Claire Greene | 24.07.2005 20:34

A coalition of Minutepeople and Migrant-rights groups working together would really get the attention needed to make this nation aware.

The real illegal aliens are the corporations that cross natural and cultural borders with impunity and are destroying the environment and people’s lives in the name of “global progress.” The only border that needs protecting is the moral and practical one that will shield us from this plunder and the destruction of quality living standards in ALL countries.

Don’t like Minutemen tactics, but…

While you read this, remember that “the Minutemen” is a motley group with splits and cracks. What they all intend however is to get the necessary attention for congress to fully militarize the border. But since their hysteria comes in multiple shades, perhaps migrant rights supporters can consider a multiple approach, on the chance that some Minutemen would be persuaded to see the big picture and synergize instead of antagonize. Consider:

“Now you have an unemployed American or another American working for dirt cheap wages and you have an illegal alien or economic refugee working for dirt cheap wages, and the employer, the slave master if you will of the 21st century, laughs all the way to the bank...it’s almost a conspiracy between the political powers and economic powers around the world to have a global corporation…we will exploit the poor from Mexico and the new poor in the U.S., new poor in Europe and in Asia. And those new poor will be indentured slaves of a very small percentage of incredibly wealthy trillionaires, which is the way they want it, and as long as they have that kind of economic power they literally can control police forces, armies, navies…” according to Minutemen leader Jim Gilchrist in an interview with Rene Flores for the San Diego Free Press.

I don’t like the Racist Rambo direction that the Minutemen’s anger has taken, but to their credit they have gotten us to think about forced economic migration and Jim Gilchrist has pointed the finger at two of the critical culprits: Global corporations and the Mexican power structure with its corrupt spinelessness to stand up to the U.S. and help lift Mexico out of poverty, becoming instead one of the wealthiest exploitation-elites on the planet while conveniently using the U.S. as a social safety valve for Mexico’s poor.

Affluent employers in the U.S. reap the benefit of course, saving big on lower wages, and no health or disability insurance, pension plan, or social security contributions, letting the rest of society pick up the tab.

It is this rush of the affluent to live a life of luxury like the Mexican elite that has created the huge wealth gap in this country and has so many U.S. workers feeling uneasy.

Given these inequities, is it any wonder that organized anger would surface? Anger is real and derives from valid indignation. From there it manifests itself in diverse forms, and sight of the real cause is often lost.

Today angry Minutemen and angry Migrant rights groups face off. Should they feel satisfied by venting and attempting to contain each other? Or is there a chance that energies could be synergized to tackle the common source of their indignation: the insidious corporate global plunder that operates without borders and is bankrupting standards of living worldwide?

Remember that the global elites benefit from conflict and confusion among the economic losers in this game, and with imperial amusement watch the gladiatorial contests between the poor and those getting poorer, no matter what their color, language or beliefs. If it were really a matter of race, you’d see rich Whites resisting the wealthy Arabs and Mexicans who come to live here. Instead they trade and flow their capitals to G-8 rhythms and together smile down at the arena.

We each exist only with the gender, racial and cultural components that shape our personality, and whereas we may very well be tolerant and value differences among us, we cannot escape the effect of affronts to our person. We always feel the offense, whether we choose to react or not. We are very vulnerable to the pushing of these identity buttons, which is precisely why they are useful to provoke and distract people from the real problem.

Although it’s likely many of the Minutemen act with racist tension, the underlying tension today is not race, but the precipitous crumbling of our standard of living in two decades. Not being able to afford college, find a decent paying job, own a home, pay for health care; and amidst insecurity about the basics, nothing but mounting debt offered as the solution. Some Minutemen sense the real causes, others are just having a grandiose time feeling bravado. People of color must guard themselves from those who lash out, but at the same time not lose this opportunity to reach out and seek the common ground, attacking the real causes of this hostility, instead of attacking the symptoms.

Mexican-Americans who used to earn legal union wages also resent the influx of an illegal labor supply in our fields, construction sites and hospitality industry. This is clearly not a race problem.

What the Minutemen and Migrant-rights groups want is essentially the same: a respectable livelihood, both in the U.S. and in Mexico instead of manipulation by oil, manufacturing, construction and agro-business interests that want cheap labor worldwide.

If the focus of all this anger shifts to eliminating global corporate welfare, it would do for racism what rodent control did for the plague.

Imagine a Tea Party protesting today’s exploiters: Minutepeople and Migrant-rights groups marching together at the enclaves of the Mexican elite in the U.S., at the Zocalo and down Pennsylvania Ave. and Wall Street to expose and resist the global exploitation that promotes and gains so much from illegal economic migration?

