04/17/2007
What Is Truly At Stake In The Immigration Debate?

By: Joe Murray , The Bulletin


"If you don't man your borders and don't protect your borders, people are going to sneak in, and that's what's been happening for a long time," President Bush acknowledged while visiting Yuma, Ariz., last week. And even though it had appeared the President had finally come to grips with America's bleeding border, he soon became the porcupine at the balloon party when he trotted out, once again, his amnesty in drag reform proposal.
To those listening to the president, waves of disappointment came crashing down on the homefront, for not only did Bush fail to recognize that well over 60 percent of the American people are not in favor of his de facto amnesty, Bush's speech demonstrated that the president had failed to fully grasp the motivating force behind immigration - a Mexican la Reconquista.
Why are Mexicans pouring into America like water into the hull of the Titanic? According to Bush, the motivations are solely economic - and that's a good thing.
"Past efforts at reform failed to address the underlying economic reasons behind illegal immigration. People will make great sacrifices to get into this country the find jobs and provide for their families," explained Bush.
Parroting the talking points of the open border banditos, Bush further elaborated, "When I was the governor of Texas, I used to say family values did not stop at the Rio Grande River. People are coming here to put food on the table, and they're doing jobs Americans are not doing. And the farmers in this part of the world understand exactly what I'm saying." To this president, immigration can be summed up in one Hollywood catchphrase - "Show me the money."
But is immigration solely about the pursuit of economic interests? Are Hispanic immigrants breaking into the nation just to obtain a paycheck? And if immigration into America is fueled by paychecks and not patriotism, is it possible to maintain a nation of consumers, not citizens?
To say the drastic influx in Hispanic immigration presents largely an economic question complete ignores the cultural realities of such a significant change in American demographics. Hence, while it is true that the chase after the almighty dollar may be lighting the fire under the bum of the immigrant, the fact that America's new immigrant, which is largely Hispanic, is failing to sever ties to the Mother country and assimilate into American culture signals that the new immigrant is not like the European immigrant of yesterday.
Doubt this? Just look at some of the Hispanic groups popping up all across America.
"In the spirit of a new people that is conscious not only of its proud historical heritage, but also of the brutal 'gringo' invasion of our territories, we, the Chicano inhabitants and civilizers of the northern land of Aztlan from whence came our forefathers, reclaiming the land of their birth and consecrating the determination of our people of the sun, declare that the call of our blood is our power, our responsibility, and our inevitable destiny." So reads the makeshift declaration of independence, El Plan de Aztlan, published by MEChA, a radical Latino group that advocates for the la Reconquista of California, New Mexico, Nevada and parts of Colorado and Texas, i.e. "Aztlan."
The motivations fueling MEChA are not subtle, but instead take the form a steamroller aimed squarely at the walls of American culture and civilization. To MEChA revolutionaries, "European" America, and its collective heritage, is an occupying force that has wrongfully laid claim to "Aztlan." Manifest Destiny was an act of Gringo aggression, and it was an unlawful seizure, and subsequent exploitation of Hispanic lands.
MEChA continues by stating, "With our heart in our hands and our hands in the soil, we declare the independence of our mestizo nation. We are a bronze people with a bronze culture. Before the world, before all of North America, before all our brothers in the bronze continent, we are a nation, we are a union of free pueblos, we are Aztlan." While this author concedes that MEChA rhetoric may be radical, one has to ask just how radical the politics of the Southwest have become?
Hispanics now customarily march in the streets of Los Angeles, Phoenix and other cities throughout the region, clamoring for increased rights. These folks, a large portion who are here illegally, wrap themselves in the colors of Mexico, not America. To these revolutionaries, illegal aliens should be applauded, not prosecuted, and the Fourth of July should make way for Cinco de Mayo.
When a small Pennsylvania town witnesses illegal aliens slaughter a young resident, bring a gun to a children's playground, and be caught in the middle of a drug ring, all within an 8-day time period, that town is sued by the ACLU when it attempts to fill the monumental gaps left by a federal government sporting an impotent immigration policy.
Make no mistake, immigration is about much more than who will do what job and who is receiving a paycheck. Mexican heritage is not American heritage, for we do not speak the same language, praise the same heroes and read the same literary classics. We are neighbors, not family members. We are two different cultures that cannot share the same land.
Unlike those immigrants that have preceded them, Mexican immigrants pose a special dilemma to this country. Due to geography, Mexicans, unlike the Irish of yesterday, do not have to cut ties with the nation they left behind. Because of the close proximity of Mexico and America, Mexicans need not be worried with assimilation to the American way of life. Rather, it has become quite apparent that while many Mexicans are physically present in this country, their loyalties lie with Mexico City. Thus, while America may fill their wallets, it is Mexico that fills their hearts.
Doubt this statement? Travel back in time to a soccer game between Mexico and the United States that took place in L.A. The Hispanic fans booed "The Star-Spangled Banner," spit on American players and desecrated the American flag. U.S. midfielder Preki Radosavlievic stated, "we were treated better when we played down there (Mexico City)."
The change in the Southwest's cultural climate better serve as a wake-up call for open border advocates, for the melting pot is running over. The battle over immigration is not about xenophobia or racism; such are just red herrings offered to distract from the real issue. The battle over immigration is about country, family and heritage.
America cannot survive if her house is divided by two different cultures, with two different ideals. America has her own unique identity that is separate from Mexico City, and it takes more than a free market to keep that identity strong. Just ask Santa Anna.
During the early beginnings of Texan history, the Mexican government opened the doors of Texas to Anglo settlers. These new settlers did not have to embrace Latino culture, speak the Spanish language or pay homage to Mexican heritage. They did, however, have to pay taxes. As Sam Houston taught Santa Anna, if a country is to remain united, it needs more than just a common currency.
In light of this crisis, and the fact that over 12 million illegal immigrants have disrespected our laws, filled our prisons and shown disdain for our culture, how has the White House responded?
"It is impractical to take the position that, oh, we'll just find the 11 million or 12 million people and send them home. It's just an impractical position; it's not going to work. It may sound good. It may make nice sound bite news. It won't happen." This is the Bush solution.
Contrast with Woodrow Wilson who stated, "a man who thinks of himself as belonging to a particular national group in America has not yet become an American, and the man who goes among you to trade upon your nationality is no worthy son to live under the Stars and Stripes." Amazing how times change.
Joe Murray can be reached at jmurray@thebulletin.us

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