um, oh yeah, right… blogging…

Seattle had 2 large marches in response to the new nation-wide discussion on immigration reform, one last month, and one yesterday. Sarah and I participated in both. Both conveniently started in our back yard, and went straight into downtown.

There are currently 5 different reform proposals before the house, with a wide range of ideas on how to handle the many facets of this issue. The two biggest issues seem to be calling for useful paths to citizenship, and protesting the potential felonization of undocumented workers, and those who assist them. These issues really hit a chord with people in Seattle. At the April 10th march, 5000 people were expected. Twenty thousand came. And there were even more there yesterday - as many employers gave thier workers time off to attend, recognizing how important it is to have this labor force.

While I’m no expert, it seems to me that USA’s global policies create a strong economic differential between ourselves and our southern neighbors. Since the institution of NAFTA, illegal immigration has tripled. Things are getting worse in Mexico and Central America, and getting better here. Dumping our cheap products (like gov’t subsidized corn) has wrecked local economies and left people with few options. So they come north, and pay all they have for the chance to risk their lives, be separated from their families, live as outlaws, and just maybe find some work to send money home to their loved ones.

Our response to this is incredibly duplicitous. On one hand, we build walls, fences, use armed guards and helicopters, high-tech gear and trained soldiers to try to keep people out. Then, for those who make it, we gladly offer jobs, thankful for the abundance of low wage workers that keep so many sectors of our economy affordable. So, yes, reform is needed to put an end to our inconsistent approach. Programs like AgJobs provide ways for people to work here legally, and ways for workers to become citizens. It has been before Congress for years now, and hasn’t made it yet. Thankfully most of the (reasonable) current options have a similar provision.

This debate is far from over. Your voice is needed to call for a responsible, neighborly outcome. Please learn more, inform others, and speak to your representatives. Are they representing your perspective?

Learn more and get active at networklobby.org.

I took some pictures at the first rally. The first photo is out my apt window, of the gathering crowd. Mia was a hit on the march. I was drawn to photographing the kids who were there. It was just so obvious that the families were there for their kids. Please pardon the blurry or tilted pictures… I’m still learning my camera. Until i get a real photo album set up, pictures are here: webmonk.net/photo/immigration-rally/.