A day without an immigrant, is it a good idea?
As a relatively new immigrant, I still have no position on the proposed boycott, but as I read and hear more about the issue, my feelings are against it even when I do believe that an humanitarian and intelligent solution should be given to the problem of illegal immigration.
So why I am tending to say "no" to the boycott? because I feel is not an intelligent measure. The previous demonstrations were not well organized, and the mixed messages sent through flags and signs talking about Aztlan, are triggering (with some reason) the worst reaction among non-hispanics (and even between hispanics) by making this issue an issue about "being with me or against me" what is never an intelligent position.
Immigration problems are really complex and will not be resolved by a mass deportation (what are you going to do with those children that were born or raise here from ilegal immigrants? are you going to send them back to a country they do not know, sometimes not even the language because you can't separate them from their parents? Or would you let them to stay here, but send their parents back?) but also will not be resolved by a massive amnesty that with no boundaries helps no one and may worsen the problem.
I have heard a lot of people, non-Hispanics most of them (but not only) saying "I was sympathetic for their cause, but after seeing those demonstration I am not anymore"... and of course some of their reasons are valid specially when the issue is mixed with other messages that are not related to the problem.
Finally, I want to share these two articles (for and against the boycott) where both sides are defending their position because they value immigrants as an important part of America:
- Yes to the boycott
- No to the boycott
I really would appreciate to hear more opinions. I know that opinions are divided, that I am not the only Hispanic that thinks it is not a good idea (at least because of how it has gone to extremes, "deportation or amnesty") and I would love to see some debate among us, Hispanics and to read more opinions with reasoning not just a "si, se puede" (because, yes, you can, you can do anything, like start a war or drop a bomb, but the fact that you can does not mean that you should...).
Your thoughts?
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Right approach??
Given such a question is hard to answer. However, we are in time constraint and the reason I say has to do with the fact that decision time on immigration issues it is days away. Sure we can get resident to become citizen and vote for and immigration reform 5 years from now. But that does not solve the immediate issue that we have now "HR 4437". Now we all know that after the 25th there was a complete turn around on the issue.
Now the only way to completely impact this decision on a positive way is by showing that if they refuse to work with us then we also have the ability to hurt the system. Sure we are going to hurt ourselves a little bit. But just like birth of child is painful to his/her mother, the end result is a beautiful miracle "A New Life".
Now the radio stations " Media “ all of the sudden change sides and are in fact promoting against May 1st. We are all smart here; no one voluntarily flips sides without pressure of someone bigger. You know whom.
On the other hand they tell us to be nice well behave and not cause an issue on May first. And as we nicely turn around to comply with these regulations we get slap in the face and spit over. Now to explain what I mean there is a simple example. Our beloved President come to CA and say we can forget we are talking about people... and on the other hand massive deportations are planned and executed. Riverside, Pacoima Hawthorne rings a bell. More that 1200 deportations in previous weeks. Fear is the greatest tool of all 911 fear declared war in Iraq, We approved patriotic Act and release our right with it as a result of fear.
Immigration deportations is that simple putting fear in our community to weaken what we have accomplish "UNITY and SUPPORT " from one another without the prejudgment of what country our families or we are from.
May 1 should happen and show that fear cannot stop the ability of our community to ask for human rights.
To make it clear How many millions and million of dollars did we spent to bring human right to the people of Iraq. Does it make sense to take away human rights to us in the United States of America? WE are putting pressure on the UN to push human rights to Iran and North Korea but we willing to ripe off those very human rights of this communities in our FREE COUNTRY. Think about it. Is May 1st extreme you think about it. I don't. It fear and it is an expression of freedom of speech.