Big Mistake

I have written how the xenophobic demagougery that the GOP Congress is trying to pass off as an 'immigration debate' is only going to come back to bite them in the ass on Election Day. Hispanic voters, other immigrant groups, and families who understand the lengths people will go to make a better life for their loved ones have not taken kindly to watching the far-right scapegoat hispanics for political gain.

Andrew Sullivan has a good example of the deadly costs this xenophobic fervor is creating.

But, to be fair, that doesn't mean I'm at all enthused about this-
May 1 protest aims to "close" cities (AP)

Pro-immigration activists say a national boycott and marches planned for May 1 will flood U.S. streets with millions of Latinos to demand amnesty for illegal immigrants and shake the ground under Congress as it debates reform.

Such a massive turnout could make for the largest protests since the civil rights era of the 1960s, though not all Latinos -- nor their leaders -- were comfortable with such militancy, fearing a backlash in Middle America...

Yup. That backlash could erase a lot of the sympathy they have garnered too. The protests on Monday will be labeled as angry and will paint the protestors as ungrateful for the hospitality this country has generally showed them. In particular, the demand for a blanket amnesty is a bad move; sorry, that's never going to happen. There was planned legislation that, while including punishments/fines for illegals, would create a path to citizenship. That should be the compromise they should be embracing and fighting for, not an all-or-nothing demand.

It's bad enough the far-right is refusing compromise; it will be worse for immigrants if they do too.

My advice? They're better off going to work that day. That would reinforce the value they provide to our economy and be a better olive branch anyway. There's no reason to give Congress further reason to heat up this debate. There are commonsense solutions to be had that can both protect/secure the border, enforce the existing laws, and also recognize that there is a human issue to this debate that cannot be brushed aside.

I'm a big fan of taking it to the streets, but this time it's a big mistake.

[PS- All this 'outrage' at the whole National Anthem thing? People really need to calm down already.]