Immigration, Xenophobes and Conservative Reactionaries

This is what I love about America, that we’ve always been a nation in flux. One wave after another has come in to disrupt and unnerve the entrenched locals; thus, in each passing making us better, stronger, more diverse and the envy of the world. And this, this fact, that we’ve always been in flux, is often forgotten by the xenophobes and reactionaries of every generation that raise up in the way of progress. Just as the xenophobes of the past did, today’s xenophobic/conservative reactionaries are alarmed and shocked at how today’s immigrants are asserting their presence in our country.

Of course, these xenophobes and conservative reactionaries conveniently forget that its always been thus: a new wave of immigrants asserts their presence and petition for greater integration, the xenophobes get all flustered and demand that the "invaders" be turned back and that walls be erected. Many generations later, current xenophobes and conservative reactionaries marvel and praise the contribution of the immigrants of yesteryear, and can often be found savoring the fruits of earlier waves of immigrants. These same reactionaries take the influence of immigrants from years past for granted, not even questioning how Little Italy or China Town in New York City ended being part of the fabric of that great American city. And let’s not forget the influence of the Irish in Boston; the Scandinavians in the upper mid-west or the French in Louisiana.

As it has occurred many times in the past, a simple post on Billmon.org brilliantly put the above in clear relief in my mind:

Immigrants and their supporters were gathering in cities across the country today for demonstrations and an economic boycott intended to show the impact the workers have on the nation’s economy . . .The demonstrations took many forms and included people from a disparate number of countries, many of them in Latin America, but also from Asia and other parts of the world."
New York Times
Nationwide Immigrant Rallies Are Under Way
May 1, 2006

 

It was a wonderful strike, the most significant strike, the greatest strike that has ever been carried on in this country or any other country. And the most significant part of that strike was that it was a democracy. The strikers had a committee of 56, representing 27 different languages.
Big Bill Haywood
Description of the 1912
Lawrence millworkers strike