Thread: Group hopes to temper immigration debate with billboards

Respect is lifted up in sign campaign

By TRAVIS LOLLER
Staff Writer

When Rick Casares moved to Nashville four years ago, the first thing he heard on the radio was a talk show host calling immigrants "scumbags."

The son of Mexican immigrants and Los Angeles native was so incensed that he called the show and had a 20-minute on-air conversation in which the host accused Casares of lying about his Mexican heritage because he speaks perfect English.

Soon afterward an insurance saleswoman told him he should get uninsured motorists protection in case his car was hit by a drunken Mexican.

"There are a lot of misconceptions," he said. One example is "the continued portrayal of immigrants as somehow less than natives with phrases like Third World sensibilities, health risk, terror, terrorists."

Now Casares is part of a group that hopes to inject civility into the immigration debate and counter stereotypes. The organization, Welcoming Tennessee, announced a campaign Thursday to place 50 billboards throughout greater Nashville to promote the idea of welcoming immigrants.

One of the designs shows two children next to a biblical quotation: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." The second shows a collage of immigrant photos, past and present, with the phrase, "Welcome the immigrant you once were."

A poll taken by Middle Tennessee State University in 2002 found that "attitudes toward immigrants have become more negative over time, at least in Middle Tennessee." In a 1998 sample of Middle Tennesseans only, 28 percent said Hispanics were making life worse, but that number jumped to 41 percent in the 2002 poll.

"Many churches have mission with immigrants and treat them very well," said Nashville lawyer John Lamb, who chairs the Welcoming Tennessee steering committee. "Most businesses and organizations and individuals treat people with decency and self-respect on a one-to-one basis. But at least in the public dialogue we haven't heard a whole lot of these values. We want to bring these values into the debate." •

Near a new billboard, Jose Gonzales photographs supporters at a news conference at Seventh Avenue South at Demonbreun Street.

(LARRY MCCORMACK / THE TENNESSEAN)
Reach Travis Loller at 259-8209.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 80409/1006

One of the designs shows two children next to a biblical quotation: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." The second shows a collage of immigrant photos, past and present, with the phrase, "Welcome the immigrant you once were."

#1 - you came here ILLEGALLY and are not welcome!

#2 - I never was an immigrant!

#3 - Charity begins at home - Go Home!!!

BRAINWASHING BS!!!

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index ... s_id=51239

Coalition launches immigrant campaign
By Blake Farmer, News Correspondent
July 28, 2006



The immigrant rights coalition Welcoming Tennessee launched a statewide, 50-billboard campaign Thursday in downtown Nashville.

Written on the signs is a verse from the New Testament: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Others urge Tennesseans to “welcome the immigrant you once were.”

Organizers say those words are meant to remind viewers of America’s history as an immigrant haven and to cool what the coalition calls “hurtful rhetoric” in current political campaigns regarding boarder security.

“The immigration debate does not start and end with how the immigrants behave and who they are,” local attorney and coalition chairman John Lamb said at a news conference Thursday. “The immigration debate in Tennessee should start with our values and who we are.”

Lamb said the idea of welcoming immigrants to the state is not necessarily unpopular, but simply “uncharted.”

Welcoming Tennessee has spent roughly $5,000 on the advertising blitz by using donated space from Lamar Advertising.

In the Southwest, the Minuteman Project has purchased three anti-immigration billboards over the past three months simply stating “No Amnesty.” A Welcoming Tennessee spokesman said the local project is not a direct rebuttal.

Maria Clara Mejia came to Nashville five years ago from Mexico. Now a U.S. citizen, she works for Conexion Americas, a local immigrant rights nonprofit.

Mejia said she understands the complex nature of the immigration debate, but adds that most people benefit from the Hispanic population’s influence on sectors like agriculture and construction.

“We should go and find immigrants and say, ‘Hey, thank you so much,’” Mejia said. “Perhaps we should reward them with means for them to be able to work with a work permit, to be able to drive with a driver’s license, with all the documents that people need to really interact with the society and become a constructive force.”

Conexion Americas officials said they have seen a recent influx in discrimination toward Hispanics through reports filed with the organization, Mejia said, though the specific numbers are not available.

While an immigration debate, at least locally, centers on the Hispanic population, border security and illegal immigration, others argue that immigrants hailing from the Middle East may have the biggest uphill battle.

Kasar Abdulla, a Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition staffer originally from the Kurdistan region, said simply finding an apartment has been a chore.

“The first thing the lady told me was, ‘Do you know you have to have papers to rent an apartment?’” Abdulla said. “You can tell what kind of assumptions they already have of not just the Hispanic community, but just if you look different … I was like, ‘Yeah, I swam my way over the ocean.’”

