I am boycotting Cinco de Mayo
I?m planning to boycott Cinco de Mayo. The way I figure it, such a protest is fair game.
The big news this Monday was that thousands of illegal immigrants across the nation decided to stage a one-day boycott against America. Their goal was to show the value of Hispanic workers on the United States economy.
I say they need a taste of their own medicine. For one day, all Americans should boycott Hispanic workers and businesses to show the value of our economy on their livelihood. And since today is one of the most notable Mexican holidays, Cinco de Mayo, it?s the perfect time to start.
Looking at the hoards of illegal immigrants who rallied at large cities Monday, these questions came to mind:
? Why would immigrants who want to legally live and work in this country wave Mexican flags to prove their point? Wouldn?t an American flag be more appropriate?
? Do people who have no right being in this country have a legal right to protest?
? If we?re serious about our illegal immigrant problem, Monday?s nationwide rallies sure could have saved immigration officials considerable trouble. Why didn?t they bring trucks to the rally sites, corral all the illegal Hispanics, and drive them back across the border?
I realize in this neck of the woods, Hispanics are a vital part of the workforce. Most nurseries couldn?t operate without them.
Whether that?s good or bad, it?s also becoming a sign of the times for the rest of the nation. When my grandmother in Annapolis, Md., had work done on her house, it was done by an all-Hispanic crew. She constantly tells me how the Hispanic population is booming in the greater Washington, D.C. area.
When I vacationed last year in Hilton Head, S.C., there were dozens of houses being built. The area was buzzing with construction And all-Hispanic crews were at every building site.
Despite all our talk about building a wall and keeping all ?them foreigners? out, truth be told we depend on cheap Hispanic labor like a crutch. If all Hispanics were to pack up and leave, it would crush America?s economy.
That?s why our national legislators must decide, once and for all, what the place of immigrants should be in our society. On the state level, over 450 immigration bills have been introduced in 43 states ? just this year ? according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Most of these bills are designed to ?get tough? on illegal immigrants and on employers who give them jobs. While these state proposals are a step in the right direction, we need a national policy passed by Congress that?s realistic to implement and enforce.
My view is that Hispanic labor is a vital part of the U.S. economy. From housekeeping jobs in the finest hotels in this country to field jobs in the most remote towns, Hispanic labor is everywhere.
The first step is that labor must be legal. We don?t need undocumented people running around all giving the name Juan Gonzalez when they?re stopped by police.
The second step is there must be some way to stop the continual flow of people waltzing over our borders without the least bit of trouble. When those people waltz their way into a tree and have to visit the emergency room, it?s law-abiding U.S. citizens who are left paying the hospital bill.
Above all, illegal immigrants don?t need to be staging protests in our country. People who are here illegally aren?t in any kind of position to make demands.
James Clark is editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].