Who's Got Your Back?

by: david bozeman | published: 05 11, 2010

Over the May Day weekend, thousands marched in Los Angeles and other cities in fierce opposition to Arizona's new anti-illegal immigration law. The continuing rage concerns not a mere act of legislation but the very notion of American sovereignty. The din from the streets notwithstanding, most polls indicate that a majority of Americans, as well as most Arizonans, support this stricter enforcement. Still, it bears asking: will national policy be predicated on the rule of law and reasoned (if passionate) discourse or on the sheer inertia of mob rule?

Texas governor Rick Perry, Florida senatorial candidate Marco Rubio and former Florida governor Jeb Bush, all Republicans, have reportedly expressed concerns with Arizona's actions, but since they represent border states, one could well surmise that they are concerned with the political fallout. And well they should be. Hispanics comprise the largest minority group in the US, and their numbers are projected to rise dramatically well into this century. Most do tend to side with the illegals.

Opponents of Arizona's law have been vocal, well-organized, and their passion shows no signs of diminishing. The support expressed by a majority of Americans, on the other hand, has been tepid by comparison. The state of Arizona has been slammed, accused of racism and allusions to Nazi Germany litter editorials and TV talk shows. Lawsuits have been filed and boycotts have been called. Not surprisingly, news reports frequently refer to the 'anti-immigration' law, as opposed to the anti-ILLEGAL immigration law.

Just as an aside, if Arizona is now truly akin to Nazi Germany, why are Hispanics not fleeing in droves over the border back to Mexico?

Now, who is supporting Arizona? Where is the moral support and backup for Governor Jan Brewer? Even our president, who, regardless of party affiliation, one would expect to side with protecting our borders or, at least, make a believable effort to unify both sides of the debate (post-partisan president? now tell me another one) is stirring up the crowds -- telling them that a family going out for ice cream could be in jeopardy! The sentiment of Americans that the Arizona law is long overdue lacks any cohesion or momentum, and the chanting masses in the streets could well dominate immigration policy now on the strength of their passion alone and soon by the sheer mass of their numbers.

No rational discussion of Arizona's law can sustain itself -- it invariably descends into charges of near-Holocaust proportions on one side and timid side-stepping on the other. Average Americans who oppose illegal, as opposed to LEGAL immigration, secure borders and the rule of law thirst for leadership, for decisiveness over nuance and for unity over the apathy still so infectious despite the rise of the Tea Party Movement. In a more just world, Jan Brewer would be lauded for sticking to her guns, and Janet Napolitano would be laughed out of Washington as the symbol of incompetence she is. A tiny cadre of Hispanic pop stars (Gloria Estefan and Jon Secada, among others) would not be the loudest voices in the town square, but (and this is the fault of leadership), the silence of patriotic, law-abiding Americans of all races and backgrounds is almost deafening.

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  Korren

  Thank goodness for Arizona. Since when is America not able to defend itself? We have the right to protect our borders and citizens. Stand strong Arizona.

  
  

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