Photo: Charles Sporn
My mother came to America from El Salvador. My paternal grandparents came from Europe. Each one immigrated legally, which is the essence of the American experience – huddled masses yearning to be free and all that.
However, in the eyes of many Americans, my mother and grandparents were selfish and immoral. After all, whenever a debate starts up about immigration, it’s just a matter of time before someone says, “They need to stay and fix their own countries instead of coming here.”
The implication is that people have an ethical obligation to remain in their homelands rather than try to improve their own lives. Of course, none of the Americans saying this have ancestors who took that advice. As soon as Ireland ran a little low on potatoes, for example, lots of people said “see ya” rather than stick around for the sake of rescuing Belfast.
In fact, the United States would not exist if everybody stayed home to fix his or her own nation.This place would be nothing but Native Americans, lost Canadians and a stray Mexican or two. So, why would anyone make this argument, which is so easily refuted by pointing to their own familial history? The reason is simple: many people want to establish a connection between contemporary immigration and immortality. Doing so allows them to conceal their prejudices under a comforting quilt of self-righteousness.
Of course, an instant rebuttal is that other canard of the debate: “I’m not against immigration, just illegal immigration.” I’m sure that’s true of many people. But for many others, it’s a convenient smokescreen.
Witness the animosity toward the DREAM Act, which according to opponents, is a “reward for criminal behavior.” As we know, the criminals in question were children at the time of their transgression, but this is immaterial. Although we take a person’s age into consideration when it comes to everything from shoplifting to murder, there can be no such analysis when it comes to illegal immigration. These kids are stained, permanently, modern-day descendants of Ham. They’re not just undocumented; they’re immoral by association.
Anti-immigration people know that it’s not enough to say that something is illegal. Laws change, and yesterday’s criminal behavior is today’s mainstream behavior. We no longer prosecute individuals for adultery, and many politicians talk openly about legalizing marijuana. If you’re against those things, your only hope is to say, “Yes, it’s no longer against the law, but decent people don’t do that.”
So if you dislike, say, the Spanish-speaking new neighbor who has a green card, you can just imply that he’s a moral failure because he didn’t stick around and clean up Guatemala. He is beyond redemption, which is odd, considering nobody says that about people like Michael Vick, Chris Brown, or Michael Milken.
But then again, they’re not immigrants.
About Daniel Cubias
Its amazing how much the economies in Latin America thrive when those that cross the border find work here. Many countries in Latin America are suffering due to the downturn in the US economy. It’s a global economy and everyone benefits. People can’t stay behind to fix what they have no control to fix due to government corruption. Many of the people that come here are escaping serious poverty. Many don’t realize how dangerous it is is to make the journey into this country. It’s a life risk they are willing to take to make their families life better back home.
This is nothing new. Every new group is demonized and blamed for all social ills. If you read old newspaper clippings on former immigrant groups you will find nearly word for word what is being said of modern immigrants. But over time all groups are slowly accepted and integrated. When a new group group arrives they become the target of the descendents of the original targeted group. For example, I recently heard from NYC council employee that Latino residents, of a district I shall not name, had recently come to his office to angrily complain of recent Korean immigrants speaking Korean in public. Sound familiar?
Time may pass but the human desire to fell superior to others despite family history remains the same.
I have never heard this argument that people should stay home & fix their own countries or they are immoral. Seems to me like yet another excuse to bash those who simply want immigrants to immigrate lawfully.
The argument that laws change doesn’t really hold water with either. That’s fine, if/when the laws change, then immigrate lawfully according to those laws. Until then, follow the existing laws.
If you are a citizen who doesn’t like the existing laws, work to change them but don’t excuse unlawful behavior simply because you disagree with the existing laws. That’s part of being a citizen.
And past bad behavior doesn’t excuse current bad behavior. We teach our children this basic ideal all the time. Yet I still hear about how Anglos invaded Mexico or the Europeans took the US from Native Americans hundreds of years ago. What does that have to do with here & now?
What if everybody broke the laws they decided they didn’t like? Would that be ok? How about I decide that laws against drunk driving are stupid because Joe Blow drove drunk back in the 30′s and he got away with it then? Are you ok with me downing a bottle of Goldschlager & hitting the road? Cause that’s pretty much your argument here.
Excellent!!
Daniel is D-Rose with the pen!
I got to say is, Mexico had a law in 1836 which stated that no Anglo American can not settle in Mexico territory. WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. Anyway: most Americans say we don’t hate Mexicans, we just hate the Mexicans that come to the U.S. Illegally. Isn’t Ironic?
Something to think about. Good article.
What’s good is bad and whats bad is good. Ay bendito!
US WHITE Society has lost its Marbles…and all decency and all respect for others and that is very prevalent as we can see from the Blatant Racist war against Latino/Hispanics in the US!
I just don’t argue with ignorants!
Sadly, it’s not just Mexicans that they target though. Now they are going after women, blacks, Latinos, and basically anyone that doesn’t agree with them. The reality is that everyone except Native Americans are immigrants. And look what happened to them. Nothing short of extermination due to greed.
Good article!
Spectacular article. Well done.
The author talks about how is family came here legally. Then says how its wrong how the illegals get treated. I bet you his own family who came here right would say its wrong to come here any other way. From the people I talk to they don’t like the self entitlement the people feel on coming here.
I feel America is still a beacon of light in this world for people to come to, but do it right. Why give anyone more of a reason to hate us. Then when you are here please PLEASE don’t talk about how its so good back home. I’m so tired of hearing that.
This article will assist the internet users for setting up new web site or even a blog from start
to end.