Tuesday, May 02, 2006
the people united, shall never be divided
how much do people want to pay for a head of lettuce in the united states? at the moment, you can typically walk into a market anywhere and pay less than $1.50 for a head of lettuce. now consider, if you erradicated all migrant workers from the fields, mostly illegal, who then would pick the crops? your average american would find the work too difficult. even if you could find someone to do the job, they would demand substantial pay in return and expect decent housing (not the substandard housing that is generally provided). how much would a head of lettuce cost then? 6 dollars? 7 dollars? and what of strawberries, grapes, and any other fruit and vegetable one purchases from the market? all this is taken for granted.
the american domestic economy is dependent upon the migrant worker. so why this drive to demonize people searching for work? especially people who have been working and living in the united states, doing the dirty, disgusting jobs most people turn their noses at? think about it. these people wash your dishes and prepare your food at most of the restaurants you frequent. they are the ones cultivating and harvesting the crops and foods you eat. they collect your waste. they tend your gardens and provide day supervision to your children. these migrant peoples are part of everyday life whether the american public wants to acknowledge them or not.
i find the notion insane when i hear politicians demanding the immediate deportation and total denial of rights to these "so called" illegals. the irony here is that many of the peoples who are in the cross hairs are direct decendants of people who are indigenous to the americas in the first place. it is a case of the colonialist screaming and fighting to remove the natives from native land.
so. in regards to the mass demonstrations that have taken place in los angeles and other major cities across the united states, in support of these migrant people, i commend you all. it is not an easy thing to leave all you know and immigrate to another place in the world. often times you leave family and friends, in exchange for a new language, new culture, new rules, etc. these are people that need to be celebrated and encouraged. they should not be despised, but embraced because they are what makes america great: multi-culturalism. america is a place where people can share ideas, values, languages, food, music, love and friendship.
however, the loud, closed minded rhetoric of ignorant people must be confronted head on. these people must either come to realize that their views are unhealthy and need to change, or perhaps maybe they themselves should leave to immigrate some place else. that way there can be some empathy, understanding and perhaps a little compassion brought into their lives.
this is the beginning of some radical change in america (for good or ill). the people are taking back the power that rightly belongs to them. stay tuned!
the american domestic economy is dependent upon the migrant worker. so why this drive to demonize people searching for work? especially people who have been working and living in the united states, doing the dirty, disgusting jobs most people turn their noses at? think about it. these people wash your dishes and prepare your food at most of the restaurants you frequent. they are the ones cultivating and harvesting the crops and foods you eat. they collect your waste. they tend your gardens and provide day supervision to your children. these migrant peoples are part of everyday life whether the american public wants to acknowledge them or not.
i find the notion insane when i hear politicians demanding the immediate deportation and total denial of rights to these "so called" illegals. the irony here is that many of the peoples who are in the cross hairs are direct decendants of people who are indigenous to the americas in the first place. it is a case of the colonialist screaming and fighting to remove the natives from native land.
so. in regards to the mass demonstrations that have taken place in los angeles and other major cities across the united states, in support of these migrant people, i commend you all. it is not an easy thing to leave all you know and immigrate to another place in the world. often times you leave family and friends, in exchange for a new language, new culture, new rules, etc. these are people that need to be celebrated and encouraged. they should not be despised, but embraced because they are what makes america great: multi-culturalism. america is a place where people can share ideas, values, languages, food, music, love and friendship.
however, the loud, closed minded rhetoric of ignorant people must be confronted head on. these people must either come to realize that their views are unhealthy and need to change, or perhaps maybe they themselves should leave to immigrate some place else. that way there can be some empathy, understanding and perhaps a little compassion brought into their lives.
this is the beginning of some radical change in america (for good or ill). the people are taking back the power that rightly belongs to them. stay tuned!
