Fear of a Brown Majority
by Sudhama Ranganathan Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 at 9:04 AM
uconnharassment@gmail.com (email address validated)

Leading up to the 2010 elections there was virtually no cooperation between the two major parties here in the US. Since there are basically only two parties in Congress right now, when that happens it means absolute stalemates and hardly any progress for our money. We watched and watched while pundits clambered over themselves to explain to us why and what would end it. We heard all manner of what it would mean for each party. A lot of doom for this or that party was predicted.

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The nation was told by people like Karl Rove for example Republicans would take both chambers of Congress and 1994 would be repeated. Neither happened, but the other side didn’t hold their majority either. What Americans asked for instead was balance and that could bring a great future as we learned a Democratic majority cannot (or will not).

After the elections the potential inherent in balance of power could be seen, and immediately there was a sudden rush of bills pushed through. There were issues important to Americans which were worked out and resolved. It was in some ways a show of unity in others an example of compromise. That compromise was also a glimmer and a glimpse into what could have been had certain elements at different times over the past two years decided to put nation first.

There was the issue of the expiring tax cuts and whether or not to extend them. Many believed the tax cuts helped in a painful economic downturn. Others felt with the huge deficit and two wars the money the lost taxes could generate was needed. Additionally, there was the issue of whether to extend them over all income brackets or just some. In the end the Republicans agreed to allow for an economic stimulus (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/09/AR2010120904472.html) (which was barely mentioned) in exchange for a continuance of the tax cuts.

There was the issue of the military’s “Don’t ask don’t tell” policy and the push to repeal it. For most of 2009 and 2010 it was a major issue in the media for gays and lesbians and many progressives and sympathizers. It looked as though another year would pass for the GBLT community with no passage. But they got their wish at the end of the year and could celebrate at the end of 2010 with that major milestone behind them.

Other issues were addressed also, but one major issue was curiously neglected. The issue of immigration reform had been a constant issue throughout 2009 and 2010 and constantly in the headlines. Though it was attempted and talked about every time the issue was spread across the front pages, it was consistently passed over for serious votes. It is a mystery why - as most Americans support a pathway to citizenship given certain criteria.

A poll from July of 2010 asked if Americans supported “creating a program that would allow illegal immigrants already living in the United States for a number of years to stay here and apply to legally remain in this country permanently if they had a job and paid back taxes.” 81% said they would approve. (http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/27/rel10f1a.pdf) So why leave the issue out?

When I was growing up illegal immigration was never as large an issue as it is now. There were all manner of funds, charities and benefits to help America’s struggling famers and a huge percentage had Latino migrant workers then. But there were no issues. Then came those reports that Latinos would one day be a majority population in the US.

For instance we hear a lot of heated rhetoric about how with illegal immigration comes increased crime rates. But the figures just don’t bear that out. Statistics regarding crime rates in Arizona for example, that border state hotbed of immigration debate recently, back this up. For instance, “the violent crime rate fell from 545.4 per 100,000 people in 2006 to 481.1 per 100,000 people in 2008.” (http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/arizona%E2%80%99s-punishment-doesn%E2%80%99t-fit-crime-studies-show-decrease-arizona-crime-rates)

Further, this study shows as the level of illegal immigration grew the violent crime rate dropped. The whole thing was sold to the nation by people claiming it was in response to violent criminals invading our country menacing us on every corner. Leading up to the 2010 elections the Governor of that state running for re-election ran ads which, “lean heavily on images of dark-skinned Mexican men, made to appear like menacing gang members, appealing to the worst racist stereotypes.” (http://www.examiner.com/progressive-in-portland/tea-party-s-sharron-angle-releases-racist-anti-immigrant-anti-latino-ad)

What’s really sad is the way the debate is splitting our nation. Another poll regarding feelings about that recent controversial Arizona immigration law found “70 percent of whites support the law, versus just 31 percent of Latinos. In fact, 58 percent of Latinos say they strongly oppose it. That’s not the only chasm between White and Latino America. While 68 percent of Latinos believe that immigration strengthens the United States, just 43 percent of whites think that.” (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37344303/ns/us_news-immigration_a_nation_divided/)

It’s not just Latinos either. Another poll found, “68 percent of whites back the law, compared with 31 percent of non-whites.“ (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/17/AR2010061700008.html)

Most Latinos used to support the conservative view on this issue until the veil dropped. As one Latino journalist put it regarding the whole anti-immigration movement most Latinos feel “that they're in the cultural cross-hairs, that many of those who claim to only be anti-illegal immigrant are really anti-Latino and anti-Mexican, and that the immigration debate has become a proxy for an assault on the language and culture of a minority that is, in parts of the country, on its way to becoming a majority.” (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060524/news_lz1e24navarre.html)

And that’s what it comes down to in many ways. Latinos will be a majority in this nation in the next 40 – 50 years and halting all illegal immigration now would not stop that. It is not some nasty conspiracy on the part of Latinos to take over the country. It’s not some demise of our nation. No.

It’s just like all the other previous and current immigrants, they will make our nation that much greater and richer. Latinos have always been here through our best and worst times. The title of this article is not to display the fact there is fear, but to draw attention to the fact there is no need to fear. There is no need to be afraid.

It’s also not to say all or a majority of whites are prejudiced against Latinos because I just don’t believe that either. It’s just a lack of understanding, media hype to get ratings and the misleading and false rhetoric being spread about immigrants. Let’s not forget American citizens are many times as likely to commit crimes as immigrants that goes for undocumented immigrants too, once you take out the illegal border crossing. (http://www.wecanstopthehate.org/myths_v_facts/myth_4) And BTW, contrary to popular belief crossing the border illegally is a misdemeanor – like jaywalking.

Let’s just stop lying to ourselves and pass reform, there really has been nothing but politics keeping people timid about passing and proposing it thus far. It’s just the right thing to do.

To read about my inspiration for this article go to www.lawsuitagainstuconn.com.

www.lawsuitagainstuconn.com

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