Flag of Their Fathers-The yearning to cash out rather than buy into the American Dream.

Frontpagemagazine ^ | 3-30-06 | John Fonte

[SJackson]

Relax, don’t worry, assimilation is working. The illegal immigrants just want to be patriotic citizens like everyone else.  Given our compassion and a certain amount of time, they will join us in the New America.  This is what our friends in the Open Border Right—Jack Kemp, Grover Norquist, the Chamber of Commerce, David Brooks, Fred Barnes, the Bush administration—have been telling us for years and are insisting is the right way now that the issue of immigration reaches critical mass.

But unfortunately for them, one picture betrays a thousand lies.  The picture on Michelle Malkin’s blog yesterday tells it all. American high school students, the children of immigrants and, therefore, those who are supposed to represent our Brave New Future, turned an American flag upside down, put a Mexican flag triumphantly on top of it, and then ran that up the flagpole. Now it is time to have a national “conversation” (isn’t that the preferred term) about this photograph.  The picture and what it represents are not simply about “ethnic pride,” “dual loyalty,” or even allegiance to a foreign state—all of these things reprehensible enough—but rather an image that reveals a visceral distaste for American liberal democracy and a desire to cash out rather than buy into the American Dream.

 

The Open Borders Right will, of course, assure us that we should not infer too much from a single eccentric photo-op—that it was, after all, just a handful of hyped-up kids at a single Southern California high school. But in fact what was run up the flagpole at Montebello High was not an isolated incident, but a symbol of all the demonstrations that began last weekend.  From hostile slogans to thousands of Mexican flags in the streets of our big cities, an open anti-patriotism has been launched. The demonstrators carry signs that tell us who they are: “This is stolen land” and “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.” This movement—if that is the proper term to describe the incitement of the last few days—couldn’t be any further from the civil rights movement that began some fifty years ago. That was about inclusion; this is about separatism.  That movement affirmed America as a dream worth waiting for; this one sees America as a land grab.

 

Today, in its coverage of the reconquista, the Dallas Morning News pictured a young student named Michelle Marquez being screamed at by about 20 of her fellow students. Her offense was not being opposed to the protest under way, but joining it with an American flag in her hands. Her sentiments didn’t lack ambiguity: “My heart is with the Mexican flag and with Mexico, but I’m standing on American ground and I’m Mexican-American.” But she got her flags confused. 

 

Also today, as Michelle Malkin reported, “Tammy Bruce noted on FOX News this morning that American flags were burned at the LA rally and marchers also held signs of the North American continent with America x’ed out.” While some demonstrators chanted amnestia, others threw rocks and bottles at the police.

 

We have arrived at a tipping point in American history. Make no mistake about it, these demonstrations are a challenge to what Aristotle and Straussian political theorists call a “regime” or “way of life.” We are witnessing the assertion of raw power (from and on behalf of non-citizens) that challenges our own citizenship and our very constitutional order. Illegal aliens who are here without the “consent of the governed” (aided and abetted by amoral corporate and ideological elites) are demanding that the views of the overwhelming majority of the American people (for border control and immigration restrictions) be ignored. This is an attempted social coup; war by other means.

 

But its possible virtue may be to concentrate the national mind. We have come to the moment when illegal immigration has become a raging cataract. We have finally reached the now or never. It is time for the Senate of the United States to stop its political parlor tricks and stand up to this mob. If members of the Congress do not openly criticize these anti-American demonstrations in behalf of those who committed a crime to get here, it means that the democratic representatives of the people have acquiesced not just to the presence but also to the influence of non-citizens. Silence means submission to their anti-American slogans and actions and foreign flags.

