Rainbow’s East End
Because it’s a NY Times article, the focus is on Long Island, but the problem of illegal immigrants and migrant workers is still acute, as is the problem of overreacting communities and politicians, wherever it occurs. The difference is in visibility. Growing up on Long Island, we became very much aware of the growing presence of illegal Hispanics and, as a result, the problems that led to their emigration. The difference now is not in numbers or in kind but in visibility. Day laborers did not typically appear on the street corners of the towns and villages of Long Island, but they’re there now. In fact, if you drive through many of the NYC suburbs – Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester and Sullivan counties – you’ll find them, and you can hire them if you’ve got something for them to do: cheap construction work is a big area right now, as the growing season precludes their use on the small area farms. So why are so many people intent upon seeing these people arrested and, if illegal, deported? Because of selfishness. Yes, as usual, these are people who want their lawns mowed, their houses painted, their fruit and vegetables picked, packed and fresh at the supermarket, but don’t want to know how this gets done, especially if it means facing the fact that migrant workers aren’t organized and aren’t being paid a wage equal to what they themselves would demand. Why do the migrants come? Because they can make ten times what they can back home. They don’t want your house, your car, your job. They want a house, a car, a job, and they want to take care of their families the same way you do. But it’s bad enough, isn’t it, that corporations are shipping jobs overseas; now – well, actually, for decades now – “overseas” is coming home and taking up jobs. Globalization: you’re for it when it benefits you, and against it when you think it’s spoiling your property values. Maybe you should make up your mind.