WWMLKJr.S? (What would Martin Luther King Jr. Say?)

Atlanta, Georgia---I find it hard to believe that a place that once held its own in the Civil Rights era is now ushering in another controversial era, the era of immigration. I think if Martin Luther King Jr. were still alive he would be disgusted with what was happening in Arizona, and more recently what is happening to his state of Georgia. A lot of people may argue otherwise, but if I recalled history correctly his I Have A Dream speech had a line which said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." 

This passage is important to history, to our nation, and serves as a reminder of what once was and what should never be again. That speech was given in August of 1963 but I guess in this fast paced world no one has bothered to take the time to remember what it means. The immigration laws which were borne out of hate and political needs have once again built a racial barrier between man and government. In this situation man is anyone who looks remotely "illegal" and in most profiling cases, one who looks Hispanic. It seems in 2011 brown skin  is the black skin of 1963 but the hate remains the same. 

A lot of people will poke holes in my argument, saying an illegal alien is an illegal. They crossed the border, they broke our laws and they must be punished. They must be put on display, they must be shamed, they must be humiliated. We must single them out and exploit them. They must be used for our political agendas. When our economy falters we must have someone to blame. It's never our fault, but it will be theirs.

A hand full of people dislike the comparison between the Civil Rights movement and the growing movement against anti-immigration laws. However, they simply neglect to remember what each of their core values represent. If you boil it down to the basics, humans just want to be treated like humans. The Civil Rights movement wasn't charioted by the ideology of citizen vs citizen, it was human vs human. Whether you're black, white, Asian, Hispanic, legal, illegal, or citizen; no one wants to be treated like something less than what God intended them to be. 

So what does an illegal immigrant look like? Almost everyone will answer that they are brown, they speak Spanish, they are Catholic in faith, and they steal our jobs. These terrible stereotypes not only advocate to ignorance but it also proves why Dr. King would feel uncomfortable in our world now. We are targeting people who not only have brown skin but are Hispanic. If you put an illegal immigrant of Mexican origins right next to a Mexican American who is a citizen, how do you which is which? How can we as Americans, righteous in our nature and always benevolent to other countries in need, swiftly turn our backs on other human beings? Yes, they broke the law, that is what made them illegal in the first place, but what made them less than human? When did it become okay to suddenly ostracize people?

I recently read an article about a man who's car broke down on the interstate. No one would stop to help him, his run in with bad luck was at a boiling point and he was in bad shape in every aspect of his life. A Mexican family pulled over and helped him. The parents didn't speak English but had their daughter translate for them. The Mexican man helped the gentleman change his tire, his wife gave him a tamale because she noticed he was hungry and in the end the man tried to give the family 20 bucks. They drove off, he waved goodbye but while unraveling his last tamale he noticed they had sneaked his 20 bucks back. The man said he cried in his car and was grateful. 

These are the types of stories we don't hear in America. We're a civilization of Facebook and Twitter, where the biggest scandals sells the most, and the heartfelt stuff is strictly reserved for those who take the time to find it. The Mexican family who helped the man are a prime example of what Martin Luther King Jr. would have been looking for as a counter argument for the hate and adversity we face today. I think it would be a dishonor to his memory to make a complex issue like immigration into a simple platform for discrimination. I think the recent usage of such a volatile topic to boost election numbers is a disgusting exploitation tactic. I hope we don't repeat history and I hope one day the hate will end. 

Arizona V. Utah: Not a court case, just a rant.

Once again, I find myself unable to sleep. There's part of me that believes that my insomnia for tonight is stemming from the supposed "Super Moon" everyone on the Twitterverse has been hyping about. Although, from my back porch, the apparent size of the lunar clump just seems to be the same but with a brighter glow. In fact, the gleam of florescent tinge hitting my back yard is actually lighting parts of the abyss I normally don't get to see at night. So here I am at 12:42 AM my time with exhaustion from the day and a rampant mind. What am I about to write about you say? The recent change in immigration talks by the GOP that has flummoxed, well, the GOP themselves.