 

What to do? We keep hearing about “comprehensive” immigration reform. Fine, let’s have it.  Let’s insist first on legislation with serious enforcements provisions of our immigration laws.  Then secondly, let’s have a series of “patriotic assimilation” amendments. And the first of these should say that the Oath of Allegiance means what it says and that a new citizen must “absolutely and entirely renounce all allegiance” to his birth nation. Let’s make it against the law for naturalized citizens to vote or run for office in foreign country. And, then, yes, let’s cut off all federal funds for bilingual education, multicultural education, bilingual ballots. Let’s insist on vigorous “Americanization” programs, not the bird-walking and back-filling of “civic instruction.” If immigration reform is truly “comprehensive,” it will not reward the intimidation we’ve witnessed over the past few days and its chief objective will be the making of Americans, not placating the foreigners among us.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

"And, then, yes, let’s cut off all federal funds for bilingual education, multicultural education, bilingual ballots."

let's also include social security benefits, medical care, ability to get a drivers license etc...if they want to be here with no perks (no taxpayer $$ supporting them), fine..but take all this away and there's no reason they should stay..IMHO

[Eagles6]

bttt

[tigtog]

If this is real immigration reform a penalty for employers who employ illegals is required. If they don't do that, then we are watching cartoons.

[joesnuffy]

We are witnessing the assertion of raw power (from and on behalf of non-citizens) that challenges our own citizenship and our very constitutional order.

Pretty much sums up the globalist's present days plans for the entity once called U.S.A. and it's freedom loving 'We the People'.....

imo

[saganite]

Absolutely none of this is going to happen. The multiculturalism of the last 20 years demands that we open the borders to any and all comers. No politician is going to insist on the rights of citizens vs the demands of foreigners. This is what we've come to.

[Jazzman1]

Arent these the same people who chanted 'OSAMA' at a soccer game in Mexico City the U.S. was playing in? Some friends!

[USS Alaska]

REMEMBER THE ALAMO

[stopem]

" From hostile slogans to thousands of Mexican flags in the streets of our big cities, an open anti-patriotism has been launched. The demonstrators carry signs that tell us who they are: “This is stolen land” and “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.” This movement—if that is the proper term to describe the incitement of the last few days—couldn’t be any further from the civil rights movement that began some fifty years ago. That was about inclusion; this is about separatism. That movement affirmed America as a dream worth waiting for; this one sees America as a land grab.

Are we going to just sit back and talk about it and allow Rome to burn while we just fiddle around or are we going to get serious about it and fight back?

[raybbr]

...children of immigrants and, therefore, those who are supposed to represent our Brave New Future...

Wrong! They are the "new Americans".

We are now one of the largest Spanish-speaking nations in the world. We're a major source of Latin music, journalism and culture.

Just go to Miami, or San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago or West New York, New Jersey ... and close your eyes and listen. You could just as easily be in Santo Domingo or Santiago, or San Miguel de Allende.

For years our nation has debated this change -- some have praised it and others have resented it. By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America.

As I speak, we are celebrating the success of democracy in Mexico.

George Bush from a campaign speech in Miami, August 2000.

You can read the speech here.

Here is an excerpt of a good critique of that speech:

In equating our intimate historic bonds to our mother country and to Canada with our ties to Mexico, W. shows a staggering ignorance of the civilizational facts of life. The reason we are so close to Britain and Canada is that we share with them a common historical culture, language, literature, and legal system, as well as similar standards of behavior, expectations of public officials, and so on. My Bush Epiphany By Lawrence Auster

[stopem]

We are on the verge of another Alamo, time to take back our Country.

[SJackson]

If this is real immigration reform a penalty for employers who employ illegals is required. If they don't do that, then we are watching cartoons.

There's a fairly good summary of the House bill here

Of course there have been significant penalties for employers before, unenforced they're worthless.

[siunevada]

If this is real immigration reform a penalty for employers who employ illegals is required.

The current law requires just that. We choose not to enforce the existing law.

Bureaucrats that write the regulations to apply laws can re-direct the intentions of the legislators.

The same thing can be seen in welfare reform. They create obstacles to the clear intention of the original legislation.

