Friday, April 13, 2012

we have met the enemy and he is us


(first shoots of the season)
That immigrant culture that has renewed us … has been at the core of our strength. I don’t know when immigrants became the enemy.

Condoleezza Rice

former Secretary of State

speaking at Duke University


I've wondered about this for some time. Unless one is Native American, we are all immigrants or from immigrant stock. Some of our ancestors came willingly. Some did not. It is likely that Condoleezza's did not.

Some came legally. Some did not.

Perhaps I would feel different if I lived nearer a border. Perhaps not.

What's true is that we need reform--of laws, procedures, and most of all...attitudes. The attitude adjustment is needed across the board, no doubt...on both sides of the border.

1 comment:

graceonline said...

Back in the 80s a man spoke to a small group of white women. He was Hispanic, as he identified himself, the son of Mexican immigrants, and a lawyer. Among the many things he told us that night, he said that within 20-30 years, there would be more people of color in the US than whites, and most of them would be of Hispanic origin.

I think the term "Hispanic" is now reserved for those whose heritage is primarily Spain, and "Latino" is the more respected term, but I may be mistaken.

The thing is, we are finally at that point, or very nearly so, where whites are now a minority. I remember that night, hearing women all around the room politely stifling little gasps at his assertion.

Telling, no?