The United Farm Workers association has launched a tongue-in-cheek campaign that they’ve labeled ‘Take Our Jobs.’ Unemployed? Need a job. Go be a farm worker. There are lots of opportunities.
I am staunchly against the anti-immigrant laws stemming in Arizona. I think it’s extremely racist. So if I happen to be out jogging around the block in Sedona and forget my driver’s license, I could be sent to jail for not having identification on me. Because I’m brown. Because I look like an immigrant.
Every single person in this country is descended from an immigrant. Who are we to tell others that they cannot be in “our” country? I hear the complaint that immigrants are taking “our” jobs. Immigrants are infiltrating our schools, our hospitals. Let me tell you something. Immigrants do the jobs that no American-born citizen will do. No American who’s been out of work for 18 months or 24 months (really, it doesn’t matter how long they’ve gone without money) will consider a field job. It’s too labor intensive. That’s hard work! Definitely not something an American can or will do.
Stephen Colbert had the UFW president on his show. Arturo Rodriguez talked about the extreme conditions of farm work and immigrants laboring in over 100 degree heat. Colbert said, “So have I. It’s been 100 degrees here and I’ve worked 22 minutes every single day.” Watch this clip. It’s hilarious.
Immigrants till our land. They are the reason we have food on our plates. Immigrants care for our children. Yes, they may use our services. But no they do not take away jobs. Stop using immigration as a scapegoat for fiscal irresponsibility by municipalities.
America benefits from immigration. That’s a fact.
I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. All of us ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated, but this is not the case.
I know the proponents of this law say that the majority approves of this law, but the majority is not always right. Would women or non-whites have the vote if we listen to the majority of the day, would the non-whites have equal rights (and equal access to churches, housing, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, schools, colleges and yes water fountains) if we listen to the majority of the day? We all know the answer, a resounding, NO!
As for the undocumented workers, as was attributed to Ronald Reagan “It’s the Economy, Stupid”. When the economy is good you say let’s all celebrate “Cinco de Mayo, my brothers” but when the economy is down “it’s all your fault, you damn immigrant”. This too will pass, the real problem is the narcos, arms and people smugglers and that’s what the focus should be on.
Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics and do what is right, not what is just popular with the majority. Some men comprehend discrimination by never have experiencing it in their lives, but the majority will only understand after it happens to them.