So I'm on my way to work this morning in my yuppified neighborhood of Carmel Valley just next to Del Mar and what do I see, the Anti-Immigration crowd in full force (about a dozen or so) displaying themselves in a little rally? I'm not against people protesting, but their signs and their techniques made me want to puke.
look below the virtual fold to visit my disgust
"Secure our Border Against Terrorists"
"Stop Illegal Immigration - "heart" America"
etc... granted there was one sign that said "Punish Employers of Illegal Immigrants" which is the closest thing to actually addressing the issue.
But it was the techniques of flag waving and uber-nationalism, I mean patriotism, that they were trying to wrap their hatred in. When I yelled "You guys are selling hate" they just waved their flags at me as if the flag trumps all arguments. My favorites where the Japanese lady protesting immigrants (wonder if she remembers internments in the US), the Kato Kaelin flunky looking guy waving the flag like a hankerchief, and finally, the requisite skinhead bubba/biker guy as the enforcer. There was also a smattering of older folks out waving the propaganda.
I wish I had time to really counter-protest them, but I was trapped across three lanes of traffic and couldn't really stop. But what burns my ass is the fact that they can wrap themselves in the flag like that. I mean, trade the word "immigrant" for "Jews" and we are sitting on Kristalnacht Eve.
Which brings me to my real worry: Are we teetering on the edge of organized violence against immigrants? Has there been vandalism and violence directed against Hispanics happening, or is it just around the corner? What a perfect wedge issue to distract against all the other fuck-ups ruining our once great Country.
In the words of Elwood Blues, "Man, I hate Nazis"