Thursday, May 04, 2006

Let Your Freak Flags Fly

This Sunday, May 7, local Jews will celebrate Israel Independence Day in Plant Park at the University of Tampa from 11am-4pm. My children and I look forward to eating falafel with likeminded folks, listening to rockin' klezmer tunes and waving homemade Israeli flags.

Oops, wait a minute. People who show ethnic pride are getting into tons of trouble these days. Given our current political climate, is waving flags from a country outside the United States wise?

Senator Martinez doesn't think so. Neither does Steve Otto. Everywhere people are saying they're not against immigration reform, just protestors waving Mexican flags. That's the real issue, they assure us, not bogging down freedom seekers with pricey demands or overwhelming paperwork. Immigrants should be holding our own red, white, and blue when they complain!

I wonder if these same people will be ranting and raving against us next week. How many of my fellow Jews who spit on Latino Pride will give a second-thought to their own hypocrisy as they wave a blue and white flag sporting the Star of David? Talk to most of us on Sunday and our reasons for attendance will be similar to those of recent immigrants at other rallies.

Cultural pride.

Such pride doesn't make America weaker. Historically, it's made us stronger. I lived in the North End of Boston where most residents wave Italian flags every summer. Growing up among fierce Fenians, the Irish flag represented a source of identity not just during annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations, but year long. Those immigrants were also similarly ridiculed once upon a time and made to feel inferior because of either religious or cultural prejudices. Most Jews gathering this weekend have experienced similar bigotry. Yet how easily we forget the lessons of history while turning on our newest scapegoats.

Protests, dissent, rallies against injustice all make us strong as well. Wrapped in different flags, even rainbow-colored, doesn't make these events any less American. Quite the contrary, only here in America do these events resonate at all.

Yes, my children and I will participate in Sunday's celebration with a clean conscience. What's good for one ethnic group is good for another. Right?

22 Comments:

At 5/04/2006, Blogger Lofty said...

Nimpa! (That's Finn for "right") We're far too reticent a people to have parades, or wave flags, even in Helsinki. After all, our most militant form of protest was Jean Sibelius's "Finlandia." But to the devil (voi saltenen in Finnglish)* to anyone who would question our love of America if we fly the Suomi flag.

*We don't even have a vocabulary for profanity. The Finn word for porn is porno.

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The THING is not so much what flag is being flown but who is flying it. If you're an American citizen, fly what you will. If you're not a LEGAL citizen, leave the country and come back legally. Why should the illegal aliens get a break when so many others have followed the law, waited for due process, and PROUDLY become citizens of this great country?

I can't understand defending someone, anyone, with a blatant disregard for the law of the land.

Mr. H

 
At 5/04/2006, Blogger What's so funny? said...

Didn't the Moshav band once open for the Beastie Boys? Duuuude. Dude. Where were these hotties when WE were growing up? We wouldn't have been following around the likes of Dumb and Dumber.

Nice post!

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, but Senator Martinez would disagree with you, Mr. H. So would several other people who support immigration reform (making it easier for immigrants to come here legally) but who wince and get uncomfortable with Latin American flags. Good ole Mel says it's hurting their cause.

As far as immigrants go - I am not convinced that someone whose visa expired and yet stays here to work and support a family is showing "blatant disregard" for our laws. That kid in Miami stayed past his deadline because if he returned to his home he'd be killed by gang members like so many before him. I do not agree that they are criminals. I believe they are desperate and deserve our help. Our system deserves to be reformed and, as always, I see shades of grey where you only see black and white.

These are people's lives we are talking about and most LEGAL (recent) immigrants see this as a moral issue and support illegal immigrants receiving amnesty like good ole Reagan saw fit to grant however many years ago.

And Sha, yeah those guys are cute. I might have to get me some of that.

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

kate,
once again you are wrong on the illegal immigration issue. coming in to the country and staying without becoming a citizen is illegal no matter what your circumstance.
i enjoy your blanket statements though like this one:
"These are people's lives we are talking about and most LEGAL (recent) immigrants see this as a moral issue and support illegal immigrants receiving amnesty..."
Care to source that?(and not from the LA or NY Times)
Illegal immigration is not a moral issue. i believe in immigration. who doesn't? but stop blurring the lines between people who disobey our laws and then demand citizenship (illegals) and those immigratns who follow the rules. Illegal immigartion puts a huge strain on our infrastructur and environment.
Just cause Reagan did it doesn't make it right. I suspect he needed cheap labor for his corporate friends.
Honestly, I am sick of flag flying of any kind these days. Particularly when it's the US flag being held by law breakers(illegals) and waved in my face as a prop to dupe the masses.
Cultural pride is fine but the balkanizing of our cultural(s) is not. Assimilation is not a bad word either. In the end that is what keeps a country together. That and borders.
--socal

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have a question: What do you think of the illegals who not only don't care to be here the legal way, but who steal identities to remain here, harm our law enforcement officers, or otherwise break our laws? I'm sick of those guys, get 'em out. They do give the ones trying to do the right thing by their families a very bad name, at least that seems to be the case here in CO. Come on, I know you have an answer! :-)

 
At 5/04/2006, Blogger Lofty said...

It's time to have an American Union like the EU and just eliminate border restrictions between member nations.

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

SoCal - Which part am I wrong about? Martinez did speak out against the flags, getting angry about flags is hypocritical and I gave valid reasons for granting amnesty. Many immigrants and descendants of immigrants believe this is a moral issue.