Thank you Indiana - Well said

When Rick Casares moved to Nashville four years ago, the first thing he heard on the radio was a talk show host calling immigrants "scumbags."

This man obviously doesn't understand that, in this country, we do allow people to have their own opinion.

Now, in truth, I must admit there are some folks here in America who do get carried away, and smear everybody with the same brush.

I, personally, have experienced enough racism in my life to turn my stomach. But those people have been a very tiny percentage of the people I have encountered in my life.

I truly learned that being an idiot is not race, creed, color or gender specific. It transcends all boundaries. I'm sorry Mr. Casares encountered a couple of idiots, but that is no excuse for blaming the rest of us.

“We should go and find immigrants and say, ‘Hey, thank you so much,’”

Thank them for what?!?!?!?!? Taking my money, killing American citizens, spreading disease, press 1 for English, AAAAAAHHHHHHH

“The first thing the lady told me was, ‘Do you know you have to have papers to rent an apartment?’” Abdulla said. “You can tell what kind of assumptions they already have of not just the Hispanic community, but just if you look different … I was like, ‘Yeah, I swam my way over the ocean.’”

Is she intending to imply that there are no Arab people in this country illegally? If that is what she thinks she needs to do a little research...Geesh

http://home.businesswire.com

July 27, 2006 12:00 PM US Eastern Timezone
New State Coalition Launches Massive Billboard Campaign to Highlight Tennessee as a Welcoming State; A Major Goal: Dampen Hurtful Rhetoric against Immigrants in Political Campaigns





NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 27, 2006--A group of concerned Tennesseans has launched an initiative to remind us of our state's core values that are being suffocated in today's political climate. The Welcoming Tennessee Initiative is founded on the principle that Tennesseans are proud to be decent and hospitable, with a shared responsibility to treat all neighbors with empathy and respect.


To preserve these values, the Welcoming Tennessee Initiative has begun a regional billboard campaign aimed at reminding Nashville area residents that positive voices are needed to elevate the immigration discussion, and to demonstrate our values to the immigrants of our state. The first two billboards read as follows: "Welcome the Immigrant You Once Were" and "I Was a Stranger, And You Welcomed Me." (Images of both billboards are available for download at http://www.welcomingtn.org).

As immigrants continue to call Tennessee home, this initiative is committed to a better understanding of the contributions that immigrants make to our state. It reminds us that we are all immigrants or descendants of immigrants and challenges hurtful stereotypes that are prevalent in political campaigns.

The group hopes to build their messages in cooperation with other groups who have been and are concerned about the well-being of all Tennesseans.

Gregg Ramos, attorney and son of immigrant parents, said, "Anytime a segment of our society is denied basic human rights, like due process, we all suffer, so I was attracted to the effort to raise the level of discourse about immigration in Tennessee."

"We believe that new Tennesseans share our values, contribute to our economy, enhance our combined culture and strengthen our communities," stated Bill Partridge, professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University.

For more information about the Welcoming Tennessee Initiative please visit http://www.welcomingtn.org

“We should go and find immigrants and say, ‘Hey, thank you so much,’” Mejia said. “Perhaps we should reward them with means for them to be able to work with a work permit, to be able to drive with a driver’s license, with all the documents that people need to really interact with the society and become a constructive force.”

What, as if they don't get enough rewards already? SHEESH.

I really love the constructive force comment. That's the best OXY MORON I've ever heard.

the first thing he heard on the radio was a talk show host calling immigrants "scumbags."

This is an OUTRIGHT LIE! I live here and heard that call. The host has made it very clear that he welcomes legal immigrants and the conversation is, and has always been, about ILLEGALS. The point of the billboards is to make us feel "guilty"....but it's not gonna happen. This area is FED-UP with the situation.

Welcoming Tennessee is designed to be a proactive communications effort and promises to alter the political climate in Tennessee for the better. The moral vision of Tennesseans promoting a more Welcoming Tennessee might be exactly what’s needed to turn the tide in this critical year.

A quote from their website...notice they are moral....implying all those opposing are immoral views. Just another pro-amnesty, open borders group made up mostly of Hispanic businesspeople who see the illegals as $$$$$.

Originally Posted by gofer

the first thing he heard on the radio was a talk show host calling immigrants "scumbags."

This is an OUTRIGHT LIE! I live here and heard that call. The host has made it very clear that he welcomes legal immigrants and the conversation is, and has always been, about ILLEGALS. The point of the billboards is to make us feel "guilty"....but it's not gonna happen. This area is FED-UP with the situation.

You know gofer, when you want to twist the truth around to your point of view, the first (or is it second) thing you do is start throwing accusations around (and definitely bring out the race card). That always get's everybody riled up.

A quote from their website...notice they are moral....implying all those opposing are immoral views

Well of course we are immoral...how can racist, bigoted, xenophobes be moral