A Duel of Immigration

When I read articles, editorials and letters to editors, I expect something more than a re-hash of every other comment that’s been said on the subject of illegal immigration. Media’s tendency to bring emotions into the picture isn’t deserving of these people but, to sell the printed word, every angle has to be taken to maintain the same indecision as given by politicians. Few Americans have faith in Congress to pass legislation that will be anything other than amnesty in one from or another and election-year campaigning put any meaningful dialogue indefinitely in limbo.

A case can be said that among the corporate elite in America, a mere 22% view illegal immigration as an important issue for the 2008 election and that the general electorate is at odds by a figure of 70%. Presidential contenders will be hard pressed to garner voters’ earnest acceptance and confidence toward whatever thoughts and actions they profess to make a part of their agenda if elected.

No one can argue that the influence of the estimated 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants is an overwhelming figure that represents a 4% to 7% of the 300-million citizens in the United States. And yet, there are more crossing our borders every day. Those of Mexican origin lay claim to 65% of the figures, but the actual numbers are in question because they are undocumented.

The American public generally views deportation an appropriate solution but the reality of actually implementing such a process seems an unattainable goal.

Certain business interests gladly hire these people, increasing their profits while American taxpayers continue to foot the bill in one way or another. There are no valid excuses for these businesses that encourage and accommodate this intrusion, displacing American workers. They openly admit that, since foreign competition provides products and services with cheap labor, they too must have workers willing to accept wages below what would otherwise be given. They claim their businesses would be closed without the illegals.

If Mexicans and other Hispanics/Latinos were given citizenship, wouldn’t their status of cheap labor evaporate when proper wages became mandated? I’m convinced their next maneuver would bring other illegal, undocumented aliens to fill the void. It would further undermine the stability of the middle class. For many, the American Dream would become an illusion.

Discussion of illegal immigration excludes consideration of the concerns and effects it has on the rights and economic and social status of African-Americans. Their place in the history of the United States lacks the honor and recognition for their contributions to our society. Africans were never given opportunities to escape their imprisonment as cheap labor.

Racism has always been rampant toward black citizens, often identified by the neighborhoods where the have taken in major cities throughout the country. Still, their status continues to exemplify the failed attempts to compensate for the disregard we have given their culture.

Mexicans are given access to our social services, have their children educated here and expect an accommodating shortcut to American citizenship. Most can’t speak English and are given preferential language announcements by most businesses.

Hispanic names alone bring recognition of their origin, immediately giving concern for racist endangerment. Illegal immigrants have achieved a status that evokes resentment from many Americans and perhaps justly so from other minority groups.

The language barrier undermines the American psyche, creating a confrontation of cultures. It has been said it is unlikely that we’ll become a bilingual society, yet aren’t we already a society of dual languages, as proven with the number of years we’ve been confronted by call directors requiring us to make the choices of “press one for English”, “prensa dos para Espanol”?

It can be called dual language.

I call it a duel of languages. Llamemos un duelo de idiomas.


Parcel Post 2008 @ www.parcelpost08.blogspot.com
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