Jim Gilchrist has mentioned the need for Mexico to have a revolution, and he says hopefully a non-violent one. Sure, but if it’s time for a revolution in Mexico, it’s evidently time for a revolution by the citizens of this country as well. The two countries are intertwined at many levels, not the least of which is the selling out to US interests by the Mexican ruling-elite, and the de facto control by our government of Mexico’s economic policies and destiny.

All the Mexican poor I have met would prefer to stay in the land they grew up in, where they know the language, like the food and have their families. It could be a productive land for them, were it not for the final foreign takeover of the Mexican economy with the wholesale sellout by President Salinas to foreign interests in the early 90’s. Many of Mexico’s agricultural cooperatives, state services and unions were indeed in need of an overhaul, but not the greedy betrayal by wealthy megalomaniacs to global commercial, service and agro-business interests.

Poor Mexicans prefer Mexico, but they are being squeezed out to provide a cheap labor source for the US. Imagine if they were paid legal wages and benefits. Anyone who imagines how this would change the US economy can easily realize why it is an economic issue, not a racial one.

What about Minutepeople working with Migrant-rights groups to provide micro-loan incentives for Mexicans to establish themselves successfully back home with their families? Farmers need tractors and non-GMO seeds. In rural areas, one to three thousand dollars can set up a family with a viable cottage industry. Tackle for fishermen, high-powered saws for carpenters, tools for computer technicians, a wide system of people-to-people loans that could provide real solutions. Remember these would be loans, not handouts.

We still have the means to do something about the standard of living in our two countries. It will get much worse for every race if we allow corporate welfare to continue ruling our economic destinies.

The dialogue between Anti-immigrant groups and Migrant-rights groups to work on real solutions would be a good start. And since Mexican workers coming here is directly related to U.S. corporations going to Mexico, why not anti-globalization projects with the Minutepeople who understand the real causes of illegal immigration?

Perhaps patrolling against ChevronTexaco and Sempra thanks to their latest escapade to set up offshore re-gasification terminals just south of San Diego might be of interest to Minutepeople, since these plants will offer a prime target to terrorists.

These major industrial projects recently received the Mexican government’s blessing, but not that of the local Mexican population, and most people in Southern California are unaware of the projects. These plants will not benefit Mexicans who have plenty of oil and solar energy. They are meant for energy-guzzling Californians. Yet they are not built off the California coastline because they would spoil oceanfront views and frightening explosions could hinder our sunsets. Let the Mexicans deal with ugly industrial sights, dangers, pollution, damage to their rich marine biodiversity, fishing industry and eco-tourism.

Could reliance on these gas pipelines from Mexico affect our national security? Would Mexicans have a right to escape into the US if these plants explode and damage their livelihood? What do the Minutepeople think?

The real illegal aliens are the corporations that cross natural and cultural borders with impunity and are destroying the environment and people’s lives in the name of “global progress.” The only border that needs protecting is the moral and practical one that will shield us from this plunder and the destruction of quality living standards in ALL countries. By re-directing hostility toward the real causes of slave migration Minutepeople and Migrant-rights groups could work together to build such a border.

A border protecting us all from corporate plunder would allow Mexicans to make a living in sunny Mexico. If their hard-working ethic and hands were needed in our fields, restaurants, hotels, food-processing plants and building industries, it would take legal wages and benefits to motivate them to leave their homes.

To start the vigilant protection from unfair global trade and corporate raiders a call is made to all true Minutepeople to join a nationwide Tea Party by throwing big business bullies overboard boycotting their products until they play fair.

A coalition of Minutepeople and Migrant-rights groups working together would really get the attention needed to make this nation aware. By not fighting each other, Whites, Blacks and Browns can focus on fighting the unscrupulous corporate practices that are rapidly destroying our quality of life. Hopefully Minutemen will realize that hunting down the weakest victims in this global game is a short-sighted and inhumane strategy. The world needs a tall border of integrity to protect us so we can get back and develop the quality education, healthcare, housing, environment and jobs that are clearly possible everywhere. It's the economy, not race. Synergizing our collective anger, energies and resources effectively is a better strategy. Isn’t it possible that a few, some, many Minutepeople would agree?

