Imagine a predominately Irish neighborhood in a large American city is confronting an influx of non-Irish families moving in. Wouldn't it be understandable for the long-time Irish residents to feel somewhat resentful of the newcomers? Wouldn't it be understandable for them to worry that the culture of their neighborhood was going to change and to feel ambivalent about that change? That these Irish residents might feel this way would not make them racist xenophobes as much as it would merely reflect their humanity, right? This is part of what makes the debate over immigration reform that is happening everywhere except Congress so difficult.
Here in Mississippi, I am looking toward the Gulf Coast with a sense of dread as the oil spill approaches. Sea turtles, birds, and fish are already starting to wash up on Mississippi's beaches. The picture here was taken in Waveland, MS (which you might remember was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina). I have seen several like it, and it is heartbreaking. This is the result of corporate greed, lax environmental regulation, and the absence of political will by both parties to support the research and development of alternative energy.
Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks hits it out of the park on this one:
H/T to Crooks and Liars Video Cafe
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Some are now predicting that the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could do more damage to coastal ecosystem of Mississippi and Louisiana than Hurricane Katrina. Indeed, this environmental disaster is so large that it is visible from space. I sincerely hope that this tragedy leads President Obama to reconsider his puzzling support for offshore drilling. I also hope that the American people recognize that this spill and many others like it were preventable.
As for the Republicans, it will be interesting to see whether this spill will silence them at least for awhile. I'm guessing Palin will continue unabated. Hell, she'll probably start claiming that liberals blew up the oil rig to block her crazy pro-drilling agenda!
BP, the company responsible for the spill, is supposed to have one of the better environmental records as far as oil companies go. I'm not sure if that is based in reality or merely an artifact of how they market themselves. I guess we'll see. Subscribe to Red State Progressive
Technorati Tags: Obama, drill, oil spill, Gulf Coast
Pat Bertroche is a physician running as a Republican in the 3rd Congressional District primary in Iowa. He is also the face of modern Republican racism, reflecting the values of a party in peril.
Here is Dr. Bertroche's plan for immigration reform:
“I think we should catch ’em, we should document ’em, make sure we know where they are and where they are going,” said Pat Bertroche, an Urbandale physician. “I actually support microchipping them. I can microchip my dog so I can find it. Why can’t I microchip an illegal?”Evidently, Dr. Betroche does not regard undocumented immigrants as fully human. He sees no reason why they cannot be treated like dogs. All the work former President Bush did to persuade Latinos to vote Republican is being undone quickly.
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