To briefly summarize the article's argument, Americans on the "outside", or in theory, oppose illegal immigration, but in reality enjoy its benefits far more than they let on- benefits like "low grocery prices and cheap yard work and housecleaning services".
The article concluded with propositions of immigration reform which are listed bellow;
"We have long supported a comprehensive immigration reform that deals with the major challenges. That reform should include:
• Enhanced border security to limit the growth of illegal immigration. That would also make our nation safer from terrorists intent on doing damage to our country.
• A fair guest-worker program that provides a reliable pool of workers to industries that need foreign laborers.
• A means for those already here illegally to earn legal residency if they meet strict requirements, including paying fines and showing they have had a responsible work history.
President George W. Bush offered a wise reform package in 2007. But it fell apart in the Senate when Republicans and Democrats alike blocked it. They simply didn't want to fix the broken system because both parties had constituencies that benefited from maintaining the status quo.
Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2010/11/20/1437902/in-denial-over-immigration.html#ixzz15zYqtx9b"
What really interested me about this article were the responses it got, many of them truly surprised me. One comment definitely stuck out and seemed to demonstrate so many misconstrued beliefs in a very short space:
BS, BS, and BS again. I won't go to a carwash that employes Hispanics; corporate farms DO NOT PASS ON SAVINGS TO THE CONSUMER. The American taxpayer pays a huge price for a fruit to be picked. Give us the opportunity, and we'll pick our own. I do. Oh yes, I clean my own home and would flatly refuse to allow a Hispanic into my home considering the millions who are here illegally. I, nor most Americans, "enjoy" benefits from the millions of welfare class invaders.
Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2010/11/20/1437902/in-denial-over-immigration.html#ixzz15zZU3Czs
Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2010/11/20/1437902/in-denial-over-immigration.html#ixzz15zZU3Czs
That comment was posted by someone under the name, "sickofspics"- which, much like the comment, left me speechless. "Spic" is a racial slur for a person of Hispanic descent and I just cannot believe that people legitimately throw the word around without having a second thought about it.
I think that this relates very well to Leo Chavez's text where he describes how the Hispanic population as a whole has been generalized into one and alienated. The person that posted the comment above under such a derogatory name is propelling the same phenomena that the general public is promoting when referring to immigrants as aliens; dehumanizing them.
I also think it is worth noting how the person commenting argues, "Give us the opportunity, and we'll pick our own. I do." I have to question the truth in the "I do", I just think that too many Americans argue that point, but do not back it up at all. Additionally, stating that they "would fatly refuse to allow a Hispanic into [their] home considering the millions who are here illegally" is again, a huge generalization and comes across as quite ignorant.
Overall, while I do think that the article was quite interesting and did speak truth, the comments (the one above in particular) really amazed me and seemed to run right in line with Leo Chavez's book. It is very sad to me that in this day and age people continue to use such hateful language, especially in regard to speaking to/about fellow human beings.
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