How’d This Conversation Get So Crazy?
Elizabeth, native born, was subjected to the kind of racial profiling – discrimination based on skin color or accent — that civil rights leaders predict will be widespread when law officers enforce the “show me your papers” law.
Watch the ugly situation that never should have gone beyond a difference in taste for regional cuisine.
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Stand with the ACLU of Texas: Racial profiling is un-American. It violates the Constitution and the principles America stands for. We will fight to prevent laws like Arizona’s from being passed in Texas. And we will respond when towns like Farmers Branch pass ordinances that discriminate. Celebrate freedom this Fourth of July by joining the ACLU of Texas Community Action Network (CAN) to help us hold the line against these bad laws in Texas.
June 29th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Thank you, Elizabeth, for your courage in sharing this story about anti-immigrant hostility in your community.
June 29th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Why is it surprising that the constant torrent of hate filled rhetoric that has been unleashed in certain segments of the media and through coordinated internet attacks leads to hateful comments from their faithful fans? It is difficult to engage in civil discourse when your opinion differs from others. This must stop or I fear for our Republic.
June 29th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
You say Yet the restaurant owner being interviewed praised President Obama’s stance on immigration. The last I heard, Obama had announced for re-election. I’m a member of the ACLU and SPLC, but would like both organizations (especially the former) to take a stronger stand on third party ballot access. (Voting issues isn’t really the main focus of SPLC activities.)
June 29th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
My comment above got garbled by the computer. I originally wrote that the ACLU says it can’t take a partisan stance, but the restaurant owner praised Obama.
June 29th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Illegal is not legal!
What else do you need to understand.
I enjoy the presence of legal immigrants but I do not like or ejoy anyone who breaks the law.
Why dom’t some people realize and understand that being in the United States illegally does not give them all the advantages of a legal citizen?
June 29th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
I would have to say it has always been that way, but it mostly comes from the uneducated and ignorant people. I’ve notived that the older white males and females tend to be more racist. The younger generation that I have met and seen the majority of them are not that way. Thier parent either did not teach them this behavior or they did not accepted it. Since racism is not hereditary its is some thing that is taught. Proud to be an American and proud to be a Texan. I live in Austin which is more opened minded about thesev kind of issues.
June 29th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
This is truly bizarre that the ACLU thinks a bigoted woman is the result of the AZ law. The law has nothing whatsoever to do with this law, and it did not even involve any law enforcement officer or even any office holder. Will the ACLU now support a law to criminalize what the bigot said? Incredible!
June 29th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
The point in this video, of course, R.D. Hummel, is that looking different, having a non-Anglo American last name or even cooking authentic foreign cuisine does not make someone an illegal immigrant — or even an immigrant at all. Texas was part of Mexico until 1836. Many of our hispanic neighbors in Texas and other southwestern states come from families that have lived in this country longer than my European immigrant family has, and we’re well into the fourth generation.
June 29th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
I think the issue here is less about documented vs non-documented and more about racial profiling and racist generalizations that if someone is Mexican they are here illegally. I think the origin of the anti-immigration movement is rooted in racism or the ideal that America belongs to a certain people…when in fact America as we know it was created by people from other places.It is very scary to see such blatant racism as what has gone on in farmers branch and surrounding areas. I’m scared for our country, we really aren’t evolving
June 29th, 2012 at 9:21 pm
If anyone is here in the United States illegally they are in violation of the law. There are thousands of people trying to enter the U.S. legally. They are being deprived of the chance to live here because of all of the illegals.
Most Mexicans fly the flag of Mexico while living here. If they work and live here they need to honor our flag and the United States, or leave. Mike Tanco
June 29th, 2012 at 9:21 pm
I was born in and grew up in Texas and still live here. What happened to Elizabeth is so out of line. And to call anyone a “Wet Back” is just wrong. That was a term thrown around loosley when I was a child growing up. There was a lot of racism in those days. But as a child I didn’t like it, and I still don’t like it. FYI…Before you judge me, I have absolutely no Hispanic blood line. And Lupe, there may be some older folks out there that are like you say, but I am 69 and I am not that way. For the lady who called Elizabeth a wet back, I would like for her to express her special names she has for the Greeks, chinese, Italian and other resturant owners? They are here in Texas too! Just because she didn’t like the authentic Mexican food, doesn’t give her the right to treat the resturant owner the way she did. She needs to apologize to Elizabeth.
