^^^Jnrthxnò ©bseruer Page A4 December 12, 2007 O pinion Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the views o f The Portland Observer Convenient Memory Loss Immigrants are not the problem with America in M. L inda J aramillo I hear story alter story about communities across the country being torn apart by fierce debates over immigration. I read speech after speech delivered by political leaders adding inflammatory re­ marks to an already hostile social environment. In all the fear-pro­ ducing outcries, immigrants are named as the problem with America. One such place is the State of Okla­ homa. What mystifies me about all this is our apparent memory loss. I am confused by our patriotic cries that raise the American (lag and the Statue of Liberty as the icons of our culture. Yet, we seem to have for­ gotten that the 13 stripes on the flag represent the original colonies made up of rebellious and coura­ geous immigrants coming to this land to make a better life. We have forgotten that the Statue of Liberty information about the real history. is called a symbol of freedom and Never did I see people in those opportunity, inscribed with these books who looked like me, even words, "Give me your tired, your though my ancestors had been on poor, your huddled masses yearn­ the land for centuries before the ing to breathe free....” We have United States expanded and cre­ forgotten that most of the Ameri­ ated states like Colorado, Arizona, can W est was Mexico not very long ago. Most alarming is that we ignore that this land first belonged to In d ig en o us peoples who have been set aside. This memory loss reminds me of my history les­ sons in public schools over a half- century ago. As an eighth grader, I was required to take Colorado Texas, Nevada. Oregon. Washing­ History. The problem with the ton. Idaho, California, New Mexico Colorado History class was that and Oklahoma. The school books only told sto- the textbooks left out significant ries about those who traveled west on wagon trains - courageous and rebellious immigrants in search of a better life. It seems that the authors of the history textbooks had lost their memory too. Now, our memory loss is show­ on assum ptions that have no proven foundation. Legislators and the Governor endorsed a bill that blames "illegal” immigrants for the economic woes and lawlessness in the stale. Where is the data that proves that “illegal” immigrants are committing crime at a higher rate? Where is the data that verifies that "illegal” immigrants are draining public re­ sources? This bill is not about data, it is about a loss of memory that has rendered people invis­ ible in the history books • and in today’s stories. What is even more ridiculous is that the State of Oklahoma claims that this law will be enforced without dis­ crimination. It reads, "The provi­ sions of this section shall be en­ Oklahoma is but an example o f bigoted public policies being considered in many statehouses in this nation. ing up in hateful state legislation that strips people’s dignity and their basic humay rights. Oklahoma en­ acted a law this month that is based forced without regard to race, reli­ gion, gender, ethnicity, or national origin.” Let’s not kids ourselves: this law is all about discrimination. Oklahoma is but an example of big­ oted public policies being consid­ ered in many statehouses in this nation. Hispanic Oklahomans are leav­ ing the state in droves out of fear. Many of them are not recent immi­ grants; they have been there for generations. Native Americans in Oklahoma are being mistaken for Hispanics and targeted for depor­ tation. On the heels of the Thanksgiv­ ing celebration, we seemed to have forgotten the truth about our his­ tory. W e’ve had a convenient loss of memory. M. Linda Jaramillo is the execu­ tive minister o f Justice Ministries fo r the United Church o f Christ. r —————————— ! S u b s c r i b e . 503-288-0033] Fill O u t & S en d To: ■ f ^ P o r t l a n b ©bsertter Attic. Subscriptions, PO Box 3137. Portland OR 97208 s u b s c r i p t i o n s a re j u s t $ 6 0 p e r y e a r (please include check with this subscription form) N a m e : _______________________________ T elephone : ________ A ddress : _________ I o r e m a il su bscriptions@ portlandobserver.com I — --------------------------------- ---- ---J State Farm* «TATI 1*1* Providing Insurance and Financial Services NtUKNd Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710 Michael E Harper We moved to our new location at: 9713 S.W. Capitol, Portland, OR 503-221-3050 Fax 503-227-8757 Politicians Ignore New Orleans Again Loses out on debates, national spotlight It’s not your standard funeral home... it’s the neiv standard in funeral homes. by J udge G reg M athis Four cities have been chosen to host the 2(X)8 p re sid e n tia l and vice presidential debates. New Orleans, one of 16 final­ ists, didn't make the final cut. City officials were told it was because the city, devastated by Hurricane Katrina two yearsago. wasn’t ready to host such a large- scale event. Interesting, considering New Orleans held Mardi Gras celebra­ tions just six months after the storm and has attracted numerous con­ ventions and conferences, many of which bring hundreds of thousands of people into the city. Critics of the commission say New Orleans was omitted from the final list because R K Y F A M IL Y ! UNERAL H O In a business where things seemingly stay the same, a change has taken place. 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In the days, months and weeks following Hurricane Katrina, the world watched the intersection between race and poverty and to unveil plans de­ signed to adequately address the issue. Instead, the commission used unfounded complaints to say ‘no’ to New Orleans. New Orleans would have given the candidates an opportunity to examine the intersection between race and poverty. as the American government failed to address the needs of the people of New Orleans. The storm-ravaged city became a perfect case study of the country’s inability to address issues of race and poverty. Prom­ ises were made to help rebuild the city. But, as the media and the gov­ ernment moved on to the next hot topic, those promises were forgot­ ten. The current presidential candi­ dates are not doing much to bring attention to New Orleans either. Sure Democrat John Edwards launched his campaign there. But the issues that New Orleans shed light on - economic oppression, governmen­ tal neglect of pr people of color and more - aren’t as prevalent in the discussions as, say, health care or ending the war in Iraq. And we can’t just Name the Re­ publicans: One of the co-ehairs of the committee responsible for se­ lecting the debate sites, Paul G. Kirk Jr., is a Democrat. The other. Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., is a Republican. Hosting the debates in New O r­ leans would have given the candi­ dates an opportunity to examine America needs to remember how the government failed New Orleans. If the story isn’t told often, the lesson won’t be learned. The presidential debates would have once again shined a much needed light on the city and would have exposed the bureaucracy and red tape residents wanting to rebuild must struggle with. Instead, New Orleans is once again tossed to the side. And so loo are the many pr people of color all around the coun­ try who saw their stories reflected in those of the hurricane's victims. An opportunity for growth and change has been missed. All we can hope for now is that the candidates do what the debate commission was t