By Fidel "Butch" Montoya
Regardless of a big ( R ) or a big ( D ) by their name, regardless of President Bush or Obama, this is what our government does to people, people with families, just trying to find a better life. I cannot or will not follow a party because they claim to be for the people. Show me your fruits, show me your concern, show me you care...issues our government does not understand.
Instead like cattle, with chains, they are shipped away to a land many don't even know or understand. Separated from their families without any knowledge of what is happening to those families. And does our government (Obama, Democrats, & Republicans) care?
Truly what is the difference between a Pelosi, Reid, McConnel and Boehner ? We already know the difference between an Obama and Bush. Who really cares about this problem? You cannot convince me that one is better than the other.
Right now, one has the power to stop the raids. One has the power to introduce legislation. "They" passed health care without one single Republican vote, and yet "they" claim immigration reform cannot be introduced without Republican support.
I do no see how Christians cannot see the injustice against these hard working individuals who come "only for a better life...only a better life." Where is the outrage from our leaders and where on the demands on our public officials who claim to be our friends to stop these unjust detentions, deportations, and raids on families?
One of the issues facing Americans is that these people are "brown." Ask anyone on the street, and probably undocumented immigrants will identified as "Mexicans." Why, because they are "brown." No attempt to understand who these people are, and why they have fled their past lives from Spanish speaking countries.
All I see is racism, hatred, fear, bigotry, and a country that continues to "expect" the right of us to do what is demanded of us.
Please read the history of the Southwest. That attitude of entitlement continues today. The fear that these "undocumented immigrants" will vote for the "Democrats" keeps the Tea Party and many members of the GOP from enacting reform. When in reality, most of these undocumented immigrants are probably more moderate and conservative in their values and beliefs. Many would probably make good Republicans.
So be, isn't this what our country is about....?
Please open the link below and watch how we treat people who have come to contribute to the success of this nation and their families.
Deportation: The flip side of immigration
March 29: Experience what it's like to be deported, from the plane and bus rides to thoughts of leaving loved ones behind and heading to a birth country that may not feel like home. Producer: Meredith Birkett. Video editor: Shanon Dell
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36022667#36022667
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Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. Isaiah 49:10
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The flip side of immigration
Executive Director of Latino Faith Initiative ~ H.S. Power & Light Ministries. Share commentary and information on issues of the day challenging and calling to action pastors and faith leaders to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Address concerns of justice and righteousness for the poor and marginalized. Strong advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Licensed Minister 1972. Local government/news media Consultant/Advisor and Crisis Management. Deputy Mayor for City and County of Denver 1995 - 2000. Manager of Safety for City and Country of Denver 1994 - 2000 (Civilian manager of Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, Ex-Officio Sheriff Denver Sheriff Department. Deputy Manager/Revenue/DMV 2000 - 2003. News Broadcast Executive/news manager/Photojournalist for over 24 years 1970 - 1994. Executive Director Confianza ~ Multicultural Faith Alliance. Faith Alliance facing urban and inner city challenges and opportunities/crisis. Involved in civic policy issues & community committees and organizations.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Two Good Senators.....
By Fidel "Butch" Montoya
I read with interest the "framework" on immigration reform submitted by New York Senator Charles Schumer and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. Once again, I thought my hopes for true immigration reform were about to become a reality.
We have seen other hopeful pieces of federal legislation that had been proposed in the past, only to read in the details that little were being proposed in terms of how the legislation would affect the undocumented masses. There was plenty in the past pieces of legislation on how to do everything except deal humanely with the people most affected by the legislation. The framework provided by these two good senators is no different.
Again we have little in terms of federal legislation trying to be passed on as "comprehensive immigration reform." While both senators agree "our immigration system is badly broken," they also expressed their "belief that America's security and economic well-being depend on enacting sensible immigration policies."
Sounds a lot like the same ole, same ole baloney from the past.
So now, both senators are only proposing "draft framework for action on immigration," not even a full proposal, much less anything to propose to the Congress. Even President Obama agreed that the Schumer/Graham proposal was a good idea, probably because it didn't commit him to anything.
