MorningSun.net/AP: Conservative coalition demands tougher immigration laws
“This is still our country. This is still our state,” Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, said as supporters applauded and waved American flags. “They’re entering this country at an uninvited and alarming rate. And we must stop that.”
Charlie Meadows of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee said Saturday’s Latino rally was “a subtle shot across the bow” by illegal immigrants who do not want to comply with U.S. immigration policies.
“If you shake your fist at the rule of law, then you have a breakdown in your society,” Meadows said.
“It is our culture that is at risk,” he said. “This is a serious problem, and Washington and our president need to address it.”
Those protesting on Saturday in favor of immigrant rights were not subtle, but rather would a proud demonstration of community solidarity in opposition to racist policies.
I also disagree about the part about shaking your fist at the rule of law. Our founding fathers also shook their fists at the rule of the English Crown when King George was a tyrant, and I think conscientious Americans who refuse to obey laws that criminalize charity are following in that same tradition. Certainly “the rule of law” is important, but one must remember what law is supreme. Even law enacted by the legislative process must bow before the law of conscience and of God. Majority rule is not a proper barameter of morality.
The bill’s author, Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, blamed misinformation about the bill for the huge turnout at the Latino rally. Terrill said opponents have created fear and confusion among the more than 100,000 undocumented residents estimated to live in Oklahoma.
“Mob rule does not prevail here,” Terrill said. “We have an interest in protecting our own taxpayers against waste, fraud and abuse.”
“I’m sick of it,” an unidentified man shouted from the crowd.
Hmmm… Rep. Randy Terrill (who is a racist) is right about one thing. Mob rule does not prevail here, which is why racist policies, even if enacted by a supposedly democratic process, should be defied.
Nearby, a woman held a sign that read: “Is this Oklahoma or Mexico?”
Sandy Bitner and Glenna Thomas, teachers at Oklahoma City’s Capitol Hill High School, said they oppose the immigration bill and came to the rally to learn the motives of its supporters.
“I’m shocked and appalled at this demonstration of racism,” Bitner said. She said about 70 percent of the students at her south Oklahoma City school are Hispanic.
“They don’t realize the impact that the Latino community has,” Thomas said. “If we lost our Latino students, we’d lose some of the best students we have.”
So, so true. And isn’t it stunning the fear that the racists have towards those who are only trying to better themselves and contribute to the community?
JMB – I actually think that your arguments would be much stronger if you would leave out the namecalling. There is no reason to think that all of these people would not have the same opinions on this issue if Mexico was made up of poor white people rather than hispanics. Classist maybe? But not necessarily racist. It is difficult to read commentary that is boldly standing in support of biblical charity while referring to certain actors with very uncharitable terminology. Please don’t think I’m being critical – it is your blog and you can phrase things as you like. It’s just that I really have yet to take an opinion on the issue and am truly seeking to know your side of things. But the “racist” stuff is clouding my otherwise open mind. Thanks for keeping a thought provoking and frequently updated blog!!
As usual Summer, you’ve made a thoughtful and dead-on-the money post.
In this case, I’ve confused one key point. While I do think the policies are wrong (and are either racist and/or classist), it is probably not fair to say that those who support the policies are animated by racist and/or classist intentions.
Certainly some are motivated by those intentions, but not all. I would imagine many people are motivated by a desire to have the law be respected at all costs (in other words, the belief that a law may be good or bad, but instead of breaking a bad law, one’s moral imperitive is to try to change it but to obey it in the meantime), and I think many others are concerned about the social and economic effects of immigration on already poor communities (i.e. the effect that cheap immigrant labor has had on the wages of manufacturing and construction jobs).
Anyway, all of that is to say, I erred in saying that all people who support these policies are racists. That’s judging their hearts and really does cross the line (particularly from a Christian perspective). I do think some of the politicians and others who are pushing for these policies are using racist rhetoric (at least subtly) to push these policies and I plan to keep calling those cats on the carpet for it, but I need to be careful to not lump all anti-immigration folks into that camp.
Anyway thanks again for your post.