And for those who do not know, there is a difference in most of the foods that claim to be Mexican dishes here, they are usually “Tex-Mex” and not real Mexican dishes like those served in Mexico. My grand daughter visited Mexico and came back and prepared tacos the way they were served to her in Mexico, and they were a totally diferent prepared food and our family likes them better than all the “Tex-Mex” tacos that are generally served in most resturants and fast food places here in Texas.
As far as the illegal questions. There must be some rules in place, some are out of line, I agree with that. But even for those who migrate to America and do it legally, when an illegal comes here and breaks all the laws they are being unfair to those who came here legally and to the natural born citizens. There must laws put in place to stop the illegal actions and those laws do need to be inforced. As for the police checkiing for papers, well, folks, this is the ultimate end result of prior laxness in enforcing the laws to put a stop to the illegals taking advantage of you the tax paying law abiding citizens and legal imigrants. If you knew they were illegal and stood by and did nothing, this is what happens. Instead of fighting the law that is trying to bring the balance back and make life better for those who have legally worked for it, back them up and put a stop to letting those who come here break all the rules and laws.
June 29th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
I am so tired of the racial profiling that is being allowed more and more. Why is it tolerable for anyone, more likely to be a Caucasian, to question my citizenship based upon the color of my skin or my surname? Why should my civil liberties be infringed upon due to your stereotypes and prejudices? Never assume that you know my citizenship status because the shade of my skin and I won’t assume that you are just as ignorant as those who do dare to do so. I am a native Texan born and raised just as my grandparents were and I do not comprehend this throw back in our civil rights. All I can say is “Remember the Alamo” because the Caucasians lost that fight too!!
June 29th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
I agree, Cam, ” we have not evolved”. We have not even matured and we pride ourselves on not believing in evolution. I have spent a little time in “The metroplex” and would not style the populace as evolved. In fairness to Farmers Branch, they are no less evolved than the rest of the Lone Star State with the possible exception of Austin and environs.
Gail Collins in As Texas Goes So Goes The Nation (NYT Best Seller List) sheds some light on us as a culture; our world-view and our prejudices. And talk about scary, she points out the disproportionate influence Texas politicians have wielded and continue to wield in the Nation’s Capitol. Frightening , indeed.
June 30th, 2012 at 7:17 am
Austin is really not that much better, by in large yes but there are still a lot of racists there. About 10 yrs ago when I was living there I was called a nigger for the first time in my life. I am an Eritrean born in Africa and grew up in America, I was shocked but laughed out loud at that woman. She was ridiculous! and so was the woman that came to Elizabeth’s restaurant.
June 30th, 2012 at 7:40 am
The point is that the law creates an atmosphere of suspicion and intolerance that fosters bigotry and allows it to flourish. It also points out that inchoate race-based fears and resentments lurking beneath the placid surface of “Mayberry” can easily be released whenever a group of people is singled out and targeted for suspicion and harassment, to the detriment of the entire community. And this is what you have when anyone of a certain color or with a certain accent is subject to verification of their legal status on demand.
The hard-liners in the anti-immigration sector vehemently refuse to acknowledge that this is a component of their stance, or a danger — except when they are totally blatant about it, which, in fact, many are. The politicians are careful to insist it has “nothing to do with race.” Ordinary people on the street are not so careful in their expressions of racist sentiments.
As Gandhi said, the means are the ends coming into being. Americans need to take a careful look at the means they use to control illegal immigration and weigh carefully whether having undocumented workers among us is worse than the end result of a state in which anyone can be stopped and ordered to provide documentation of legal status on the basis of skin color, nationality or proficiency in English.
Finally, illegal immigration only became a problem when the economy tanked and even low-paying jobs became scarce. We should keep in mind that in times of economic hardship people look for scapegoats,and minorities are the easy access scapegoat. Whether or not illegal immigration is a real problem for the country, the dangers of scapegoating minorities in tough economic times, and of inherently discriminatory laws — and attitudes — has been well documented in recent history.
July 2nd, 2012 at 9:26 am
Americans are born racist, with every group that lives in this nation, including themselves. The lack of understanding and the unwillingness to understand them selves is key. Understanding the Constitution and it’s meaning is vital, and yet so many don’t really care to learn, so they are taught by ignorance and learn by ignorance. This is why I will remain a loyal member of the largest law firm in America, the ACLU. It is vital that we support them to end this racial profiling of my people.
