today in fresno there was a rally calling for a new immigration bill to be written. the rally was pro-immigration, and i had considered going. i think the whole immigration situation in our country is something that needs to be worked out. i'm for a pretty open policy.
tonight, i saw a story about immigration in other countries. interesting. in the story, it seems that the big issue is the recent arrival of so many africans. yet, the article also points out that africans make up only a small percentage of yearly immigrants to spain. now, it's slightly different here, as most of the people coming are actually from mexico, and most anti-immgration advocates focus on this group.
i know i'm sorta rambling here, but we're a nation built on the idea of immigration, have embraced the idea of "give me your poor, huddled masses, etc". i don't know what sort of philosophy spain has held in the past, but it sure doesn't seem to echo that sentiment. then again, neither does ours now.
3 comments:
I found this tidbit fascinating.
Spain has accords with several African countries under which they have agreed to tackle illegal migration accept the repatriation of their nationals, in exchange for development aid.
When I first started reading the article, I though, why are so many people emmigrating. The idea that they are doing so for better lives seems to be the strong point.
I like the idea of helping these countries to modernize and update their infrastructure. I also like the idea of not doing it by violently "bringing them democracy" a la U.S. style.
Why doesn't the U.S. do a better job of helping to make Mexico a better country so it's citizens don't try to run off to another country?
some would argue that programs like nafta should have stimulated mexico's economy through free trade. it hasn't. but, some big u.s. companies moved factories south.
i think there must be a lot of politics to it. i don't know why mexico didn't develop along the same lines as the u.s., especially in the last 100 years. they have the natural resources, and the workforce. really, when people come here from mexico, they are very hard working, frequently in the least desired jobs. i assume that they would be just as hard working there.
i freely admit this isn't an area where i've done much study, so i'm just speculating here.
I admire Ireland. They have seen a pretty big influx of immigrants, mainly from Poland and former Soviet countries. They have been pretty accepting and there hasn't been much problem. I saw a news clip where they asked someone how they felt about the immigrants and she made a great comment, something to the effect that the Irish remmeber what it was like to send their sons and daughters to Europe and the US looking for work, so now that their economy is thriving it is their duty to welcome immigrants escaping the same poverty they once fled.
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