Knowing that I am an American of Mexican descent, you ask me with a scowling and suspicious look seemingly saying – let’s see if this guy is a true American:
“Are you against illegal immigration?” The question begins in a mid 70 decibel scale, rising to over 80 decibels.
I answer, “Yes.”
Your scowl nearly disappears and in a moderate and steady voice, you ask: “Do you want illegal immigration to stop?”
“Yes, I do.”
Your face completely undergoes a change; you smile with approval thinking “this guy is OK.” So you say: “Good, let’s throw their children out of school; and let’s deny the children of illegal aliens the right to birthright citizenship. That’ll stop any more free hand outs and make them go back to Mexico.”
And I say, “Whoa, there big-guy, whoa.”
It’s all down hill after that. Your scowl reappears, your voice raises to shouting decibels heavy with contempt, there is fire in your eyes, your teeth are gnashing and you now consider me a non patriot in fact, a traitor, a scum bag, an open border let them all come in promoter.
And I consider you a bigot, racist, nativist, ignorant beyond the limits of ignorance, pompously draped with the false mantle of patriotism and the American flag.
You shout, “What part of illegal do you Mexicans not understand?” Ah yes, I am no longer an American, a U.S. citizen – now I am a Mexican. In your state of ignorance you have no idea that “Mexican” is a nationality not a race, and only citizens of Mexico have the right to that name.
I yell, “The Constitution is the highest law of the land. What part of Unconstitutional do you not understand? The Supreme Court, the highest court of the land, ruled that no child in the U.S. can be deprived of an education – that was back in 1982 when Texas tried to do what you now propose – do you live so far in the woods that you haven’t got the word yet? And in 1868, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution clearly provides birthright citizenship to those born in the U.S.- is your education so limited that you don’t know this?”
What you answered, I have no idea. I was no longer listening. What I answered, you have no idea; you’re no longer listening. We are shouting at each other, rambling on about the treachery to the nation, to the Constitution, to all things sacred to each of us – We walk away with contempt for each other.
