Immigration Legislation and American Fascism

Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles, who recently slammed by CNN commentator Lou Dobbs on pedophilia and immigration (see http://philsclips.blogspot.com/2007/03/lou-dobbs-commentary-on-immigration.html), is praised in Chris Hedges' new book, American Fascists: the Christian Right and the War on America.

On page 203, Hedges says Mahoney "has called on Catholics to be prepared to defy the laws now being considered in Congress and backed by the Christian Right that make it a felony to shield or protect or offer support to illegal immigrants. Such civil disobedience would be an act of faith." (The legislation referred to here is last year's (2006) legislation which did not pass.)

From my perspective, if Dobbs is against Mahoney and against Senators Kennedy and Reid, and against Representatives Gutierrez and Lofgren who are working to write comprehensive immigration reform legislation, then there must be some good in the legislation.

Dobbs most serious complaint is that Republicans are being excluded from the bill writing process, and that the targeted industries for permitting more immigrants for employment are suffering from depressed wages in the past 5 to 10 years.

The industries being discussed are being lumped together as the Essential Worker Immigraton Coalition (EWIC): construction, housing services (including landscaping), leisure, and hospitality. EWIC is founded, staffed and supported by the Chamber of Commerce, according to Dobbs.

This goes to prove that you can learn facts, sometimes, from even those with whom you disagree on their conclusions!

Thank you to Chris Hedges, whom I trust implicitly, to give me a positive opinion of Cardinal Roger Mahoney, and to Lou Dobbs, whom I disagree with almost by reflex, for educating me about some of the thinking behind the Democrats new (2007) immigration legislation.

I will be watching carefully if shielding, protecting or offering support to "undocumented" immigrants will be addressed in the new legislation. Rev. John Fife spoke this evening in KCK about his role in creating the Sanctuary Movement in the 1980's and his hope to build a "New Sanctuary Movement" in the next few months. Muriel and I were able to attend and were impressed by his knowledge, commitment and ability to inspire. We hope to learn more about these issues in coming weeks. John Fife quoted someone, no human being is "illegal," just as no infant is "illegitimate," Muriel added.

-- Phil Rhoads