What they are saying about...the Madison immigration rally

Submitted by Jesse Russell on Wed, 2006-04-12 11:26. Current | MadBlogs

Now that we are roughly two days beyond the immigration reform rallies around the country, it might be a good time to see what is being said about what happened here in Madison on Monday. Conservative estimates put the rally at 10,000, progressive estimates have it at 25,000 - Dane101 puts the number around 15,000. But mincing numbers is silly, as once you cross the 10,000 mark it is a turn out that can not be denied. When was the last time (John Kerry rally aside) that Madison saw so many throngs of people united for one purpose?

What is easy to determine by reading the various editorials and blog entries on the topic, it is an incredibly difficult topic to address. While all of the individuals I link to below approach the topic from a wide variety of backgrounds, most approach it with an open mind and suggest they realize this is not a case of black and white, but deeply drenched in grey.

Bus them out? Sure, but who is going to drive the 220,000 buses it will take to remove 11,000,000 people? And does that mean dumping Mexico with Hondurans, Guatemalans, Colombians, Brazilians and so on or do we pay the airfare? Build a wall? Okay, but does the cost of building a wall and maintaining security off set the labor costs and the impact on the economy? Give them amnesty? When Reagan granted his amnesty the estimated number was 1 million undocumented immigrants but somehow that turned into 3 million. How many will 11 million turn into? Also, what do you tell the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have had their identities stolen and credit ruined? Fine employers who hire undocumented workers? That might work with the dentist who has one undocumented worker handling his calls, but what about the farmers who have become dependent on that labor - will it be more affordable to take the fines and keep the cheap labor? Put pressure on foreign governments concerning labor and human rights before signing free trade pacts? Does the United States have an obligation to these countries because of foreign policies in the past (i.e. Guatemala and the United Fruit Company)?

See? Complicated. One thing is certain, the millions of people who create the base of our economy are no longer invisible and they definitely have been showing the United States over the past month a thing or two about what democracy is supposed to look like.

Below are reactions to Madison’s rally:

An El Salvadorian in Madison writes on 5a Calle Oriente:

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one thing i can say is that the voice of immigrants is no longer going unheard. we are gaining courage and strength to come out of the shadow and express our voice. nothing can make a statement more than having the unification of 10 cities working together to mobilize people to come out and march for what they deserve. the US needs to recognize that this country was not built by the pilgrims that came here seeking religious freedom, but it was built on the backs of immigrants, whites included, and slaves. did we forget whose land we took? did the US "buy" the land from the indigenous communities? how history is soon forgotten when it is most convenient or distorted when written by those in power.

Walking alone, walking with others makes this observation:

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unless it's a badger's game or a big concert in town, it's rare to see so many people gathered together in one place. the fact this gathering was about exercising voice and the power to influence how the rules of our society are made was really inspiring. i feel apathy runs so wild. today reminded me that when people care, truly care about something, they will fight for it. this leaves me with hope on all fronts of social change.

In the Wisconsin State Journal Susan Lampert Smith writes this of one immigrant:

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The biggest sacrifice was giving up his family and home in Michoacan, a mountainous state in west-central Mexico.
At age 16, without telling his parents, he got on a bus and started north. At Nogales, on the Arizona border, he followed a group of immigrants and found himself in a store on the U.S. side of the line. He had only the address of a friend who lived in Madison, and the general idea that Wisconsin was farther north.

The anonymous blogger Dennis York responds from the shadows writing this:

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because this guy is such a stand up citizen, it means they all are. I'm sure he was a straight A student and was someday going to cure some horribe illness like Chronic Anal Leakage (and trust me, I'm rooting for him to hurry up with that one.) How fortunate that Susan Lampert Smith didn't just happen to run into a guy who beats his girlfriend with whom he has 3 illegitimate kids. I'm sure that guy totally would have made it into her column.

I'm not even on the far end of the spectrum with regards to illegal immigration. I understand a lot of the meals at restaurants I eat are inexpensive because the dishwashers might be paid in cash. Illegal immigrants obviously fill a need where cheap labor is necessary. But they are illegal, and I agree with proposals that would give them a drop dead date to file their papers or go back to their country of origin.

Oscar Madison is enjoying the debate:

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What a splendid day of nationwide demonstrations yesterday for immigrants' rights. I have to say that I'm enjoying the fact that there's finally an issue that lets Republicans tie themselves in knots and shoot themselves in the foot. It seems like it's their turn.

