Posted on 05/02/2006 4:54:06 PM PDT by Chi-townChief
The only thing more remarkable than the massive number of people who participated in Monday's immigrant rights march here was how quickly and quietly they dispersed upon finally arriving at Grant Park.
It was as if they just melted into the background from which they had emerged that morning, seamlessly returning to the shadow society that they have been forced to create for themselves in the absence of sensible immigration laws.
As I watched them slip away, I could only conclude that a lot of them had to get back to work the late shift -- that being the special realm of those trying to grind out a living and get ahead.
I wish more of you had the opportunity I did Monday just to walk along with the marchers as they made their way from Union Park at Washington and Ashland to Grant Park, if only to better appreciate the sheer numbers.
TV coverage couldn't really do justice to the size of the crowd, strung out along a longer route than any cameras could capture.
"There can't be that many Mexicans who live here," a stunned African-American office worker told me as she watched from the sidewalk along West Washington. She didn't know the half of it, her comment coming more than an hour before the last of the marchers would pass her vantage point.
And, no, all of the marchers weren't Mexicans, and of those who were Mexican, not all of them are living here illegally. But so many of them are that it would give you pause.
No reason for fear
Beyond their numbers, though, I wish you could have looked into their faces, taken stock of their attitudes, gotten some sense of them as human beings. I don't think you would have come away believing these people are the biggest problem facing America. I don't think you would have had any fear.
Then after that, I would have liked for those who want to get rid of these folks to explain to me why exactly they belong here and the immigrants don't, other than that we were born on opposite sides of an imaginary line.
There I go again, picking a fight. That's not really what I want to do today.
I make no secret in this space about my support for immigration rights. But in the process of trying to stake out that ground, I don't think I've always been as honest as I should be about my own misgivings.
I have doubts. I understand and sympathize with many of the objections to illegal immigration.
Doesn't it concern me that our borders aren't secure?
Yes, I find it troubling that anybody can sneak into our country, but I don't think there's much danger posed by Mexican workers just trying to make a living. Nor do I think there's any real security created by building walls to keep them out.
Legalize these, then 12 mil. more?
Does it bother me that so many Latino immigrants don't seem to make an effort to learn English?
Yes, it bothered me quite a bit Monday as one person after another rebuffed my efforts to interview them because I can't speak Spanish and they couldn't speak English. We'd all understand each other a lot better if we shared a language. My belief, though, is that this will take care of itself over time as the children of Latino immigrants learn English, along with some English proficiency requirement on any liberalized "path to citizenship."
Do I really think that immigrants are doing jobs that Americans don't want?
Only to a point. I think Americans would be happy to do some of those jobs if they paid more, and I think some of those jobs would pay more if there weren't immigrants willing to do them for less. But I also think many companies would close or leave the country if there weren't immigrants here to hold down their labor costs.
Does it worry me that if we legalize 12 million illegal immigrants that we're going to have another 12 million illegal immigrants in the next decade or two?
That certainly seems to be a logical conclusion, especially if we can't devise rational laws that future immigrants will want to follow.
But in the final analysis, I think we have to look not only outside our own lives but beyond our own borders when considering the immigration question.
For me, issues of social justice far outweigh concerns about the legality of border crossings. We're not going to have political and economic security in our country until Mexicans and other Latin Americans have it in theirs. We can't make ourselves stronger by keeping them poor.
I truly believe that immigrants have always made our nation stronger. That's not going to stop because this batch of immigrants is brown-skinned and speaks Spanish.
As is often the case, Sen. Barack Obama, speaking to the marchers at Union Park, put it best:
"Our future will be better together than divided."
mailto:markbrown@suntimes.com
CHICAGOLAND PING
Humane treatment during the deportation process is more than fair.
These illegal aliens are bringing their socialistic/marxist government mentality to this country!
If you like Evo Morales, Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro that is what these illegal aliens support!
Look at Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba that is the future of the USA with these illegal aliens!
Agreed. These people could have come here legally and worked for low wages. The economic argument is bogus.
Uh huh, I'll bet he's all for the same effort in Iraq too...oh wait, it taking U.S. military force to get it done there. No, we need to all be one kumbaya party with Mexico...yeah, riiight...
FAIRNESS FOR IMMIGRANTS, JUSTICE FOR ILLEGALS.
In simple terms, pack up their illegal butts and send them home for breaking our laws.
Millions of foreignors have entered our country surreptitiously, slithering under the radar of our border guards, and are now arrogantly demanding that our government make them citizens. This is an invasion by any standards. The whole thing is outrageous, and President Bush should be waging war against these invaders instead of giving in to their demands. They have managed to obtain a little economic clout and are now using that to extort citizenship from President Bush and the other spineless weasles in the Congress. As far as I can see, President Bush will be remembered as the biggest coward in American history if he gives in to these invaders without even a token fight, simply because they have acheived a little economic clout. The man has lost all credibility with me.
IMMIGRANTS should be treated fairly BECAUSE they arrived LEGALLY and respect all things American and prove themselves before they are granted citizenship.
ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS of which the libs prefer not to call them did not come here legally do not respect anything American and will outright tell everyone that will listen they ONLY came to get OUR jobs and to overcrowd our schools our streets and this country!
That's why the libs love them. Socialists stick together.
What is fair for the legal immigrants is unfair for the illegal. So what??
Reward compliance. Prosecute defiance!
Yeah, Mexicans are real swell guys. Greasy, smelly unwashed savages who crawl up out of sewers to kill you. Can't wait to adopt one!
I've noticed a trend. EVERY headline on EVERY newspaper or internet article I've seen on this says 'immigrants' and leaves out the word 'illegal'.
I do the opposite: call 'em illegals, leave off the immigrant. Never, never, never let the left frame the debate using their terms. Be suspicious of any "conservative" that uses their playbook.
This INSURRECTION needs to be crushed before it kills us.
This INSURRECTION needs to be crushed before it kills us.
Very good point. I think I'll start saying that, too.
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