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Anti-immigration hate on a rapid upswing
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More from OpinionGive me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
From "The New Colossus," poem by Emma Lazarus, engraved on the Statue of Liberty.
So strong is the nativist tide that has gripped a significant portion of Americans over the last few years that it's almost as if some activists want to rip those words right off the Statue of Liberty.
For the masses of mostly Latino immigrants, legal and illegal, pouring steadily into America each day represent today's version of the 19th century tired, poor, huddled, wretched refuse Emma Lazarus and some of America welcomed when those 19th century words were written.
There are, of course, legitimate questions over industrial job losses caused by the North American Free Trade Agreement and other new border-opening treaties.
But the outrage over illegal immigration has gone far beyond those questions, entering the realm of hate. The Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups more closely than any other groups, reports that fully 888 hate groups are now active around the nation, 80 of them operating in California. That's a growth of 5 percent nationally from the number of groups operating in 2006 and far above the 602 the center tracked in 2000. The number of hate groups active in California rose by a startling 27 percent in 2007 and another 19 percent this year, the center reports. (For a detailed list, go to http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp#s=CA.)
That count leaves out about 300 other groups that the center says frequently harass and intimidate immigrants.
The fact that anti-immigrant sentiment can lead to hate activity and crimes is nothing new. In 1994, when California voters overwhelmingly passed the anti-illegal immigrant Proposition 187, raised awareness of illegals led to a large increase in hate crimes ranging from assaults to verbal harassment of immigrants — legal ones, too — in gasoline stations, restaurant parking lots and the apartments and homes where they lived.
The recent rise in number of hate groups also parallels a rise in hate crimes against Latinos, which the FBI reported up by 35 percent between 2003 and 2006. FBI experts say those crimes usually are intended to target illegal immigrants, but often hit legal residents, many of whom are native U.S. citizens.
In California, hate groups listed by the poverty center include racist skinhead gangs operating in locales from Riverside to Fresno to San Jose and Sacramento. Some might take exception to the "hate" tag the center applies to the National of Islam and the Jewish Defense League, both of which have strong California presences. Each would contend it does not push hate, but merely encourages ethnic pride.
There are no such questions about the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement group based in Glendale or the White Aryan Resistance, founded by former Ku Klux Klansman Tom Metzger and headquartered in Temecula. Nor about several Klan units said to be active in various parts of the state.
"Anti-immigrant rage is the No. 1 factor driving the massive growth in American hate groups," says Mark Potok, poverty center's Intelligence Project director. "It's no wonder we are seeing a rise in anti-Latino hate crimes."
So far, the poverty center has not been able to move against any group for anti-Latino hate actions, the way it did in lawsuits against Metzger's group and the Klan itself during the 1990s. SPLC lawsuits took away the headquarters building of one Klan group and bankrupted WAR after it was found liable for inciting violence against an African immigrant in Oregon.
In one way, the recent sharp growth in hate groups is odd. For their membership historically tends to decline during conservative presidencies. Hate groups usually grow during liberal presidencies when some elements believe minority groups are favored.
How to explain the seeming anomaly of hate group proliferation during the generally conservative George W. Bush administration? It's because anti-immigrant elements from the beginning of the current Bush administration have believed Bush would take no significant actions to stem the ongoing illegal immigration tide. So, as during more liberal presidencies, some fringe elements believe they must take action on their own, which sometimes turns into hate crimes. Not even construction activity on the border wall authorized by Congress has changed that feeling.
The bottom line: Government agencies and educators are plainly not succeeding so far in stemming anti-immigrant hate both in California and nationwide.
— Thomas D. Elias of Santa Monica is a columnist and author. His e-mail address is tdelias@aol.com.
Posted by shaver_one on July 4, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Again, the author and The Star have missed the point.
This editorial's headline states:
"Anti-Immigration Hate on a Rapid Upswing."
The fact is there is little, if any, "Anti-Immigration Hate" anywhere in America.
There is, however, major Anti-Illegal Immigration sentiment.
And The Star feeds into this sentiment by using false and misleading verbage.
Immigration vs illegal immigration...
There IS a difference.
