I would like to comment on the current
political efforts to vilify hard working, good people
of Mexico who, for reasons of economic necessity, feel
compelled to leave their county for more work opportunities
and far better wages in the United States. Recently, many
American politicians have begun pandering to the lowest
tide of American social sentiment when they call for making
the unlawful presence of foreigners in American a felony
crime. Similarly, calling for the militarization of the
US-Mexican border smacks of repressive tactics which are
inconsistent with American Democratic ideals and an open
society. Without a doubt, these cruel and short sighted
tactics are doomed to failure.
As
many of us who had worked with Mexicans in the US, become
well acquainted with them, and even had the good fortune
to develop friendships with these good people know, they
do not deserve the demonization heaped upon them by opportunistic
American politicians and retrograde groups like the so
called "minute men". Far from it in fact. These
undocumented workers come for a sole purpose...to work.
And work they do! Indeed their work ethic is welcomed
by American employers throughout the U.S. Rarely mentioned
by the "Mexican bashers" is the fact that the
American economy would suffer great harm if Mexican undocumented
workers were suddenly sent away. Many large industries
in the US, construction and agriculture for example, would
be very badly damaged in the absence of it's "illegal"
work force.
When we think about the hardships these Mexican people
must endure to get to the US and hold a job there it is
doubly cruel that some Americans insist upon using them
as a "whipping boy" for the ills of our own
society. Remember that these people typically leave their
home and family, make a dangerous and costly trip to the
US, run the risk of various dangers in making their way
across the border, finding housing, work and navigating
a new culture. Once they have cleared these obstacles,
they generally are employed doing work so difficult and
low paid that few Americans appear willing to do it. Obviously,
if there were American workers willing to take these jobs
and work as hard at them as Mexicans do, the issue would
disappear.
So, instead of " blaming the victim" with inhumane,
disrespectful and sometimes racist treatment, these people
should be thanked and treated with the respect and dignity
deserving of all workers. Thanked? Yes, indeed thanked!
Americans benefit substantially by their presence in the
work force. Moreover, many of the cultural traditions
they bring are consistent with the best of American values
and ideals. In the main, these people are hard working
as employees, eager and quick to learn new skills and
improve their opportunities, loving and supportive of
their families, loyal and reliable as friends and honest
and diligent in their daily affairs. Our county needs
these people. They help make America a better country.
It is time we stopped berating them on talk radio, bashing
them for political gain, and generally making their lives
difficult. Let's replace such inhumanity with respect,
dignity and a good legal guest worker program so that
they may emerge from the shadows of American life and
become fully enfranchised members of our society. Americans
and Mexicans alike would benefit by more enlightened management
of the issues involved in the Mexican presence in the
US.
Tom Cooke, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Sonoma State University
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