The boycott by the 'illegals' just fosters more hate

[Stinky The Clown]

That seems to be what I'm hearing today.

And the title of this thread could also have been "the creation of a wedge issue'

'Damn Mexicans'

'Let 'em learn English'

'The anthem should be in English'

Etc., etc., etc.

In my view this whole thing is a perfectly planned and executed assault on a class of people perpetrated by the American RW loonies.

It started with some whispers. It escalated with 'The Minutemen' (the worst kind of wannabe soldiers .... military service avoiders with lots of guns). The MSM 'catapulted the propaganda'. Hate radio picked up on the theme and went for divisiveness in the guise of patriotism. The Justice Department did those bullshit raids. Congress jawboned. The White House 'positioned'. Congress assented.

And today we find ourselves with hundreds of thousands of Latinos demonstrating. And the spin is 'cluck cluck ... how awful'.

Hate radio will be all over this like flies on a dog turd.

I do NOT blame the Latinos. This is a manufactured issue to give us one more 'enemy'.

Is illegal immigration a real issue?

Yes, beyond any doubt.

Is it being used as a new wedge, just in time for the midterms ... all shiny and bright?

Absolutely.

If the same thing were being done to left handed redheads .... or Italians ...... or duck hunters ......... or tomato gardeners, I suspect they, too, would demonstrate. It is a natural reaction and one the perpetrators knew would happen when they started this.

Personally, I'm very conflicted on this whole issue and honestly have been unable to form a cohesive personal stance.

But unlike the nutjobs on either side of the issue, I'd rather we took it on in due course with due consideration and honest contemplation of both sides in a state of calm discourse ....... not the hate filled invective that we're now seeing.

This is just plain awful. To say nothing of counterproductive .... on all sides.

And while I see it as counterproductive on all sides. in my own view the worst offenders, by FAR, are the RW hate mongers who made this so overheated.

Damn them. Damn them to Hell.

[ugarte]

1. Well said. The modern Republican majority depends on racial fear

and has ever since Nixon went after the Wallace vote. Now it's the Hispanics' turn to be the wedge, and most Americans seem happy to accomodate with hate.

[Lost4words]

2. My take is, we cant have enough people in the street!

The repukes stirred up this can of worms. let them get what they deserve!

I am beginning to think most USA citizens have lost the moxie to hit the streets. We started as revolutionaries if you remember.

People want a voice, I cant say I blame them.

[vi5]

3. This is going to backfire on dems I'm afraid...

I hear people who I know are not right wing repubs talking about this issue and it is getting them very upset and they are buying into the fear mongering. Things like the spanish National Anthem are total red herrings and they are working. People are being distracted by this. And who do you think they are going to turn to when they want a party that is going to be tough on this very pressing, urgent situation (I'm being sarcastic here)? That's right, the daddy party of the republicans.

[ComerPerro]

9. It can only backfire on Dems

Its making the Dems look soft on immigration and and security, and might convince a few people to vote Republican.

Meanwhile, as much as Republicans threaten and complain "I'm a true conservative, I don't support the Republicans any more", they will still vote for them, like the whores they are...

[lumberjack_jeff]

23. It doesn't have to be that way.

We're on the side of working americans, I see this as simple and don't see it as a bad thing.

It's possible to support the interests of the american worker without falling for the racist pandering that Republicans are using. It's a wedge issue because we're on the wrong side of the policy discussion - because we dislike the way the opposition has framed it.

The solution? Reframe it correctly - Tyson foods and other corporate behemoths gave illegal workers the day off to protest for Tyson's corporate interests. In that sense, it was just another workday for the protestors. Who you gonna vote for, Tyson's interests or the interests of the american worker?

If spanish speaking americans and those who are working to become citizens want to sing the star spangled banner in Spanish, or Swahili or Khmer - more power to them.

Illegals could care less. If they cared about the country in which they live, and don't simply see it as a resource to exploit, they'd attempt to immigrate legitimately.

[gratuitous]

4. Did you think they'd go quietly?

This blood-stained bunch, greedy hands grasping the levers of power, pockets full of silver and gore, aren't going to let go of the control they stole just because they've been caught out. No, they're going to fight, claw, bite, and scratch every step of the way, every inch of the way.

