While the amnesty protests of a couple weeks ago were nonviolent, one could not help but notice the confrontational attitude of the demonstrators as they carried Mexican flags and demanded to not be labeled as criminals. On Monday there will be a planned boycott of work by illegal immigrants to continue their protest. Since the demands of the demonstrators have not been met, it’s a natural progression to step up the level of confrontation from peaceful protest to a boycott of labor.
The basic problem with this technique, as any skilled negotiator knows, is that driving a hard bargain hardens your adversary. Undoubtedly, the boycott will fuel a firm resolve to resist the demands of the illegals. For somebody who has entered the country and is working here illegally to go on strike over a demand for amnesty is likely to be seen by most Americans as being way over the top.
It’s only a short hop from passive disruption of a boycott to active disruption by interfering with legal commerce in order to increase the pressure. Indeed history is rife with examples of many legitimate labor disputes having made that transition and ending up in violence. There are already calls to shut down certain cites on Monday.
A common thread that has run through most riots is that they signaled their forthcoming, and therefore, they should have been stopped before they turned into a riot. As events unfold next week, we might be looking back and wondering why we were so lenient that we let people identifying themselves as illegal aliens openly defy our laws and demand that we change them.
Inner City Blues said this in post #2 : It will be nonviolent.
It may very well be, especially in the short term Monday. In the longer term, it may turn violent, but it also depends on how much Congress gives them.
There will be some tool's that don't understand what the hell they're marching for in the first place that will start some kind of crap, somewhere, guaranteed.
Every political persuasion has those people that don't know why they are there. And it's really bad when those people are being interviewed because whatever the cause, they just killed it by speaking.
I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
- Bill Cosby
The guy who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed.
- Gordon Parks
The reason I anticipate violence is that I sense a rising backlash to the demands of the illegal immigrants, and their demonstrations are feeding that backlash instead of overcoming it. Their demonstrations are working against them. Not only are they waking up the resistance in this country, they are also going to increase their own frustration as they see their efforts to win the argument failing at the protests ramp up.
Isn't this part of what this country is built on, the ability to assemble and dissent? I don't see a reason to whine about people protesting. Abortion opponents march in front of clinics, all power to them, neo-Nazis march down the street every now and then, right on. If immigrants, legal or illegal, and citizens want to march for reform that tilts towards their persuasion and views, why are you complaining?
As with the KKK march that used to happen regularly on the 4th of July in my state, just start a counter-demonstration, make it bigger and better and you'll get your point across. All this "Whoa is me, violence and bloodshed" talk is rather foolish to me.
I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
- Bill Cosby
The guy who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed.
- Gordon Parks
I personally do not think that they, the illegals, have the right to protest since they are not citizens. How arrogant of them to demand rights when they showed NO respect for our laws when they came here illegally.
Inner City Blues said this in post #9 : Isn't this part of what this country is built on, the ability to assemble and dissent? I don't see a reason to whine about people protesting.
If immigrants, legal or illegal, and citizens want to march for reform that tilts towards their persuasion and views, why are you complaining?
All this "Whoa is me, violence and bloodshed" talk is rather foolish to me.
Who says I am whining and complaining about the protests? I'm just making an observation or two. I disagree with the position of Bush, and would like to see the border enforced and immigration controlled as the law requires. But as long as that's not happening, I say let them protest. I think the protests will backfire and work for the position I favor.
fuscia said this in post #10 : I personally do not think that they, the illegals, have the right to protest since they are not citizens. How arrogant of them to demand rights when they showed NO respect for our laws when they came here illegally.
Exactly how I feel Fuscia!
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fuscia said this in post #10 : I personally do not think that they, the illegals, have the right to protest since they are not citizens. How arrogant of them to demand rights when they showed NO respect for our laws when they came here illegally.
I agree, 100%, and then some, Sherry!
I'm sick and tired of this. YES, I know that they do jobs for cheaper. It shouldn't have to be that way. But, we have people who keep hiring illegals, and paying them, under the table. I don't support that... never have, never will. If you aren't in this country, legally, you don't have a voice to protest. It's complete and I for one have lost ANY respect toward them coming here now.
Here in San Diego (where both Sherry and I reside) there are going to be SEVERE consequences to students who do not come to school today... no matter what. Kids will be given a truency, and this will stop them from graduating, or going on trips at the end of their school year. One school has a trip planned, where parents had to pay $1500.00, and the contract SIGNED by the parents states that if the child has a truency, they will not be permitted to go on this trip, to New York, and that the money will not be returned. So, parents better really think, long and hard, about making sure their children are in ALL of their classes today.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
Lawless said this in post #13 :
Here in San Diego (where both Sherry and I reside) there are going to be SEVERE consequences to students who do not come to school today... no matter what. Kids will be given a truency, and this will stop them from graduating, or going on trips at the end of their school year. One school has a trip planned, where parents had to pay $1500.00, and the contract SIGNED by the parents states that if the child has a truency, they will not be permitted to go on this trip, to New York, and that the money will not be returned. So, parents better really think, long and hard, about making sure their children are in ALL of their classes today.
OKAY, i think this is crap. Yes, kids won't even know WHY they're protesting and i don't think parents should let their kids be there, BUT, its no reason to get this ridiculous. I mean not returning the money? please. If you want to give them a truancy, fine. if you want to suspend them for days fine. but hey, maybe the kids have no choice - maybe the parents will make them go. maybe they feel it's right. for all those kids who are doing it just to get out of school, there may be a handful of kids who are doing it for the right reason. this punishment is ridiculous.
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Illuminate... when they signed the trip contracts, it clearly stated that truency's would result in a loss of the money. These trips have been paid for. Why should we lose school funds, to treat a child to a trip, when they were truant? If they were truly sick, a doctor would fill out a slip, and the child is excused.
One of our schools here, in San Diego, has NO children today. A high school has 800 students truant. Our schools run off of funds, given to us, by the government, based on attendance. When children take off, it hurts the district, financially, in a HUGE way. I know... because I work in the finance dept of the SD City School district.
The parents signed these papers, knowing that this was something that they would lose, if their children took off, unexcused. And, just calling in today, and saying... "Hey, my kid is sick" doesn't cut it. We have told the entire district (and this is happening at EVERY school across the US) as soon as this date was planned, that they could NOT miss school on this day. The same goes for the teachers, and if they don't have a doctors note, they will face consequences as well.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
04-28-2006 04:45 PM
and I for one have lost ANY respect toward them coming here now.
