America is slipping dangerously close to engaging in "Apartheid" politics -- the separation of "us" and "them", obstensibly for the benefit of "them" (and "us", but that's generally framed as the secondary benefit). I highly recommend the book "Move Your Shadow" by Joseph Lelyveld if you want to understand the Apartheid mindset. I discuss the reasons for this and how it's manifest below the fold.
Some of the hallmarks of Apartheid are stricter limitations on immigration, a desire to physically separate different kinds of people, the demonization of the "others" who are being separated, and the idea that the minority who's imposing Apartheid knows what's really best for the "Country" they're trying to preserve.
The biggest reason for the ascendance of an Apartheid mentality is the decline of the "traditional" majority, or what is preceived as the "traditional" majority. By this I mean white christians generally, but to a larger degree it can be connected to a loss of "traditional" values. The values issue can be blurred and comingled with changing demographics, and there is evidence that this is happening. For instance, modern Apartheid adherents don't object to "immigrants", just "illegal" immigrants. Adding that modifier changes the whole picture of who these immigrants are -- from mostly desperate folks eager to find some way to support their families to thugs and miscreants who want to ruin America. Really, though, it's the effects of the changing demographics that are driving the anti-immigration sentiment. And, it is the new (or soon-to-be) "minority" that is looking to enshrine its power which makes this a particularly "Apartheid"-like movement.
I put "Country" in quotes because this is a fuzzily-defined term. The fuzzier the definition, the better for Apartheid supporters. Fearing the loss of "Country" is what motivates them to do what they do. Part of it is tied into the traditional notion of a nation-state; i.e. the new majority somehow threatens its existence. This explains, to some extent, the villification of "Islamofascists" and why the threat they pose is blown so far out of proportion. But "Country" can stand in for "Society", so anything that threatens some treasured aspect of society can be seen as a threat to the "Country".
Lelyveld's book is interesting because it exposes how, through very elaborate social and legal mechanisms, those who implemented Apartheid in South Africa tried to avoid the label of Racism. There is a huge body of literature, some of it comically contrived, which strains to find any sort of justification for why a.) Apartheid is necessary, and b.) why it's not racism. While most of it was written specifically for the South Africa situation, I think the time has come to review it because there are many parallels there to what's happening in American politics today.
Also worth noting is that many of the leading lights in the modern "conservative" movement cut their teeth during the 70's and 80's. During those days South Africa was a brave warrior fighting Communism in the form of the ANC. It should be no surprise, then, that much of what they argued back then influences their thinking now.
My hope is to look into some of this myself and write about it here, but I want to be one voice in a broader discussion -- how can we fight the Apartheid mindset?