You will notice that Senator Schumer, the real chief of the "guidelines," and the "draft framework for action on immigration," really has nothing to propose at all. It is the same old "secure the borders and make sure we supply enough low paying jobs to the economy." Nothing in their guidelines to address the injustice and job robbery we have committed against undocumented immigrants in the past.
In essence here is their plan. "Our plan has four pillars: requiring biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; creating a process for admitting temporary workers; and implementing a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here."
Do you see anything new here? The "biometric Social Security card" proposal is nothing more than a national ID card pipe dream. The Homeland Security Department has tried different ways to impose a national ID card on Americans. Now they think they have a way around our strong objections to a national ID card.
A "biometric Social Security card" has nothing to do with immigration reform, only as a means by which the Federal Government can track workers.. Much like the question recently sent to you by the Census Bureau asking if you own or rent your home. Whose business is that in the Federal Government?? How does that relate to "the count required every ten years by the government?"
We have heard so much good news on how the E-Verify Employee tracking system is working. Wrong, we have heard how the E-Very employee tracking system has not been very reliable and how hard working individuals are being denied good employment because some federal tracking plan is not very reliable or can actually track who should or should not be working in country. Now we are going to be given a "new biometric Social Security card" that is going to be one of the pillars for comprehensive reform.
The two good senators also expect that "fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement" will be key in their immigration proposal. That doesn't sound very original either.
What these two senators are proposing is ridiculous and only means increasing ICE type enforcement in our country. "Interior enforcement?" What does that mean? It sounds like they are going to continue to separate and destroy families by increased detention and deportations and do it legally under a new comprehensive immigration law.
Our government already detains over 34,000 undocumented immigrants in detentions every single day. Our government continues to contract with private prison vendors to build and manage these jails we have built claiming they will provide us security and safety by eliminating the criminal elements associated with illegal immigration
The Obama Administration in its first year has already deported more than 120,000 fathers, mothers, and children than the Bush Administration did in it last year in power. And now our good senators want tougher "interior enforcement"? Is that something you really want? Do you really think all the people in immigration detention are the bad criminals ICE says they are?
I am not so sure I like the way the two good senators propose fixing the border issues. After spending billions of dollars on a border fence that only covers about half of the 2000 mile border with Mexico, our two good senators want to continue to pour billions more on border security. They propose, "We would bolster recent efforts to secure our borders by increasing the Border Patrol's staffing and funding for infrastructure and technology. More personnel would be deployed to the border immediately to fill gaps in apprehension capabilities."
Where have these two good senators been for the last ten years? The Bush Administration added thousands of Border Patrol agents to the border. He even assigned thousands of National Guard troops to the border, along with his hundreds of volunteer border vigilantes who stood guard on the border. Now these two good senators feel the billions spent on the Bush border wall was a waste of money and we need to spend more money on border security that only bleeds more illicit drugs and gang violence into our country?
Even I know the tactical strategy for fighting the drug war along our southern border with Mexico should be different than trying to run down undocumented immigrants who come here for a better job. We are facing two different entry strategies - one with good consequences, and the other that has created a violent war zone between Mexico and the United States over illicit drugs.
Applying the same amount of federal dollars "securing our border" should have different distinct strategies trying to prevent the hard working immigrant from crossing the border, and preventing the Mexican cartels from delivering billions of dollars in drugs to the American consumer. Maybe better interior enforcement of selling illicit drugs and human trafficking would solve a big part of the criminal element the two good senators want to capture?
I wonder if the two good senators have ever heard of the "system of supply and demand." The only reason these drug cartels are killing innocent men, women, and children is for the right to export illicit drugs to the American consumer. Yes indeed, the user who lives in the belt way, the high end condos and apartments, the rich neighborhoods, and who have the billions to spend on drug related trips away from reality?
While I may partly agree with the zero tolerance strategy to capture, detain, and deport criminals, we have seen how this policy has not worked very well under the Obama Administration. In fact, interior enforcement is stronger today than under President Bush. It is just good politicking to be for "zero tolerance."
