Remember?
OPINION: The Return Of The Minutemen — Excellent Op-Ed about selling out the country.
As a testament to the volatility surrounding the issue of illegal immigration, the Minutemen (and Minutewomen) are causing a national uproar. Despite the fact that members are simply reporting illegal sightings to the Border Patrol, much like any Neighborhood Watch system throughout the country, opponents have portrayed them as trigger-happy rednecks out for blood. They have been largely vilified by the mainstream media and even by President Bush, who accused them of being “vigilantes.”
In fact, the Minutemen include Americans from all races and walks of life with one belief in common — that the immigration fiasco cannot continue unabated. Poll after poll shows that a majority of the country agrees with the Minutemen — in philosophy if not in tactics — and many must be wondering why protecting America’s national sovereignty is even an issue. As U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado put it during a Minuteman rally earlier this month, “You are good citizens who ask only that our laws be enforced. When did that become a radical idea?”
The open-borders lobby has been so effective in skewing the discussion of immigration that some Americans have indeed convinced themselves that enforcing immigration laws is not only wrong but also impossible. By steadily increasing the rights of illegal immigrants throughout America and particularly in the Southwest, these activists have succeeded in their efforts to render American citizenship virtually meaningless.
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resources pro and con
Interesting Alamo Document
Here is what you are dealing with, a tirade by a radical Latino, posted on the Revolutionay Worker Website:
I remember having “Remember the Alamo” stuffed down my throat every year, dreading the coming of spring where I would have to dress up like a Mexican soldier and re-enact the Battle of the Alamo or the Battle of San Jacinto. I remember being taught that bloodthirsty and cruel Mexicans “murdered our valiant and heroic defenders of freedom and democracy at the Alamo.”
And as someone who has lived through all that–I want to say that these mother fuckers Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, William Barrett Travis and all the rest got exactly what they deserved–death! They were a bunch of professional Indian killers, slave traders, and mercenaries who invaded Texas, and then stole it from México so it could be a slave state. And the war waged upon them by México was a just war!
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I live in Arizona. I’m constantly amazed at the thinking in some political circles in this area regarding the validity of the law and the limits of its enforcement. Some of the prevailing arguments…
– illegal aliens should be able to obtain a driver’s license
– requiring individuals to show ID or proof of citizenship before voting is racial discrimination
– it is somehow the fault of the United State if immigrants die attempting to cross the desert and enter the country illegally
– it is racial discrimination to require proof of citizenship before someone can participate in governmental programs
Maybe I missed something, but if it is against the law to be here without due process, how can illegal aliens be issued driver’s licenses and be allowed to vote? Expecting anyone entering the country illegally under such conditions to honor and respect our laws is naive if not downright moronic. We must either change our laws or enforce them – ignoring them because they are inconvenient undermines the concept of Rule of Law. Of course our own current leaders have shown little reluctance to bypass the Constitution and amend basic human rights when it serves their purpose. Maybe we shouldn’t get so worked up about our borders. If things continue as they are, it won’t be long until the United States becomes just another third world country. Our emigration problems will be over. No one will want to come here. And you know what? We’ll have no one to blame but ourselves.
billy – wondering if someday being an American citizen might make it easier to get into Canada
It’s interesting you would put the Alamo on this post. A big problem in Texas in the early 1830’s was illegal immigration – from the United States. The Mexican Government sold tracts of land to speculators – like Austin – and authorized them to bring in colonists – mostly to provide a buffer zone between the Apaches and Comaches to the north and west – and the missions to the south and east. But they also had a stream of illegal Anglo settlers coming in from the US. General Teran estalished a series of outposts from San Antonio to the Brazos river try to halt that illegal immigration.
The 1836 battles weren’t as simple as land grubbing Anglos tyring to get their mitts on Texas – though there was plenty of that. It was also a constitutional crisis in Mexico – Santa Anna had declared himself dictator and abrogated the Constitution of 1824 – there were a number of Tejanos and Anglos fighting for the restoration of the Constitution – not the independence of Texas. But – like any war – once shots are fired everything went out the window.
The Alamo/Texas myth aside – there was no grand plan, no lofty ideals at work on either side. It was a conflict of ego and opportunity – and still pretty much is today.
Despite the revolutionary rhetoric, I think the radical was right on the history.
What we need to do is to tell America just what will happen if illegal immigration is curbed. We need to know how much more everything will cost if U.S. citizens do all the shitwork that the illegals do now. Follow the money.
I lived in Dallas for 13 years and all the lawn care, construction, and busboy jobs seemed to be done by illegals.
Make up your mind, America! If we want to stop illegal immigration, fine, let’s do it, and don’t bitch and moan about prices going up. If living cheaper is more important, then continue to turn a blind eye to it. Personally, I’d rather have less illegal immigration and higher prices.
I remember reading somewhere that, because of all the government corruption in Mexico, that illegal immigrants are the most efficient form of foreign aid from the U.S. to Mexico — they send the money back directly to the people who need it, and the bureaucrats don’t skim their take off the top.