Post by Iroquois Pliskin on Apr 11, 2006 14:59:14 GMT -5
In some debates I've come across in relation to the recent storm over the issue of anti-immigrant legislation being pushed in Congress and by the Bush regime, some backwards forces have made arguments somewhat along the lines of this:
"Well, these immigrants complain that they come to this country to get a shot at making a new, better life for themselves and enjoying the opportunities that they would not get in their own countries," etc. etc.--the whole "American dream"--"and now they are being denied this opportunity. So," the backwards forces claim, "if they appreciate America so much, why are they waving the Mexican flag?" (I live in a predominately Chicano/Mexicano area, but this same argument could apply to other immigrants with their flags.) "Why," the backward complain, "wouldn't they be raising the American flag, since they appreciate America and its opportunities so much? Why do they think they can have it both ways?" It seems the more reformist forces within the immigrant movement have picked up on this, as I've been seeing an increasing presence of American flags at the demonstrations I've been to and which I've seen reported on in the bourgeois media.
My questions are basically:
How do we correctly respond to these arguments when they emerge among the backward, on the one hand?
What is the objective significance of the fact that, on the other hand, certain well-intentioned pro-immigrant forces have adopted the American flag as their symbol?
And how do we correctly relate to these forces (the well-intentioned, progressive ones) as we seek to unite with them while struggling to win them over to a more correct position?
"Well, these immigrants complain that they come to this country to get a shot at making a new, better life for themselves and enjoying the opportunities that they would not get in their own countries," etc. etc.--the whole "American dream"--"and now they are being denied this opportunity. So," the backwards forces claim, "if they appreciate America so much, why are they waving the Mexican flag?" (I live in a predominately Chicano/Mexicano area, but this same argument could apply to other immigrants with their flags.) "Why," the backward complain, "wouldn't they be raising the American flag, since they appreciate America and its opportunities so much? Why do they think they can have it both ways?" It seems the more reformist forces within the immigrant movement have picked up on this, as I've been seeing an increasing presence of American flags at the demonstrations I've been to and which I've seen reported on in the bourgeois media.
My questions are basically:
How do we correctly respond to these arguments when they emerge among the backward, on the one hand?
What is the objective significance of the fact that, on the other hand, certain well-intentioned pro-immigrant forces have adopted the American flag as their symbol?
And how do we correctly relate to these forces (the well-intentioned, progressive ones) as we seek to unite with them while struggling to win them over to a more correct position?
