President Vincente Fox’s remarks about Mexicans taking jobs that “not even blacks” want in America didn’t get much of a reaction in my neighborhood. We’ve been hearing these kinds of comments all of our lives, and most of us consider that he is only repeating sentiments he has heard expressed by some Americans. Illegal immigration is the problem, and that’s the issue that needs to be addressed by political leaders.
Personally, I found the entire discussion pretty silly. Some of my ancestors migrated from Mexico during the mid-1800s and married African-Americans. So, frankly, I just think he was firing a cheap shot at those who disagree with his attitude toward the citizens of his country illegally crossing our borders.
I’m more concerned about the negative comments some people are making about some of our new citizens and noncitizens. One of the big problems I see is that the leaders in Washington are so out of touch with the average citizen that they do not realize the kind of social problems beginning to develop in our part of the country. I understand that Californians, Texans and others have long experienced the influx of illegal immigrants that results in the crowding of schools and the strain placed on medical resources in many communities.
Here in mid-Missouri, we are just beginning to feel the effects of a steady flow of new residents. It is unfortunate that some community leaders are taking the same approach as national politicians, the path of least resistance. They are behaving as if they believe that by doing nothing the problem will go away. If nothing is going to be done, and that seems to be the case about illegal immigration, then community leaders should begin to make plans on how to cope with the problem. In some areas where school levies and bond issues are difficult to pass and facilities are bursting at the seams, leaders need to be in search of alternative solutions to these problems. Cities and towns that rely on a manufacturing-based economy for survival are particularly vulnerable when it comes to illegal immigrants. Taking the attitude that the problem will work itself out is to give it room to grow bigger and more complex.
Immigration is a difficult matter to address because we are a nation of immigrants. The overwhelming majority of our ancestors all came here from some place else. Every time we catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, we are reminded that we have invited the poor and outcast onto our shores. So it’s understandable why some people would feel hypocritical about shutting people out. But a continuously swelling population without jobs, schools and hospitals will ultimately reduce this country to Third World status, which won’t solve anything.
In earlier times, when politicians took the responsibility for keeping the wheels of the republic running smoothly, we could have relied on them for guidance. But here again, the two-party system has brought us to the point where nobody appears to be in charge. And it seems to me it’s far too late in our history to have to return to vigilantism in an effort to keep order in our communities. With an Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, National Guard, CIA and FBI, do we have to individually patrol our borders to prevent illegal trespass?
Fortunately, in Missouri we don’t have a border to protect. What we do have are highways over which illegal immigrants are taken from one part of the country to another that need to be policed. Despite President Fox making headlines, all illegal immigrants are certainly not Mexicans. His efforts to distract attention away from the problem, though, are understandable.
The opinion that immigrants take jobs that Americans don’t want is apparently a widely held belief. But then we are not talking about jobs as lawyers, engineers, journalists or accountants in which case, the whole attitude I’m sure would be different.
It seems to me a great waste of time and energy to engage in a worthless debate with President Fox, whom I suspect does not even believe his rhetoric. Like so many world leaders, he knows the spots where Americans are vulnerable and he preys on them.
Our resources, of course, would be better spent on finding solutions to the problems of illegal immigration. It would help if we could stay focused.
Remember kindergarten? Class, could we please have your attention?
You can join the conversation with Rose M. Nolen by calling at 882-5734 or e-mailing her at nolen@iland.net