Thread: Irish Americans recall the biases

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/2 ... ish17.html

Friday, March 17, 2006

Irish Americans recall the biases

KATHY KELLY AND JACK B. SMITH
GUEST COLUMNISTS

"Irish need not apply" was the joyless greeting thousands of Irish immigrants found as they entered their new country years ago. Forced to emigrate by repeated failure of the potato crop, they left their native Ireland as economic refugees and traveled to the land of opportunity.

Life in the Promised Land was not easy. Employment was the first challenge. Opportunities were limited by employers who treated the Irish as lazy, uncivilized and illiterate. They worked in mines and steel mills, kitchens and fields, doing jobs that established residents found undesirable. They often worked two and three jobs, as so many new immigrants must do to survive.

To fit in, our ancestors dropped their Irish names as necessary, lost the Irish accent and enjoyed Irish song and dance only in close circles. It worked. Irish Americans assimilated and made significant contributions to the economy, the arts, politics and public service. Today, despite a healthy economy in Ireland, an estimated 40,000 undocumented Irish live in the United States, including some political refugees.

Immigrants today meet with even greater complexities. Not only does racism confront most immigrants, bias against accents, religion and dress create barriers for those seeking the opportunity to live in this nation built by immigrants.

Now Congress may make things worse. With a stated aim of increasing national security, proposed legislation would create great difficulties for immigrants, and those who aid them, without increasing security.

House Bill 4437, which the House passed in December, creates a legal status of "unlawful presence" that would make felons of 11 million undocumented immigrants, legal visitors with temporary status problems and applicants-in-process. Until now, undocumented status has been a violation of immigration law, a civil penalty, but under this legislation it is an aggravated felony, which would subject immigrants to prosecution and immediate deportation.

If registering undocumented visitors and workers is desirable for national security reasons, HB4437 is counterproductive. It would permanently ban those registering from obtaining citizenship.

Remembering how Irish ancestors relied on the benevolence of others, it is distressing that HB4437 also makes a felon of anyone helping an undocumented person. Under an expanded definition of "smuggling," this legislation would make a criminal of any relative, neighbor, employer or friend who offers food, housing, job referrals or any type of assistance. A counselor who assists victims of domestic violence, a doctor who responds to a traffic accident, a volunteer working in a soup kitchen would all become felons under the proposed legislation.

HB4437 exploits the fears of Americans who worry about losing their jobs or being attacked by terrorists, but it betrays the very promise of America without increasing national security. Millions of people who entered the United States with no intention of causing harm will be subjected to harsh and biased treatment.

Now, as the Senate debates immigration reform, we must remember our own journeys, our struggles against racism and bigotry, our efforts to get work and gain acceptance. We must support those who, like us, simply want to provide for their families and contribute in a positive way. If we remember, we will speak out for justice for all people.

Kathy Kelly and Jack B. Smith live in Seattle.

I tell you what, these Open Borders messages are very coordinated. I woke up to a show with the very same message on the History channel this morning.

Funny eh?

W

Well I am not Irish but today is St. Patties and we are all Irish on St. Patricks! Time to enjoy fine brews and even finer Irish women, some of the hottest women in the world.