You know when a story is momentous if retired Late Show
host David Letterman comes out of his retirement just as it starts, and that is
just what took place in San Antonio, Texas. Letterman gave his iconic “Top 10”
list about Trump in a guest appearance at a comedy show.
While all Letterman’s quips were funny, Trump has had nothing
but negative publicity, which makes us ask, why are his numbers rising in the
polls (according to CNN/ORC)? One reason may be that his infamous albeit ill
expressed speech, singling out Mexico, is that illegal immigration is a
huge concern for most Americans – including Latino Americans.
Trumps started his rant by saying; “When do we beat Mexico at the border? ...When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you... They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. But I speak to border guards and they tell us what we’re getting…It’s coming from more than Mexico. It’s coming from all over South and Latin America, and it’s coming probably – probably – from the Middle East. But we don’t know. Because we have no protection and we have no competence, we don’t know what’s happening. And it’s got to stop and it’s got to stop fast. The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems.”
Trump was speaking about the border protection, not those of
Latino heritage, or those applying for citizenship, but only those who ARE a
problem bringing drugs, fleeing crime, or with the intent to harm – NOT the Latino
Americans of our community that felt targeted.
Now why a person who can afford the best scriptwriters and
PR professionals on the planet would speak without precise communication is bizarre.
However, Donald is not afraid to speak his mind even if it gets him in trouble.
The likelihood of him winning is slim, but he started a debate with the public
about the borders, which might be his strategy.
This controversy reminded me that in 1994, Proposition 187,
a state-run immigration measure to deny public benefits, including public
education to illegal immigrants was on the California ballot. As a half Latino
myself, this proposition was a catch-22. The Proposition passed, but was later
determined to be unconstitutional. My first voting experience became a harsh
reality that the system ignores the voice of voters. Eleven years later and
California still has an illegal immigration problem and in essence, those who
broke the law are now able to vote.
The state has tried to pass laws to minimize illegal
immigration and the democratic process but legal and social pressures
have overridden the democratic route, especially if those who are now voting do
not care about the welfare of America and do not come over honestly with pride. This is
what Trump intended and should have expressed about illegal immigration and
border protection.
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