If it wasn't immigration, it would be something else they'd have their sycophants in the media latching onto. We've got a dirty, distasteful, despicable job to do. If you've ever seen the movie "48 HRS," by the end of the whole adventure, Nick Nolte is reduced to an automaton. Short on sleep, his gun swiped by a two-bit hoodlum, chasing around San Francisco with a convict he can't stand, harrassed by his boss and his girlfriend, he faces down the villain in the final showdown, and all he can muster is "You're done. End of story." He shoots the guy down with no more feeling or satisfaction than if he'd smacked an annoying bug flying around inside a car.

That's where we're going to go. By the end of this mad, corrupt regime, we're going to be so fed up with locking up the corrupt ones, stamping out their vermin-infested schemes, overcoming their relentless propaganda and the whores who shout it from the sidelines, that we'll be in danger of losing our own souls. In fact, it may get so bad that it will fall to someone else to rebuild our country because we'll be unfit to lead for at least a while.

[flordehinojos]

5. personally, this whole anti-immigration thing smells like a whole host of

white suprmacists to me. we (they) hate all these immigrants when they come here -- but damn if we don't want them to treat us like GODS when we go to their countries. WTF is that if it is not white supremacy?

[blondeatlast]

17. Nailed it but good. I've been thinking the same damn thing. nt

[Bridget Burke]

6. Some people will hate, no matter what.

Let the pendejos foam at the mouth.

I'd just say the supporters of humane immigration policy have the right to boycott, protest, whatever. By the way, not all of them are "illegals."

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

7. It's not that easy...

...and I'm sorry in advance, but I can't equate Jorge Rodriguez's actions with those of the Civil Rights Bus Boycotts in the 60s (although some on DU have already done that).

The issue is bigger than Jorge Rodriguez and the methods he's proposing. I respect your right to "damn the RW hate mongers who made this so overheated to hell," but Rodriguez is engaging in a little overheating of his own. I can't buy the concept that when the right wing "overheats" they are hate mongers and when Rodriguez "overheats" he's a Civil Rights Leader. The term "illegal immigrants" refers to people who entered the country illegally. It's an issue that needs a resolution. Until it's resolved, entering the U.S. illegally is illegal.

And no, I don't have the answers, and yes, I find myself out of step with many on DU when it comes to today's protests. C'est la vie. It's my right to have an opinion, just like it's the right of everyone else to have an opinion. Maybe Rodriguez is a little fish in a big pond. Maybe his influence isn't as widespread as he thinks it is. But I read his agenda and I call bullshit...without apology.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/27/news/immigration_boycott.reut/

"There will be 2 to 3 million people hitting the streets in Los Angeles alone. We're going to close down Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Tucson, Phoenix, Fresno," said Jorge Rodriguez, a union official who helped organize earlier rallies credited with rattling Congress as it debates the issue.

"We want full amnesty, full legalization for anybody who is here (illegally)," Rodriguez said. "That is the message that is going to be played out across the country on May 1."

[Stinky The Clown]

10. I won't argue with you ......

.... but neither will I argue with those on the other side of this issue.

[bluedog]

11. bottom line.this man

just wants amensty....open borders.......all rights for "illegals"...some are getting fooled by this grouop............hes very arrogant and thinks the American citizens OWE him and the illegals rights....

[VirtualChicano]

8. This more recent wave

of anti-immigrant bashing was begun by:

http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1360

in 1979.

[0007]

12. MSNBC poll

Vote here

Immigration Protests: Should illegal immigrants be arrested at today's demonstrations? * 3834 responses

Yes
68%

No
32%

[VirtualChicano]

13. HA!

Dont arrest them, put them in concentration camps and toast them.

what's the point in pretending, anyway?

no one buys that "freedom" stuff.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bridget Burke]

15. Did the ILLEGALS* invade a Rooming house?

You keep saying they are creeping across the "boarders." (Sorry. Anyone can misspell, but incoherence like yours is truly stunning.)

Even non-citizens have rights. Even if they are being processed through our legal system, they should be treated fairly. (This goes for the guys in Gitmo, too.) Even in a "time of war."

Most immigrants do NOT shoot, stab, join gangs or deal drugs. Perhaps you are hanging with a bad crowd.

* Why must this always be in UPPER CASE?

[blondeatlast]

18. Oh, BB...

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

:thumbsup:

[Doctor_J]

16. Yup, another coup for Rove

it worked just like he planned it, and may well be enough to keep the GOP in the majority next Congess.

