Is Arizona’s new Illegal Immigration law justified?

"As Americans, we must stand up against this law. It's a travesty, and it's a moral outrage," said Elena Letona at a recent demonstration against Arizona's new illegal immigration law (http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/25/arizona_immigration_law_draws_praise_outrage_in_boston/). Illegal immigration has been a hot button topic for decades and it appears now that Arizona is tired of it. Prior to the legislation being moved through Arizona's state Legislature a local rancher was killed by an illegal immigrant. The new law allows for police to ask for proof of citizenship to anyone they choose to ask. Governor Jan Brewer signed the legislation into law on Friday as Arizona continues to deal with approximately 460,000 illegal immigrants.

Alison Peek writer for the Salt Lake City Political Buzz Examiner wrote, "When Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed the toughest immigration law in the United States, she opened the door to profiling, discrimination and racism. It was one of the biggest steps backward this country has seen in more than 225 years." Really? I'd argue the health care mandate is a bigger step backwards. Why are we so scared to profile? If a police officer asks for proof of citizenship how does that translate into discrimination and racism? A process is established to enter the country in a legal way and states like Arizona has battled and been handcuffed in cracking down on illegal immigration until now. It is time to get tougher on illegal immigration. Right now the largest segment of the world's population entering into the United States is Latin America.

We are going to need immigration to replace our ranks as the baby boomers age. So, if people want to come into our country to live and work then just comply with the law of the land. If you enter the country illegally then you need to be deported back. The influx of illegal immigrants taxes our health care system, burdens our schools system, and creates additional concerns for our police. That being said isn't well within the right of Arizona to enact such a law to keep their legal citizens safe? The trouble with immigration to begin with is that politicians use it as means to garner votes. If the system is broken then fix it. Don't turn a blind eye to the issue or when States, like Arizona, pass law to crack down on illegal immigration do not call it racist or discriminatory. Of course it is discriminatory because it discriminates against illegal immigrants. While the focus on the Arizona law is on the ability of police to ask for proof of citizenship the law also cracks down on those that hire illegal immigrants.

Mr. Gates get off your high horse and get to know thy neighbors

Finally the Police report is listed online in regards to Henry Gates Jr. arrest. Take a look for yourself. The report does not paint Mr. Gates in a good light. According to the non-arresting officer Figueroa, “As I stepped in, I heard Sgt. Crowley ask for the gentleman’s information which he stated “NO I WILL NOT!”. The gentleman was shouting out to the Sgt that the Sgt was a racist and yelled that “This Is WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL BLACK MEN IN AMERICA!” As the Sgt was trying to calm the gentleman, the gentleman shouted “You don’t know who your messing with!”

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Original_PDF/2009/07/21/0721docket_redacted_revised__1248200728_6644.pdf

Henry Gates Jr. is the Director of the W.E.B. DuBois Institute for African American Research and is the Alphonse Fletcher University professor at Harvard. Mr. Gates is still not happy about his arrest, even though justified, and stated in a phone interview with from Martha’s Vineyard, “I believe the police officer should apologize to me for what he knows he did that was wrong. If he apologizes sincerely, I am willing to forgive him. And if he admits his error, I am willing to educate him about the history of racism in America and the issue of racial profiling.” As an educate man, as Gates is, why feed into the racial profile by not complying with the officers request?

The officer was performing his job. A call came in, by a neighbor of Gates, which two black men were breaking in. The officer had no idea what to expect when he arrived on the scene. Mr. Gates created a scene that resulted in several people to gather around to see what all the commotion was about. That is what he was arrested for. Don’t be a moron when dealing with the police. Has anyone witnessed a positive outcome from yelling, screaming, and calling an officer a name? ANYONE?

Now Mr. Gates is demanding an apology. It is Mr. Gates that should be apologizing. The apology does not need to be made to the general public; rather to his neighbors for being a poor neighbor. Get to know your neighbors. Step outside of your home, get off your high horse, and meet your neighbors, Mr. Gates. By interacting with your neighbors one can break down stereotypes, mitigate situations of mistaken identity, and foster relations. We elected a community activist as President, why doesn’t Mr. Gates learn from that?

When I moved into my hamlet, the rumor was that a gay couple had moved into town.The rumored gay couple was me and my brother. As we interacted with our neighbors the relationship was quickly re-defined. Since that time my brother has moved out, although he does come back from time to time, I have remarried and added to the size of my clan. Just a few years ago we purchased a Rottweiler. Several neighbors became alarmed as ALL Rottweiler’s are aggressive and dangerous dogs. As neighbors, near and far, walked by our corner lot, we welcomed all to come meet our Rottweiler to debunk the myth.

If Mr. Gates really wants to improve race relations he needs to stop playing the race card, get out of the house and meet his neighbors. It is amazing how perceptions change when people exchange in dialogue. Don't be like Mr. Gates, get out of the house and interact with your neighbors.

