CINCO de SCREW-O: Immigration Part 2

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: As promised, I submitted a Letter to the Editor/Ozarks Voices supporting immigrants in the Ozarks. Following is the piece I submitted yesterday (Saturday, May 6, 2006). As of Sunday, May 7, 2006, 4:02 pm, the News-Leader has not printed the letter or contacted me about it (they will verify Ozarks Voices before printing). As a former newspaper man I know there are lots of reasons that can happen: too many submissions, not timely enough, unclear, too long, or not verifiable (mine was verfiable). So we will see what happens. But here it is, anyway. Interestingly enough, they did have two pieces about the importance of hearing from us and one piece about their editorial board. Following is my submission and I encourage all of you to do the same.)

'CINDO de SCREW-O, ABOUT FEAR, DISCRIMINATION

The boycott of all Mexican restaurants, suggested by Jim Reeves, Kissee Mills in the May 4 edition of the News-Leader, is a bi-product of what ails our culture. Fear leads to hatred and discrimination and that fear is running rampant through the Ozarks with the open disdain for persons of Mexican descent.

Critical thinking skills allow us to see that illegal immigrants consist of persons from many nationalities. Not all persons from Mexico are illegal, although it makes it hard to discriminate against a group of people if you don’t demonize the entire culture.

Unfortunately, this hatred is not limited to Hispanics. Growing up in the Ozarks I have heard this sentiment all my life: “I don’t want them to get ahead of us.” That phrase is mired in fear, and yet it is a prevalent belief in the Ozarks.

There has been a surprisingly small public rebuttal to this open bigotry. So on Cindo de Mayo, I had lunch and dinner at Mexican restaurants as a private protest to the public discrimination against Hispanic persons. Reeves’ suggested Cinco de Screw-O was seen for what it is: nothing more than fear-driven, hate-filled bigotry. I stood in very long lines just to get a seat at both Mexican restaurants. Springfieldians were out in droves, eating Mexican food and supporting the Mexican culture.

A silent protest against bigotry never works. If Mexicans, Asians and other minority populations are ever going to feel safe in Springfield, then the educated, the open-minded and Christians must take their place in public life and decry this hatred of people.

Chris Wilson