Dream on 24.07.2005 21:14 The MMP tendency tends to be "anti-globalist" and doesn't even want populist globalization. They fear "New World Order" and One World Government. They believe the best way to preserve freedom is to turn a nation into a fortress, and repel all invaders. The anti-corporate anti-globalization Left wants person-to-person international relations and a lowering of borders and a merging of cultures. They believe that people are people, all over the world, and can support each other as people, not just subjects of a government. They have different politics and views. They can join to oppose exploitation, but can't be real allies. johnk NO 25.07.2005 09:58 no collaboration with racists, no cooperation with racists, fuck that. you want an all white coalition? check out this post if you still have any doubt of their extreme racism:  http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/07/110128.shtml fuck those racists. we're sending their asses home. lotu5 The Minutemen are home. 26.07.2005 16:24 "What the Minutemen and Migrant-rights groups want is essentially the same: a respectable livelihood, both in the U.S. and in Mexico instead of manipulation by oil, manufacturing, construction and agro-business interests that want cheap labor worldwide." This is very true. The enemies of the Minutemen are the politicians and the corporatist elite not the migrants. Illegal Immigration is a symptom of Globalism. They understand that. They are revolting against the politicians that ignore U.S. laws not the illegal immigrants that are breaking them. However, every country has a right to control it's borders. A peaceful world without borders or without laws is a nice thought but it's not realistic. We can't all get along. People don't always want to talk or understand each other. You can see that in the comments made by the previous posters. They would rather scream "racist, go home" through a bullhorn than have a dialogue. Dirk good 26.07.2005 21:38 good article, for the most part. timothy Finally 30.07.2005 22:38 finally! someone proposing dialogue. why is it that all those protesters resist ideas like this? many involve in the movement against the MMP, are themselves racist. they are also using this movement to propagate their own agenda. what would be the harm of setting up a dialogue with the MMP? would it interfere with the commies or socialist plans to spark a revolution. socialists are standing by, hoping that violence occurs amongst both groups hoping that this will start a revolution. remember manson wanted the same, he went on killing sprees..hoping that a revolution amongst whites and blacks would spark. i completely support sitting down with the MMP, and fighting against the real oppressors. racism comes in many flavors...and there are plenty in the counter-MMP movement. rand e-mail:: genteunida@yahoo.com I tried to talk at Alhambra 11.09.2005 20:59 I tried to have a conversation, back on June 18, 2005. The SOS rally at the Alhambra Home Depot, was my second visit with SOS. As I was making my way to their regrouping point on the street corner. I was standing in a crowd on the sidewalk. I asked a young woman about her sign, and tried to talk about the issues. Someone asked me who I was or what group I was with, and I said, "I am a Minuteman". Well, as you can imagine, any attempt at a civil conversation from that point on was useless. I had a loudmouthed protester screaming in my ear, and he would not shut up to talk decently. I asked for them to step aside, so I could leave. I went into the Home Depot store to seek shelter. At the entrance, I saw a display of American flags (Made in China). I picked up one, small flag, priced at $.85, paid for it, and went out to join with SOS, for the remainder of the rally. It was interesting, to be there, and also to see the counter protesters. I am somewhat analytical, and I made mental notes of the Anarchist flag waiver (SOS called him "Martin the Martian" from the Bugs Bunny cartoons.). I could see socialists, communists, and just a cross-section of humanity, from the area. I thought it was interesting that SOS called for a rally and these other groups came from the shadows of society to be seen in public. I had been following the Minutemen Project in April 2005, the Baldwin Park 1 protest, and Garden Grove, and I noticed an escalating trend in the counter-protesters, tendency towards extremist violent behaviors. I passed an email to the MMP, FBP, CMM, and other groups or representatives, of the anti-illegal immigrant coalition. I warned that when any group tried to operate along the US-Mexico border in California, especially close to San Diego, CA, that they should be prepared for some major resistance from people who have traveled from all over Southern California. I warned the counter protesters could be a larger crowd, than the MMP AZ operation, because San Diego County, is more accessible to a large metro-population, than the Naco line. My predictions came true when 200 counter protesters showed up to confront the 30 people James Chase was lucky to attract. Regrettably I had commitments, in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, that I could not get out of. But, the pictures and stories, provided me ample inspiration for improving strategy and tactics for future operations. I would hope that we could find some way to have a dialogue, before I have to employ my tactics, on an unsuspecting group of civilians. Perhaps both sides could cooperate and coordinate their activities, and have a week of peaceable assembly, then have a few sit-ins, and allow each person to speak, ask questions, and dialogue over the issues. This should be like a Sunday evening 6 PM to candlelight thing. Pass out flyers. Do a White board or "chalk-talk" presentation. Be sure to get good video, perhaps a collaboration of videographers could cover the event. Everyone could take notes and learn. Hey get some big speakers there too, like Bob Filner, Chris Simcox, Ed Herrera, Jim Gilchrist. Let them speak in front of each other rather than behind each others back. Well, that might be asking too much for an outdoor event. BTW - I was at the Human Rights Forum in Chula Vista, and I wished I had Jim Gilchrist there to sit in the audience, while Ed Herrera and Bob Filner gave their speeches. Bob and Ed did not impress me. Well, that's all I got for today. God Bless The United States of America. Border Raven BorderRaven e-mail:: BorderRaven@aol.com