Henry Gates Jr:Over reacted or Racial Profiled?

Picture this, two men are seen, by a neighbor, trying to break in the front door of a house. The “alleged” break takes place in Cambridge, Massachusetts. To add to the drama the two men “allegedly” breaking in are both black. A female neighbor, attempting to be a Good Samaritan, calls the local police to report the “alleged” break-in. To her surprise she finds out the next day that the two men “allegedly” breaking in were the resident of the home and a person driving him home that night. Now enter the officer on duty responding to the call of an alleged break-in. To make the situation more combustible, let’s say the officer is white.

This very situation took place at 17 Ware St. in Cambridge, MA. The resulting conversation between the office and “alleged” break-in artist spawned a flurry of headlines and accusations of racism on the part of the officer.

LA Times headline – “Henry Louis Gates Jr. arrested. Seriously, Cambridge?”

Boston Herald – “Al Sharpton rips Cambridge cops”

Associated Press – “Black scholar’s arrest raises profiling questions.”

ABC News – “Prominent Black Scholar Arrested After Racism Charge”

Boston Globe – “Racial talk swirls with Gates arrest”

Funny how the media focuses on the allegations made by the man arrested and not on the particular situation at hand. According to the police report, as cited in the Boston Globe article listed above, “A visibly upset Gates responded to the officer’s assertion that he was responding to a report of a break-in with, “Why, because I’m a black man in America?”” The officer put in his report, according the Boston Globe, “Gates then turned to me and told me that I had no idea who I was ‘messing’ with and that I had not heard the last of it.”

Now why in the world does Mr. Gates feel the need to add to an already volatile situation with the “Do you know who I am” routine? The officer is responding to your home because someone in the neighborhood felt it was being broken in to. To add to the confusion to the emotional conversation, Mr. Gates responded to the officers repeated request to speak with him outside with, “Ya, I’ll speak with your mama outside” (Boston Globe.7/21/09).

S. Allen Counter is quoted in the Boston Globe as saying, “This is very disturbing that this could happen to anyone, and not just to a person of such distinction. It brings up the question of whether black males are being targeted by Cambridge police for harassment.” Really? S. Allen Counter is a Harvard Medical School professor and ought to know better than to make a statement like this. Once again, let’s look at what brought the officer to the location. Two black men were “allegedly” breaking down the front door of a home which prompted a nearby neighbor to call police to investigate.

Lawerence Bobo, a Harvard sociologist, told the Boston Globe that “Gates ‘did ask him some pointed questions, like: ‘Is this happening because you’re a white cop and I’m a black man? Is this why this interaction is still taking place?’” Bobo went on to say, “Who’s not going to feel upset and insulted when a police officer won’t accept the fact that you’re standing in your own living room?”

Gates was only arrested after he followed the officer out of the house accusing him of racism. Gates is set to be arraigned on August 26th. The Boston Globe did have the police report available on their website but took it down according to Damian Thompson of the Telegraph. Damian Thompson does speculate why the Boston Globe pulled the report by writing “It’s absolutely fascinating. It doesn’t just depict Gates playing the race card; it describes him flinging a whole pack of 52 cards at the officers” (Telegraph.co.uk, 7/21/09) Unless the report resurfaces we will have to wait until the arraignment to find out what was actually reported.

In the meantime, if an officer of the law stops you and asks you a question or two just comply. As was the case with Fong Lee, had Mr. Gates just shown the officer his ID and been compliant he would not have been handcuffed and taken to jail. Instead of showing respect for the law and being a pillar for the youth, Mr. Gates was upset because his neighbor called the police on an apparent break-in and the officer asked, perhaps demanded, for proof of residence and did not arrest Mr. Gates until he continued the verbal barrage and racial accusations upon the officer.

Driving: Entitlement?

State lawmakers in Massachusetts are setting the stage as legislation moves through the Legislature in dealing with an aging driving population. The bill, if enacted, will require “vision and road tests every five years for all drivers 85 and older” according to a report in the Boston Globe. The catalyst of the bill is a recent accident on June 14th that took the life of Diya Patel. In a hearing yesterday “state Senator Brian A. Joyce introduced Nihan Patel, whose 4-year-old niece, Diya Patel, died on June 14, a day after being struck by a car driven by an 86-year-old woman” (Lawmakers vow to ‘fast track’ elderly driver legislation, Boston Globe, Matt Collette).

In the past I have discussed my disdain for seat belt laws but in this case I am in complete agreement. Personally, waiting until 85 is far too late. Driving in a privilege that many take for granted. If things continue done the path of entitlement – housing, jobs, and health care – soon the entitlement to a driver license may be next. After one obtains their license, it is important to adhere to the rules of the road. Now, I will admit that not every “rule of the road” do I follow; I am not alone.

That being said, it is time for the DMV’s across the United States to institute more testing. The attempt being made in Massachusetts is a step in the right direction. My suggestion is to reduce the age to 50.