July 2nd, 2012 at 7:46 pm
“I was born in and grew up in Texas and still live here. What happened to Elizabeth is so out of line. And to call anyone a “Wet Back” is just wrong. That was a term thrown around loosley when I was a child growing up. There was a lot of racism in those days. But as a child I didn’t like it, and I still don’t like it. FYI…Before you judge me, I have absolutely no Hispanic blood line. And Lupe, there may be some older folks out there that are like you say, but I am 69 and I am not that way. For the lady who called Elizabeth a wet back, I would like for her to express her special names she has for the Greeks, chinese, Italian and other resturant owners? They are here in Texas too! Just because she didn’t like the authentic Mexican food, doesn’t give her the right to treat the resturant owner the way she did. She needs to apologize to Elizabeth.
And for those who do not know, there is a difference in most of the foods that claim to be Mexican dishes here, they are usually “Tex-Mex” and not real Mexican dishes like those served in Mexico. My grand daughter visited Mexico and came back and prepared tacos the way they were served to her in Mexico, and they were a totally diferent prepared food and our family likes them better than all the “Tex-Mex” tacos that are generally served in most resturants and fast food places here in Texas.
As far as the illegal questions. There must be some rules in place, some are out of line, I agree with that. But even for those who migrate to America and do it legally, when an illegal comes here and breaks the laws, they are being unfair to those who came here legally and to the natural born citizens. There must be laws put in place to stop the illegal actions and those laws do need to be enforced. As for the police checkiing for papers, well folks, this is the ultimate end result of prior laxness in enforcing the laws to put a stop to the illegals taking advantage of you the tax paying law abiding citizens and legal imigrants. If you knew they were illegal and stood by and did nothing, this is what happens. Instead of fighting the law that is trying to bring the balance back and make life better for those who have legally worked for it, back them up and put a stop to letting those who come here break all the rules and laws.” ~Paula L. (June 29th, 2012 at 9:21 pm)
Paula’s well-written comment saves me the trouble of having to write my own. I agree with her about racist epithets, authentic Mexican food, and illegal immigrants.
Racial epithets are more offensive than curse words because of the prejudice and hate behind words like “wetback,” “chink,” “cracker,” “nigger,” etc. I am an 23-year-old Asian American female, and I clearly remember some of the racists comments directed at me in junior high school. It was far more hurtful to hear “Ching Chong Ching Chong” (accompanied by some effort to make the eyes look squinty) than to be called “short” or “four-eyes” or “nerd.” I, like Elizabeth, feel that this is because racist comments are not just directed at me but also at my family and at anyone of Asian ethnicity in general.
Authentic Mexican/Honduran/Guatemalan/Spanish/etc. food is so much more delicious and amazing than Tex-Mex though Tex-Mex does have its merits. I find it amusing that people who go places like Panda Express to get “Chinese food” are actually getting American food with a Chinese flair. What they don’t realize is that places like Panda Express rarely have Chinese cooks and that authentic Chinese food is usually only found in Chinese-owned, Chinese-run family restaurants where the cooks are Chinese and the waiters/waitresses speak Chinese and the menus are in both Chinese and English.
I view illegal immigrants like I do anyone who feels they are exempt from waiting their turn in line. It takes most legal immigrants seven years to become naturalized U.S. citizens. I know this because my parents were immigrants from Taiwan, and they always told me about the difficulties they went through so that we could have the advantages of growing up in the US, which is truly the land of opportunity. Making a new life in a new country is not easy. Not only is the naturalization process long and complicated but learning a new language, adjusting to a new culture, studying/working in an alien environment without the support network of family and friends are some of the arduous tasks an immigrant must do in order to successfully be assimilated into their new country. No one should be allowed to take a short cut, to circumvent the law. If even the President is under the law, how are illegal aliens above it? It’s like those drivers who think they’re above waiting in traffic and who zoom by you in the right lane only to attempt to cut in front of you and everyone else trying to merge onto the highway. If you think they’re annoying, imagine waiting in line for seven years and having someone cut in front of you because they feel the law doesn’t apply to them. Also, illegal aliens do not pay taxes and yet reap the benefit of your hard-earned tax dollars. I have nothing against immigrants, but I feel that they should follow the due process dictated by the law of the land just like everyone else who lives here.