by Kathrin Ivanovic
Tuesday afternoon, more than a hundred allies joined seven undocumented students in Hurt Park on Georgia State University’s campus as they demanded GSU to not comply with the bans on access to higher education. They delivered a letter to the office of the GSU president, asking him not to comply with a Georgia Board of Regents’ restriction barring undocumented students from attending the state’s top five universities. The seven undocumented youth and growing group of allies marched through campus carrying signs and chanting slogans such as ‘Undocumented! Unafraid!” which has become a rallying cry for the movement.
The students and protesters took over and shutdown Courtland Street that runs through the GSU campus. All seven undocumented students were arrested yesterday afternoon after shutting down a four-lane overpass over Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta mere blocks from the state’s Capitol Building. They are currently being held at Atlanta City Jail, where they could face deportation proceedings because of their immigration status.
For all seven—Georgina Perez, Viridiana Martinez, Jose Rico Benavides, Dayanna Rebolledo, Andrea Rosales, David Ramirez, and Maria Marroquin—the United States has been their home for most of their lives. Their parents brought them to the United States as young children or infants, to offer them a better life. Yet, all they have received have been empty promises. While changes in the law in 1996 made them ineligible to apply for citizenship, legislation that would have reopened a pathway to legalization was derailed in Congress last session.
After nearly half a decade of patiently waiting for members of Congress to do the right thing—provide a just path to legalization—undocumented students across the country, compelled by their convictions, are claiming their voice and coming out of the shadows to declare their status. They are unafraid and unapologetic.
“We feel the time for us to stand has come. I am not only doing this for my friends who are in the same situation, but for my mom who did everything she could to give me a better life,” says Georgina Perez, 21, one of the undocumented youth, brought here from Mexico at the age of 3. Georgina went on to say, “I feel scared not knowing what might happen to me today, but I also know that if I do not take action that my future will remain uncertain for much longer.”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTeh1m0qiEU&w=560&h=349]
“Young people have always been at the forefront of the civil rights movement,” stated David Ramirez, an undocumented youth from Chicago, Illinois, “If you claim to stand with us, fight with us. Help us defend our dignity and worth as members of American society. I’ve decided whose side I am on and I have chosen to act. I ask you now to do the same.”
“I am the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, and this is my home,” Virdiana Martinez told a crowd of a hundred students and supporters. “I am undocumented and I am unafraid!” The North Carolina student had gone on a 13-day hunger strike in downtown Raleigh last year in a attempt to get Senator Kay Hagan to vote for the DREAM Act.
Each of the students asked other undocumented youth to come out. “We cannot be afraid,” said Andrea Rosales. “If you are undocumented, come out and say you are undocumented.”
Maria Marroquin, brought to the United States when she was thirteen, was similarly direct: “I want other undocumented youths to stand up and defend your right to live in this country.”
Photos by Kung Li
To learn more about Kathrin, check out The Diversity Projekt.
______________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those
of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
About Being Latino Contributors
She wants other illegal aliens to “stand up and defend their RIGHT to live in this county”?!?? she has NO RIGHT to live in this country! I’m so sick of all these arrogant illegals demanding what is not theirs!!!!
7 students were arrested yesterday and are now could face deportation. These students are absolutely standing up for what is theirs. Their parents pay taxes just like you and your parents. Don’t believe the hype that immigrants bleed the welfare systems, because they hardly ever take any handouts. They work hard and pay their taxes so their kids can have a better life. It’s not arrogrance, it’s called perseverance and grit. Don’t be ignorant and understand that without immigrant labor and their taxes, this country’s economy would be worse.
“Undocumented? Oh, you mean illegal? As in “illegal alien?” As in, my parents came here illegally, and I’m here illegally, too? As in, we’re not true law-abiding citizens? Yep. You are. I hope they send your illegal butts back to Mexico. And they are leeches, a giant burden on both our tax and healthcare costs. Are you aware of how much additionally I have to pay on my car insurance because so many illegals are driving around with no insurance, and getting into accidents? And it seems like most of the DWI deaths I hear about involve illegals. Not here hurting anyone? Wake up to reality.