Posted by AskingQuestions on July 4, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a difference between both terms, but the reality is that the Star is correct, "Anti-Immigration Hate [is] on a Rapid Upswing". I am a Latina, college educated (I have a masters degree). There are days where more and more, I am looked on by others with complete disdain, which softens a bit when I speak and they hear no accent. But then I see the look, "yea, but she could have been one of them". The look of disgust is still there.
"Anti-Immigration Hate [is] on a Rapid Upswing".
Posted by AskingQuestions on July 4, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
an afterthought:
It is more than "Anti-Immigration Hate". It is racism. Case in point: a tragedy occured yesterday involving a car accident and the train. A young teen lost his life. The young victim was not Latino, consequently the comments on that story are far from the usual banter second-guessing the circumstances, questioning the victim's resident-status, questioning the victim's parenthood, etc, etc. There is racism and there is hate. It is very much on the rise and it is very visible on many of the Star's comment boards.
Posted by shaver_one on July 4, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Racism" is an easy cop-out.
Is it "racism" for an African-American to raise his fist and yell: "Black Power"?
Is it "racism" for a Mexican-American to raise his fist and declare: "Viva La Raza"?
Is it "racism" for a Euro-American to raise his fist and shout: "White Power"?
The answer MUST be either yes to all three, or no to all three.
And, to those who will proclaim 'no' to the first two examples, and 'yes' to the third...THAT is "racism".
Posted by nelsonknows on July 4, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shaver, very well put on your comment on Immigration Vs ILLEGAL Immigration. I totally agree to your point that racism IS racism no matter who or of what skin color that person who may have.
Black Liberation Theology, the KKK, the Aryan Nation and La Raza are all racist institutions and are intolerable. (even though Hispanic isn't a race)
Racism will come closer to disappearing when people of all colors, ethnicities, or religious beliefs are forced, by popular pressure, to stop hate filled derision upon others and popular pressure is place upon people who deride them.
People of both sides of the political spectrum need need to unite and hold those accountable who hate based on color, religion, background or where their ancestors happen to come from.
Again, good job!
Posted by nelsonknows on July 4, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really need to go back and take a typing class!
Posted by shaver_one on July 4, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In fact, Mexican-American, African-American, Euro-American, White, Black, Brown, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, etc, are NOT races.
We are all the same race...HUMAN.
When asked what my 'race' is, I tell them...
Daytona 500
...with a smattering of...
Gran Prix of Monaco.
Posted by AskingQuestions on July 4, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
shaver, what you discribed is not racism. Racism is when you deprive another of dignity and rights because of a perceived inferiority of one's culture and the perceived superiority by the racist. There is nothing wrong in declaring "white power", it is when it is declared in the context that others are inferior that it becomes racist.
Many of the comments on the Star's comment boards are racist. They are derogatory, they are demeaning, they are cruel and just plain racist.
If I cry out "Brown Power" is it NOT because I believe you or anyone else is inferior to me, it is because I have pride in my brown skin!
Posted by shaver_one on July 4, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yet, when any Euro-American stands up and shouts "White Power", that person is automatically inferred to be a 'White Supremacist'...whether or not he/she is.
THAT is "racism".
When Mexican President Calderon announced that "wherever there is a Mexican, that is Mexico.", THAT is racism.
But, I degress.
Americans don't hate immigrants. Most Americans ARE the result of immigration.
(My family happens to have lived on this land, albeit the East Coast, long before the Europeans invaded...long before Columbus brought slavery to the Americas...long before the Vikings settled Northeast Canada via Greenland.)
Americans welcome immigrants...as long as they arrived here legally. But, Pro-Illegal Immigration supporters cannot, or will not distinguish between the two. Pro-Illegal Immigration supporters feel that anyone and everyone, be it Mexican, Vietnamese, Chinese, British, Israeli, Iraqi, Russian, or any citizen of any of the almost 200 recognized countries in the world, has a right to violate US law and enter without benefit of formal invitation.
THAT is what I am against. THAT is not racism. THAT is National Pride...not to mention, National Security.
And, why did former-President Fox build a fence along Mexico's border with Guatemala? He built it to keep Guatemalans from entering Mexico, illegally.
Why is it OK for Mexico, but not OK for America?
