Colbert teams up with UFW over immigration
By APThursday, July 8, 2010
Colbert teams up with UFW over immigration
PHOENIX — Stephen Colbert has a new job — farm worker.
A tongue-in-cheek offer — maybe.
But the host of Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report” teamed up Thursday night with Arturo Rodriguez, the president of the United Farm Workers of America, in a challenge to unemployed Americans: Come on, take our jobs.
The union has been asking Americans to fill out an online form under the banner “I want to be a farm worker” at www.takeourjobs.org.
Rodriguez says that so far just three have responded and were in the fields.
“Make that four,” the comedian replied emphatically.
The U.S. Labor Department says more than half of farm workers are illegal immigrants. The UFW argues they’re not taking jobs from Americans because most don’t want the work.
Proponents of tougher immigration laws respond that the problem with the UFW’s proposition is that growers don’t want to raise wages and improve working conditions enough to attract Americans.
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July 21, 2010: 7:21 pm
I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. All of us ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated, but this is not the case. I know the proponents of this law say that the majority approves of this law, but the majority is not always right. Would women or non-whites have the vote if we listen to the majority of the day, would the non-whites have equal rights (and equal access to churches, housing, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, schools, colleges and yes water fountains) if we listen to the majority of the day? We all know the answer, a resounding, NO! As for the undocumented workers, as was attributed to Ronald Reagan “It’s the Economy, Stupid”. When the economy is good you say let’s all celebrate “Cinco de Mayo, my brothers” but when the economy is down “it’s all your fault, you damn immigrant”. This too will pass, the real problem is the narcos, arms and people smugglers and that’s what the focus should be on. Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics and do what is right, not what is just popular with the majority. Some men comprehend discrimination by never have experiencing it in their lives, but the majority will only understand after it happens to them. |
Benito