Jazmin, I agree with you 100%
Wow, so now it is ignorant to point out that these 7 students are not just “undocumented” but resident here in this country illegally. So, all those other students that are here *legally* on an F1 Visa are just suckers that should have just showed up without having to go through the process of coming here legally. The unmitigated gall and IGNORANCE of them demanding some non-existent right to be here is what is amazing, not the legitimate acknowledgement of how stupid this really is. Deportation in this case will be a net gain since they are obviously stupid enough to publicly proclaim their illegal residential status.
Perhaps it is unfair that their parents made the decision to break the immigration laws of this country. Perhaps it is unfair that their country (Mexico?) is so riddled with violence and economic chaos that their parents felt it made more sense to cross the border illegally. The fact that they work hard does not excuse this. The fact that they wanted a better life for their (stupid and entitled) children does not excuse this. The fact that they pay sales taxes does not excuse this. They can’t pay income tax legitimately since they can’t have the documentation to file a legitimate I-9. The real solution for this is to go back to their country of origin and get in line. I’m sorry they “feel” it’s unfair since they have been here “most of their lives” – but I fail to see how living here illegally longer somehow magically makes it better. I fail to see how rewarding law-breaking by passing legislation forgiving is “fair” or magically equates to justice.
This country’s economy would be just fine without illegal immigrant labor despite what left-wing agitators might think. I also note that we typically only see illegal immigrants from Mexico protesting and behaving this way. I haven’t seen the illegal Canadians fomenting for change. Likewise, haven’t seen the illegal Somalians protesting that their illegal entry should be washed away because they demand it.
I love immigrants. My mother is a first-generation immigrant. My father’s family came through Ellis island several generations back. I love aspects of the “latino” culture. I love all freedom seeking people who want a better life. I feel sadness at the drug violence in Mexico, which is supported in large part by the “War on Drugs” in the US. But none of this excuses law-breakers.
OK haters, since you can’t dispute any of this, just pile on the hate. that’s what you do.
i agree with you JAZMIN!!!
I believe ppl that are set on that we are illegal just feel very threaten that were are becoming a majority!
before you know it we will be in the government as senators and congressman and mayors and so forth and that is something they dont ever want.
No. We think that you should not be rewarded for breaking the law, when many others follow the law and come here legally. Also – I think you need to look up the word “majority”. If mean that illegal Mexican immigrants are becoming a majority, you are sadly mistaken. In fact, although Spanish-speaking immigrants from Mexico and South America are an important segment of our population (at least the *legal* ones), they are still by no means a majority. You better go do some more homework.
I also agree with Jazmin. People are NOT illegal. When you use that language, repeatedly, your own xenophobia and racism come out. Especially when you say ‘illegal alien’ JON.
Also, Americans break the law, casually, all the time (Speeding, drinking while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and many more). So the outrage over breaking the law is at best ridiculous.
Dawn – actually *you* are the one that is being hateful by calling me racist and xenophobic when neither is in the least true. Additionally you are splitting semantic hairs when you claim that labeling an activity as illegal conflates with somehow dehumanizing a person.
The fact of the matter is that either a nation-state has the legal right to impose rules, regulations and restrictions on immigration, or it doesn’t. If it does, then someone who enters illegally not only commits a crime when they enter, but *continues* to commit this crime every second of every day they stay here illegally. This places them in a category which is called “Illegal Immigrant” – the older term was “Illegal Alien” which I’ll concede seems unnecessarily denigrating. In any case the only way we have to distinguish this status is to use descriptive words.
And the outrage is not over breaking a simple law like speeding etc, the outrage (at least for me) is that entering the country illegally and staying here illegally usurps and devalues the efforts of all the *good* people who follow the *legal* path to citizenship. There are many of these, and I am a big fan of all of them, wherever they are from.
Being in a country illegally is not a “race” or a “culture” – so being against that is neither xenophobic or racist. I am against it whether you are Mexican, Canadian, Russian or from anywhere else.