[Dane]

And, then, yes, let’s cut off all federal funds for bilingual education, multicultural education, bilingual ballots.

I agree that English should be the language of govt. , but you can't cut off the funds for bi-lingual education etc., because the liberal SCOTUS of the 70's mandated such things.

But of course it much easier to rant like this author than actually look at facts.

Also has anyone noticed that these protests are coming from the liberal infested public schools.

[Shomer]

We are on the verge of another Alamo, time to take back our Country

Not exactly a good parallel. In the 1800s the people of the United States had a mentality towards expansion and colonization of new land. Today the people are afraid of their own shadow and will give up everything if someone will just mouth the words 'Security'.

The West has changed, at one time people lived to make a better life for their children, now many are DINKs who only see the end of their lives as the end of all that matters.

Under most circumstances, this crap we have all seen in the past few days would have begat a civil war. But we don't actually inconvenience ourselves with physical combat, afterall "American Idol" is on TV - we trust our politicians to "do something". So why is no one out in the streets fighting? For a thousand reasons, but why I don't jump out in the street and wage war against the invasion is that in the end, why? Each day we are told that we want socialism and want to destroy the idea of individuality. Do I really want to sacrifice my life so that my neighbor can yawn and continue in the self destructive ways of hedonism and narcissism?

I guess as long as the lights are on, and there is a roof over my head, there is no reason to upset the status quo. THAT is why there is no Alamo.

[stopem]

Excellent post, unfortunately true, pass me another beer....;)

[bboop]

That's what I think -- you cut off the FUNDING, it will be a lot less attractive. Or you require citizenship papers for welfare applicants.

[robowombat]

'We have arrived at a tipping point in American history. Make no mistake about it, these demonstrations are a challenge to what Aristotle and Straussian political theorists call a “regime” or “way of life.” We are witnessing the assertion of raw power (from and on behalf of non-citizens) that challenges our own citizenship and our very constitutional order. Illegal aliens who are here without the “consent of the governed” (aided and abetted by amoral corporate and ideological elites) are demanding that the views of the overwhelming majority of the American people (for border control and immigration restrictions) be ignored. This is an attempted social coup; war by other means.'

A number of times in posts I have said that the real menace of uncontrolled borders and ports of entry besides being a convenient path for terrorists was that it would lead to the 'Mexicanization' of much of the US Southwest. I defined 'Mexicanization' as the de facto acceptance of the cultural and political norms of Mexico transported to US soil. What specif norms am i talking about: The replacement of the family, clan, and tribe as the basic unit of loyalty rather than the nation. 'Personalist' loyalties to a patron or strong man trumping the rule of abstract law and justice, 'shame' rather than'guilt' as being the most important reference point for individual behavior. What are the effects of these norms on society? The emergence of blatant corruption and naked abuse of power and worship of force for it's own sake as normal. The collusion of government and especially the armed forces and the police/justice agencies with criminal elements to the point where it is difficult to tell them apart and finally the decline of the safety of the person and property to one of insignificance unless one belongs to the rich, the well born, the powerful or the criminal elements. In very basic terms it means armed home invasion become the norm, carjacking and car theft is carried out with brazen impunity, violent attacks on individuals for any of a laundry list of reasons or no reason at all becomes a day to day reality along with brazen daylight kidnapping or snatching of young and attractive females by bands of thugs to sell to brothel keepers after being repeatedly gang raped. Amid all of this police responses will be 'No se, senior.' That is what Mexicanization will bring and that is what these mobs of seditionists are trying to do.

[arthurus]

I suspect the left and the illegals have won this one and thereby, the war, the whole war. As soon as these new citizens are confirmed, our side of the Islamic War will be shut down and Sharia will, after a little time, triumph over America, including the Latino immigrants who will likely convert wholesale when they think it will give them sudden overwhelming power. Christianity may be relegated, for a while, to Southeast Asia, Australia, and Central Africa.