Two weeks ago, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder scolded the nation stating that we are a “nation of cowards” when it comes to addressing issues of race. “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards…”
I agree. Too few of us have the courage to speak out about the issue of illegal immigration for fear of being branded a racist or a xenophobe. The subject of illegal immigration and/or immigration reform has become the new “third rail” of American politics (touch it, and you die).
We are a nation of laws, not of men (and women)...or, at least we used to be. The United States has always been a place where the social order was defined by the code of law rather than the sensitivities and desires of those in power.
The issue of illegal immigration is not about “names,” but about “numbers.” How does a sovereign nation manage its borders? How many people can a state or region carry/hold? Can we arrive at these answers in an intelligent way and without prejudice?
Petey, you talk about immigrartion reform, but on this very website, you said that the Irish should not come to your neighborhood.
You talk about economic development, and yet, you wanted some money when Santanna Row came in.
I wonder what the issue with you now is about?
So what are we supposed to do. You say something innocent like “there are two many illigal immigrants in this state and we can’t afford to take care of them” and the usual suspects cry “racist.”
But most concerned citizens are not racists and don’t like to be accused of being such, so they just learn to be quiet.
Pete,
You are, of course, absolutely correct. I would add an adjective to the term “coward.” Those who fear speaking the truth are more accurately chickenshit cowards.
James, how is the RFID chip working?
San Jose Insiders:
Rowen wrote, “You (Campbell) wanted some money when Santana Row came in.”
—I used to run the Town and Country Tennis Center…I never asked the City of San Jose for a dime.
Rowen also wrote, “You (Campbell) said that the Irish should not come to your neighborhood.” Yes, I did write something close to that…it was of course, a piece of political satire. (In response to the Little Saigon fiasco, I said that I was going to establish a “Little London” district and that the Irish were not allowed!) (I’m a quarter Irish)
Pete Campbell
Pete,
I enjoyed your column and I thank you for speaking out about this. It is a topic that has needed to be addressed for quite awhile now. I worked as an ESL Aide 2 in college to help pay my tuition. I worked with students from all over the world. I found it odd that they had no shame in telling me that they were surprised that the US let so many immigrants in to the US; give them an education, when their country has a strict limit on allowing immigrants into their country.
I didn’t see that as a racist act or statement, nor do I see folks who object to illegal immigrants as racist either. What I do object to is the “way” some people express their anger and frustration with illegal immigration. Using derogatory names or comments to voice their opinion is not necessary. But often times, that is exactly what happens. Need proof? Look at some of the blogs on the Merc. YIKES!
My second objection is to the extremist illegal immigrants, and their defenders who think we should turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to those who snuck in to the US, breaking law after law to do so. I find it very offensive that people who break the laws of this country feel falsely entitled to demand legal rights; I personally don’t think they are entitled to. It is both grossly unfair, and discriminatory to those ‘legal” immigrants who have struggled through an arduous, costly, difficult process, and given up so much to come here whilst obeying our laws.
Hey, Pete, any comments about an ethnic group may be funny to you, but it offends them, is it funny??
Ps, are you saying for the record that you never asked about compensation regarding Santana Row???
Careful!!!
Ps, there were Irish Americans offended and you refused to apologize, also on record.
We need to disabuse ourselves of the notion that a free thinker in this society has any chance at all of avoiding political minefields for the simple reason that the telltale signs around such issues can no longer be discerned with a bit of caution and common sense; today’s verbotten subjects are now decided on-the-fly by political operatives within our government and the media. In today’s America, if you think for yourself, you tread dangerously.
Few people would have trouble understanding why, for instance, back during WWII, an American who questioned the truthfulness of an Allied propaganda campaign about the Nazis would’ve gotten a hard time from his neighbors. We were at war with Germany, and any statement that could’ve been construed in any way as pro-Nazi was sure to be viewed as anti-American. The war was a time of great emotion, and nothing makes for a political minefield like a people caught up in their emotions.
Today, the American public’s emotions are being controlled as never before, courtesy of four decades of liberal indoctrination carried out in the name of education. Never before in our allegedly free society have there been so many protected beliefs or anywhere near as many subjects off-limits, protected not only from polite society, but from objective academic analysis and contradictory scientific evidence.