Dawn – you need to grow up intellectually and start thinking for yourself instead of parroting the hate that the community activists keep spewing. And if you *are* one of those hate-filled activists – stop it. Instead – start helping families get here legally and support the communities of legal immigrants in their merit-filled journey. Jeez….
This is for JON, NOHATE AND JUPITER…. Get your facts straight and do some research before spouting bigoted talking points. You can start by reading these sources (all copyrights exclusive to authors of the following articles):
http://www.urban.org/publications/900898.html
http://jifm.tamu.edu/imfacts.htm
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/27/a-nativist-argument-for-immigration.html
http://www.economist.com/node/12814626
http://www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Immigration.html
And here’s an article to inform you about the anti-immigration policy-makers behind some of the most racist anti-immigrant legislation in the US today… The most outspoken politicians seem to have a problem doing things LEGALLY themselves:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/opinion/29tue3.html?_r=2&scp=3&sq=levy&st=cse
http://nysiaf.org/2011/04/05/arizona-anti-immigrant-pols-dogged-by-criminal-allegations/
and the word is UNDOCUMENTED. Only things can be “illegal”.
Patricia,
The fact remains that you are the one calling names. And your references do nothing to address the issue – which is that there are people who immigrate into the United States *legally* every day. Then there are those people who break the *current* law of the land (I am talking about Federal law – not state), and persist in their crime for as long as they remain here.
It is intellectually dishonest to try and soften the issue by using doublespeak terms like “Undocumented”, when someone’s status is that they have entered and remain here in violation of current Federal law – that is to say “illegally”.
There is actually a term for the type of argument that you, Dawn and Jazmin are using. It is called “Ad Hominem” argumentation – where you attack the person and not the argument. My argument is simple. When large numbers of people from another country enter and remain here illegally it devalues the legal route to citizenship, causes animosity from legal residents and causes severe hardship for themselves.
I challenge you to dismantle my points based on current immigration law, and without resorting to the way that you wish it were or propose it to be.
Untrue. A person who immigrates to country is an immigrant. A person who illegally enters and remains present illegally is an illegal immigrant. In fact – I’ll bet that most illegal immigrants have a lot of documentation from their country of origin.
most people that came to this country were ‘illegal’,,, hey no hate where are the immigration papers for the pilgrims? i bet if we go back into all the haters families we will find ancestors who were here without papers…. call us what you will but in 20-30 years we will run this country.
Really, one thing sums up this whole comment thread: unless you’re a Native American, you need to STFU about what is or isn’t Illegal, because you (we) have no right to be on this land in the first place. My French/ German family has been here for over two centuries. One of my ancestors was a general in the Civil War. We’ve been here far longer than most other white folks who arrived en masse in the nineteenth-century. In that sense, I’m more “American” than most of the bigots in this ridiculous debate, and I say anyone who wants to come here should be able to come here freely. The blending of wildly different cultures is what makes this country an incredible place and always has.
NO HUMAN BEING IS ILLEGAL!!! I’ll tell you what is illegal and a crime…the way Europeans displaced, killed and stole land form the indigenous people all throughout America (the continent). Your ancestors were the biggest law breakers of all and today you continue their legacy so stop the hypocrisy. We’ve learned to co-exist even with your arrogance. You call people names, you dehumanize people and then run for cover. Our continent is healing and the process of regeneration will not be stopped regardless of how many angry posts you write. You’re better off going out for a drink-you seem stressed. With every raging post, our power grows. A rattlesnake, if cornered will become so angry it will bite itself. That is exactly what the harboring of hate and resentment against others is – a biting of oneself. We think we are harming others in holding these spites and hates, but the deeper harm is to ourselves. ~E. Stanley Jones
My heart bleeds for these students. I am 100% for immigrant rights (those with AND without documentation), 100% for the DREAM act, and 100% for standing up to unjust policies, laws and regulations. However, I am AGAINST the current movement for undocumented youth to “come out” so to speak. Although it’s very brave and commendable that they are finding a collective voice, for many the trade-off and repercussions of doing so outweigh any potential benefit. I am part of a bi-national couple, and know firsthand the daily struggles, heartache and loss felt every single hour when families are torn apart and futures are jeopardized. It’s reckless to encourage undocumented youth to “come forward,” because although they may draw attention and some supporters, at the end of the day those cheering them on and chanting alongside them get to go home, safe and secure, while the undocumented students face a jail cell and deportation. This one event will CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER. In the heat of the moment, surrounded by other impassioned youth, it’s perhaps easier to overlook tomorrow and dealing with today’s consequences. Making yourself a visible target is a serious decision and one that those who do not face the same consequences should never advocate.
