Day without immigrants approaches
Some big businesses closing for the day
Sunday, April 30, 2006; Posted: 7:46 p.m. EDT (23:46 GMT)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Now that immigrants have grabbed the nation's attention, what next?
Monday has been set aside for immigrants to boycott work, school and shopping to show how much they matter to their communities.
But with some growing tired of street protests, and others afraid they'll be deported or fired for walking out, people are planning to support the effort in myriad ways.
Some will work but buy nothing on Monday. Others will protest at lunch breaks or at rallies after work. There will be church services, candlelight vigils, picnics and human chains.
My question to you is does this really make a difference? I mean, do protests make a difference? The Republican in me says no, but the independant in me says maybe they can work if organized properly. The were big in the Vietnam era. Are they still as big now?
Is tomorrow just as excuse to get out of work?
Sunday, April 30, 2006
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12 comments:
protests are our only real voice that we have left
I consider my self conservative in a lot of ways, but I would rather not be associated with this very Republican brand of fear and hatred directed towards my neighbors. A walled jail called America sounds like a real nightmare.
Those Who Move (live), Naked Raygun
I, like Scott, would consider myself fairly conservative, but these douchbags in office now are giving republicans a bad name. not just for this current load of crap of "imagration reform" but for a host of other reasons.
to answer your question E. NO, if this administration wants to pass a reform no amount of noise from the streets is going to change their minds. Steve is right on when he says that protests are all thats left. hopefully, polito's will notice the anger of the voters.
but lets not forget it's all about the $$, and if the companies can trample the rights of the citizens/people in order to increase their bottom line they most certainly will. the money to buy the polito's.
whoopsi, I steped on a soap box, sorry.
I would like to be able to tell all of my imigrant labor to take the day off today, and put up a sign at the door, "do to day without an imigrant we will not be serving (you your overpriced products) please come see us tomorrow" but I don't so much make these desisions. and I was scorned in our manager meeting for even mentioning it.
Some times I think I need to sit on my thoughts until I have taken the time to think them through more carefully. I think in a more accurate response to Eric’s question, I would have to say that I hope today’s protest does not divide us any further over this difficult issue.
I think we all should Scott, good point.
that being said....
Many of the people who voted Jr into office are the same people who often have very limeted interaction with imigrants, but goof ball thugs (real or imaginary from sensationalised TV, Movie, and News) generally make a bad name for their race, weather they are white, brown, black or yellow.
What would a conservative (non american) culture think of us (americans)if there only info on us was the daytime TV shows?
Eric, I also want to make sure it doesn't go un said, that imigrants generaly come here to work to get money to feed their families, taking today off for many will result in not geting paid, and for some it will result in loss of jobs. Many of the latino's I work with have 2-3 jobs and work 7 days a week, 10-14 hours a day.
thanks for ALL your input.
Ok, I have to chime in. Sorry for injecting into the male domain, but I think I have a unique perspective on this one considering my background and where I live.
It is very true that most immigrants come for work, and work they do. People in political power are griping about the wrong people. It is not the immigrants who are a strain on our social system. Most do not even consider applying for any kind of aid either because they are too proud, or because they are afraid the rigorous screening process will cause their illegal stauts to be known and they will be deported. Those that are a drain on the system are the 1st & 2nd generations who have grown up here and know how to play the system.
Moreover, the issue, as initially posed by the administration was supposed to be one of "protecting our borders" as part of the war on terror. How the discussion came to be shifted to illegal immigration and its impact on the American economy is beyong me. However, this adminstration is known for starting in one place (under false pretenses) and quickly shifting to another-ie: 9/11 became WMD became liberating the Iraqi people became democratizing the Middle East. The fact of the matter is, if this had been a national security issue, the Canadian border would be the fortified border as that is from where the 9/11 terrorists and their would be accomplices entered the country. The fact that the discussion concerned the Mexican border betrayed their true agenda.
Thirdly, to close down the border in any fashion or form would completely dessimate the econoies of vast southern border regions who thrive on the service sector economy created by serving Mexican nationals who come to this side for the purposes of banking (converting their pesos to much more stable U.S. dollars that bankers then invest or use to create business and mortgage loans) or purchasing (our mall, despite being located in one of the poorest counties in the U.S. has the highest per square foot profit of any in the nation).
Now, in terms of solutions...Guest worker programs have been tried. the Bracero program was instituted in the early 1900s. When the Depression hit, however, thousands of Latinos were rounded up & deported based on solely on their surname. Families were separated, people born in the states who had never even set foot in Mexico but had Spanish last names were deported. Guest worker my ass. However, blanket amnesty sucks for those people who have struggled for years to go through the process of obtaining a visa or naturalized citizen status. To reward people who are breaking the laws of our nation is a slap in the face for them. There must be a program of EARNED citizenship. One can already earn citizenship by serving in the military. I see no reason others who contribute to our country in a myriad of ways could not also earn their citizenship.
These are my thoughts for the day. Hope they open up a new avenue for discussion.
welcome anonymous poster and thanks for your input. Once again, your points bring new light onto the issues here. thanks!! Please post again....
M. Anonyous, you sound a bit like our friend Deana M.
hmmmm???
Oops, didn't mean to be anonymous. Good call P to the J. Nice 2 know you still recognize my voice after so long. I guess anonymous was the default. Occurs 2 me I never even broached the topic of the actual protest. It was really a moot point here, as no one protested. Ironic seeing as how everyone down here is an immigrant and I am literally 10 miles from the border of Mexico. School, work, survival. Very little in the way of protest. Herad things got pretty active up there though. What was the effect? What was the reaction?
All was quiet at my location... there was no interruption of work here at my desk in my basement.
I am a little surprised not to have heard from Offmen Steve again on this topic. I think his home is less than a mile from the boarder.
Am I correct? Steve?
Wow, I was right, not to shabby for someone I haven't actually talked to in like 5 years.
my entire staff either came to work or covered their shifts.
but there was an Assload of people on the streets. peaceful and calm. very cool. but interestingly enough almost entirely latino, as if these laws wouldnt effect anyone else.
these remains, My life w/TKK
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