Monday, May 22, 2006

The Know-Nothings Rise Again

The Republican Right is frothing about the "invasion" of America by all those awful, brown, Spanish-speaking people. Funny, though, isn't it? Resentment of illegals tends to be highest where illegals are hard to find. Gene Lyons explains:
Polls show anger about illegal aliens running strongest where Mexican Americans are fewest. Irrational factors are clearly at work. Basically, they’re the same parts of the South and Midwest where the 19 th century Know-Nothing movement and the Ku Klux Klan flourished. Then immigrant Catholics and Jews threatened national solidarity.

Some have even persuaded themselves that the so-called Reconquista movement poses a conspiratorial threat to recapture states “stolen” from Mexico. Frankly, I’d gladly say good riddance to Texas. In the meantime, maybe we should rename places like Las Vegas, San Francisco, Santa Fe and Colorado lest the Meskins get any ideas.

If you think I exaggerate, here’s how a columnist for WorldNetDaily. com recently addressed the issue: “If it took the Germans less than four years to rid themselves of 6 million Jews, many of whom spoke German and were fully integrated into German society, it couldn’t possibly take more than eight years to deport 12 million illegal aliens, many of whom don’t speak English and are not integrated into American society.”
Aren't the rightwingers lovely people?
Don't misunderstand me: illegals should be made to apply for citizenship, learn the English language, establish legal residences, and pay taxes. We have every right to defend our borders. But what I won't put up with is this damned conservative Nativism rearing its ugly head. In response to it, all Mexican illegals should become U.S. citizens, learn our language and our history, and integrate themselves fully into American life.
And then vote straight Democratic.

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