And, I also want to be clear that I recognize the merit in de-stigmatizing anything that has been used as means to oppress and victimize, and that the goal may be to take away some of the shame many undocumented youth feel as a result of their status. In many instances, re-claiming that which has been used to degrade someone, and turning it into a positive, results in a sense of ownership that serves to undermine the power of those who initially stigmatized it. (for example, “Chicano” at one time being an insult but now a label worn with pride by many; women, tired of being called “Bitch,” using it as a rallying term to signify independance and being vocal/opinionated). So, perhaps the hope is that by taking away the stigma of being labeled “illegal” (or even “undocumented”), it will cease to be cause for marginalization and fear-mongering. But is it fair to ask or encourage these young people to be the sacrificial lambs? Georgina Perez, for example, has re-routed her life’s path, possibly sentenced herself to a future of poverty and struggle (which her parents likely endured many obstacles to overcome and avoid primarily so that she WOULDN’T end up in the same situation), and for what? For xenophobic creeps like ‘NoHate’ above to continue to propogate bigotry and hate? I just wonder if, in the grand scheme of immigration policy (which is simply a huge political and strategic game for most politicians), their very real loss and sacrifice that will stay with them for years, was worth the moments of awareness it drew.
Some people want to express their freedom of speech but at the end of the day they do not even know what they are talking about. “Send them back” who?? send who back?? Send you back! You don’t belong here either, none of us do. This land was owned by Native Americans, they are the only rightful citizens of this land. Everyone else either immigrated to America, or their ancestors did. Undocumented people in America are not at fault for trying to better their lives. People come from all over the world to see what we here America are all about, and yet even though they see how expensive it is and how hard it is for them to stay, they stay because in their homeland there is nothing but tyranny and destruction due to drugs and money. Drugs and money that AMERICA CITIZENS are more than 68% of the consumers of. All those people here who do drugs or do money scams, or try to live of a cheap life, those are the real criminals. Those are the people we need to fight against. I am an American Citizen born and raised, Graduated from A top University, and am now studying Law at Stanford, I also just launched my business, and as a young 21 yr Latina you may think its hard, but like me there are a lot of us out-here, David Ramirez and the other 6 students are exactly like me. And if you were to see me and David Ramirez together, you couldn’t tell that he was undocumented or that I could very well be undocumented. David along with the other Dream Students were raised just like me. They embraced our culture and that is the only one they know! Nor their family nor did they commit a crime, because why, because The United States Of America states that everyone in this land across the state to each shiny sea, deserves the right to the Pursuit of happiness. Be Realistic People, The only people responsible for your economical misery is yourself. You are not making the right choices with your money, you rather buy a car you don’t need with money you could use for food and or health insurance. You, yourself make your own life count. You yourself is to blame for, if your child is not going to college. If you know the college process then you would know if your child was deserving of scholarships and or aid because of their grades then they would have been in school. Don’t blame others for how your life is because at the end of the day, the only person you are fooling is yourself. The Dream Students and all of their allies, are doing something for their dream, they are not conformed with their current situation, and they are doing the best they can to live a happy life, and if that bothers some of you, well then you need to sit back and reflect in your life. To all of IYJL I am proud to say that thanks to you and all your determination, other children in the future will have the dream be a reality! Keep it up and you are simply what America Stands for, you define to me what ” land of the brave and land of the free means” and I stand in solidarity with you and all the Dreamers and allies!!!
I find it interesting and very telling that I have not insulted anyone in these comments, yet people are falling over themselves to insult me, and call me names, without addressing the content of my comments.
Nancy Sepulveda wrote: “…xenophobic creeps like ‘NoHate’ ” and ” …propogate[sic] bigotry and hate?”