One need go back only a few decades to find a time when the need for secure borders was too obvious to question. Yet today, the mere mention of sealing the border or taking measures against uninvited foreigners will subject one to scorn, vilification, even attack. So I ask you, has the international understanding of the importance of border sanctity changed? Not at all—not even in Mexico. But what has changed are the words and deeds of America’s bought-and-paid-for politicians, the profession of journalism, and the academic integrity of educators.
In today’s America, one encounters a minefield around the definition of marriage, intelligence, public decency, even patriotism. In San Francisco, young people who merely want to explore the military as a career find themselves in a minefield—this, in a city that demands tolerance for obscene public spectacles and naked paraders. History has become a minefield, with college professors denied tenure for their unimpeachable, yet politically-incorrect scholarship. Science has been set back decades in its quest to understand human behavior, as some of its most gifted minds were insulted, assaulted, and professionally undermined by Leftist totalitarians pushing their beloved egalitarian myth.
It is a mistake to think it safe to send one’s children off to college armed with tough questions, probing intellects, and personal integrity. Such young people will quickly discover only shameful white men in our nation’s founding, only racism and intolerance in our history, and only tragic victims amongst the worlds’ people of color. As students they are expected to accept brainwashing, and the key to their success lies not in thinking, but repeating.
If there are topics you consider safe to discuss today, don’t be so sure about tomorrow. Should it be in the interests of an empowered minority group, a collection of corrupt politicians, or the editors of a struggling newspaper group, you might find that a minefield has been slid under your religion, occupation, even you right to teach your kid to defend himself.
An observer once quipped, “In the Soviet Union there is freedom of speech. In the United States, there is freedom after speech.” These days, I’m not so sure.
1989
1. Campbell serves on Human Rights Commission—San Jose
2. Commissioners request that Campbell join them in denouncing the term “paddy” with respect to the Irish Americans in San Jose. Campbell refuses citing his understanding that the term is not considered a slur.
ethnic slur – a slur on someone’s race or language. Irishman – a man who is a native or inhabitant of Ireland. Freed dictionary.com
3. Campbell writs comments about Santana Row and Town and Country.
4. Several Irish Americans contact other blogs when Campbell claims he is just joking about ethnic groups in 2007.
The immigration issue is being used by liberal politicians to simply import votes.
They fight what appears to be noble battles on someone’s behalf, and hand out favors in turn for votes and the subsequent power that comes with it.
California’s political landscape has forever been changed by importing votes for favors. The entire country’s landscape is next.
Since the media is driven by one mission, the advance of liberalism, anyone speaking out in defense of strict borders or eliminating handouts gets labeled as racist.
So I believe the answer to your question is NO, we can’t have an honest discussion on this subject…and many others.
Pete,
I wonder how Zoe Lofgren would feel if she went to work one day and found that her position as a U.S. Representative had been given to an illegal alien. The foreigner was a super nice guy- just wanting a better life for his family. Zoe was told by her erstwhile constituents that this nice guy (who just wants to feed his family), was willing to do her $200,000/yr. job for just $40,000/yr. I don’t think she’d like it. She wouldn’t like it one bit.
I know because this is exactly the kind of consideration she’s given to me and many of her other constituents who work at jobs involving physical labor. I don’t have personal animosity toward the Mexican illegal aliens with whom I must compete for work. I don’t blame them. I blame Lofgren and Pelosi and Boxer and Bush and McCain and Obama and Chirco and Waxman and I blame all my fellow citizens who voted for them. I’ve worked shoulder to shoulder with a lot of Mexicans and I have tremendous respect for their work ethic, their honesty, their resourcefulness, and their cheerful attitude.
Who I do blame are our representatives, at all levels of Government, who have sold us out in order to further their own political careers. As an American citizen who has spent the last 30 years working at one of those “jobs that Americans don’t want”, I’ve become increasingly resentful that in order to be competetive I have to adjust my prices downward because most of my competitors have a workforce comprised of illegal aliens. These guys are willing to work for a lot less than what most Americans would consider an acceptable wage. And there’s Zoe- heading up the Welcome Wagon.
I don’t think this makes me a racist. But I am a pandererist(?)
I don’t mean to give the impression that my view on this issue is entirely motivated by petty selfishness. I just use my own circumstance as an example because I am intimately familiar with it. If the only effect of illegal immigration was on my own personal career and financial situation, I could accept that. But it seems to me that the ceaseless introduction of an enormous underclass to our economy creates many, many problems, both directly and indirectly. I fear that the resulting pressure on our institutions and our laws will force the country to transform into a place that won’t be recognizable as “America”.
