May 1st boycott of work and school creates mixed emotions.
by Steven Giordano
A nationwide boycott was taken by hundreds of thousands of immigrants on Monday, May 1. These people boycotted their life preserving jobs to stand up for cause for a more important than a monthly pay check. This immigrant freedoms movement has always existed yet is fueling up due to federal legislation that could make entering the country illegally much more difficult.
At first glance there appears no logical argument against this, especially considering the growing threat of terrorism and the easy entrance into the United Statesí neighboring countries and from there into the U.S. House Bill 4437 Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act, an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act, is intended to "strengthen enforcement of the immigration laws, to enhance border security, [as well as] for other purposes." Now there are numerous viewpoints that anyone can viably take.
The first is to be more open and providing for the immigrants, whether they are legal or illegal. Let this be called the "no invitation needed" viewpoint, as we designate the legal status acceptance somewhat as aliensí invitation. Obviously, if they are legal there is no issue with their permanent residence in the United States. However, illegal immigrants would tend to be a great distraction and concern. This viewpoint would be mainly held by liberals and those who desire to provide those illegally here, especially in California, with driversí licenses and other privileges that typically are for American citizens.
Another is the "big strong bouncer" viewpoint. This tends to be upheld by conservatives, that legal status is great and the only way, especially since America is basically a country consisting of descendants of immigrants. Illegal status is just that, illegal. Something illegal in this country should be justly dealt with.
There must be moderate viewpoints scattered throughout the American thought processes, but these two pretty much sum up the overall punch lines of the warring political mindsets. Essentially, the goal of this boycott was to stress the importance of immigrants to the U.S. economy and everyday life. However, this goal has somehow lumped both legal and illegal immigrants in the same category, creating one common rally cry. As a whole, Americans do appreciate the foresaid importance due to the fact that every person, excluding full-blooded Native Americans, have ancestors as immigrants to the United States.
Yet as Americans, in this great country we often times forget how difficult life can be outside of our cozy confines, taking for granted what we have inherited by simply being born here. While much of this controversy has centered around the U.S.-Mexico border, it is a logical place to look. Many Mexicans have migrated to or through California and Texas legally, but this requires time, money, and an incredibly complicated process. Filing forms, waiting, paying fees, waiting, and then more forms; this step to come to America is often made in desperation.
It is clearly a lose-lose situation in many respects. A full-fledged democracy (of which really exists in name only) would look strictly to the opinion of the majority. The United States is not this, but rather a democratic republic looking to satisfy the needs of the majority with the many minorities.
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