That’s what the four corners of Riverside, NJ 08075 smelled like at approximately 2:00pm on Sunday the 20th, 2006.
Today was the protest against the Riverside Immigration Ordinance. I knew it was going to be a crazy day. Tempers and emotions were being fueled by the xenophobic mentality of small town America. I went down to the corner of Pavilion and Scott to see the rally. On the 3 corners were the stereotypical W.A.S.P.s waving their American flags showing their support for the ordinance. And on the one little corner, the ethnic faces gathered to support for the people that come here to work to make their families lives better.
There were jeers from the pro-ordinance side of “Show me your green card” “U.S.A” chants and the ever perplexing shouts of “The south will rise again”. Yes,the pro-ordinance people were cheering when the Confederate flag was being waved. However, that is not the surprising part. When the Confederate flag was being waved, a black girl was cheering. Um, you agree to that? You cheer the racist connotation the flag gives? You praise and cheer the white supremacists? You agree to the white man’s dominance to any ethnic race?
Well, she was a teenager. So you can’t really give too much serious thought into that. When you have ignorant minds and the poor educational system we supply our kids with, there is nothing but irrational and uneducated thoughts that will come out their mouths.
I don’t have a problem with people agreeing with the ordinance. That is your right. But have some fact or rational and understandable reason behind your feeling. I would like to understand and vice versa. That is the only way we can come to an understanding and a compromise.
Today also made me realize that there is an epidemic in small town America. We don’t see this problem coming out of the cities or more populated towns of America. NYC, Miami, L.A., Chicago, Philly…etc. you just don’t see this problem.
I feel when you move to the small town, people are trying to get away from the big bad world of the city and all it contains. People think that nothing bad can happen in this small town they moved to. They are happy with the same faces, same language, same culture. If they want to experience a different culture they take that 20 minute trip to the city and eat at an “authentic” Mexican restaurant (authentic by the American standard, not by real Mexicans”) and they had their experience and can now return to the safe land of monotony. However, when culture comes to them, they get scared and grab their children and lock their doors. They become afraid of the big, bad minority groups. A couple of them are fine, but when they see a huge wave of them, Oh no!
I stood there quietly taking pictures of the protestors on both sides. I took pictures of the signs and even the skinheads that showed up. This is something that I want to remember and make people realize that this doesn’t happen here in Riverside, NJ. This will happen in any Small Town, USA. Until the government can come up with something that can appease both sides, this will never end.
It pains my heart when people scream such hurtful words and claim to be Christian. It hurts me when these supposed Christians are yelling at a Priest and a Pastor because they are supporting the immigrants. The priest and pastor are doing the Christian thing and helping those in need.
And to say that these immigrants are nothelping the economy becuse they don’t pay taxes? The economy is a cycle. Regardless if you pay taxes or not, they are putting money back in our economy by buying food, clothes, paying the rent, buying gas for their cars..etc. Plus they are getting paid a FRACTION of what Americans are getting paid and they aren’t complaining.
There was a guy who had a sign that read “Who Will Work?” and a white guy from the side I stood on screamed ” I WILL” then he said something so stupid it made me laugh. He said “Who will work 12 hour days for $5 an hour? Illegals will!!” To me that statement just backfired on him. He basically said illegals work harder than they do and for less money. Who wouldn’t want to hire them? I would in a heart beat. I respect them for working harder than any person I’ve seen. They are the only ones that will walk or bike to work without any complaints. Will any spoiled American teenager/adult do that? Not any from where I live. All the kids needed a car. I admit it. I wouldn’t walk to work. I want my car. I am spoiled. But I will not put down anyone that works hard for their family. That is honorable.
Plus, the protestors kept bringing up the fact about medical care. They don’t pay medical bills. Ok, so what. Even American Citizens don’t pay for health care or can’t afford to pay it because it is just outrageous. Maybe if our government would deal with a real issue like healthcare and stop spending wasted money in an illegal and unjust war like Iraq and what is to come in the future because our president likes to instill fear in us by repeating terrorism and bad bad muslims, we can spend that money on something more useful like healthcare. But I won’t go into the whole Anti-war thing right now. But there is a connection between the whole terrorism bullshit and illegal immigrants and its false fear.
I have so much to say on this subject, but I will wait until I am a little more rested. Today was a long day. I will post my pictures when I get them developed. I’m still old school. I don’t own a digital.
So Peace, Love, Understanding to everyone. Even those that disagree with me.
Tags: Immigrants ; Illegal Immigrants ; Racism ; New Jersey