Immigration, Starting Now
If you're an American citizen of any ethnicity other than Native American it’s hard to have a hard-line stance against immigration without sounding like a hypocrite. So, most Americans with anti-immigration leanings have a 'starting now' policy.
It works like this: 'Immigration was fine when my grandparents made the trip to this country and set up shop. But that was a different time and now it needs to stop.' When pressed about when immigration should have ended, I have a feeling that most, if being honest, would answer: 'Preferably the instant after my ancestors stepped off the boat.' But most would only admit that: 'Immigration should end, starting now!'
Like a kid playing the silent game... "OK, I'm serious this time. Everybody quiet. No talking... Starting Now!"
I have a feeling that this caveat is given to mask the real details of most peoples stance against immigration. Which is, somewhere deep in their core even if they don't realize it, that immigration is fine, as long as the immigrants look like me. As a matter of fact, I'll bet that most people don't even consider people who look like them to be immigrants. Not in the real ‘immigranty' (brown) way they like to imagine.
Now I'm not saying that there should be no regulations on who comes into this country but the blatant hypocrisy makes me fucking sick. Every reason we give to justify keeping immigrants out of this country, could have been, should have been, and probably was used by the Native Americans; The prevention of violence, alcohol use, drug use, sexual depravity, rape. The threat to language, to culture, and to a way of life, that immigration would pose.
Every single one of these things happened as a direct result of the European immigration that took place hundreds of years ago. So the idea that 'those’ things are an acceptable byproduct of immigration, as long as its 'my' ancestors who were bringing them over, is ridiculous. This is what makes the 'starting now' argument so absurd.
So when we decide to kick out the immigrants how do we decide who goes? The 'illegals'? When taken in the context of this country's history, the designation of 'legal' and 'illegal' becomes arbitrary. I'm pretty sure that all of the original immigrants were 'illegal' in the eyes of the natives.
Now that I think about it, the 'starting now' defense seems to be applicable In all sorts of circumstances.
No 'illegal' immigrants 'starting now!'
No breaking our word when it comes to treaties, 'Starting now'.
No seriously this time, you can keep this land, 'starting now'.
This time we really mean it, scouts honor, 'starting now'.
Obstruction of justice and lying under oath aren't illegal, starting now.
I bet there were people on the Titanic who were all for equal and unrestricted access to the life boats until they got on one. Then it was "We need to start regulating the spots on the life boats! There's not enough room for everyone to fit comfortably. I like to put my feet up."
To which some deck hand replied "When should we start sir?"
"Starting now you idiot!" replies the man using a seat as a foot rest.
No doubt we need to figure something out when it comes to immigration. But at this point hypocrisy is as American as apple pie, the Star Spangled Banner, or voting against your interests. So maybe, to prevent the blatant and ridiculous hypocrisy in our nature, we should consult the Native Americans about who should stay and who should go. Maybe we should ask them about immigration starting now!