Immigration Reform

[proud2BlibKansan]

A member of our KC area anti-war group went to the anti immigration rally on Monday and was assaulted. He is okay but I am bringing this up because I know this is a hot issue here on DU and many of you have still not taken a side. I wanted you to know how the anti folks handle dissent. Their talking points are racist and they deny the fact that these immigrants are HUMAN BEINGS and NOT alien creatures. And they tried to push this man, who is one of the most passionate anti-war advocates in KC, into traffic!! He ended up bumping into a child who did nearly get hit by a car.

When I was at Camp Casey over the weekend, the message they were sending us is that we should join with the immigrants and stand together in their fight. I know this affects some of us personally, but we all need to remember the enemy is the employer who hires undocumented workers and violates fair wage laws. If we demand employers be held accountable and work to increase the minimum wage, we ALL benefit. Undocumented workers are NOT our enemy and are NOT destroying our economy or our way of life. Don't buy into the negative rhetoric.

Remember we are progressive liberals and we stand together on human rights issues. Rev. Lowrey continually reminded us that if we join with the Latinos, our numbers would increase substantially, and we really do have a common goal.

[cornermouse]

1. The fact that they got here illegally means nothing?

It is now racist to insist that people try to obey the law?

I agree employers should be held accountable and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent. And I certainly don't approve of people dying while trying to cross a desert to get here, but if they break the law to get here they need to be sent back home.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. They are an asset

not a deficit. They have certainly enriched my life and you should see the improvement in the neighborhood surrounding my school since Hispanics began moving there. I have no way of knowing how many are not legal immigrants but judging from what I know about how difficult it is to become a legal immigrant, I would guess the majority have broken the law to come here.

I know this is a complicated issue. But I don't believe that treating desperate immigrants like criminals is the answer. I know I would do ANYTHING for my family. If my kids were hungry I know I would break the law to feed them. And I wouldn't blink an eye to do it.

The real enemy here is the employer who exploits the undocumented workers. I say we focus on fair wage legislation and penalize employers instead of demonizing the undocumented workers.

As liberal Democrats, we stand on the side of human rights. Republicans selfishly frame this issue by complaining about these immigrants stealing their jobs and ruining our culture. It is all about how they personally are affected. I say we focus on what is best for our society and our country and refuse to engage in rhetoric that demonizes human beings.