Victor Davis Hanson gives us a primer on the terms of the debate:
"Undocumented worker," for example, is the politically correct synonym for "illegal alien." It implies that those who have crossed the border without the proper documentation have neither broken the law nor are of any different status than American citizens. But it is an inaccurate term. Not all those who come here illegally are working. And most never had, or even applied for, immigration documents.
In other words, there really are millions here illegally. They are not aliens from another planet, but aliens in the literal sense - simply not lawful residents of this country.
"Guest workers," as well, is an inexact, euphemistic term. After all, invited company is rarely asked to wash their hosts' dishes. "Imported laborer" or "contracted worker" would be more accurate. Far better than "guest worker," such terms convey the commercial nature of the arrangement. Even more precise would be "imported low-wage laborer," to take into account the critical issue of wages. Even the old, crude label bracero - "the arms" - better reflected the reality of low-paid, brutal labor than does "guest worker."
Those who object to fortifying the border like to say that constructing a fence would be akin to putting up a "Berlin Wall." The inaccurate image this conjures is enough to send shivers up our collective spines - as if we are heartless Cold War Stalinists with machine gunners on turrets.
And when it comes to stigmatizing their opponents, those who object to strict border enforcement use the term "anti-immigrant" instead of "anti-illegal immigrant."
A good part of the reason that we've been unable to get genuine reform on the immigration/border security issue is because of the terms of the debate. For ages now, those who are in favor of a bit of rationality on the subject have been on the wrong end of the rhetorical war. I think, however, that this is changing.
This issue is reminding me more and more of the gay marriage issue - something that everyone was sure was going one way, but then the actual votes got counted went the other way entirely. Just as at the start of that issue, what is surprising me is the number of liberals I know who are incensed at the sight of illegals waving foreign flags. I know that of late the organizers of the demonstrations have been passing out American flags for people to carry, but the damage is already done...those first few days of almost nothing but Mexican flags plus desecration of Old Glory put an indelible mark on immigration: it is now view, as best as I can determine, as a bunch of ingrates.
An additional similarity between this issue and gay marriage is that I'm not entirely on the side of those who want the most strict interpretation of the law. On both issues there was a lot of "give" in my position, but also in both issues, the radicals in favor of the most far-reaching change have sabotaged themselves and made it impossible for the moderates to step in and forge a compromise.
This issue is going to stir up American politics. No one can say exactly what will come of it, but it seems certain to me that as the people didn't sign up for 10 million or so illegals, and are insulted by the way illegals are behaving, we're about to see a fundamental change in the way immigrants - legal and otherwise - are treated.
Posted by Mark Noonan at April 13, 2006 07:58 PM
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"Just as at the start of that issue, what is surprising me is the number of liberals I know who are incensed at the sight of illegals waving foreign flags...those first few days of almost nothing but Mexican flags plus desecration of Old Glory put an indelible mark on immigration..."
Rarely, if ever, do I agree with Mark - but on this singular issue I do. I don't really worship the American flag like some of you people, but seeing a bunch of illegal Mexican people waving their flag in the streets of LA, demanding equal rights for themselves in a country to which they do not belong - yeah, that kind of pissed me off.
Posted by: maf53 at April 13, 2006 09:25 PM
yeah, that kind of pissed me off.
Don't feel lonely ( and you are not ) This one issue has me more upset than anything else.
The politician that can tap into our anger will win. I have a lady that works for me that is a die-n-the wool Democrat and those illegal’s waving the Mexican flag in our faces, has her just as upset as me. There is going to be hell to pay in November. I will support ANY one that will take a stand to secure our borders.
Posted by: paul at April 13, 2006 11:40 PM
maf,
It was, at bottom, just plain rude...
As I've said, even plenty of liberal Bush-haters I know are incensed over this...it is a national issue, an American issue.
We all still, I think, have different ideas of what exact sort of immigration system we should have (I'm still in favor of a pretty open and easy border), but I think we're all united in believing that if you come to America, then you must become American at least to some degree...at least to the point where you're not waving foreign flags while insulting the national flag.
Posted by: Mark Noonan at April 14, 2006 02:21 AM
Did anyone notice that there were very few Mexican flags, and a sea of American flags??
