Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Jorge Castañeda Op-Ed

Jorge Castañeda's New York Times Op-Ed is worth reading--he outlines the need for immigration reform. He sums up the border wall nicely:

Money has been appropriated for the construction of a border wall that has become a symbol throughout Latin America of this hateful stance. Environmental and local objections have been shunted aside, even though everyone knows the wall is not really being built, would not be effective if it were, and contradicts everything the United States stands for.

The overall point, however, is that executive order can make a major difference right away, even without wrangling with Congress:

By taking these actions, Mr. Obama would send three powerful messages. First, he would signal his gratitude to the nearly 70 percent of the Latino electorate who voted for him. Second, he would indicate his desire for improved relations with the nations of Latin America, who joyfully welcomed his election and for whom the Bush administration has made the United States more unpopular than at any time in recent memory.

And he would say to the rest of the world that, on his watch, the United States will not build fences, deport mothers without their children, nor persecute foreigners. He can do all this with just a stroke of his pen.

3 comments:

Paul 10:17 AM  

"Money has been appropriated for the construction of a border wall that has become a symbol throughout Latin America of this hateful stance."

Mexico's southern border is an armed fortress in order to keep out the Guatemalans, Hondurans, Salvadorans, etc. And yet we don't hear a peep about it. Regardless, why are they less hateful?

"And he would say to the rest of the world that, on his watch, the United States will not build fences.."

Greg, do you have a fence in your back yard? Do you just let strangers wander around and set up camp on your patio?

FYI, the fence is indeed being built.

Greg Weeks 10:50 AM  

The vast majority of houses here have no fences. We do, but it is a more Berlin Wall situation, to keep the dog and kids in. They climb it, though, so maybe I should learn some more from the Stasi.

Paul 12:00 PM  

"They climb it, though, so maybe I should learn some more from the Stasi."

Cute, nonsensical answer.

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