Well, we all knew what he thought of it. After all, a lot of money from undocumented workers flows south into the Mexican economy.
In April, after Arizona's new immigration law passed, Mexico's foreign relations department issued a travel advisory telling Mexicans living or shopping in Arizona to "act with prudence and respect the framework of local laws."
I would hope so! What kind of advisory is that? - "People, obey the laws."
Well ...on further thought, I suppose we should just be grateful that someone in authority said it.
The 'advisory' went on, "It should be assumed that any Mexican citizen could be bothered and questioned for no other reason at any moment."
Well, that was just an outright lie. The law very clearly states that this isn't to happen and outlines specific disciplines if it should. Almost every Arizona Latino, at this point, knows that - and knows what his/her rights to complain are, and knows what is supposed to happen if they are mistreated. Of this I am sure, despite continued rhetoric and angry, hate-filled protests.
Felipe Calderon, president of Mexico, also made a huge point of condemning the law prior to his Wednesday, May 19th, visit to the White House to discuss the War on Drugs. Calderón told Reuters he would 'personally' protest the law to Obama and Congress. He was reported to have even rewritten his drug speech to Congress to include his protest.
(What would the changes have been? "My, my, drug traffickers are bad... but how dare you racists try to arrest them?") Apparently, we're supposed to fight drug crime without hurting any one's feelings.
In his interview with Reuters, he said,
"[the law] contains elements that are frankly discriminatory, terribly backward. The fact the law has introduced, regardless of all the nuances being used, the possibility of detaining, arresting somebody on the grounds of their physical appearance implies one of the most serious reversals that I remember."Right, right. We should do things much more fairly - like they do in Mexico, where who ever is able to pay the policeman more goes free. (And that's not about race. While I am sure that there are honest cops south of us, there is a known culture of pay offs. It's just the way things are handled. I've waited in a car in Mexico, on more than one occasion, while the person escorting us 'handled' border guards and once 'handled' the police.) (The police were about a traffic accident. I wasn't driving, a Mexican friend was. And I didn't make the decisions to handle anyone - our Mexican escorts did. I wasn't even aware at first that this is what was happening.)
On the other hand, while people can be paid off in any institution, I have had less reason to fear the north side of the border. Further, I think the US border patrol and Arizona state police are experienced enough to know that while most people crossing the border illegally have darker skin, not all do. It's their job to be aware of that and watch the behavior of ALL colors of people - especially with terrorists trying to come in to hurt Americans. Do the critics think our men in blue are not only racists and red-necks, but idiots, too? It's pretty insulting to assume that all Arizona police and border guards are crooked, racist, thugs. Again, from my own experiences on both sides of the border, I'll take the team on the north side anytime. And by the way, many of the Arizona police and border patrol ARE Latino.
Today, Calderon's visit to DC was supposed to be about the war on drugs, but he and Obama made sure that the 'War on Arizona' was included. Thanks President Obama, for sticking up for your own people.
Calderon self-righteously said in his speech, "My government cannot and will not remain indifferent when these kinds of policies go against human rights." He added that the law discriminated against Mexicans and called for an immigration policy that did not force people to live in the shadows "with such laws as the Arizona law, which is forcing our people to face discrimination."
Right - this from Mexico, the country that greets 'immigrants' on it's own southern border with gracious hospitality. Up until 2008, Mexican law made illegal immigration a criminal offense. Anyone arrested in violation of Immigration law two years ago in Mexico could be fined, imprisoned for up to two years and deported. Going against Human Rights, Mr. President? Officials were known to seek bribes to keep suspects out of jail.
Today illegal immigration in Mexico is a civil violation, but their law is no different than Arizona's! It says that police are "required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country before attending to any issues."
The law is the same - but the behavior of Law Enforcement is not the same. Mexico has been cited repeatedly by human rights groups for abusing or ignoring the abuse of migrants from Central America. Just a few weeks ago, Amnesty International issued a report stating illegal immigrants in Mexico are frequently abused, raped and kidnapped. Mexican police do little to stop it. Is this why President Calderón thinks Arizona police are crooked? That may be his excuse, but why is our President Obama expecting Arizona police to be corrupt, and why are Americans supposed to stomach hypocrisy from President Calderón?
Activist Al Sharpton, who purports to be reverend and represent civil rights - but misses them both by a wide margin - has also chimed in with a threat to organize big protests if a lawsuit fails. Not at all concerned about the treatment of illegal immigrants in Mexico, he said,
"We're going to bring people into the state of Arizona and refuse to show our IDs and openly walk the streets with people that appear Mexican."Bravo, good and righteous soul, who has a comfortable home out east - far from the border. Go out of your way to make the situation harder on everyone. And again, never mind the human rights of those that have family homes near the border, let alone the lives of Mexican citizens living in Mexico or the people from Central America.
By the way, the U.S. has given Mexico about $1.3 billion to fight the drug war. This includes several pieces of special equipment meant to help root out drug runners as well as protect Mexican police and judges. According to Washington Post Reporter, William Booth, this includes "Black Hawk helicopters, night-vision goggles and armored cars and trains." Obama wants to give them 310 million more in 2011. We sure are nasty toward people that appear Mexican.
Enough of attacking Arizona, President Calderón. YOU have a personal responsibility to keep the borders secure and Mexicans safe. This isn't about just Arizona. Juarez has become a war zone, over run with violence, and El Paso is feeling the violence on their side now. Recently, friends of ours were forced to leave their home in Juarez and move to El Paso (legally) because their children had been threatened. Her father is a Mexican businessman. Still, they don't feel entirely safe because cartel members are known to find their way across the bridge, so they are keeping their address private.
Kidnappings happen all the time! People need those armored vehicles we send south just to protect their children. Heads are being cut off!! And yet President Calderon thinks the Arizona law is DRASTIC? Calderon has taken some steps to fight drug cartels and that is admirable - but has he failed? Maybe he needs to do something much more drastic than Arizona's traffic stop law.
Obama, in yet another speech last Friday, failed to apologize for not having been any better than his predecessors in taking action to protect the border, and blamed Congress, (who he had forced into a year long pre-occupation with health care) for failing to enact 'comprehensive reform.' He then made another 'promise' that if Congress continues to waste its time pandering to his agenda, "We will continue to see misguided efforts opening up around the country."
He ended his blame of Congress by insulting the people of Arizona yet again, saying that the absence of a federal resolution opens the door to irresponsibility by others," citing "the recent efforts in Arizona, which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans."
By the way, Calderón has also been scheduled to attend a lavish state dinner at the White House - unlike the Israeli Prime Minister, whose country is not smuggling drugs and crime into ours, and who, to the best of my knowledge, has never condemned one of our states - essentially calling Arizona's police force and legislature racist. Calderon was also given the blessed opportunity to address both houses of Congress.
There seems to be a theme here; Neither Israel or Arizona have permission to do what is necessary to defend their citizens against attack.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100517/wl_ynews/ynews_wl2102
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