VivirLatino

This is like thieves stealing your personal belongings and trying to sell them back to you provided you can prove that they were originally yours.
Even Molly Ivins was quick to point out that Anglo-Texans came from a long line of land thieves.

On January 22, 2008 I attend a City Council meeting in the city of Farmers Branch, Texas. This particular meeting was of special interest to me because of the ordinance that was being proposed, City Ordinance No. 2952, by Tim O’Hare a politically ambitious backwards minded individual who is using scare tactics to promote his rise to power and fame just as David Duke in Louisiana in the early 1990’s. This ordinance states the following:
• Prospective tenants will have to apply for an occupancy license.
• The application form will ask whether the person is in the U.S. legally.
• Anyone who completes the form and pays $5 will get a license and be allowed to move in.
• The city will verify noncitizens’ legal status through a federal database.
• Anyone identified as being in the U.S. illegally will get 60 days to prove otherwise.
• Violators – tenants or landlords – will face fines of $500 a day.
This law specifically targets the Hispanic community of which I am a proud member. The law is meant to intimidate, harass, and scare illegal immigrants from the city of Farmers Branch.
Before I attended the city council meeting I decided to go with an open mind to hear all arguments of all the side. The polarization of the meeting was evident from the beginning. It was a two-thirds majority vote for the ordinance. When the session was adjourned there were many outbursts by people who were for and against the ordinance. Many sudden arguments broke out in the hallway after the meeting. When I approached pro-tem mayor Tim O’Hare to ask why he voted for the ordinance it was clear to see his true intentions for passing an ordinance like this was to position himself for the upcoming elections for mayor.
As I walked to where the arguments were going on, I asked the Hispanic Community Leader, Carlos Quintania, why he opposed the ordinance. He said the ordinance violated civil rights and he believed that racism the basis for the whole situation. After my discussion with both community leaders, I came to the realization that the ordinance in this day and age should not be implemented. In my belief this ordinance was crafted by individuals who are driven by their political ambitions and narrow-minded views. How others will be greatly affected by a drastic change in the population size in Farmers Branch seems like it was not taken into consideration. Close to 55,000 Hispanics live in Farmers Branch and contribute to the economy of the city through taxes, retail and restaurant sales as well as being business owners. A sudden decrease in the population of that magnitude will harm the existence of small business in Farmers Branch and will cause a serious decrease in the profit margin of big business as well.

I believe that the ordinance needs to be altered. I also believe that the people writing the new ordinance need to take in to consideration the lives of these individuals that will be forced to move, and the kids that will have to leave there friends, and the many other life changing affects that will occur just because of a politically ambitious character like Pro Tem Mayor Tim O’hare. A little open heartiness might be all we need to solve our problems.

I agree that this ordinance is unconstitutional and a violation of human rights. I do not agree with your opinion that it is CLEARLY racist. Don't flatter yourself. It is very arrogant of you to ASSUME that this ordinance SPECIFICALY targets Latino's? Illegal immigrants are not just LATINO! What about illegal immigrants from other countries? Europe, Russia, Africa, Asia, Canada, etc. I understand that the majority of illegal immigrants in this country are Hispanic. That does not mean that the immigration laws are to specifically target Hispanics. I also understand that some of the individuals responsible for these laws and ordinances ARE racist but, again that does not automatically make the ordinance a racist ordinance. Now…before you call me a racist, just know that I am NOT. I have large mixture of friends black, white, Hispanic, European, Canadian, and some gay friends as well. Stop making this about RACE and look at the REAL issues: Crime rates, Taxes, Social Security, welfare, and other public programs that are being negatively affected by ALL illegal immigration. If you insist on making this about race then the only racist here is YOU.

Cody

I have large mixture of friends black, white, Hispanic, European, Canadian, and some gay friends as well.

Would you like a cookie?

"Would you like a cookie?"

Wow....That's your response? Thats the only thnig you could think to comment on? How old are you? 12? 13? With the way you represent yourself on this site and with your articles, I was expecting a much more intelligent and mature ADULT response. My statement of ---
"I have large mixture of friends black, white, Hispanic, European, Canadian, and some gay friends as well."
--- was intended to illustrate the fact that I am not racist or predjudiced. I wasn't looking for a pat on the back. I actually thought I might get a good discussion here...guess not. :-(

The thing is, when you use that line, " I have a large mixture of friends...." to prove that you are an anti-racist ally is problematic. It reeks of wanting to be acknowledged as an anti-racist because you invite a person of color to your home. That in and of itself, proves nothing.

Tell me what you are doing to consider yourself an anti-racist.

That's what that statement was about

Okay…I see what you are saying. I guess it just depends on your point of view. I was discussing a topic that was of a very racial nature. I felt that the statement of “I am NOT (racist)” needed to be emphasized by the“…large mixture of friends…” statement. I felt this way because my audience doesn’t personally know me. It had absolutely nothing to do with acknowledgement as an anti-racist.

You said, “Tell me what you are doing to consider yourself ant anti-racist”

Well, what exactly do you mean? Are you asking me if I am an anti-racism activist? The answer to that would be, no. I am not an anti-racism activist. I just said that I am NOT racist. Which means exactly this, I am not racist nor do I condone racism. That’s it.

I find it very interesting that you focused on this one little part of my post. I guess I did not do a very good job of getting my point across. The real focus of my post was to point out that racism is only one part of the immigration issue. In other words, all people who are fighting against illegal immigration are not necessarily racist. Also, we should choose not to make it about racism and concentrate on the other issues. The fight against racism is a very worthy cause, but it is at this point a battle that will not be won by either side. I am merely suggesting that if we focus on the other issues we might actually get something done.