Thread: Chicago: 'Fiesta of "illegals"' tries sarcasm, get

'Fiesta of "illegals"' tries sarcasm, gets criticism
September 17, 2009 6:42 PM | 1 Comment

Billed as a "fiesta of `illegals,'" the event this evening was meant as a sarcastic jab at a much-hated word among immigrant groups wanting to mark national "citizenship day" by highlighting the success of community leaders who were at one time in the U.S. "illegally."

But before the party on the Near West Side even kicked off, Latino immigrant chat groups blasted organizers for being insensitive, with one e-mail asking a Spanish version of the proverb "With friends like these, who needs enemies?"

"That word [illegal] is not a joke and shouldn't be used as a joke," said Juan Andres Mora, an immigrant activist who, like others, worried the event could be misinterpreted as a celebration of illegal Mexican immigration. "It's in bad taste and it's foolish."

The unexpected backlash to the event, sponsored by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, spoke to the sensitive image of an immigration reform movement that has both benefited from and suffered under its mostly Mexican identity.

With Mexicans the largest single group behind legal and illegal immigration during the past 20 years, they've become an easy target of scorn by Americans resentful of illegal border crossings -- a bitterness made more intense by the Mexican-driven immigration marches that set fire to the reform movement in 2006.

As such, the word "illegal" has taken on ever worse connotations. Shortened from "illegal alien" into a pronoun some use to describe the nearly 12 million people in the country without legal status, many Mexican immigrants equate "illegal" with other ethnic slurs.

"I don't want to hear that word any more in front of my family," said Salvador Pedroza, president of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, who arrived legally to the U.S. when he was 15 and, though included in the event's program, considered its billing offensive. "What really [angered] me is that, in this case, our own people are using it."

Artemio Arreola, a Mexican native who is political director at the Illinois Coalition, said the event was intended to show that, if given a chance at legal status, many people here illegally can become productive citizens.

"We want them to come out and say: `Do I seem `illegal?' No, right? So, let's leave behind the [negative] myth attached to those who are asking for documents," Arreola said before the event.

The event's program included two Chicago alderman -- Ricardo Munoz (22nd) and George Cardenas (12th) -- and several business leaders or artists who were at one time without legal documentation but have since gained citizenship through marriage, the 1986 amnesty or other government channels.

Several people critical of the event worried that it did not include leaders from other ethnic groups who were also once undocumented -- fueling misperceptions that it is a Mexican celebration of illegal immigration.

"What kind of message are we sending to the anti-immigrants?" wondered Horacio Esparza, director of the Progress Center for Independent Living in Forest Park.
Arreola said he sought to diversify the event, but couldn't because other ethnic groups that could benefit from immigration reforms, such as the Chinese or Polish, are ashamed to highlight those among them without legal status.

"They have them, but they don't talk about it," Arreola said. "It's a taboo. Our culture is more open and that's why you see us out there."

-Antonio Olivo

www.chicagobreakingnews.com

Horacio Esparza
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It is shocking and paradoxical that while we struggle to eradicate this term (illegal) now celebrate "the feast of the illegal". We must not allow our fight is sold as easy for someone who does not know who squander money that precisely in these times of crisis so depressing for many of our brothers (as) illegal (and even for non-immigrants) we would much benefit to address other needs. It's illogical and stupid averrante be served this delicacy to the anti-immigrant. It is like me and all who fight for the dignity of persons with disabilities and to eradicate the terms handicapped, disabled etc ... Now we organize "the party of the disabled or invalid." May all those who today are going to get the little chest and rectify illegal at this event and do not make an appearance. Respectfully, Horacio Esparza Executive Director Progress Center for Independent Living 7521 W. Madison St. Forest Park IL 60130 phone 708.209.1500 fax 708.209.1735 209.1826 tty www.progresscil.org
More options Sep 17, 10:54 am
From: "Horacio Esparza" <hespa...@progresscil.org>
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:54:40 -0500
Local: Thurs, Sep 17 2009 10:54 am
Subject: paradógico Por qué fiesta del ilegal?
Reply | Reply to author | Forward | Print | Individual message | Show original | Report this message | Find messages by this author

It is shocking and paradoxical that while we struggle to eradicate this term (illegal) now celebrate "the feast of the illegal". We must not allow our fight is sold as easy for someone who does not know who squander money that precisely in these times of crisis so depressing for many of our brothers (as) illegal (and even for non-immigrants) we would much benefit to address other needs. It's illogical and stupid averrante be served this delicacy to the anti-immigrant. It is like me and all who fight for the dignity of persons with disabilities and to eradicate the terms handicapped, disabled etc ... Now we organize "the party of the disabled or invalid." May all those who today are going to get the little chest and rectify illegal at this event and do not make an appearance.

Respectfully,

Horacio Esparza

Executive Director

Progress Center for Independent Living

7521 W. Madison St.

Forest Park IL 60130


www.progresscil.org


http://groups.google.com/group/chicagom ... c7a4eb561b

Concerning the Illegal Festival
I agree
with Charles, take the word to refer to illegal aliens is
use the same language of the actors who use the term so
derogatory and racist and are the same who oppose immigration reform.


As activists
Mexicans and immigrants we should never use that term colonialist
imposed on us to make us look like criminals. The immigrants are
workers and families who have come to this country for economic reasons
seeking jobs and a better life.

William


From: "Caranga ... @ aol.com" <carango ...aol.com>
To: 10demarzo@googlegroups.com; frenteunidoproinmigrantes@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:19:17 PM
Subject: Re: THE PARTY OF "ILLEGAL"

on purpose with all
I respect the call of illegal Fiesata is in very bad taste in a
time that word has returned with a vengeance to the corridors of
Washington and the national press. Assume that I think is acceptable
very very pathetic. So all involved have been accepted
Saer and illegal.

carlos

From: "Caranga ... @ aol.com" <carango ...aol.com>
To: 10demarzo@googlegroups.com; frenteunidoproinmigrantes@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:19:17 PM
Subject: Re: THE PARTY OF "ILLEGAL"

on purpose with all due respect I think the illegal Fiesata call is in bad taste at a time that word has returned with a vengeance to the corridors of Washington and the national press. Assuming it is acceptable to me seems very very pathetic. So all involved have been accepted and illegal Saer.

carlos

http://groups.google.com/group/chicagom ... dc03ce1506