“I guess that if you are a Guatemalan gay man who likes to gamble and smokes marijuana, you probably think we’re onto some good ideas here.” ~ House minority leader Robert A. Watson
Rep. Watson delivered this line at a Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce meeting. He was referring to Rhode Island’s General Assembly agenda, which is focusing on gay marriage, in-state tuition fees for children of illegal immigrants, medical marijuana and legalizing gambling tables at the state slot parlors. The state is facing huge deficits, unfunded pension liabilities and a shrinking tax base. His point was the assembly’s misguided focus. His delivery was regrettable, ill conceived and completely out of place. The Guatemalan people have every right and reason to be outraged.
The local talk show circuit is having a field day with all of this. Guatemalan immigrants are being accused of everything from bringing head lice to local schools to being the cause of the downfall of democracy. I listen now and then, and hear host after host, then caller after caller deliver their diatribe. The talk show crowd can’t seem to grasp the idea that an elected official delivering a speech to business leaders in the capitol city of Rhode Island was completely and indefensibly wrong.
Now the circus is in town, blowing a little thing way out of proportion.
How hard is it to simply state, I’m sorry, that was out of line. Apparently too hard for the minority leader, and the brainwashed public that is so infuriated with the illegal immigration problem that they have lost sight of reality.
I work in the middle of reality. The inner city is where most newly arrived Guatemalans live. They live in houses that were built and were inhabited by our parents, and grandparents. They work hard, doing jobs “Americans won’t do.” They are here to work, and make money, and live a better life than the one from where they came. I don’t know their immigration status, and I honestly don’t care. I go to their homes when somebody is sick, or injured and treat them the same I would anybody else.
They are trying to learn the language. A lot already have. They are good people gaining a foothold in America. I’m sure there are undocumented people mixed in with the general population. If they get caught, send them back. Enforce the law as it is written. Punish employers who hire illegals. But for god’s sake, stop treating these people like the scourge of the earth. They are people, and have the same drive, ambition, feelings and pride as everybody else who landed here and suffered through unnecessary bigotry and hatred.
I’m ashamed to be part of a society that refuses to see how a “little joke” causes so much harm. If the people we elected to lead us can’t see it, then we are obligated as the people who run this show we call America to get rid of them.
If they won’t say it, I will.
” I hereby apologize to the Guatemalan community, and any other person who found Representative Watson’s remarks at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce meeting offensive. It was a dumb joke told at the wrong place and time.”
Please send the circus home.
http://newsblog.projo.com/2011/02/guatemalans-demand-watson-apol.html
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/National-Brotherhood-Week-lyrics-Tom-Lehrer/625DBDA1F04F231148256A7D0025A2FC
Quote: doing jobs “Americans won’t do.”
I always love this line. Every time I see that line the phrase “for pay that is below the poverty line/minimum wage” is always missing. Wonder why that is….
I think some of the rancor directed at Guatemalans is unfortunately the result of a very aggressive stance by activists claiming to represent that group,some of whom are not even of Guatemalan background.I’m thinking of Roberto Gonzales,a Puerto Rican attorney who made vile and untrue allegations in the wake of the Mynor Montufar case where a warrant was served on a fugitive by ICE and by happenstance a man had committed suicide on the premises.His death was blamed on ICE by Gonzales,David Quiroa,a Guatemalan-American,and Steven Brown,a non-Hispanic American(?).No iota of proof existed for such a claim.
Then we have Shana Kurland,a non-Hispanic American “activist”calling ICE agents terrorists for doing their jobs.
Or Peter,or Matt Jerzyk,etc-take your pick.i haven’t even mentioned Juan Garcia,a “professional Guatemalan” rabble rouser.
The truth is that when I worked as an INS agent in RI between 1984-96 I found the Guatemalan community very easy to deal with and frequently cooperative in criminal investigations.They no particular propensity to criminality-just the usual 10-15% of assholes you find in any group.
Actually,I generally found Guatemalans to be pretty straightforward when being questioned and very seldom had to employ force in doing my job in that community.More than I could say for some others,but I’ll leave that be.
the self-serving “advocates”have put Guatemalans in a negative spotlight they don’t deserve.
Watson,Garcia,and Quiroa deserve each other.
I don’t think ethnic humor is very funny except in rare,inoffensive circumstances,and generally told about one’s “own”.
I agree. I feel quite strongly about these kinds of jokes that demean a culture, and I also feel strongly about using the word retarded in jokes. Generalizing and making jokes at the cost of other people’s dignity and worth is not funny, and it needs to stop, be it attacks on their race, religion, culture, or abilities.
“Peter” was meant to be “Peter Asen”who likes accusing others of racism with no basis in fact.
Generalizations are almost always a mistake but when they are demeaning to an entire group of people (any people) they are just plain idiotic. The good, the bad and the ugly are in every ethnic class.
Talk about the “pot” calling the kettle black. Pun intended.
I join Mike in appologizing to the Guatemalan community for this insult. Maybe a certain guy should take the hint and follow or example Just don’t hold your breath folks!