Seems the organizers got the message and bought thousands of American flags, then told the crowds to hide their Mexican flags!
Imagine someone breaking into your house and then DEMANDING that they be considered as one of the family. What would you do?
Posted by: phnxbmed at April 14, 2006 07:09 AM
I agree with Paul. I will support any politician who will take a stand on the border issue, regardless of party affiliation,(and not just giving us Americans lip service either).Isn't anybody else enraged that we are in a crisis with all the rallies going on and the increase of infiltration of illegals right now? And where are our politicians? ON A TWO WEEK VACATION!
Posted by: jwr at April 14, 2006 08:57 PM
Victor Davis Hanson has done more than just about any American on this important issue. We all need to thank him for his hard work in this area.
Posted by: Ames Tiedeman at April 15, 2006 07:56 AM
I keep pleading with lefties I know to drop the political posturing and simply engage in debate on the issues that will have the most impact on our country in the next decade or so. But they simply cannot focus on issues, or problems, because they are so manically obsessed with this media-created loathing of George Bush. It is simply impossible to have a civil conversation about the issues.
I have finally conceded, and promised not to vote for Bush again if that is what it will take to be able work on what we have to do to strengthen our country.
Maybe the illegal immigration issue is what it will take to get the D's and the R's out of the debate and get the actual problems in the forefront.
May I suggest that one thing we really need to get after, immediately, is election reform? Because we have millions of illegals registered to vote, no way to track them, and hoors like Hillary pandering to them by speechifying about the evil conservatives "disnfranchising" them by not providing enough translators at the voting booths.
Forget that they weren't "franchised" in the first place, and that you are either a native-born American or naturalized (and that naturalization requires a knowledge of English). By pandering to the illegal population and its ability to vote illegally, the Democrats are positioning themselves to steal an election.
Posted by: Almiranta at April 15, 2006 09:40 PM
The fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to start a voter reform would be for the feds to set aside a sum of money to pay for postage and administration costs for every voting precinct in the country and then require every precinct to send out a letter to every person on the voting rolls---letters which may not be forwarded.
In each letter would be a form which would have to be filled out and returned within a certain time frame to allow the registration to remain on the books. This form would require a sworn statement that the person named is: alive; a citizen; not a felon; a resident of the named address; not registered at any other address or in any other precinct; and legally qualified to vote. This statement would be accompanied by a clear notice that lying in the statement would be a felony, punishable with a severe penalty.
If the form is not returned within the stated time frame, the person is removed from the voting rolls. Period.
If you have moved, you will know of the plan, and can go to the voter registration office in your new precinct to get registered there--with proof of ID and address, and with the same sworn statements.
Eliminate Motor Voter. Do not allow same-day registration. There is no reason at all to fail to register in a timely manner. There is no reason at all to be unable to get your heinie down to a voter registration site in time for your information to be verified. For the few who might have a legitimate reason for a late registration---a birthday too close to election day, a recent move---there could be exceptions, but they would have to be few and be documentable.
No translators. No one who cannot speak English should be voting. If someone was born here and made it 18 years or more without learning the language, tough. Otherwise, the naturalization process requires enough Enlish skill to be able to read a ballot.
The homeless who vote usually don't do it out of patriotism or civic pride, but for smokes or booze, so the few who truly want to exercise their constitutional right to vote can establish their bona fides in advance of the election---but they would have to have a traceable address, even if it is in care of a specific priest at a specific church---NOT just the address of City Hall.
We can't take back our country till we can be sure that only Americans can vote for American government.
Posted by: Almiranta at April 15, 2006 09:54 PM
Post a comment
"Just as at the start of that issue, what is surprising me is the number of liberals I know who are incensed at the sight of illegals waving foreign flags...those first few days of almost nothing but Mexican flags plus desecration of Old Glory put an indelible mark on immigration..."
Rarely, if ever, do I agree with Mark - but on this singular issue I do. I don't really worship the American flag like some of you people, but seeing a bunch of illegal Mexican people waving their flag in the streets of LA, demanding equal rights for themselves in a country to which they do not belong - yeah, that kind of pissed me off.
yeah, that kind of pissed me off.