Posted by Freedom1 on July 4, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great posts Shaver. You don't leave much for me to add. I did find Mr. Elias' last statement particulary inaccurate - "Government agencies and educators are plainly not succeeding so far in stemming anti-immigrant hate both in California and nationwide." Unless and until those "Government agencies representatives and educators" (who have ignored the problem for decades)live in areas that are literally being destroyed by the invasion of illegal immigrants they would be unable to understand the reasons for the anger illegal immigration is causing among the people who do. Until they have to work two jobs to send their kids to a private school because the majority of kids going to their neighborhood school don't speak English they won't have a clue. Until they lose a job because they aren't bilungal, they won't get it. Until they are a victim of illegal alien(s) crime, they can't truly understand. Perhaps "Askingquestions" wouldn't feel such "racism" if the majority of illegal aliens are Latino - which by the way, is not defined a race.
Posted by nelsonknows on July 4, 2008 at 8:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't don't forget that many Mexican Illegals want as many as 10 U.S. States returned to Mexico as they refer to it as Aztlan. Even John McCain has a huge problem having an advisor like Juan Hernandez who has dual Mexican and U.S. citizenship yet Hernandez was a member of the Mexican Cabinet and according to U.S.S.C. code, must be stripped of his U.S. citizenship.
Why folks can't get the simple FACT that EVERY, single, illegal alien, no matter what country they came here from, is a criminal and violated U.S. laws is stunning.
As U.S. citizens, we are required to obey each and every law and to not require people who knowingly violate U.S. law is ridiculous.
Talk about violation of the Constitution? Take a look at Article 4, Section 4 and tell me if anyone in Washington D.C. who supports or frankly, just ignores Illegal Immigration, isn't violating our Constitution.
Article 4, Section 4; "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."
Posted by nelsonknows on July 4, 2008 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Racism:Pronunciation:
\ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
Function:
noun
Date:
1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 : racial prejudice or discrimination.
askingquestions, please get yourself a dictionary.
Posted by Blueskies on July 4, 2008 at 11:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
June 28, 2007-- By Bill Tedesco
... today in Washington where a fractured, impotent and apparently deaf federal government tries to ram an odious immigration bill down our collective throats.
There must be a reason behind the legislative and executive branches of government pushing for this bill. And they're not telling us. Perhaps Laura Ingraham hit the mark on Fox News� Hannity and Colmes show recently when she asked: Do we want to be a country or a marketing area? Laura more than hit the mark. She hit the nerve.
Consider this: with Europe already unifying under the Euro, what if that emerging economic powerhouse, China, gets other Asian countries like Mongolia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and India along with the Koreas, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and others to form a common Asian currency?
The pressure on the American dollar from two powerful currencies would be enormous causing interest rates on Treasury issues to rise. What could that do to our economy and way of life? It could make 1929 look like the warm-up act before the main event.
That�s why the North American Union idea that's been uncovered may appear to be nefarious and covert, but don�t dismiss it out of hand ...... After all when he and Harry Reid agree on something like the immigration bill, you know something is fundamentally wrong somewhere. The question is: Where is �where�?
....Looking further down the road reveals an even more chilling possibility growing out of this immigration bill: a one-world government.
If the world�s nations eventually devolve into economic marketing centers, which appears to be happening, national governments and borders become outdated, irrelevant and cumbersome. A one-world government � and a one-world currency combining those of Europe, Asia, and America � would solve that problem.
However, there�s something even more ominous lurking in the distant shadows of the future that has nothing to do with growing markets and collapsing governments and everything to do with human survival.....
A one-world government and a one-world currency level the playing field for all nations, now marketing centers. The required mark allows you to buy, sell, and compete in the global marketplace. All economic transactions right down to dad buying a gallon of milk on his way home from work are entered and accounted for in a global marketing database. The information is used for global forecasting, planning and production requirements that take into account the needs of developed and undeveloped markets of the world, i.e., where the haves and the have nots live.
It might be right around the corner if this immigration bill, or one similar to it, becomes the law of the land. If only those in Washington were as prescient as our founding fathers, perhaps they would reconsider what they are attempting to unleash.
Contact:
Bill Tedesco
586-574-1284
Bill@small-business-writing.com
Posted by Blueskies on July 5, 2008 at 12:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What I see is frustration. The general public was against re starting mass immigration in 1965. But the federal government is not a democracy. It will do what it will. The best the public could do was to vote for those politicians whose planks opposed immigration. But, it was never expedient to do anything now, or next year, or in 40 years...so the public has mucho frustrations, this is just one.
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