It's been a long while since I've written, but I just have one question on my mind right now...
Really Arizona?
Gov. Jan Brewer signed a law condemning illegal immigrants as criminals last Friday. The law has since stirred up a cacophony of debate. Under the law police officers can detain anyone who cannot present proof of legal residency or citizenship. To be fair the law does say "where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person". In practice, however, this really means next to nothing. The wording of this important statement is so vague I don't know if I'd be questioned if I were standing on a day-laborer corner looking for work, if I were wearing my Mexico soccer jersey during the World Cup coming up in June, or if I had a "suspicious-looking" tan.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely don't think we should open the floodgates and let anyone into our country without going through proper procedure, but this is not "A Step In the Right Direction" like Tyler Moree expresses in his U of Conn. Daily Campus opinion article. This is a step toward racism, stereotypes, South African Apartheid and Nazi Germany-like catastrophe.
Now Rev Al Sharpton and San Fransisco along with others have called for a boycott of the state. I think it's a great idea. Do it. Vacationers and businessmen have already cancelled hotel reservations and business trips. I laughed when I read that one man was afraid to take his family to Arizona because his son is a construction worker and is very suntanned. I'm sure he's harmless, but this comment makes it obvious that when people think of immigrants one picture comes to mind.
Will blond-haired, blue-eyed Polish immigrants be questioned as well?
One politician makes a good point when he said moving illegal immigrants out of jobs will free up positions so legal residents and citizens will be able to find work more easily. That's wonderful! I hope everything works out when prices skyrocket when company CEO's find they cannot hire citizens for $9.50 an hour doing manual labor.
Even though I wish all jobs could be filled by legal, taxpaying, self-sufficient American citizens and residents (or at least an undocumented worker with a Tax ID Number), I'd hate to pay 3x's more than I am paying now for my groceries, etc. Yes, I know that makes me part of the problem but it's hard to eliminate yourself from the problem if you live in Middle-class America.
Okay, getting off the point now. Arizona must find another outlet.
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do you lock your house?
ReplyDeleteyou let family and friends in freely and show them great hospitality.
do you allow strangers in and let them stay as long as they want?
yes, it is an oversimplification, but makes the point.
if AZ cannot enforce the EXISTING federal law concerning residency, then why stop there? driving laws? nope. arrest thieves? nah. women's suffrage? why bother.
check out the US Embassy in Mexico and see what you have to carry there as a US citizen. what AZ is asking for is peanuts by comparison.
you need ID to cash a check, rent a car, or set up an account at a freakin' Blockbusters. is it too much to as for non-english speaking visitors to carry ID with them? I think not.
Everyone should carry ID with them. What this law invites, however, is officers abusing thier responsability and acting like racist fools. It's like Communism, sure it sounds good on paper...
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Blockbuster is closing. What does that tell you! HA!
ReplyDeletelet's talk racist fools: If Al Sharpton is not a jew hating black supremacist, he is at least a guy who has antisemitic phrases in his dialect. that's a helluva guy to have on your side.
ReplyDeletei am guessing that you believe 70% of AZ voters are wrong. you do realize that more than 50% of state Dems supported the law, right?
don't forget to lock the door when you leave home...
last point....
ReplyDeleteAZ has an estimated 500,000 illegals and public services extended to them cost them an estimated $1.5 billion. a rancher was murdered to death by drug traffickers. a sheriff's officer was shot by illegals. the crime rate in Phoenix is the worst of any city of similar size in the country.
what would you propose AZ do? To turn a blind eye to the source of the problems is simply foolish. take a legitimate look at what is driving the issue before you join the protests.