EDITORS' CORNER
OPINION: Keep sticking with those ’80-20′ issues, progressives. It’s working so well …
You had to know this was coming from academia: White people are more upset at Mexican flags being flown at (illegal) immigration protests than are other groups.
A trio of professors who “specialize” in Latino politics are warning about this now … based on a study conducted nine years ago.
Edward Vargas (Arizona State, pictured), Jason Morín (Cal State Northridge), and Loren Collingwood (U. New Mexico) write in The Conversation that currently, “some demonstrators expressed growing frustration with ICE by showcasing the Mexican flag, which has become the defining symbol of the protests in Los Angeles.”
(Arizona State University has a School of Transborder Studies … who’d’ve thought?)
The profs say some media have referred to the flag as the “perfect propaganda tool for Republicans and conservatives” (the “Confederate banner” of the LA protests in a “city taken over by immigrants”), while others (who’re unlabeled) “depict the flag as symbolizing ethnic pride, solidarity with immigrants and opposition to the Trump administration.”
The 2016 study found 41 percent were “bothered” by protesters holding the Mexican flag, while 28 percent did not like seeing the U.S. flag.
“White respondents were more likely than any other racial and ethnic group to say they were bothered by protesters waving Mexican flags,” the profs write. “Sixty-nine percent of white respondents said they were bothered, 31 percentage points more than the average of nonwhite respondents.”
Older folks were more likely to take offense, especially those “who had not engaged in protests.” Racial minorities with “a stronger sense of ethnic or racial identity” were more supportive of the Mexican (and U.S.) flag.
The profs then note the “recent immigration protests across the country are the first time many of the Latino youth who are citizens have participated in these types of protests. The Mexican flag represents more than nationalistic pride. It represents their parents’ heritage, hard work and their binational experience as Americans engaged in politics.”
Where to start? For me, it’s not that big a deal the profs are tying contemporary events to a decade-old survey since many of the same issues are at play. But it is quite significant they never use the word “illegal” once in the entire piece. Not once.
In my view, this is purposeful, just like with the media so as to make people believe the majority (whites) harbor nativist — and racist — feelings.
MORE: Conservative students, told to tame their criticism of Hamas and illegal immigration, file lawsuit
And this is the main point behind the recent Los Angeles-based illegal immigration protests: Yes, flying a foreign flag in support of the right to stay here against the law (and ahead of those who’ve played by the rules) is aggravating. And it should be.
Such feelings among older Americans make sense because they were (rightly) brought up to believe in the ideal of a melting pot and colorblind society.
The younger generation, on the other hand, has been indoctrinated from kindergarten with curricula based on Oppression Studies, which justifies such protests.
Here’s another interesting omission by the profs: 51 percent of white respondents said they “were also bothered by the image of protesters waving U.S. flags.”
Anyone want to take a guess as to the politics of that 51 percent? Alas, you’ll have to infer it as the only mention of political ideology in the article is the aforementioned “perfect propaganda tool for Republicans and conservatives.”
All articles at The Conversation at some point have a sentence like this: “As political scientists who specialize in Latino politics and immigration-related issues …” Well, let me do the same: As a longtime public school teacher who lived abroad for a time and is fluent in Spanish (doesn’t this make me sound important?), I contend most Americans’ views (white or otherwise) on immigration are quite reasonable.
Look at this Fox News poll: Seventy percent of voters think legal immigrants “help the U.S. rather than hurt it,” which reflects a 26-point increase in Republicans in just the last two years. Fifty-six percent favor deportation of all illegal immigrants (Hispanics are split evenly), which is down 11 points since last October and likely a reflection of Americans’ reasonableness on the topic.
For instance, Pew Research shows 97 percent back deporting illegals who’ve committed violent crimes, and 52 percent favor deportations of non-violent criminals. The figures are substantially less regarding those without criminal records.
In addition, majorities disapprove of apprehending illegals in “places of worship,” schools, and hospitals … but support nabbing them at work, home, or at protests.
Like with the issue of men competing against women in athletic competitions, the Left remains determined to dig in on illegal immigration (without using “illegal,” of course). Both of these are so-called “80-20” issues, and progressives defend that 20 because they must oppose everything President Trump favors.
Unfortunately for the Left, these two particular topics center around fairness, and if there’s one thing your average American believes in, it is that.
MORE: Universities defy Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration
Check out Fix Asst. Editor Micaiah Bilger’s recent interview on The Vicki McKenna Show:
IMAGE CAPTION & CREDIT: An angry white guy; Volurol/Shutterstock.com. INTERIOR IMAGE: Arizona State U.
