Immigration Activists Sound Retreat

Perhaps the hundreds of thousands who marched in the street against the pending immigration legislation thought a show of mass solidarity would apply pressure on the politicians. They certainly had willing accomplices in the media and in the leftist camp. That these two groups were actively aiding your cause should always be a sign that most of America will be turned off by you -- even those who may be sympathetic to your side.

Much to the dismay of other cultures, Americans will often react negatively to what they perceive as outside agitation -- especially if you play the guilt card or make outrageous claims like "This is stolen land."

Anyone who does just a little research should discover this American trait. But, alas, people continue to make the same mistakes. This time, it was the radical Aztlan types who led others into a backlash that most of us could predict -- as I did here and here.

Now, it seems, some of the more sensible activists are crawfishing away from the communist ANSWER and Mexican Reconquista groups and attempting to reposition the protests. Captain Ed explains that the May 1 (May 1? C'mon, at least try to hide your real agenda) protest job walkout by illegal immigrants is fizzling:

The panel in DC wants to avoid the train wreck for illegal immigrants that this walkout will create. While the rallies have increased the visibility of the immigration debate, it has also polarized American opinion and created a significant and politically difficult backlash. The sea of Mexican flags and antagonistic sloganeering has made it more difficult for Congress to pass any measure that allows illegals to normalize for citizenship. A walkout, especially on a date most Americans will associate with socialist propaganda, will further erode moderate positions and make it more difficult to reach any solution other than a widespread crackdown on illegals.

These activists want to rechannel the debate into more positive approaches, but it's unclear how much influence they have. Right now, the illegals have cast their lot with the socialists, and until they realize that the alliance will do tremendous damage to their cause, they will continue to strengthen the hardliners who oppose them.

And that's what is happening, especially in the South, where a large Mexican influx has been begrudgingly accepted. This article tells of the small town of Albertville, Ala., population 18,000 -- and the conservative estimate is that 3,000 of those are Mexican nationals who came to work in the large poultry plans (which pay better than field laboring in other regions of the country).

I am very familiar with Albertville, as I have family there. I also know a few members of the area's Hispanic community. I have been pleasantly surprised by the general attitude from both factions. The Albertville natives mostly compliment the immigrants on their family-centric values, willingness to work hard and neighborly demeanor. The Hispanics I know (mostly Mexican, but one Puerto Rican and a few Peruvians), in turn, appreciate the lack of resistance that they expected in moving to a very small, very 1950s Alabama town.

It boils down to economics. The Hispanics buy gas, groceries and other assorted goods -- and they keep the poultry plants supplied with low-cost labor. The established community understands the dollars both the poultry plants and its workers (85 percent are Hispanic) primes the commercial pump. They also have a nice selection of Mexican restaurants!

Until a few weeks ago, the only complaints were the immigrants' aversion to buying car insurance and that many of them do not speak English. (Actually, a lot of them do, but when conversing with Hispanics -- which is overheard by the old-time residents -- they revert to their native tongue. This should offend no one.)

But during the nationwide protests, 5,000 people turned out for a march in Albertville. Five thousand. In a town of 20,000. Even the organizers were surprised. And the old townspeople (and I do mean old, the average age there has to be 60) were taken aback. I think you probably have to know a longtime Albertville resident to understand. But the Hispanic protest that large -- bigger than the one Pittsburgh (population 335,000) and about the same size as the one in Oakland (population 400,000) -- was like (to longtime residents, i.e., old white people) being invited into a stranger's home during a time of need and proceeding to piss on the floor. As this article explains:

"They're wonderful people. I've never had no problem with the Hispanic people," added Ennis, capturing the complexities of the local reactions. "I just didn't think we deserved it."

Albertville has been good to the workers, and she said the town had been affronted. Her opinions are not unusual, as many here offer intricate, and occasionally contradictory, views on what is suddenly one of the country's most topical dilemmas.

The Hispanic community is coming to grips with such reactions.

In recent days members of the Hispanic community have become concerned about the backlash. They've begun collecting money to reimburse the city for police work during the march.

Real estate agent Lorena Ramirez, who was born in Mexico and moved from Florida to Albertville 10 years ago, is working with Contreras and others to raise money to repay the city. She said she's never witnessed any tensions in the city but has heard murmurs of concern since the march.

"Some Hispanics are worried, 'Oh my God, what have we done? We're going to cause more tension,' " she said. "We didn't do it against Albertville. We love Albertville. We're just happy to be here.

"If we didn't love it here, we wouldn't be fighting to stay."

So when I write of backlashes and hurting legitimate causes, this is what I mean. It is what I stressed the other day when speaking to one of my Mexican friends whose family is in the country legally and sponsor other family members through their business.

He says, "We come to America for a better life. We were not poor in Mexico, but it is so corrupt there, no one can be rich. In America, you can be anything if you work hard. We started here with mostly nothing and now we have 20 family members here in our business. We spend money here and we help family back in Mexico. Everyone learns English, and we pay our taxes. We do not want people to think we are criminals. We want to be Americans. Everyone wants to be in America. El sueno americano."

The American dream. It is obtainable, but only by hard work. Not by threats and street protests.