#6
Hey James: calm down, lighten up a bit and have a mint.
-DKH
“Holder is the coward because he will not talk about rape.”
Race is easy to talk about, it is rape that is hard for Holder to talk about.
Very well. This is going to take some courage, but here goes.
An Englishman, Scot, and Irishman walk into a bar and order beers. They accidentally leave the door open, a swarm of bugs come in, and they each end up with a fly in their brew.
The Englishman pushes his beer towards the bartender and says, “Tap me another—this one is tainted.”
The Scot pulls out the fly, drinks the beer, and says “No use wasting a good beer!”
The Irishman pulls out the fly and screams at it “Spit it out, you freeloader!”
Rowen writes, “Commissioners request that Campbell join them in denouncing the term “Paddy” with respect to the Irish Americans in San Jose. Campbell refuses citing his understanding that the term is not considered a slur.”
My Grandfather taught me to rise above petty things such as name calling based on race, culture, or creed. Being Irish, I chose not to be offended.
Pete Campbell says that though he was a commissioner for the people, if he feels ethnic slurs were ok with him, they should stand. It is a great example of what Holder was referring to when he said that our community is not sensitive to ethnic groups.
Greg Howe is not a coward, just a weanie.
#17,
Yes, you’re right. Many Republicans have been just as complicit as the Democrats. But over the last several years, since the enormity of the situation has become evident, the only push for proper enforcement of our immigration laws, including stiff penalties for employers of illegal aliens, has come from the Republican side of the aisle, led by Congressman Tancredo. The Democrats have done nothing but obstruct. Like the useful idiots that they are they are complying perfectly with the wishes of the corporate powers that profit by the presence of the illegals.
At least when the Republicans sell their country down the river they’re honest in their reasoning. The Democrats that do so deserve nothing but contempt if for no other reason than for their shameless hypocrisy.
Eric (#19),
If you don’t take your meds, I’m gonna’ tell your mom to rent her basement out to someone else.
14. Sorry. Of course 1980 was about 30 years ago, not 40. There were distracting things going on while I was typing…
15. You have your ethnic stereotypes confused. It should be the Scotsman getting the fly to cough up the beer.
Like the one about the … well, I should probably not start anything.
Stop eating cheese whiz down in my basement, Greg, and stop using your uncle’s computer. Not our fault the public library banned you. Pete Constant should give you a call.
#14-10 MHz Days,
“they pay the full cost of their education without the taxpayer subsidies that in-state students get.” Not true. They can receive some of the same grants, and scholarships citizens do, and some designed only for students on Visas. (By the way, I never said students from other countries I taught were here illegally.)
“If you are talking about giving public school education to children of illegal immigrants, the alternative is to have them out in the streets all day with no education.”
Nope, I was NOT talking about that at all. Just mentioning the fact that even student’s visiting here from other countries think the US is a bit nuts for having so many immigrants, when their country does not allow it. Please stop twisting what I said, or reading into a simple statement! Geech!
” Illegal immigrants have the same rights not to be tortured, to receive a fair trial when charged with a criminal offense, etc. as do legal residents.”
No kidding, that is NOT what I was referring to. When an illegal is arrested they are supposed to be deported. Most of them are not deported! That in and of it’s self should be a crime!
“#9. Illegal immigrants don’t vote.” That is not true! Many illegals steal people’s identities and most certainly do to vote!
I don’t think making excuses for criminal behavior is acceptable 10 MHz Days, but I guess some do. When your daughters Social Security Number is stolen by an illegal who has taken out loans or credit, and the person runs up debt she’ll never be able to repay, or your husband or wife is struck down by an illegal driving a car with no insurance, and you have to foot the doctor bill, I think your lax attitude by these lawless folks, and the scummy companies employing these illegals just might change a bit.
Rowen, for cripes sake, put your tin foil hat back on and STFU.
#14 The Republicans have not controlled either Congress or the presidency for the last 40 years.
#5. Kathleen.
If you’re talking about foreign students at our universities, they are here legally on student visas and they pay the full cost of their education without the taxpayer subsidies that in-state students get.
Americans can attend universities in other countries without much restriction also.