Steve at Letters in a Bottle is looking for compromise:

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we should massively open up the number of legal immigrants we allow into this country. That's my part of the bargain. Now for the compromise I'd like from the left: agree with me that illegal immigrants should be returned to their countries. It's that simple.

Note: Again, I ask for how it is that “simple.” Please lay out your deportation plan while also taking into consideration the children born in the United States.
At the rally Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager (up for reelection) said this:

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I am very pleased to join scores of concerned people in Wisconsin and throughout the nation in expressing my opposition to the senseless House legislation which purports to address immigration issues -- but which in fact would precipitate serious long-range problems rather than positive solutions.

Jenna from Right Off the Shore responds:

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Ummm...last time I checked, you are the attorney general. Your job is to uphold and enforce laws, not make them. If you oppose this proposed legislation, quit your job, run for a legislative seat, and then we'll talk, mmkay?

She also writes:

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Yes, and those speaking in
Spanish and waving the Mexican flag are definitely in touch with America.

Jay Bartlett writes of American pride:

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Once immigrants have the chance to assimilate--once they're given the time it requires, time that can't be shortened by Republican legislative fiat or wishful thinking (which are so often the same thing), they, too become loyal Americans. And some demonstrate their loyalty in far more meaningful ways than yammering from behind a keyboard. (I count myself amongst the yammerers, so don't take that personally.) A Korean immigrant who had come here legally wanted to do something to speed his citizenship, so he volunteered to serve in Iraq--and in February, he got killed. Our country is the only one in the world that inspires people to do things like this. Whether you think the Iraq War is right or wrong doesn't matter this time--how many people born in America would have done the same thing for another country?

Random 10 leaves everyone scratching our heads when he asserts it was the Democrats who energized the immigrants to rally. Huh? My lord, when did the Democrats figure out how to organize nationally? And since when was a peaceful rally uncivil?

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For a moment, it appeared illegal immigration was being discussed with a level of civility and the appearance of bipartisan cooperation, aiming to arrive at humane solutions to our self inflicted problems. I let hope get in the way of my understanding that the socialist core of the Democratic Party will not settle for civil discussion. Civil discussion will not gain them power. The Democrats bring 10,000 people into the streets of Madison today...

Madison Chronicles, like most people, struggles with the logistics:

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I would be in support of some sort of amnesty or guestworker program for individuals that have been in our country for 2+ years. Though how do you pick such a random time frame - I don't know. Regardless, once a timeframe is chosen then the law (deportation and monetary fines) has to be enforced, and companies especially have to be held as accountable as the illegal immigrants they are hiring.

Lance at Badger Blog Alliance writes that it appears there is an attempt to frame the debate as a race issue:

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But I guess it's all about demagoguery now. They want it to be a race isue. It's the powerful whites against the oppressed Mexicans. Thus, they speak Spanish.

Jake’s Mom stumbled upon the rally and was left with this impression:

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I was impressed with the positive tone of this huge event and the simple desires expressed by this (mostly Latino) crowd - the desire not be treated as criminals, but instead as Americans. And this rally was one of the most American things I've seen in some time - a community of people wanting to be heard in the governance of our country and holding a peaceful demonstration to voice this position. Many of these people came to this country with the desire to work and create a better life for their families. Isn't that why our country was founded in the first place?

While reading most of these entries, I was impressed by the candor and attempts by most bloggers to address an insanely complicated issue. Then I came across this one:

Texas Hold ‘em Blogger suggests that Muslims who would march with undocumented immigrants ALL have nefarious reasons. I assume it is just poor wording on his part:

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Including Muslims for open borders ... or shall we make that terrorists for open borders? The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a known terrorist supporting group, has a visibile presence at many of these rallies. Check out the pictures of Arabs and Muslims marching in support of illegals ... wonder why?

He also perpetuates the meme that Democrats are organizing these rallies to get voters, once again - when did Democrats get so organized?:

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This is not about immigrants' right; this is about the Democrats and their supporters trying to build a base for permanent majority status. First they start lobbying for giving the vote to convicted felons, then it will be allowing illegals to vote. After all, since they're already here, it would be unfair to deny them a voice in their government.

Can't you just hear it already?

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