aim to demonstrate their many strengths that fortify our country’s foundations.”

It struck me as interesting that other Latinos do not look upon the immigration dilemma in the same context as Mexicanos and Chicanos. My inconsistent ignorance of the idea of the “Latino” being anything but a monolithic culture seemed to get the best of me, again. I digress.

I engaged in our conversation after watching the “Great Debaters” wherein the movie stresses racial equality not being solely a legal responsibility but an unstated universalist moral one piggybacking on basic human rights.

This idea conflated with my Borricua girlfriend’s attitude towards Mexicano immigration made me contemplate. How is it that morality stops at the FRIGGING BORDER in this country!!?

Then I got to thinking about the idea of human trafficking in Asia, then about genocide and famine in Darfur, then to the oppressed Kurds in Turkey and Iraq. The list went on. I pondered why I seemed so concerned with the well being of Mexican migrant workers rather than those whose lives are being threatened by the mere idea of their existence? I am not comparing problems nor am I saying that one is worse than the other I was just trying to empathize with my significant other.

The end result of this attempt is the realization that one must choose their battles. By this I mean that it is my unwillingness to accept that the current state of affairs with the world’s so-called superpower, the country I call my home. In terms of the horrible legislation passed in Rhode Island; it is an underlying sick feeling in my belly, a tear in my eye and thought in my head saying “God damnit I know as the world’s superpower, as the world’s example of democracy, we can do better than this, exponentially!” This is my battle and this is where I choose to fight it.

And after, I will move on to help other oppressed peoples. Yet for now I choose to eat on my plate the already hefty amount of problems that I have close to home. I am the one helping to expose it and I am the one that keeps if from sinking into obscurity

Mekishikojinsama (The Honorable Mexican in Japanese)

http://thewildwildleft.soapblox.net/showDiary.do?diaryId=503#3677

Sheer laziness has me crossing my response there as well:

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I have benn bashing heads with people on Immigration for so very long now.

It was hard enough trying to convince other white people, even when they refuse to see the obvious: We are the alien presence here.

It was harder yet to convince black people I knew, for they were not immigrants by choice, and their history of oppression here makes them cling strongly to any perceived competition for jobs.

It is nearly impossible to convince some of my Ojibwa and Lakota friends, for what little pride their genocide has left them with makes them jealously disparage their relatives south of this imagined border. (To which I have answered to one, “You’re part English, they’re part Spanish… explain the difference to me again. I’m part Polish, explain it slowwwwwly!” which got me point across and an elbow in the ribs.)

White privilege has too long blinded those who have been here generationally, yet those of us with recently immigrated parents (my father from Poland, my Irish mother from Canada, 3 generations removed from Ireland) may see it more clearly from the abuses they took.

I believe this issue, the trumped-up danger (eyeroll) of immigration is meant purely to distract us from the Conquest of the World by the Permanent Oppressors of the Wealthy Class: The Elites.

But as always, when they seek to divide us, the bloodshed and horrors are real.

I wonder also, had the Norte’ Americanos absorbed some of the Native Cultures we had when we invaded here, rather than obliterate them, if we were more one People, would our Policies still reflect the Manifest Destiny of the First Invaders yet today?

I digress.

Until we realize the simplicity of man: Mitakye Oyasin, We are all Related, humanity is a failed experiment.

I bleed for every thirsty long walker trying to feed his or her family. I feel for everyone who is shamed for using their native tongue, belittled for thinking in their own language and having to translate to the IMPOSED language of this Country… only to be ridiculed for how “stupid” they are for their poor English, as my grandparents were.

Yes, we need to all be able to communicate; but it should be with compassion and love, not derision and hate.

Most of all, we Human Beings need to stop letting all the resources be in the hands of the few while our brothers and sisters go hungry.

Every oppression that happens on this Earth happens not only TO YOU, my friends, happens in your name until you speak against it, stop it.

thanks.

If you can’t, I will, although I fear I will lose some of the graphics in the process

I am definitely going to blog roll this site and link this article.

In fact, I would be honored if you cross-posted this to my small blog (The Wild Wild Left) just for the sake that it should be read and cross-posted EVERYWHERE.

Everything about the US’s immigration policy is so utterly wrong, my head explodes.

You rock.

Diane G

remember, there are times when candidates can be forced to stake out positions. this is one of those times. and then, it is in the People’s hands how much they push at those candidates to make them honor their promises.

and there are always many ways to enjoin la lucha, all around us. we just have to keep our hearts and eyes open.

stay strong, miranda! we got your back. and we are going to do many things. this is only one.