How can I be xenophobic when I love people from all cultures? My mother was born in Europe, I have close friends from the Middle East, Mexico, India, Japan and Chile. Of course all of my friends emigrated here following all the rules to the letter (as far as I know). This is racist? This is xenophobic? This is bigoted? It looks to me like the true racists and bigots have outed themselves in these comments. I challenge you to support the claim that I am propagating bigotry and hate without simply repeating it over and over.
My propositions are simple.
1) We have laws. Previous history doesn’t change them.
2) We can look to our history to inform our future decisions, but trying to use history to insult others by charging them with their “father’s sins” is intellectually dishonest and deplorable.
3) If you are a citizen and don’t like the laws we have, follow the proper channels and try to get them changed – but don’t be surprised if everyone does’t agree with you.
4) If you are not a citizen, you don’t have standing to have a say in our laws.
5) People who emigrate into a country (any country) are called “immigrants” in “Standard American English” (such that it is).
6) If people enter this country illegally, then they illegally emigrated. The common term is illegal immigrant. “Immigrant” is the noun, “illegal” is the adjective. Again, basic standard American English. I think that is about 7th Grade grammar.
7) If an illegal immigrant remains in a country after entering illegally, they didn’t just break the law once, their immigration status is such that they continue to break the law as long as they remain here in violation of immigration law.
8) Rewarding illegal behavior devalues the efforts of those who follow the law, and further encourages additional illegal behavior. This is a form of “Moral Hazard” where the person that is exposing themselves to a risk, is not forced to bear the consequences of the risks they take.
Again – I challenge anyone here who has been calling me names to point out the error in any of my propositions. The closest thing I have heard to an intelligible argument (as opposed to name calling) is that somehow the term “illegal immigrant” is a term of oppression. Frankly this is a non-sequitur as it doesn’t argue against any of my premises. Incidentally, the term “illegal” *should* have a stigma. If you break the law, there are consequences. If you can’t tolerate the consequences – don’t break the law. This explains why illegal immigration is different from traffic violations or other minor offenses. If I exceed the speed limit by less then 10-15mph, the consequence is probably a fine. So what I risk is a fine and maybe some points on my license. If you remain here in violation of immigration law, you risk deportation – a much bigger consequence. Perhaps it is worth the risk, but don’t whine if you get caught. Relative to the original post, it was really stupid for those students to broadcast their status and then whine when they got busted. Calling them brave makes no sense – as a result of their parent’s actions, they were in the wrong and they are old enough to know it.
Frankly, your argument about the term “illegal” is nothing more than a rather blatant attempt to “control the narrative”. That won’t work with me since I am the one using words properly. Is a person “undocumented” when they have a birth certificate or a driver’s license in another country? It is unlikely that an illegal immigrant has no documentation, it is simply that the documentation they do have proves they are here illegally. Using “undocumented” as the adjective is at a minimum misleading, because what they really lack is an entry visa into this country – not documentation.
Instead of just telling people to STFU (Ryan) or other names (others), perhaps a better strategy would be to control your anger and to debate the merits and work for change in a positive manner. This sort of vitriol is simply an attempt to dehumanize *me*; to turn me into some sort of sub-human hate monger.
In the end, I sense that the real underlying issue for some of you (lalupe in particular), is that some of you hate “Anglos” and want to “take back what’s yours”. I think you might be a bit surprised at the ultimate result should you succeed … so careful what you wish for.
Peace.
..don’t know why that emoticon showed up – did not type it…
@ NoHate — you’re absolutely right. I should not have used the term “creep” in describing you, and did so in a moment of impassioned commentary. In retrospect, it is an insult much too simplistic and adolescent to adequately capture the disdain with which I hold your stance. I apologize.
If you are studying law, you really need to work on your argumentation skills. Frankly, based on your writing and English skills, I find it difficult to believe that you were admitted to Stanford Law School. If I can give you a tip; paragraphs are your friends.
Also, “economical misery” would mean misery that is efficient or makes good use of resources. I think perhaps you meant “economic misery”.