Utah recently passed a complex legislation on immigration. It seems the Republican iron fists in Utah have finally had an epiphany, immigrants aren't the enemy after all, the Do-Nothing attitude of the federal government is. By enacting such laws I believe two finite things will occur, (1) some WingNut will sue and (2) it may lead to more states branching off from the Arizona-esque laws. I've been told by some that I am very hopeful in my thinking that Comprehensive Immigration Reform will pass soon and I still hold that belief. It's not just a matter of principle for myself but it's also within my Christian belief. You may be thinking "oh no, religion and politics, this guy is about to go on a rant about the Constitution." Although tempting as it is, I allude to Christianity because for all intensive purposes, Utah is Latter Day Saints in majority.

God will it? No, I can't speculate on divine intervention. However, I do know that most religious affiliated organizations do hail to the pro-migrant side of arguments. As a matter of fact, a handful of Christian organizations have come out in full support of the Dream Act, even with its defeat in the Senate back in December 2010, they still place faith in change. I think with the recent change in tone, maybe Christians will be the voice resonating immigration reform. It seems that although the GOP and Democrats will continue to play politics with this issue, maybe they'll all agree to be good Christians? It's a stretch but I am open minded to the idea that those in congress do have a heart somewhere deep deep beneath those sharp tongues and sneaky demeanor.

Assuming the last two paragraphs were a bunch of crock from the depths of my soul, lets get down to business. It is always about business after all when dealing with immigration and politics. The Republicans in Utah most likely passed the law because it wouldn't harm their already robust economy, and it would actually add to their net worth. Lets face it, Utah knows how to balance its check books and keep everything in the positive. If you don't believe me then take a very close look at Arizona. As if Arizona was even in a position to delegate on any more immigration matters they once again tried to pass even more unbearable laws. Unfortunately for those hot shots in charge, their show of power was shoved off to the side by none other than their true constituents, BIG BUSINESS. Businesses from all over stepped in and finally said "enough is enough". Falling face first to the floor, the Arizona legislature should definitely take a hint. (Hint: The people would like their $XXX million in tourism revenues back please.)

In my last blog I mentioned how businesses ran the show, and this just confirms my crack pot theory. If businesses, whether big or small, keep the pressure on their governing bodies then something will eventually happen in terms of reform. If you are a believer that our economy will stand on solid ground without the help of immigrants (whether legal or illegal), foreigners or the rest of the world, then you haven't flipped over your "I heart America" coffee mugs that reads "made in China", lately.

My Crazy Theory on Immigration

When I was growing up the most fascinating thing about life was diversity. I cherished my extended family and welcomed the notion that people came from all walks of life. I knew not everyone was the same, and I understood that there were all sorts of people in this world. I grew up with friends who were from Europe, Latin America and Asia. I valued each and everyone’s uniqueness and individuality. I believed that being diverse gave our friendships something special. It is after all the American way to be accepting of others and to love them for who they are.

Fast forward to 2011 and you begin to see a different version of America. The melting pot of different ethnicities, cultures, and religions that we once boasted has suddenly become an immigrant’s nightmare. Being an immigrant in America is not uncommon but in the past few years it has been exploited as a social evil and corrupted by politics. I’ve noticed when someone says the words “immigrant” or “immigration” people tend to jump to negative connotations. Sometimes it is even automatically implied that you are an “illegal alien” just because you are an immigrant. It is an unjust oversimplification and in essence this very act has created a second class of Americans.

Who are these second class of Americans? Well from what I’ve seen they are usually Hispanic immigrants whether illegal or legal. We have a tendency to bundle all Hispanics into an umbrella term, “Mexicans”. It’s not only bad to call a Hispanic person Mexican but it is also narrow-minded and we must also bear in mind that not all Mexicans are illegal immigrants. They may make up the vast majority of illegal immigrants but we shouldn’t profile them in this manner. If we paint the picture of illegal immigrants as Mexicans who cross the border then we will never find a solution or real comprehensive immigration reform. If the problem is not that simple then the solution won’t be either.

