Día nacional de la inmigración
I sit in my office on K Street while 200,000 protesters are approaching the capitol to make the voice of undocumented immigrants heard here in America. They say there is another 100 cities where the same thing is happening. There are many, many protests here in DC (let’s hear it for functioning democracy!) but this one strikes me as important.
Perhaps I have a skewed view, because my other job besides futurist is professional salsa musician. (I know, career counselors would have an aneurism dealing with me.) I work in latin clubs with bartenders, busboys, managers and musicians from South and Central America. I was surprised to learn how many did not have papers. These people are among the hardest working I have ever met, and their stories are incredible when it comes to what they had to do to get here. Many of the guys I meet took a bus from Guatemala or El Salvador to Mexico, ran across the border with one of the coyotes, and managed to keep enough money safe to take another bus from Texas to Washington DC. Once here in DC, they often work three jobs, from 6 am until midnight. They know this is their chance to work and make a better life for themselves AND support their families back home at the same time.
The so-called “illegals” I meet are almost all law-abiding, democratically minded, socially-conscious family men. They understand community, they respect laws and customs, and they are pushing this country forward. They represent that which is greatest about America, and they do so while knowing at any moment they could be sent back home.
This isn’t a perfect situation. Many who make it here illegally are exploited. No question, respecting the regulations of the INS is quite important. My question as a futurist is about how nationality is developing in this global economy. Sure they snuck in, but if these immigrants show all the best characteristics of Americans, perhaps will their route of entrance into this country become less important?
Just some musings from a child of Italian immigrants.