Our two good senators are trying to sell this "new enforcement strategy" under the guise of a new proposal on immigration reform. Here is what they propose, as a way of securing "our interior." "Other steps include expanding domestic enforcement to better apprehend and deport those who commit crimes and completing an entry-exit system that tracks people who enter the United States on legal visas and reports those who overstay their visas to law enforcement databases."
Did you know that over 50% of the undocumented immigrants in our country over stay their legal visa? It is not the scene ICE likes to paint. ICE likes to portray their job as tracking down hundreds of thousands crossing the border every day and thus the need for more Border Patrol agents, more high tech surveillance, and miles more of a fence proven to be inadequate for the job.
Most of the people who fall into the category of "illegal alien," and "overstay their visas" are good people who want a new life here. They are not criminals as the two good senators would have you believe. We all are for "a zero-tolerance policy for gang members, smugglers, terrorists and those who commit other felonies after coming here illegally." The problem is the agencies involved in enforcement cannot tell the difference between "gang member, smugglers, and terrorists who commit other felonies after coming here illegally."
You have heard the expression, "Well, they all look alike." So under that false premise, ICE fills the detention centers with "criminals," in other words, just using a criminal and racial profiling kit to detain and deport hundreds of good fathers, mothers, and families under a zero tolerance that does not allow for questioning who ICE may have in their jails. I would challenge you to see what the "criminal profile" looks like in your local ICE and privately contracted detention center.
If they intend is to track down people who overstay their legal visas, and create a new "entry-exit system that tracks people who enter the United States on legal visas and reports those who overstay their visas to law enforcement databases," then look out for the need for more privately controlled detention centers that have forgotten the United States Constitution is still the law of the land.
Then look for more enforcement raids at the homes of people who have overstayed their visas. Look for local enforcement to bemoan the fact that they must now stop, detain, and report to ICE any good hard working individual because they may have overstayed their visas.
Please stop and consider for a moment. More momentum being built by the "framework or guidelines" for immigration control by these two good senators is only going to create a more suspicious and hate filled political environment in our country. Now everyone will be suspect..and trust me, this will only give law enforcement a free rein on racial profiling.
Their proposal to create a new process for allowing low income workers, I mean temporary workers, into the country, means a "new Bracero problem, I mean program." We have seen how manufacturing, farming, and the service industry have treated temporary workers. By providing a new process for allowing these low income workers in the country, will that include protections against abuse, robbery, housing, and assurances of a living wage? Or does this new process just mean more of the same?
Read the incentive for doing a good job, "Our framework would facilitate this desired circular migration by allowing employers to hire immigrants if they can show they were unsuccessful in recruiting an American to fill an open position; allowing more lower-skilled immigrants to come here when our economy is creating jobs and fewer in a recession; and permitting workers who have succeeded in the workplace, and contributed to their communities over many years, the chance to earn a green card ."
I must admit I find it humorous that the two good senators would propose a "tough but fair path forward" for the 11 million undocumented immigrants still in our country. They are quick to show that 1 million have left the country in the last year, but can't conduct an American census without first overspending more than 14 million dollars so far (and still don't have a reliable count).
The undocumented immigrants would have to admit they are criminals for crossing the border. They would have to pay back taxes, which I thought millions were already doing, and still not being able to apply for medical or social needs?
They would have to perform hundreds of hours of community service, or just another way to allow them to continue to work for free or low end wages.
But wait; here is what really shows me these two good senators have no grasp of reality. They propose, "These people would be required to pass background checks and be proficient in English before going to the back of the line of prospective immigrants to earn the opportunity to work toward lawful permanent residence."
They must pass a background check, after spending years in the United States doing whatever was necessary to destroy any documents or evidence they were living in the shadows of America illegally.
Must be proficient in English? Does that mean being able to say, "Wait a minute? I worked 56 hours this week, and you owe me for 56 hours of work?" "Or you promised to pay me $12 an hour to do this work, now you want to pay me $8 because you think I will not report you to the authorities? Or probably the most classic question being asked today, "What do you mean you are not going to pay me for the work I did for you because you know I am undocumented immigrant?"
