While reading “Tierra y Libertad” by Steven Bender
my eyes were opened to all the policies, judicial decisions, and pure
xenophobia that Latinos are faced with presently and have been facing for
hundreds of years. When learning about different aspects of Latino
culture you often hear about policy that prohibited Latinos from certain
aspects of life, and policy that blatantly oppressed Latinos, but when you sit
down and grasp the amount of policies that have been placed it is very easy to
become angered. The disgust that many people have for immigrants is
appalling and the steps they go to keep them from owning homes, obtaining jobs
and seeking the “American Dream” by making crazy restrictions is both shocking,
disturbing and ironic because xenophobes want Latinos to assimilate but then
put every obstacle in front of them so they can only be welcomed by failure.
The United States used immigrant labor to create
this country to provide equal opportunities and freedom but it denies those
very aspects to the minorities that help create it in the first place.
The United States opened their doors with programs like the Bracero Program,
but then the U.S. turned their backs when they were done using the latino’s
involved in these programs. When they
got what they needed through policies like the Immigration and Nationality Act
of 1965. The United States has exploited not only Latinos but also other
minorities like the Chinese, Native American and African Americans.
People, both policy makers and the public who put pressure on their
legislative representatives, from the United States feel this sense of
entitlement that enables them to place restrictions on immigrants. The
saddest part of ‘Tierra y Libertad” was the exclusionary acts being placed on
not only Latinos but other minorities as well. Many Latinos come to the
United States to seek employment and create a better life for themselves and
their families but they face so many obstacles; zoning laws created as a weapon
to exclude minorities by placing restricting multi-family dwellings,
trespassing laws were created to discourage immigrants from entering the United
States or quicken their departure, and racially restrictive covenants which
ensure segregation between Anglos and minority groups. All of these
restrictions are hard to understand because the United States promotes itself
as a place where opportunities can be taken to create the ideal life. In
regards to these restrictions another hard thing for me to believe is Bender’s
reasons for why it is no longer useful to turn to courts to expose the
wrongdoings of these restrictions because even if immigrants hold a victory
they are short lived because they are just confronted with another restriction.
I also found it hard to believe how and why it is no longer useful to incorporate courts in exposing these restrictions and how wrong they are. I remember using an example for our quiz saying this is compared to a drug dealer calling the cops to find his stolen drugs or something. The cop would not look for those drugs then he would arrest the man for being a drug dealer. Sad part of this is, aside from the dealer's loss, is that people in our judicial system consider those undocumented citizens to be as dangerous or "illegal" as drug dealers.
ReplyDeleteYes, I also believe how hard it can be for immigrants to adapt in the United States when their instinct tells them they are not safe. These certain laws such as trespassing laws and zoning laws all have to do with the greatness devotion advocates have towards them. I believe that yes, it was a matter of regulating the system so that it is organized and stable, but to take such great measures to avoid foreigners was blatantly a negative emotional based immature response. Policy makers create such strategic policies that only benefit themselves, but when such policy creates a huge dilemma that undermines anything but stupidity and an act of ignorance thats when other actions need to be taken in accordance.
ReplyDeleteThe US did the same abandoning action with the Cubans pre and post 1980s. Prior to the 1980s Cubans were receiving assistance from the government to help them settle and start life a fresh. However, after the US received what it wanted (the end of the Cold War) the next set of refugees from Cuban looking for assistance and the chance to create their new lives in America had backs turned to them and doors slammed in their faces.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that the "founding fathers" of this country themselves are immigrants and gentrifiers of the Native Americans, anyone who speaks up against against immigrants coming to America seeking a better life before the should first examine their family tree.
It just sucks knowing that the backbone and foundation of the United States has to be hindered so much. You would think for all the labor force minorities has contributed (not only Latinos) that they would be praised more for their hard work and trying to achieve the "American Dream," but instead its roadblock after roadblock trying to reap the most benefits from other peoples labor.
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