BajaNomad

1 de Mayo Boycotts/Protests

Ken Cooke - 4-28-2006 at 05:19 PM

As we all know, May 1st will be one that will be seen in many different ways by people of different races and nationalities here in the U.S.

Today, I received an email from a concerned individual who strongly believes that the boycotts taking place in Mexico (and here in the U.S.) on Monday, May 1st are an actual Terrorist Attack on the American economy.

What are your beliefs? Are Mexican's south of the border actually "Terrorists"? as some see it, or are they simply making a point?

Here is what he wrote:

Hundreds of thousands of protesters across the United States are planning a new national boycott which they hope will have an even greater resonance than the others.

Organizers are planning the May 1 "Great American Boycott," urging illegal immigrants -- who cannot vote and who have only limited political power -- to flex their "economic muscle".

Protesters are being urged to refrain from shopping, and to stay away from school and work.

And now, like terrorists, they are going to attack our economy -- the one entity that makes our nation stand out from all the others. The backbone of our nation. The country they came to like locusts so they could reap the benefits is now the focus of their boycott.

You've seen it on TV: Marching on our American streets waving their Mexican flags, boldly showing that they can be more racist than who they accuse of racism, and yet the obvious is totally oblivious to them......

To all the real Americans, you can do one small thing on May 1st, 2006. It won't be racist, nor will it be violent. It will not be boastful, arrogant, selfish, nor distasteful. It will not be any of those things that our "guests" have already displayed. What it will do is nullify a movement.

All you have to do is buy something on May 1st. Make up for what they will try to take away. It doesn't have to be a new car or house. It simply needs to be a day of trading.

Hold off grocery buying until May 1st. Take your wife out to eat that night. Get the kids pizza, hamburgers, whatever! Make several trips to the convenience store. Buy your meals at work. Fill up your tank. Shop for clothes, furniture, outdoor equipment. If it needs to be bought, BUY IT MAY 1st!

NOW COMES THE HARD PART: This email will not self-destruct if you don't send it to someone. It will not cause bad luck, nor will it make you impotent. It will not do some trick or show a cute little animation if you send it to "X" amount of people. You will not get paid for doing it.

What it WILL DO is..... show these protesters that we are not just going to sit back and take any more of this crap !!!!

Ken-----interesting e-mail you got------

Barry A. - 4-28-2006 at 07:06 PM

I don't think that the "Illegal aliens" are terrorists, at least they do not have the hatred (I don't think??) of the USA that is normally thought of as motives for "terrorists". I do not believe they have truly thought out what they are doing, and the consequences.

However, having said that, I DO agree with the "poster" the effect that this domonstration (boycott??) will have, and I totally am disgusted, and agree that we should counter it.

To me, this is just another example of an entire group of people having no clue what the actual effect of their "demonstration" will have on the actual citizens of the USA------which is huge resentment!

They are acting very foolishly, in my opinion. But, I do love them and respect them----I just cannot support them in this instance. They know not what they do, and they possibly will reap the negative consequences. We will see. Maybe I am wrong.

Ken Cooke - 4-28-2006 at 07:22 PM

3 weeks ago, on my way home from work, I was driving on a 2 lane road where the speed limit drops from 45 m.p.h. down to 35 m.p.h. It began to rain, and I witnessed a Chevy Safari minivan rollover 1 time. An 89 yr. old woman was ejected, her left forearm cut wide open. You could see every vein, muscle, tendon, etc. Blood across her face, legs, etc.

Well, I stopped to translate and help the family - who I strongly believe were undocumented. I flagged down the Riverside Co. Firefighter who was in a field pickup, and had plenty of gear who in turn radioed air and land support on his 2 meter radio.

Under this Senate bill, I was "Aiding" Illegal immigrants, the penalty being a Felony on my record. This is complete garbage. Don't the conservative politicians have anything better to propose in Washington than to hopefully jail more people? Regardless, I stopped and stayed until the paramedics took the old woman to the local hospital for much needed surgery. This event solidified my views that the Politicians need no business in my personal life regarding who I befriend or who I help alongside the road.

Packoderm - 4-28-2006 at 08:17 PM

They better stock up on beer now , so that they don't violate their boycott later.

Don Alley - 4-28-2006 at 08:35 PM

Somebody should get a dictionary and look up "terror."

No, I don't see these immigrants as terrorists, racists, or "locusts."

Nor do I see the person who sent that email as a "real American."

villadelfin - 4-28-2006 at 08:38 PM

The Mexican version of the protest is called "Nothing Gringo". The diputatos are sending a delegation to meet with the mayor of Los Angeles to discuss the problem. Here in La Paz, no one I have spoken with is planning anything like not shopping at Burger King, Applebees or McDonalds. There will be a small parade down Isabela Catolico street on Monday. My understanding is to represent international labor day, not immigration. Life in the baja goes on.
IMHO, We, the U.S. are sending mixed messages to Mexican people desperate for work. If you come, we will give you jobs, but if you get caught coming, watch out!

Dave - 4-28-2006 at 08:46 PM

Since the majority of protesters shop exclusively in their own communities, guess who will feel the effects?

And not working or attending school? Again, who stands to lose?

Skeet/Loreto - 4-28-2006 at 08:50 PM

God Bless you Ken Cooke!!!
It takes a Man to stop and help at an Accident Scene. Many would just keep Driving.
Living with and loving the People of Loreto and Baja Sur, I found that many of the Loreto People did not "Go North"-reason being that they had plenty of fish to eat.All those who ask me about going North I advised to Stay in Loreto. Two of my Friends went and came back in 2 to 3 Years.
Of Course it is different on the Mainland where Poor and Hungrey are by the Thousands.

I think the Protests will be good for the Politicans as they fight for the Votes in the next election.
From the Mexicanos I have met in the Texas Panhandle, I have learned that they cannot keep up with the Job offers. Many are young and cannot Speak Spanish.
I Hope and pray that we as a Country will not suffer another "Kent State"
I have faith in the Mexican People who are hard working, Honorable People.
I think that there is only one answer to the Problem--Build an Electronic Fence- Clear out the Criminals- Treat the remaining people with dignity!!

Ken nobody has the right to take away "Your own Free Will and Accord"
but you also should be able to "Control your Passion and keep your desires within Due bounds!

Anon The Preacher Aka Skeet/Loreto