A bit ashamed.
One of the advantages of working in a posh downtown studio is that things like this massive immigration rally happen right outside your window. (Sad that that’s the best link. BB said she’ll have photos later.)
I knew it was planned and coming up soon, but had forgotten about it. Then, as I plugged away at some code, a slowly building cheer came from seemingly everywhere. Since it is fairly often that some inconsiderate bastard will play something too loudly over the studio stereo, or just through their crummy computer speakers, the first reaction many of us had was “What the fuck is that cheering?” I waited to hear what band warranted such long opening applause.
Eventually, it sunk in that this was live. The studio was filled with whistles and chants of “¡Si, se puede!” and we all crowded around the Water Street windows to clap and wave to the sea of American and Mexican flags, signs, and smiles.
I’m no good for poetry at this stage in my life, but this march was the truest show of patriotism I have ever witnessed. There was no sign of hatred for America, no “Fuck Bush” signs, nothing to indicate anything but inclusion. There’s no sense dolling it up: it was simply beautiful. That’s the most people I’ve seen united over a cause that wasn’t supporting some crummy band.
Jesus, Gandhi, MLK: they all would have been proud of Milwaukee today. I sure am.
I can’t say they would’ve been proud of Milwaukee. I rode the bus today and heard some a**hole honky trying to argue with two folks riding home from the rally. They wouldn’t argue back, but all his hollering about setting landmines in the border states pissed me off.SB and I chatted about this in the car, and he noted that every point in his life when immigration became a hot political issue, it was because the Republicans were in office and had run the economy into the ground. The only jobs immigrants are taking are crap jobs, and the only time big-headed Americans take crap jobs is when the economy is bad. So who is really at fault here?
Comment by Raggedy Android — 5/1/2006 @ 6:30 pm
heh… i have to say one thing because it always bugs me when i see or hear it. if you want to say “U.S. society is much better off because of the immigrants, because they do the work other people won’t do.” don’t forget to add “for less than minimum wage” to the end of it.
putting that aside, i’m glad all the demonstrations i’ve heard about across the country (world even) are going so peacefully. i’m super… duper… serial.
Comment by DERKA DERKA BILL — 5/2/2006 @ 3:55 am
sorry about the double post but i just noticed the ads on your website… cheerleading websites… and GK cherrleading jackets. que?
Comment by DERKA DERKA BILL — 5/2/2006 @ 3:58 am
I’m sincerely at a conflict with this issue. Yes, immigrants provide a workforce that Americans won’t do for that little pay. Most work hard and long. Good for them.
However, I can’t help but ask the question as to why they just don’t go through the proper steps to become an official citizen? If I wanted to go to another country, that is what I would do. So that is what I expect another human being to do. Why avoid the law? Why not work with the system? Is the system that flawed?
I hear blame put on both parties for the economy. Not sure if either of them have the best of intentions for the country. Hm.
Comment by Loricious — 5/2/2006 @ 7:24 am
By the way, I love the way you described the rally. That is what a peaceful rally is all about… Well said.
Comment by Loricious — 5/2/2006 @ 7:26 am
As far as becoming a legal citizen, there are lots of reasons. Some come to esccape something, and once you’re illegal, it’s difficult to go in and work through the proper channels without being deported immediately. Also, as Bill pointed out, some work for very low wages and often cannot afford the administrative fees, since they send money home to their families in the impoverished countries to get *them* legally into the country.
I do observe that the economy suffers worst when there is a Republican in office. Not a conservative, mind you. They do not actually serve the common man, because the party believes in “making it on your own steam,” which is admirable in theory. However, the people who make it to the upper eschelons of power (only some of whom do so “on their own steam”) then systematically go about making it more difficult for other people to do so.
Ask Bill Gates or other successful businessmen how you ensure your own wealth and power. You make it so no one else can have any.
Comment by steelbuddha — 5/2/2006 @ 9:01 am
[…] If you want to read better words about the event, read Steelbuddha’s take on it and for some quality photos of the event, check out BB’s photoset. (Yay for coworkers who actually had cameras with them. I’m waving to you all from the window between BB & the guy in the white shirt in that main photo in her set. I’m just not leaning far enough outside for you to see me.) […]
Pingback by Czeltic Girl » A couple days late, but still worth sharing — 5/4/2006 @ 5:47 pm