Also – you probably meant to say:
“And if you were to see me and David Ramirez together, you couldn’t tell that he was here illegally or that I could very well be violating immigration law.”
I can say with near certainty that you are not “undocumented” . If you graduated from an “A top University”, then you at least have school documents. I’d bet big money that you had your vaccination records. Undocumented indeed.
Torturing and twisting the English language until words don’t mean what they mean is subversive and ill-intentioned.
You also said:
“Nor their family nor did they commit a crime, because why, because The United States Of America states that everyone in this land across the state to each shiny sea, deserves the right to the Pursuit of happiness. Be Realistic People, The only people responsible for your economical misery is yourself.”
Try telling that to your law school professor. Only, I would work on that sentence structure first if I were you …
@Nancy … again I challenge you to substantiate your name calling. How am I creep to suggest that people follow the laws in a land and work to change those that they think are wrong or immoral?
I just glanced at the long posts in here.
To the self righteous peeps in here: Oh, so you have never in your life done something “illegal”? Jesus is among us after all so it seems
And to whoever posted that these lands originally belonged to the Natives, that is very true. Natives and Aztecs were here way before Anglos. If I am so against “illegal” inmigrants, then on principle alone (If I’m so adamant about principles, of course) I should go back to where my ancestors came from and return these lands to whom it’s rightfully theirs.
As a country, the US went into an illegal war with Irak according to the United Nations. What does that make of us as a country and as citizens?
They have broke the law, as most of us have in one way or another. They did it for survival, for a better future for their families, to scape oppressive governments (Rings any bells) Why did YOU break the law for? Answer that, and then come back at me.
No hate-I think you should re-read my previous comment.
I do not hate white people that would be absurd. I love all people as should you. I do however dislike the hypocrisy and the arrogance that SOME (not all) the decedents of European settlers exhibit and their lack of respect for others.
This land is not your land. Land belongs to all of god’s children. Your notion of land grab, displacement, exploitation, discrimination is morally wrong. It was wrong all throughout history and it’s wrong now. I beg you to really study the stories and the realities that brings all of us to these dialogues. All I’m asking is that you be respectful of the long and painful journey that has brought all of us here…including your ancestors. Honestly, if you met me I have no doubt you would love me. I can tell by your last post that your just trying to get a rise out of folks by repeating the same void points over and over again. In your heart you know better, humans are not illegal. Yes, there may be humans all over the world living in different countries that lack official documentation or permission but guess what? They’re still human b/c humans are not illegal. Why do you insist in applying the term? What does that do for you?
I know some of this is so exciting to you, you want to debate and argue w/ folks but at the end of the day it’s so silly.
As for your thoughts:
1. We have laws. Previous history doesn’t change them
I say previous history certainly informs these laws you speak about…your laws include (ed) land grab, genocide, slavery, segregation, denying women and people of African decent their humanity, voting rights…your laws have been wrong before and they’ve had to be changed. This argument is silly. Of course back then there were people like you who fought to hold on to the status quo, they justified these cruel laws just like you attempt to justify limiting the rights of immigrants, taking their voice and chastising them away as illegals. The truth is men make laws therefore laws are imperfect and it is our duty to be morally responsible and not repeat the same mistakes, it is our duty to ensure that our laws are fair and this is why we advocate for immigration reform, new border policies, global cooperation, etc.
2) We can look to our history to inform our future decisions, but trying to use history to insult others by charging them with their “father’s sins” is intellectually dishonest and deplorable
I say-the story is what it is and your arrogance proves that you haven’t learned any lessons from it. You still benefit from your father’s sins, you feel such entitlement, you continue to blast the same hate, biting away at your own spirit. In end, it keeps you from being healthy and it holds our nation back. I’m not insulting you by sharing the facts, I’m simply telling you the truth. It is shameful and denying it doesn’t make it go away. If I came from such a story, I wouldn’t in a million years blast off w/ such arrogance. Instead, I would try to correct my father’s sins and focus on helping those communities most impacted. You on the other hand sit here and try to justify your position of privilege and superiority.
3) If you are a citizen and don’t like the laws we have, follow the proper channels and try to get them changed – but don’t be surprised if everyone does’t agree with you.
