Monday, May 17, 2010
View From The Ditch Bank
I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND---I grew up, and live, in the State of New Mexico. Now I think I am more in the state of Confusion. The neighboring State, Arizona, passed a law saying that the Law Enforcement Officers could question people about their legal residency status. Boy, has that caused a ruckus. People are up in arms. Of course, New Mexico's Governor said there was no way we would follow that course. We want every one to know they are welcome here. Drug dealers, legal or illegal, don't seem to matter. A few years ago he even had the MVD close their offices to all legal residents and spend a day catering to those who are here illegally to issue them a New Mexico drivers license. Now, the Mayor of Albuquerque has said that his policemen can question all who they arrest about their legal status. No racial profiling here. ALL will be questioned, if they are arrested. Regardless of their race, color, creed or hairstyle. Once again there are those up in arms over that, saying that the police will "arrest" someone just to question them about their legal status. Now, what is it that I don't understand. Well, let me explain something. My youngest immigrated to a foreign country. Well, foreign to him, not to them. It is an island, so the border is kinda hard to just cross, but still he had to spend weeks or months gathering documentation to send to said country, along with $700 to apply for a visa. No, not a credit card. They could keep the money and turn down the application. They didn't. turn down the application. They did keep the money. After he moved to that country, he had only 9 months to stay, then he paid $600 more and applied for a residency. This was approved and lasted for 2 years, while he proved himself, or something. This all started in 2003 and he still lives there. And has since been give citizenship. Now, my point is, he did this legally and followed all the rules. And he is learning the language. -:) So, to get to my point. I have no problem with someone coming into this country, legally, learning the language, getting a job and becoming a good resident or even citizen. But why get upset with Arizona, or Albuquerque, just because they want the people to obey the law. Arizona did not declare martial law on it's citizens, nor did the city of Albuquerque. They just said, if you are here illegally, you are breaking the law. That little dot after the word law, says it all. So, do we uphold the law of the land and arrest and deport those who are here illegally, or do we protest when a city or state wants to uphold the laws of the land. Why should we support those tics who call for sanctions against those who advocate the upholding of the law. I say, vote them out of office and vote in those who actually know what this country is and stands for, and bring the law back into focus. And help those who want to immigrate here and contribute to the country and economy, and not just take from it, break other laws and demand rights that aren't theirs to begin with. And that's the View From The Ditch Bank
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While I don't advocate coming here illegally, you can't tell me that the new law in Arizona isn't racially motivated. And makes the entire state look bigoted. Which is a shame. Seriously. Are they going to stop white people because some may be illegal...Frenchmen? Germans? Whatever. It's a dumb law and not at all thought through. Or well.
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing about this "new" Arizona law is that it is almost identical to the federal immigration law that has been on the books for years, but nobody enforces. I definitely feel for both sides and know this isn't an easy fix. I have compassion on those trying to better their families, but I also feel for those who have been victims of the horrendous violence that we see daily. I feel for the border ranchers whose land is trashed and trespassed and cattle killed and stolen. A couple of months ago an illegal shot and killed a rancher who had helped many of them out over the years. That situation brought this all to a head. Our school systems and medical facilities here in the state could pull out of some financial difficulties without the "illegal issue". Like the health care issue, this law is not perfect, but it has opened a lot of dialogue and maybe things can be improved. So I say to the rest of the nation, get off your high horse and help make things better. And I can tell you that MOST people in Arizona are not bigots.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that most people in Arizona are bigots. Absolutely not. I do think this law makes it LOOK that way...it's just the nature of it. If you profile and stop one, you have to stop everyone, but EVERYONE knows that isn't what will happen. I think the federal one isn't enforced because there ISN'T a good way to enforce it. There just isn't. And when you have the people who are supposed to be the ones enforcing this saying it will not work and is a bad idea, I think that is something that should be listened to.
ReplyDeleteWell, there used to be just 20 to maybe 50 Border Patrol agents in this area, taking care of the problem. Now there is over 500, and still nothing is being done. And with the drug lords just over the border killing whoever they want to, ( over 2000 murders in Juarez alone recently ) the problem for those living along this side of the border is getting bad, and getting worse each day. The violence is spilling over to this side of the border on a regular basis now, and this is why a lot of these laws are being enacted and/or enforced.
ReplyDeleteI get it Dad, I really do. It's just as bad in San Diego. REALLY bad. Scary bad. We saw the problems everyday living there. So, yeah. I get it.
ReplyDeleteBut. You cannot convince me this 'law' is the way to go about it. It's wrong on so many levels.
I hate the implication of racial profiling as well, but to continue to do nothing and let the violence win is also wrong. I was truly hoping that all the exposure the passing of this law has brought would also bring common sense working on the problem. It has been dismaying to see mostly one sided emotional reporting instead of anything logical. All my illegal friends (and I have quite a few) laugh at how this is the only country where people get in an uproar about showing papers. This is one of those bad only in America things.
ReplyDeleteOk, just to stir the pot a bit on the subject of racial profiling. Down here, the Aborigines are always complaining about the racism that they cop, (which I can understand, Australia is one of the most racist countries I've ever been in, and I cop it on a daily basis, but that's beside the point); however, they have done it to themselves mostly. They make up 2% of the total population of Australia, yet they make up 74% of the youths in prison, and of adults 25%, except in the NT, where it is 83%.
ReplyDeleteI guess what I'm saying is, while not all Aborigines are "bad people" or criminals or whatever, and a lot are very successful, the stats are against them. Maybe the same holds true for the Mexicans now... there's been so many cases of illegals that they are trying to do something about it, but trying to do it the least racist way possible? I don't know.... just my thoughts...
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I intended this as a single post. Or at least I think I did. But will have a follow up in a day or so, hopefully with a couple of clarifying factors.
ReplyDelete