America’s Fiasco — Immigration

The twentieth century has been labeled by historians as “The American Century” commencing with America’s entry onto the global stage with the Spanish American War and concluding at century’s end with a Cold War victory over Russia resulting in the United States becoming the most powerful economic and military force in world history. In addition, there were medical, scientific, economic and political contributions that became the foundation for human advancement. During times of global strife, the United States was the deciding force in securing, molding and maintaining world peace and stability.

“The driving factor especially espoused by America’s Greatest Generation was the sense of duty, caring and sacrifice for our fellow human beings no matter who or where they were.”

With the dawn of the twenty first century, there was a pronounced shift in demographics thereby creating the fear of a “browning of America”. America’s political outlook, especially within the Republican Party, took a more sinister turn towards immigration especially focusing on our southern neighbors who became scapegoats for some of our political ills. To compound matters, the June 2014 primary defeat of Eric Cantor, the Republican minority whip, by an unknown economics professor, David Brat, who ran on one issue only, immigration, ended any Congressional compromise on an immigration bill. The cumulative message of fear, racism and xenophobia plus the promise to build a wall propelled Donald Trump to the presidency. President Trump continues to build on this divisive message by vilifying and dehumanizing people seeking a better life through his manufactured mayhem on our southern border.

‘In shades of the darkest hours of the twentieth century, the United States is separating families and caging children based on a combination of lies and misinformation for selfish internal political reasons.”

The United States military is being utilized as a force of containment as opposed to a force of hope for people in need. Recently when reminded of the suffering of the men, woman and children on our boarder, the President was reportedly to have said: “I don’t care”. To further compound the issue, the Justice Department acknowledged receiving over 4,500 claims over a four year period of sexual abuse of immigrant children in American detention centers.

The United States is better than this but if we continue to inflict hardship on defenseless families, we will lose our soul as a country.

Through all the noise and talk of a wall, what seems to be overlooked is the driving factor forcing these people to leave their homes. The daily situation within Central America excluding Costa Rica is intolerable based on three major factors of drugs, drought and political corruption. Mexico and Central America pay a heavy price for an American drug addiction that is out of control. Further, global warming has impacted a large part of Central America’s farms which has limited their ability to grow food. Add to this, the damage inflicted on this area during President Reagan’s Contra years when we supported strong men and death-squads and you have a lethal brew. If this was not enough, President Trump’s recent threat of halting aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador will cut the only lifeline available to these defenseless people. This punishment for our inability to squelch our own addiction is cruel and illogical.

“I am not sure men truly understand how mothers feel when they have to break the most basic of nature’s bond when they give their children to strangers with the hope they can safely make it to the United States.”

These mothers know only too well the alternative if their children stay, they will be taken or killed by gangs with girls bringing added value due to the sex trade. The reward for families that survive the dangerous northbound trek seeking political asylum and a better life is the breakup of the family unit and the caging of their children. This from a country whose politicians especially on the Republican side constantly espouse the virtues of family values.

Recently, President Trump stated: “Our country is full” as a warning for future migrants however the stark reality is that America needs workers especially in agriculture, food service, health care and construction industries. Today, California growers are frustrated with the immigration fiasco as their need for workers go unanswered that some are looking to move their operations to Mexico. This is a kin to manufacturing centers moving their production operations southbound. The economic impact will be dramatic as prices and availability for fruits and vegetables, home building, health care and restaurants will continue to rise. Manufactured fear and a wall are not solutions for economic problems created by our lack of a workable immigration policy. It’s easy to be critical especially as politicians use this crisis as a political football as opposed to seeking a solution for this human nightmare.

“Our southern border is slowly becoming America’s Achilles Heel due to the refusal to address immigration coupled with an expanding Mexican narco state fed by America’s unquenchable demand for drugs.”

Blaming our neighbors for our problems might work as cheap political election slogans but it’s definitely not the answer. What is needed is an enlightened and comprehensive policy that includes the participation of our Southern neighbors. A long term American, Mexican and Central American Marshall Plan could be the foundation for a vision that requires fortitude and sacrifice something the greatest generation knew only too well.

Today, America is at a historic crossroad that reaches to the core of who we are as a people and what we stand for as a nation. Do we continue to be the beacon of hope and democracy built on a rich history of accomplishments and sacrifice or have we hollowed out, peddling empty platitudes of past greatness while we wallow in self-pity and greed as our heart and soul crumbles within? Is this the future legacy we are leaving our children and grandchildren?

On the eve of the twentieth century, America was given the Statue of Liberty from the French. It became the beacon of hope for people throughout the world especially with the words: “Give me your tied, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp besides the golden door”.

“I guess the question is, does it still have a meaning or should we send it back to France?”

America’s Achilles Heel

#Immigration #America #Values #Borders #Drugs