Don't feel lonely ( and you are not ) This one issue has me more upset than anything else.
The politician that can tap into our anger will win. I have a lady that works for me that is a die-n-the wool Democrat and those illegal’s waving the Mexican flag in our faces, has her just as upset as me. There is going to be hell to pay in November. I will support ANY one that will take a stand to secure our borders.
maf,
It was, at bottom, just plain rude...
As I've said, even plenty of liberal Bush-haters I know are incensed over this...it is a national issue, an American issue.
We all still, I think, have different ideas of what exact sort of immigration system we should have (I'm still in favor of a pretty open and easy border), but I think we're all united in believing that if you come to America, then you must become American at least to some degree...at least to the point where you're not waving foreign flags while insulting the national flag.
Did anyone notice that there were very few Mexican flags, and a sea of American flags??
Seems the organizers got the message and bought thousands of American flags, then told the crowds to hide their Mexican flags!
Imagine someone breaking into your house and then DEMANDING that they be considered as one of the family. What would you do?
I agree with Paul. I will support any politician who will take a stand on the border issue, regardless of party affiliation,(and not just giving us Americans lip service either).Isn't anybody else enraged that we are in a crisis with all the rallies going on and the increase of infiltration of illegals right now? And where are our politicians? ON A TWO WEEK VACATION!
Victor Davis Hanson has done more than just about any American on this important issue. We all need to thank him for his hard work in this area.
I keep pleading with lefties I know to drop the political posturing and simply engage in debate on the issues that will have the most impact on our country in the next decade or so. But they simply cannot focus on issues, or problems, because they are so manically obsessed with this media-created loathing of George Bush. It is simply impossible to have a civil conversation about the issues.
I have finally conceded, and promised not to vote for Bush again if that is what it will take to be able work on what we have to do to strengthen our country.
Maybe the illegal immigration issue is what it will take to get the D's and the R's out of the debate and get the actual problems in the forefront.
May I suggest that one thing we really need to get after, immediately, is election reform? Because we have millions of illegals registered to vote, no way to track them, and hoors like Hillary pandering to them by speechifying about the evil conservatives "disnfranchising" them by not providing enough translators at the voting booths.
Forget that they weren't "franchised" in the first place, and that you are either a native-born American or naturalized (and that naturalization requires a knowledge of English). By pandering to the illegal population and its ability to vote illegally, the Democrats are positioning themselves to steal an election.
The fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to start a voter reform would be for the feds to set aside a sum of money to pay for postage and administration costs for every voting precinct in the country and then require every precinct to send out a letter to every person on the voting rolls---letters which may not be forwarded.
In each letter would be a form which would have to be filled out and returned within a certain time frame to allow the registration to remain on the books. This form would require a sworn statement that the person named is: alive; a citizen; not a felon; a resident of the named address; not registered at any other address or in any other precinct; and legally qualified to vote. This statement would be accompanied by a clear notice that lying in the statement would be a felony, punishable with a severe penalty.
If the form is not returned within the stated time frame, the person is removed from the voting rolls. Period.
If you have moved, you will know of the plan, and can go to the voter registration office in your new precinct to get registered there--with proof of ID and address, and with the same sworn statements.
Eliminate Motor Voter. Do not allow same-day registration. There is no reason at all to fail to register in a timely manner. There is no reason at all to be unable to get your heinie down to a voter registration site in time for your information to be verified. For the few who might have a legitimate reason for a late registration---a birthday too close to election day, a recent move---there could be exceptions, but they would have to be few and be documentable.
No translators. No one who cannot speak English should be voting. If someone was born here and made it 18 years or more without learning the language, tough. Otherwise, the naturalization process requires enough Enlish skill to be able to read a ballot.
The homeless who vote usually don't do it out of patriotism or civic pride, but for smokes or booze, so the few who truly want to exercise their constitutional right to vote can establish their bona fides in advance of the election---but they would have to have a traceable address, even if it is in care of a specific priest at a specific church---NOT just the address of City Hall.
We can't take back our country till we can be sure that only Americans can vote for American government.