A View From The Southern Side Of Immigration
Ken Hughes
Ken Hughes joined the GOP at age 3, which he hid from his Liberal Democratic family for 18 years. When his political leanings were discovered he was sent packing. His life began on an Idaho ranch 75 years ago. He’s traveled extensively and has a keen interest in people and politics. His writes to make people think; what they think is up to them. His one original quote is, "Truth is like a coin; you must see both sides to know it’s not counterfeit.” He can be reached at Ken Hughes.
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By Ken Hughes
December 1, 2005
Allow me to preface this article by saying I’ve spent the better part of my life on both sides of the border, I admit I have a bias.
In order to understand immigration we must go back 500 years to the time when the indigenous people had free range over the land on these continents. A common misconception, Mexicans are of Spanish decent that of course isn’t true with minor exceptions. Mexicans are indigenous to this continent. They were subjected to European occupation the same as the American Indian, as a matter of fact Mexicans and Indians are from the same gene pool.
The American War of Independence won only thirteen colonies for the new country of the United States. Much of what is now the United States was part of what was known as Mexico. North from Texas to the State of Wyoming, West to the state of California and all the land in between belonged to Mexico. Between Mexico and the New United Colonies stood New France, [Louisiana.] It had always been the ambition of the United States to extend their country from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. They had little concern for the indigent inhabitance in-between.
If the indigenous people had been blessed with the power to enforce legal documentation before allowing the Gringo’s entry to their lands the United States may look a lot different today. These arbitrary lines defining territory aren’t necessarily accepted by the indigenous people, [Mexicans and Native Americans] and were in fact established at the point of an American gun. The states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, parts of Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California belonged to Mexico and were purchased at the point of a gun for a token sum of $ 11 million dollars. As Mexicans, see the folly or fear of their ancestors acquiescing to the demands of the Americans they become more inclined to regain some of the wealth they perceive as being taken from them under duress. El Rio Bravo Del Norte, [Rio Grande River] no longer defines the line between poverty and prosperity. In the eyes of many Mexicans, the formerly lazy Mexican has become the lazy American. A view shared by many American employers. If there were no jobs the Mexicans wouldn’t come, they can starve at home as well as anywhere else.
Illegal immigration is simply one more political ploy designed to excite the America public into demanding action. America is a nation of immigrants, to define a difference between white illegal immigrants, [there’re many who come through Canada], and Latinos who come through Mexico is an affront to all Latinos. Americans had always taken the position Latinos are a second-class society. Until recently, America had taken the position the color of a persons skin determined the status they were permitted to attain in society.
There are solutions to illegal immigration, they won’t be found until the issue is no longer a political plus used for vote getting. This is one of those issues congress shouldn’t be laying off on the president. Congress should be the ones exploring potential solutions with a guest worker program, Immigration without amnesty. If we have an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living and prospering in this country then the country must have a flawed immigration policy.
We should all respect the law, the laws should be written in such a way we can respect them, Congress makes the laws. Those laws should be fair and free of economic, ethnic, or political bias. America has spent trillions of dollars elevating the economic status of many countries in the world. Many of our southern neighbors from Rio Bravo del Norte to Tierra del Fuego are scarcely above third world economic status. Americans and Europeans have exploited the wealth of both the American continents and have shared little of the proceeds with the indigenous populations. Then they have the audacity to call to suggest Latinos are the interlopers.
There’s a solution, it won’t be found floating around the ballot box. It’ll only come with a concerted effort to resolve the problem that involves all who’re effected and who will be effected in the future. Closing the borders isn’t a solution it’s a recipe for disaster.
If there’re jobs available workers will come all the words and all the laws won’t stop them. America needs new immigration policy and a guest worker program that isn’t discriminatory and degrading.
Computerized documentation would be a good first step. Laws should apply equally to employee and employer. 50% of the problem is with those who employee illegals yet they get off unscathed. The blame and the consequences of the blame are put on the illegal immigrant employee.
I’m not advocating open borders, I’m in favor of a procedure that holds everyone accountable to respect the laws and still provide the necessary work force to maintain our economy. I’m believe everyone should be respected, America has been the leader of the world for two centuries. It’s time for America to start concentrating on our world between the Artic and Antarctica.
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December 2005 Reports
Last updated on December 08, 2005