AND that is exactly what we are doing and you should join us!
4) If you are not a citizen, you don’t have standing to have a say in our laws.
Here we part ways-if you are a member of our community, our society and you contribute to our community you have every right to have a say! 80% of the people who pick your food are undocumented, if they’re good enough to feed you, raise many of the European-American children, build houses, etc then they are good enough to demand respect, dignity and fair treatment. It is immoral to use your privilege and laws to continue to exploit others especially when most of them are indigenous to this great continent and have roamed freely for THOUSANDS of years. You are a simple human being in a larger universe-you don’t decide when someone has the right to exist, give an opinion, have a voice…a say. You see that’s that arrogance and sense of superiority that has no basis. Humble, good folk know better. By the way, I don’t think your a bad person, I just think you speak from a very narrow perspective that is drenched in your individuality and self-interest. You feel empowered to say things w/o much thought, there is a proverb that says listen, or your tongue will make you deaf.
5) People who emigrate into a country (any country) are called “immigrants” in “Standard American English” (such that it is)-
I agree…YES they are immigrants, they are people like you and your grandmothers/grandfathers…not illegals and certainly not aliens!
6) If people enter this country illegally, then they illegally emigrated. The common term is illegal immigrant. “Immigrant” is the noun, “illegal” is the adjective. Again, basic standard American English. I think that is about 7th Grade grammar.
I say-this adjective and it’s usage in this statement is morally incorrect as are many other adjectives used by people who want to feel like they’re ‘superior’ to another group of people (this of course being just one example). The fact that it is an adjective does not make its usage here okay. When you call someone an illegal you are attempting to make that person bad, not worthy, undeserving and this opens the door to the normalization of mistreatment, hate, discrimination, exploitation, subjugation, racism and sometimes even murder. This happens (throughout history)…it becomes okay to limit their rights and treat them poorly b/c they are “illegal” and not worthy. People who walk the righteous path and believe in being morally responsible do not try to separate themselves from their brothers/sisters, they do not attempt to position themselves as better than their neighbors and they certainly do not dehumanize others.
7) If an illegal immigrant remains in a country after entering illegally, they didn’t just break the law once, their immigration status is such that they continue to break the law as long as they remain here in violation of immigration law.
This country’s economy has benefited fully from this type of labor, it has made us a prosperous nation. You should be grateful. The truth is laws are made by people-sometimes they work, sometimes they need to be changed. These borders are new and were established by your ancestors and I know that’s why you are so protective of them. Guess what? God doesn’t care about your borders, god cares about how you treat others. Greed keeps people angry, hateful and protective, if your spirit was one of sharing your worries would be different! This is not an insult, this is a mirror that reflects your very own fears and insecurities. I have no reason to insult you. In fact, I’ve extended my hand to you. I ask you to reflect and join us. And now, I leave you with another quote which I find so appropriate for you…btw it’s not your fault, it is the language your ancestors taught you.
“How smooth must be the language of the whites, when they can make right look like wrong, and wrong like right.” -Black Hawk, Sauk
lalupe – I did go and reread your comment, and your replies in detail. You read a lot into my statements that isn’t there. Perhaps I read more into yours as well. I do have to say that the last quote you gave seems to substantiate my assumption about your attitude towards Anglos though.
Since you (unlike others here) tried to address my points, I laud you. I’m not going to give any detailed rebuttal to your arguments. I think it’s best to let it stand for people to read and think about on their own. There are definitely areas where we will have to “agree to disagree”.
There is one related item that seems to have come up frequently in the response to my posts that I feel should be addressed, and that is one of language. You said
“And now, I leave you with another quote which I find so appropriate for you…btw it’s not your fault, it is the language your ancestors taught you.”