One source: http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/13/Tampabay/Religious_groups_rall.shtml

I also read an op-ed piece yesterday about a guy who talked to a restaurant filled with legal immigrants in LA who chose to work Monday, but who stand with all immigrants - illegal or otherwise.

If we are reforming our laws, it must mean our current statutes are outdated, unfair or both. We can't deport everyone who arrives and needs political asylum or those who want to work and make a better life for themselves. Nor should we.

As far as those who commit crimes over here - obviously I am not supporting any law that lets them off the hook.

I just talked to a fervent anti-immigrant person who actually said to me, "Maybe if you were robbed by 13 Mexicans you'd feel differently." Yeah, right, lady. Justify bigotry anyway you like and continue listening to Glenn Beck and pretend racism isn't fueling your anger.

Good luck with that.

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

In the spirit of a new people that is conscious not only of its proud historical heritage but also of the brutal "gringo" invasion of our territories, we, the Chicano inhabitants and civilizers of the northern land of Aztlan from whence came our forefathers, reclaiming the land of their birth and consecrating the determination of our people of the sun, declare that the call of our blood is our power, our responsibility, and our inevitable destiny.

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Aztlan belongs to those who plant the seeds, water the fields, and gather the crops and not to the foreign Europeans. We do not recognize capricious frontiers on the bronze continent.

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan sets the theme that the Chicanos (La Raza de Bronze) must use their nationalism as the key or common denominator for mass mobilization and organization. Once we are committed to the idea and philosophy of El Plan de Aztlan, we can only conclude that social, economic, cultural, and political independence is the only road to total liberation from oppression, exploitation, and racism. Our struggle then must be for the control of our barrios, campos, pueblos, lands, our economy, our culture, and our political life. El Plan commits all levels of Chicano society - the barrio, the campo, the ranchero, the writer, the teacher, the worker, the professional - to La Causa.

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Our culture unites and educates the family of La Raza towards liberation with one heart and one mind. We must insure that our writers, poets, musicians, and artists produce literature and art that is appealing to our people and relates to our revolutionary culture. Our cultural values of life, family, and home will serve as a powerful weapon to defeat the gringo dollar value system and encourage the process of love and brotherhood.

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

For the very young there will no longer be acts of juvenile delinquency, but revolutionary acts.

 
At 5/04/2006, Blogger Sherril said...

Kate,
I thought your post was more to the point of ehnic pride AND being an American. I am right on with that.

I also really like port tampa's notion that "It's time to have an American Union like the EU and just eliminate border restrictions between member nations.

To those who commented against "illegeals staying in our country" I would remind them that that is what REFORM is about. If these outdated laws get changed in a more liberal and humane way, they won't get so easiily broken.

I really like your blog, Kate. I found you on Amishav's blog. I was recently in Israel for a wedding and blogged from there. I welcome you to come and take a look. I was there from April 1st to April 15th, so scroll down for the Israel blogs.
Sherril

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"It's time to have an American Union like the EU and just eliminate border restrictions between member nations."

YOU PEOPLE ARE INSANE.

 
At 5/04/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you want a union like the EU, no one is stopping you from leaving.

Mr. H

 
At 5/05/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. H - Illegal immigrants can leave. So can people who disagree with you, right? I'm beginning to see a pattern here and it isn't healthy.

 
At 5/05/2006, Blogger Lofty said...

Kate-leave Mr. H alone. The husband and I leave the country all the time.

Of course it's at the behest of the US Army. Ironically when sent overseas we not only get to be very thankful for what works well in the US, but we also get exposed to some better ideas.

Oops, I said there are some better ideas out there. Better go into defilade position to protect against those "you unpatriotic leftist scum" bombs that will be thrown at the mere suggestion that our country is not perfect.

 
At 5/05/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why should we have an american union when we don't enforce the laws we already have that are supposed to keep illegal immigrants out? Seems to me like we already have an American Union.

I could do without the Canadians though. Hockey is way to boring and Arena League Football is way better than the CFL.

 
At 5/05/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Missed the point Kate. People wanting a EU here? That's ridiculous! We are a country formed under OUR constitution. What if some whacko says "Maybe we should become a communist country"? I would disagree with them as well and offer them a trip out of the country. THAT is not an unhealthy pattern. Simply put, if you can't tolerate it here, leave the country with Alec Baldwin.

Also, because someone doesn't agree with me doesn't mean I think they should be kicked out. I welcome disagreements, THAT's a healthy pattern. HOWEVER, I don't care at all what an ILLEGAL alien (No matter what nationality) has to say other than goodbye. I don't expect any other country in the world to just let me come in whenever I get ready, and then I'm going to tell them how they should run their country.

How do we get on these tangents? If you want to come to the USA and become a citizen LEGALLY, please, be my guest. If you want to break the law, please don't bother coming in - we've already got drunk Kennedy's to do that for us. (Sorry, couldn't help myself Kate).

PortTampa - Whatever!?

Mr. H

 
At 5/05/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I never said I supported an American Union. Unlike SOME people, I don't poo-poo an idea just because I'm not sure about it. I'll have to look into the pros and cons first - but far it be from me to suggest someone get informed before flying off the handle.

As far as immigration, I think we should reform the laws, grant amnesty, practice fair trade agreements, and lighten up.

In that order.

 
At 5/05/2006, Blogger M A F said...

Kate, when I saw this post I thought "what a coincidence" and decided that I just had to mention it in my post. In the future I'll just have to check your blog before posting, that way I could just cut and paste your posts (with proper attribution of course) with my cartoon(s).

 

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