Thread: Mexicans have a different perspective on immigration

Soccer Fans in USA Hurt Mexico's Image & Interests


Monday, July 4, 2011
By Allan Wall

Immigration from Mexico to the United States is a controversial topic.

A problem with the treatment of the subject is that it's often presented in a very one-sided manner. The U.S. mainstream media, and certainly the Mexican media, present any sort of opposition to legal or even illegal immigration as evidence of "racism," "xenophobia," or "hate." Immigrants, including illegal aliens, are regularly presented as innocent victims.

This sort of knee-jerk melodrama is quite unfair to the majority of American citizens, who certainly do not hate Mexico or Mexicans, but do believe their immigration laws should be respected.

I learned a lot about the subject while residing in Mexico, listening to regular Mexicans and the media discuss the subject.

What I finally concluded was that Mexicans have a different perspective on immigration from that of ordinary Americans. At the same time, the American media/political elite have very different views from that of most Americans.

The traditional view of immigration in the U.S. is that immigrants come to our country because they want to become Americans, and then they become Americans. Most Americans still believe that immigrants should assimilate, that is, learn English and become loyal Americans.

In contrast, the U.S. political/media elite support multiculturalism and think regular Americans should accommodate the immigrants.

Living in Mexico, I learned how Mexicans viewed emigration to the U.S. and the presence of a Mexican-American population in their northern neighbor. Mexicans don't believe that Mexican emigrants who become U.S. citizens cease to be Mexicans. They are always considered Mexicans. Even grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Mexican immigrants, born in the U.S., are still considered Mexicans.

Meanwhile, the Mexican government, through its diplomatic corps, openly meddles in U.S. immigration policy. Disturbingly, the Mexican government also claims jurisdiction over Mexican-Americans.

What objective observer would not think this is a problem?

In Mexico, contradictory messages are sent out. On the one hand, it's said that Mexicans are treated horribly in the United States. On the other hand, they aren't supposed to leave the United States, and they should fight to remain.

What's going on? If Mexicans were treated so horribly in the U.S., why would they be going there in droves and fighting to stay?

Middle-class Americans don't want their neighborhoods overrun by illegal aliens who don't speak the language, drive down wage levels, and disproportionately use government services. For this they are called "racist." But would Mexicans allow the same thing in their own country?

It's highly doubtful that mass emigration to the United States is helping Mexico develop. I think it impedes Mexico's development. Mass emigration doesn't encourage Mexico's political and business elite to solve Mexico's problems and develop Mexico's economy. In fact, it causes many social problems by splitting up families and encouraging Mexicans to leave Mexico rather than solve the problems in their own country.

Mexico's real friends in the U.S are not those who encourage open borders.

Consider California Congressman Darrell Issa. Representative Issa is an immigration restrictionist, not an open borders supporter. Yet it's Representative Issa who is spearheading the investigation of the destructive "Project Gunrunner" program, in which high-ranking U.S. officials intentionally allowed arms to reach the hands of Mexican drug cartels.

Congressman Issa has actually traveled to Mexico to meet with Mexican officials. The Obama Administration, meanwhile, continues to stonewall. So who are the real friends of Mexico here?

A recent soccer game illustrated the problem of assimilation in the United States. At the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the U.S. and Mexican soccer teams faced each other. The audience, mostly composed of American citizens of Mexican ancestry born in the U.S.A., overwhelmingly supported Mexico. Anti-American unsportsmanlike conduct was rampant.

The U.S. soccer team was booed. During the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner" horns were honked and beach balls were bounced in the audience.

"I was born in Mexico and that is where my heart will always be," said one of the Team Mexico fans.

Another said, "We're not booing the country. We're booing the team. There's a big difference." Oh, really? Would they accept such an answer in Mexico if it were the Mexican team being booed and the Mexican national anthem disrespected?

Why did no American Latino leader speak out against this that happened at the Rose Bowl?

Is assimilation occurring? Are Americans wrong to question our current mass immigration policy? Are restrictionists wrong to call for a time out to assimilate immigrants?

Would Mexico accept the sort of behavior on display at the Rose Bowl?


http://www.mexidata.info/id3067.html

Good read, thanks for posting.