Conquest - round 2

Those that came to and founded what is now The United States of America, came as conquerors and colonists with no desire to share. They had no desire to be recolonized by new-newcomers and bore a nativist attitude that has permeated the culture. In 1587 in Jamestown, Virginia was their first home, but we all know this land already had its people who lost it through war and bloodshed and persecution, which is surprising to me because those early settlers were religious immigrants - Protestants, Puritants, Anglicans and Quakers who were themselves persecuted for their beliefs.

The new immigration trend, though more subtle, is not perceived as any less ominous. As one of my readers posted in a comment on my last blog post, today's immigrants are not coming in and declaring a hostile take over... there is no blood, no war, just a slow and constant flooding of people from other parts of the world establishing their own communities, impregnating this land with their sounds and smells. The current occupants have recognized the influx and reacted, this time with a pen instead of a sword. Will this finally determine whether the pen is mightier than the sword? That is yet to be seen.

In 1924 the Immigration Act established quotas for "undesirable" immigrants. Today's immigration laws are still based on this document, though those who are "undesirable" have changed quite a bit. The focus moved from "undesirable" Asians to "undesirable" Latinos. We have become the fastest growing minority in this country, warranting a lot of attention.

Because of how this country runs and how much autonomy states have, different states have begun to propose and pass laws that restrict immigrants through sanctions, restrictions and criminalizing their mere existence. Arizona State Senate President, Russell Pearce, sought to pass the 14th amendment that would have denied birthright citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants. Ironically, that has to be the most unAmerican thing I've ever heard of. What happened to the Statue of Liberty's "Give me your tired, your poor/ your huddled masses yearning to breath free"? Do we honestly think the people leaving their own countries, cultures, languages, families, careers seeking political and economic freedom, seeking a future, opportunity and safety for their own families don't fall under that description?

Some of the most hardworking people I've met are immigrants. I've known people who are doctors, lawyers, professionals that have to work as waiters, construction workers, just to be able to feed their families. Lady Liberty welcomed them with open arms and now we're building walls and fences to keep them out. Pearce also authorized SB 1070 that made it a state crime to be an undocumented immigrant, criminalizing entire families. What is this? These people are not criminals, especially in Arizona where families have lived for generations on the same land, the land that was once Mexico.

Alabama has followed suit. Its congress sought to pass a law that requires police attempts to determine the residency status of suspected illegal immigrants. It also makes it a crime for an immigrant to work, solicit work, prohibits landlords from renting them housing, prevents them from gaining access to basic public and local benefits (such as health care) and enrolling in public colleges. Does Alabama think it can get rid of people in this manner, by further marginalizing them? Do they not realize what they're losing? Not just all of the richness of culture, I'm talking about the tangible things... $$MONEY$$! Local economies would fall. Wouldn't it be better to legalize these people that work and spend money and introduce them to the formal sector so they could pay income tax? It would, but we are not dealing with logic. All of this stems from hateful politics - Nativism.

The ancestors of those Americans who now occupy this country sought opportunity in a new land and killed for it. According to the Library of Congress it is estimated that there were 900,000 indigenous people inhabiting this continent. Today they make up less than 2% of the population. These newcomers are just asking for them to share... share the access to opportunity, access to the possibility, access to the competition for the dream. Isn't that what America was founded on? Freedom and capitalism. Isn't that what immigration means? Allowing the market to set the rules of competition with fairness... allowing an even playing field so that those who work hard can have success. At least that's what I have learned that's what this country is based on. That's what these people are running towards... crossing rivers and oceans to get to. Everything America has rejected and mistreated at some point is now what today makes it so incredibly interesting. These laws are un-American and inhumane... these movements are just showcasing America's hypocrisy. Something I know no one wants to recognize when they say they are proud to be Americans.