Accordingly, we see Jim Crow-esqe laws popping up in Arizona and pretty soon a handful of other states; the attack on immigrants usually start in politics. In a recent article I read, a representative in Kansas described their proposed law to target illegal immigrants. When asked what might one of those look like, she responded a “person with an olive complexion.” Just from reading that I found it hard to believe that these laws weren’t profiling people, nonetheless Hispanics. Not to mention ICE’s recent arrest of a man who turned out to be a U.S. citizen, again, profiling.

There are two things that needs to be addressed pertaining to our immigration system. The first and most obvious one we all know; the immigration system is broken and has since mutated into a 50-state free for all. This allows for 50 different states to enact 50 different laws personalized for political gain. At this point the federal government should step in, however they haven’t and I will get to this point later on. Secondly, we need to have a pragmatic approach to illegal immigration. We have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in America at this point in time. Although shouting “No Amnesty” and “go back to Mexico” would be the more nativist approach, it isn’t pragmatic. Basically, we can’t deport 12 million people given the harm it will do to our already delicate economy and the nature of finding all 12 million.

I find it hard to believe that no one in congress has tackled the issue of immigration. It has festered so badly that it is one of the top three “hot topic” issues facing America. My theory is the lack of progress on this issue is somehow linked to the economy. Every politician in D.C. knows that unless they deal with the deficit and failing economy, they will be targeted and dealt with at the polls. However I believe that immigration is being held hostage by both sides in an attempt to either appease their constituents or be used later as a scapegoat.

Let’s review some arguments brought up by the GOP first. The more obvious and well flourished one is that “illegal immigrants have taken jobs away from American citizens” thusly impacting the economy. Although this may hold true to a certain extent, I firmly believe that they take jobs that we as Americans hold with low regards. Since I was little my parents have taught me to do well in school so that I can get a degree and get a great job. I have yet to have someone tell me to do well in school, and then work as a bus boy for the next 40 years. The jobs which these illegal immigrants take are usually the ones we are either disgusted by or are beneath us. I can’t speak for everyone, but being in college I know that most of my peers would at least agree with me. As harsh as this may sound, it’s the honest truth and it is why I am being educated in the first place.

Another argument brought up by conservatives is “No Amnesty because they broke the law”. I will not even mention the fact that Regan, the Republican’s worshiping idol, gave amnesty while he was in office. This is one of the more justifiable arguments; however I tend to have a weak spot in my heart for illegal immigrants and immigrants in general because I have seen just how broken our system is. Not only is it hard to get here, it is nearly impossible to understand the underlying steps to become a U.S. citizen. To the majority of Americans they believe it is as easy as filling out an application and waiting for someone at USCIS to read it. However, a more knowledgeable person knows that (a) it’s not that easy, (b) USCIS is backlogged by years, and (c) it’s a money game driven by politics. In the end if you are not broke trying to become an American you will undoubtedly be caught up in some legal debacle which can go on for years and for some, decades.

Democrats are not necessarily better at this game of politics either. The Dream Act passed the House of Representatives back in December of 2010 and would have been the first step in immigration reform. So they would have us believe. However, after watching CSPAN that day and watching the news like a hawk in previous weeks, I noticed that although they say this may not be a symbolic vote it was definitely a symbolic vote intended to boost Hispanic support and alienate the opposing party. There were good intentions behind it, I felt the sincerity in the voice of Senator Durbin but I couldn’t help but demonize on the poor timing. To wait until the lame duck session of congress after two years of having a majority in both houses and then try to shove a vote through was irresponsible. It was almost as though this was a strategized move to squash the hopes of millions of kids who wanted nothing more than to go to college or serve the only country they have ever known. It shouldn’t be put so crudely but it is what happened and everyone knew deep down inside it was another political foray.