It is true that American English is my first language, but I speak or have knowledge of several others. Whether it is English, Spanish, Japanese or German (or any other language) – *WORDS MEAN SOMETHING*. If they didn’t we would all just be making sounds and looking puzzled. When we allow words to mean something they don’t, or allow people to assign words their own private meanings, all is lost. There is little hope of authentic communication when you say “undocumented”, despite the fact someone has plenty of documentation – just not what they need to remain in compliance with immigration law – whether here or in other countries. I wonder what the Mexican authorities call people living in Mexico without a proper visa … Anyway …
As I have stated before (seemingly overlooked), it is definitely possible to *misuse* language in a way that is immoral. I find the term “illegal alien” a highly charged term that is derogatory or dehumanizing. We are all certainly human, and alien implies otherwise in common usage. But I also think it is damaging to the cause of immigration reform to try and use “code words” instead of proper American English. The reason that illegal immigrants are always looking over their shoulder is not because they lack documentation, but because they are here in violation of current immigration law. The term “illegal immigrant” recognizes and frames this fact. This provides a ready departure point to have the debate about *whether* the current law is *just* and/or *moral*. The term “undocumented” is calculated to give the impression that all that needs to happen is to “get the documents”. There is further unstated implications that these “documents” should be given without regard to the previous and/or ongoing violation of the law. So, who is really twisting the language here?
You might be surprised to learn that I support immigration reform on a number of fronts. Particularly with regard to seasonal workers. I don’t support any changes that create a moral hazard. This means I’m against any solutions that reward the rule-breaking behavior. I *am* in favor of solutions that allow for contrition and reparation for the previous transgressions leading to the ability to immigrate in compliance with the law.
This will be my last comment post. I think we have strayed away from commenting on the students, and it’s pretty clear that there is little tolerance for opposing viewpoints in these blog comments.
No hate, I think your last reply was the best one yet-I have 1 or 2 other friends that feel like you.
I understand the fear of seeing the country change, my ancestors (as recent as my parents) had to accept and deal w/ many changes to our land. While it’s difficult at times to not feel appalled at anti-immigrant’s lack of compassion,
these types of dialogues are so important.
Perhaps, we can’t change your mind but there is nothing wrong w/ explaining why the term ‘illegal(s)’ dehumanizes people.
Who knows maybe someday you will reconsider the term illegal and use undocumented…or not. I do hope you’ll remember this: we are all powerful (incl you)- use your power to do good not to uphold your privilege, seek a higher form of co-existance with all your brothers and sisters even those you call illegals. Next time you go into a restaurant, peek in the kitchen see who is cooking your food, cleaning your tables and know that you are not better than them! They have families just like you, they breathe air just like you…they’re as free and real as you are.
As for your statement: “The reason that illegal immigrants are always looking over their shoulder is not because they lack documentation, but because they are here in violation of current immigration law.
It is b/c they lack documentation that gives them permission to be here, if they had permission they wouldn’t have to look over their shoulders. Not to mention, that immigration laws are antiquated and there is no viable path to citizenship. The process has to change and I’m not talking just work visas that leave them in a subordinate positions working for petty wages. If resources were shared, we wouldn’t have to worry about being protective of our borders and hogging all the resources.
Instead of penalizing immigrants, ask yourself, why do such inequities exist globally? Did you know that the richest 20% of the world’s people earn something like 86% of world’s income? People (many in this country) have exploited other people globally and consumed way MORE than they need leaving scarcity and misery behind. Dividing the earth’s productive land by the world’s population of just over 6 billion, there are approximately 4.5 acres of land available to meet each person’s consumption needs. Already global per capita consumption is at 5.1 acres per person. In the US , per capita consumption demands 23.7 acres of productive space—far beyond one person’s fair share. In other words, if everyone (all 6 billion people on the planet) consumed like we do, we’d need FOUR MORE PLANETS LIKE THIS ONE (The Community Project).
At the end of the day, we are all human and we all seek survival. It is immoral to think that one group of people is more deserving than another. We should seek to share and help one another and calling me racist b/c I speak about our history w/o censoring it just helps you continue to justify your ways. This is a racially charged issue b/c minutemen and other anti-immigrant groups are racists but this is also a class issue. At the end of the day, I know hate can exist among all races and I stand up against it regardless of where it peaks its ugly face. Also, I was not talking about languages such as the ones you listed: Japanese, etc, I was talking about the language you tactically use to justify inequities and oppression.