[Keefer]

19. I think like this,

If it wasn't illegal to come here the way the "undocumented workers" did, why are they called "illegals?" Illegal to me means "against the law," does it not?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we need to deport them all, but what is the problem with building a fence or a wall? That will stop more from coming.

Do you know those "raids" they did on businesses in the past two weeks? ALL of the people rounded up were let go. What good did that do? Most police forces actually have "rules of conduct" that actually prohibit them from informing the INS of anyone they KNOW to be illegal.

That House bill that make it a CRIME to aid an illegal is redundant. As I stated above: Doesn't "illegal" mean "against the law?" Hence: against the law = crime. REDUNDANT.

[Stinky The Clown]

20. I can't argue for or against

All I can do ... for *me* .... is 'consider'.

But it appears we have once again been punked by having this issue surface at this time in this way. Even here, where we're all on the same damn side, this issue has fostered divisivness, not encouraged dialogue.

And that, in the end, is all they wanted to accomplish.

[Bridget Burke]

29. Who is going to build a wall in the middle of the Rio Grande?

Many private landowners will NOT permit it on their land.

Houston police need victims & witnesses of crime to come forward, instead of being afraid of deportation. That's an excellent idea.

Next time someone starts a thread on legalizing pot, be sure to make your disapproval known!

[meow2u3]

21. Those racist repunks need one lession

That seems to be what I'm hearing today.

And the title of this thread could also have been "the creation of a wedge issue'

'Damn Mexicans'

'Let 'em learn English'

'The anthem should be in English'


Those ignorant anti-everything racists ought to be the first to learn English. Just look on freerepublic.com and you'll see what I mean.

[Javaman]

22. A very simple solution to all this bullshit...

Force the employers to pay a living wage, thus making the jobs more competitive. If suddenly, illegals have to compete with U.S. citizens for a job, you will see the illegal immigration rate drop.

As long as various business are being allowed to hire illegals, nothing will ever change.

this is the moral equivalent of putting someone in jail for having a joint as opposed to the guy that is selling them.

[TriMetFan]

24. " RW hate mongers who made this so overheated."

And the people took the bite! Even here in DU Land. Shame on any one for falling on the hate bite. But on the other hand what is good about all this, is that people like my-self that are American Hispanic are now willing to do more hard work for the Democratic party and get my people on the voting lines. Haters have awoken a Giant Class of Americans and we will not go back into the back ground again! You haters fucked up on this! Why because most of those so called "illegals protesters" yesterday were Legal American Hispanics!

[neoteric lefty]

25. I say, let the Nativists come out of the closet

I hope they all come out and talk about what they truly believe. The more I hear any of these Minutemen, or some of these right-wing yahoos, I laugh. They can only play on people's fears instead of on their hopes and dreams. I agree that we need stop illegal immigration and their are many points that both sides can debate on the best way to do that.

[TheFriedPiper]

26. It's all about FEAR

They use fear of 'gays'

They use fear of 'arabs'

They use fear of 'intellectuals'

They use fear of fictional gods and bogus religion

It's always been about fear. Using fear to manipulate the population. That's what terrorists do.

[TriMetFan]

27. That is the only why they can win.

Just remember to all here in DU Land, we are all in the same boat.

We are the:

"mythical little people" that get used and shit on, then thrown a side when not needed.

[skeeters2525]

28. As Ed Schultz Just Said

If Bush's ratings were 50% you wouldn't hear a word about immigration. The media and many Dems are being played like fools.

A big salute to the anti-immigrant marchers. You are showing us what America should be. They take to the streets to get the truth out. Meanwhile the fat, lazy Americans sit on their ass and get offended because the national anthem is sung in spanish. Yes, that is the great injustice of the new millenium.

Our great conservative blowholes are upset because they are breaking laws. But I notice these same blowholes ignore Bush breaking laws. I can't name one he does follow. He breaks laws passed by the Senate, the Geneva Convention, The UN, The Bible.

So welcome immigrants. America is the land of lawbreakers. The only difference is, you will try to change it, while we Americans will just look the other way,

[gizmo1979]

30. I hate that.NT

[ShortnFiery]

31. Our Corporate Masters love it when we fight over the scraps. n/t