Since I started paying more attention to Barack Obama about 2-3 weeks ago, I've noticed some 'qualities of intellect' that I find very praiseworthy. One that happens to have a great deal of relevance to the topic of immigration is the importance he has placed on listening to the concerns of those who have been manipulated by cynical Republican arguments. I think if Barack Obama would listen again to those who have been complaining about illegal immigration, he would develop a better understanding of what the essential problem is and what the solution therefore is.
After listening to their complaints, I suspect Barack would soon notice that the vast majority of those who have been feeling anxious about illegal immigration are not people who 'just hate' but are members of the Poor and Working Class who feel threatened by the huge influx of illegal immigrants and helpless to do anything about it. Unlike many of those in Washington, Barack seems to understand that human beings only hate that which they fear. Surely that is why he is interested in listening to 'the enemy' instead of just demonizing them.
If we really want to address the issue of hate directly, and end divisions, and bring people together, then we absolutely must address the particular fears that have led a number of 'otherwise good people' in America to think about 'taking matters into their own hands' (not me) if the government fails do anything to make them feel less threatened.' So what is it that 'average Americans' have to fear about uncontrolled immigration?
JOBS
Well, it may be true that at least half of the American people do not feel especially threatened by immigration, but there are a lot of people who do and most of them happen to be members of the WORKING POOR. For these people, the threat is not imagined; it is very real. They understand perfectly well that the influx of people who are willing to do their jobs for less has been quite effective in holding down their wages.
Even if you are an elected representative of the people who believes that the American people have absolutely nothing to fear from unlimited, unconditional immigration, you are still obligated to make some kind of effort to assuage the fears of your constituents. Perhaps the most important thing Barack Obama could do to assuage the 'immigration fears' of the Poor and Working Class is emphasize, front and center, his stated commitment to Crack Down on Employers of illegal immigrants.
If he were to actually succeed in bringing and end to the hiring of illegal aliens, then the entire problem would be pretty much solve itself. This is because word would soon get back to relatives in Mexico that there are no longer any jobs up here they can obtain because all employers have begun to obey the laws that forbid them to hire those who are in America illegally. Remember, this is what Barack Obama has said that he wants to do.
This type of 'law enforcement' would be far more effective than building a trillion dollar wall. Republicans like to blame the illegal immigration problem on the 'law-breaking' activity of the immigrants; the actual problem is the 'law-breaking' activity of American employers that the Republicans have winked at while they have been in charge of the government. (Yes, some of them yell "Deportation!" while others, e.g., GWB, make sure that they lift not a finger to fix the problem) There is no need to use law enforcement and the courts to solve the problem of illegal immigration in insensitive ways.
There is more thing that Barack Obama could do to 'bring people together' on the issue of immigration.
ENGLISH
In any society, it is always a good idea to act to minimize divisions within the body politic. If we didn't make an effort to teach all of our citizens the structure of the English language to get everyone to pronounce words in the same way, our language would quickly evolve into multiple 'tongues.' We need to do everything we can to make sure that everyone is speaking the same language in order to optimize the chances of cooperation and shared identity while at the same time mimimizing the suspicions that people often feel when they are in the presence of people speaking a language they do not understand.
It's a fine thing if/when you know multiple languages. In certain circumstances, it is a positive benefit. But in a nation where the vast majority of people speak English, the language that is quickly becoming the International Language, there is no important reason why any of them should be burdened to learn a different one. Let there be no mistake about it: it is hard to learn a new language if you grew up learning another. If you ask those who have been living in America for several years why they have not yet learned to speak English, the answer is ultimately that they'd rather not because it's hard and they really haven't had to.
It may be a bother to learn a new language, but it's the kind of burden that responsible parents should be willing to take on for the sake of their children. If it's important for us all to be able to speak and communicate in the same language, then it is only logical that those who move to another country from elsewhere should be willing to take on that difficult challenge since they and their children have much to gain, and none who were born in America have anything to gain from making such a sacrifice [of time/frustration].
It should be abundantly apparent to Barack that some concrete things could be done to reduce the suspicions that many native born (Working Class) Americans have of those who come to America from foreign lands. He should encourage Hispanic leaders to start making new immigrants aware of the need to learn English as quickly as possible because it is the single most important thing they could do to melt away some of those suspicions that they can see in the faces of some Anglos. If they want to do themselves a favor, then All English, All Of The Time is the best way to go.
The two initiatives I've focused on are mentioned by Barack Obama as part of his comprehensive plan to fix the immigration problem in America. While it's nice to cover a lot of ground, I'm sure that in Texas, he'd be able to assuage the fears of the majority of Lou Dobbs fans if he were to convincingly emphasize the two points I've highlighted above. We Dems may be able to win without actually trying to fix the problem, but why not just go ahead and emphasize the things you have already stated previously if it will reassure those who've been listening to the Republicans for the last several years?
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