If you are talking about giving public school education to children of illegal immigrants, the alternative is to have them out in the streets all day with no education. Would that be preferable? Ideally the federal government would pay the cost, since it’s the responsibility of the federal government to enforce immigration laws. However, the world is not ideal.
Every developed country has problems with illegal immigration. It’s fundamentally an economic problem.
When NAFTA destroyed the Mexican economy, more Mexicans came here. Now that our economy is in bad shape, a lot of them are going home.
I agree that racism is not an appropriate response to an economic problem—or, I would add, to any problem.
However, your contention that being in the US illegally means that a person has no legal rights is at odds with the US Constitution. Illegal immigrants have the same rights not to be tortured, to receive a fair trial when charged with a criminal offense, etc. as do legal residents.
#9. Illegal immigrants don’t vote.
#10. John Galt. You have a good point. The current situation is the result of nearly 40 years of Republican domination in Washington. Plenty of very wealthy people have become even wealthier by paying low wages to illegal aliens. These are the people who donate to the Republican party, and in return the politicians make sure there is no penalty whatsoever for hiring illegal aliens.
You only have to look at your supermarket. 40 years ago there was a union butcher in the back making a living wage cutting meat. Nowadays all meatpacking is done by illegal aliens working in gigantic plants in the Midwest, which also have much reduced health and safety standards, thanks again to friends in Washington.
Periodically the workforce is rounded up and deported and replaced by a new batch to make it look as though the government is doing something about illegal immigration.
If there were, for example, mandatory jail sentences for the employers of illegal aliens, I suspect the situation would be much different. But that would mean penalizing wealthy influential people, so don’t expect that to happen.
I’m not claiming that Democrats would necessarily have done a better job if they had had the chance. But certainly government policy from the Reagan years forward has been transforming the country by redistributing wealth from ordinary working people to the top 1%, to an extent far greater than any other developed country.
However, I don’t believe that Eric Holder was primarily thinking about the problem of illegal immigration when he made that statement. I’m believe that Mexican-Americans who are legal residents or US citizens would still think that there might be a few issues left to address.
“Yes, I did write something close to that…it was of course, a piece of political satire”
Pete Campbell should check out the you tube clip that the Mayor of Las Alemedas sent picturing watermelons on the White House lawn.
He claimed it was political satire.
Pete and the Mayor are going to be rooming with Mark Furman at the Motel Slur in Idaho.
#10-John Galt,
I really liked your post. It was very well said. I couldn’t agree with you more on this comment, “I fear that the resulting pressure on our institutions and our laws will force the country to transform into a place that won’t be recognizable as “America”.” I fear that is already happening.
As Fin Fan so aptly points out, being patriotic, and being freethinking is becoming grounds for being called a racist, where once long ago, it was the norm. I refuse to allow anyone to make me feel bad for loving my country and its citizens enough to speak out against illegal immigration, and protecting our borders. If that makes me a racist in someone’s eyes, then so be it! And you can believe that the next politician who supports illegal immigration, or is soft on creating tough laws to stop it, who asks for my support, vote, or financial contribution will be told to get his or her illegal buddies to donate, or campaign for him/her instead!
As has been demonstrated here, accusing another of insensitivity towards one of the many protected groups or causes is not the mark of the well-meaning critic, but that of the totalitarian committed to increasing his own influence by silencing the opposition. This at a time when never before have so many groups or so many causes deserved slurring.
#26- Fin Fan,
You said, “This at a time when never before have so many groups or so many causes deserved slurring.” I don’t agree that they deserve slurring, harassment, violence, or racist remarks. I believe our representatives need a good hard kick in the butt by we American citizens, and that the media starts being held accountable for their defense and bias towards this issue. I’m tired of the media and government with holding facts, the truth from us, and deciding what they think, is right for me and this country. I’m with JMO. I think we need a good old fashion Boston Tea Party!
#25- Thanks, Kathleen. I don’t think there’s a more important issue in this country than immigration. You are absolutely right to put your country first and speak your mind.
#27- I think finfan was referring specifically to #24 (probably the same poster as 1,6,8,19,& 22) who has done us all a favor by demonstrating the carefully thought through logic that guides those opposed to immigration control.
Good posts, Pawns, finfan (as always), Hugh, and thanks for a good laugh, Kenny.
>> Fin Fan: “This at a time when never before have so many groups or so many causes deserved slurring.”
Not sure I agree with this either, but it is about the best one-sentence comment in this section.