So what exactly is congress doing up there with immigration? Nothing of course, but now we get to my point of just how integrated immigration is with the economy. On the federal level it’s a scapegoat and a show of politics. On the state level it is a way for big businesses to keep hard workers at an affordable price. Not to mention the tax revenues they generate but will never see.  You may think I am absurd and out of my mind for saying this because ICE has been cracking down on businesses like Chipotle and a thousand more businesses are being audited this very moment. However, you have to sort of read between the lines. Take Georgia for example, it is currently in the process of passing an Arizona type law. The provisions are quite stringent if not even more unbearable than Arizona’s law. Then the following week it suddenly becomes a little less strict. At first I couldn’t understand the quick change in heart given its conservative atmosphere but again after rummaging through news articles I realized that they were being less lenient to protect the agriculture industry. Of course big business always wins in the end and it always gets the final word. In Wisconsin, Governor Walker may be doing the talking but without a doubt, the Koch brothers are doing the thinking.

Now you may be thinking, what happened in the case of Arizona? Well that’s where my theory gets sketchy. I want to believe that big business is to blame for its ridiculous law because the alternative idea is almost inhumane. To think that a group of people in higher power deemed it fit to segregate, summon hate and alienate a group of individuals is almost unfathomable. However, it is happening and it’s happening in 2011.

Whatever the underlying issue for the slow progress on immigration, I have faith that we will come to our senses. We should be more welcoming to immigrants from every country and find a way to once and for all deal with the 12 million illegal immigrants already here. The solution should be pragmatic, involve a comprehensive reform, and benefit our economy, along with a bipartisan effort. We may sit here and play the blame game, as congress has been doing for the past decade, but it is this very game in which America is losing.  

Lets face facts, I FACT'd Up

The Dream Act, The Start Treaty, Don't Ask Don't Tell, and WikiLeaks are just a few issues circumventing the media today. To the average person watching the media (as I normally would be) it's just a jumble of facts and bad news anchoring. When I was doing journalism in high school I was taught to do face to face interviews and report the facts. At first I didn't take it seriously, but after our school had a few interesting events take place, school board members began to rely on our paper. I will admit, I felt important.

Fast forward to 2010 and now we have a dozen media outlets ranging from televised news to internet news to Twitter and of course, blogs. The idea of journalism has jumped from the gray and black to the high resolution pixelated. We can report smarter, faster, and with more flexibility. Basically anyone can be a journalist in this day and age. However, how many people out there are reporters? Writing is only a fraction of what the job entails, a good journalist must gather the FACTS and report the findings. And even the facts can sometimes be skewed so  readers must also do some research. 

If you turn on the TV and believe everything you hear regardless of personal research, then you might be limiting your pool of knowledge. When I find a pressing issue on the news my first instinct is to find an article online and then research some of the facts. Yes, not all of us have the time to do this and some of us quite frankly don't care. However, sometimes if you want to get to the bottom of things you got to dig way deeper. Newscasting, and written news only informs on what is important but if you want the full detail then you should take the extra time to do research. 

The past few days I have been on what some would call a "crusade" doing research on some of Congress' legislations and proposal. In the midst of my multiple browser tabs and searching through reliable online sources I found out some very interesting things. I got a micro education about Supply-side Economics, I learned that some "non-partisan" research groups are heavily supported by ONE party, false reporting and most importantly I learned that sometimes people report on outdated information. 

I want to point out that outdated information, even if it's an hour late, is detrimental to an article. This is usually due to either poor research on the journalist's part or someone else found something more profound and beat you to the punch. However, if it is the the fault of the journalist because he or she did not take the time to actually pick up a phone and call someone or shoot a question to a real living person (and not WikiPedia), then by all means, have your pitch forks ready. Usually a few hours late isn't a big deal, a whole 24 hours and your story is just meaningless.

Of course false reporting is just wrong plain and simple. There are no justifications for this action.

So let it be said if you "FACT'd Up" and aren't that great of a reporter, then definitely recant your statement and make amends. It is never okay to republish things with a correction (editing is essential to any writing, no excuses), but when you're wrong, you are so wrong especially in the public eye. 

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