If the two good senators added up all the work not paid or underpaid to today's hard working undocumented workers, they would be adding to their framework proposal for repayment to undocumented immigrants for work well done, not more community service or more in "back taxes."
I trust our Latino Evangelical leaders will not fall in the false trap of "immigration is at hand." It is not, if we are to follow the two good senators "framework for immigration reform."
As far as I am concerned, the proof is in the details. I have seen no reason to celebrate a proposed guideline for reform, one from a New York Senator, and the other from a Republican Senator. Show me the money should be our cry. Show me the details.
If our Evangelical leadership does not stand up against this false pretense that immigration is at hand, and condemn the lies of this Administration and United States Representatives and Senators, then please don't show up on the stage on Sunday, March 21st and claim immigration reform is at hand. Please don't join the liars from the government. And yes, we will be watching and listening to your speeches. Be fair, but don't lie about immigration reform being at hand, because it is not!
You know what the facts are back home in the barrio, in the local Evangelical church, in the schools back home, or on the job situation. Reading the guidelines proposed by Senators Graham & Schumer, and supported by President Obama should be enough to call for the immigration reform train to stop right now.
We will not accept your piecemeal approach to comprehensive immigration reform. We do not accept your premise that our people are bad people and thus must pay fines, do community service, and deny their culture by making them stop using Spanish to become American citizens.
I suppose if we closed the southern border tight, and allowed immigrants seeking a better life to pass by the Statue of Liberty, they would be worthy to be American citizens. Then they too could say, "¡Gloria a Dios! Hemos llegado a la tierra donde fluyen leche y miel. Siento un inmenso orgullo y es un grab honor estar aquí. Me siento como un ciudadano estadounidense, muy orgulloso. Nuestro hogar está ahora en la tierra de la tranquilidad, la justicia y la paz."
( "Glory to God, we have arrived to the land of milk and honey. I am so full of pride and honor to be here. I feel like an American citizen...so proud. We are home to a land of tranquility, justice, and peace." )
**************************************************************************************************
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972.
**************************************************************************************************
The New York Times
By Charles E. Schumer and Lindsey O. Graham
Friday, March 19, 2010
Our immigration system is badly broken. Although our borders have become far more secure in recent years, too many people seeking illegal entry get through. We have no way to track whether the millions who enter the United States on valid visas each year leave when they are supposed to. And employers are burdened by a complicated system for verifying workers' immigration status.
Last week we met with President Obama to discuss our draft framework for action on immigration. We expressed our belief that America's security and economic well-being depend on enacting sensible immigration policies.
The answer is simple: Americans overwhelmingly oppose illegal immigration and support legal immigration. Throughout our history, immigrants have contributed to making this country more vibrant and economically dynamic. Once it is clear that in 20 years our nation will not again confront the specter of another 11 million people coming here illegally, Americans will embrace more welcoming immigration policies.
Our plan has four pillars: requiring biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; creating a process for admitting temporary workers; and implementing a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here.
Besides border security, ending illegal immigration will also require an effective employment verification system that holds employers accountable for hiring illegal workers. A tamper-proof ID system would dramatically decrease illegal immigration, experts have said, and would reduce the government revenue lost when employers and workers here illegally fail to pay taxes.
We would require all U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who want jobs to obtain a high-tech, fraud-proof Social Security card. Each card's unique biometric identifier would be stored only on the card; no government database would house everyone's information. The cards would not contain any private information, medical information or tracking devices. The card would be a high-tech version of the Social Security card that citizens already have.
Prospective employers would be responsible for swiping the cards through a machine to confirm a person's identity and immigration status. Employers who refused to swipe the card or who otherwise knowingly hired unauthorized workers would face stiff fines and, for repeat offenses, prison sentences.
We propose a zero-tolerance policy for gang members, smugglers, terrorists and those who commit other felonies after coming here illegally. We would bolster recent efforts to secure our borders by increasing the Border Patrol's staffing and funding for infrastructure and technology. More personnel would be deployed to the border immediately to fill gaps in apprehension capabilities.
Other steps include expanding domestic enforcement to better apprehend and deport those who commit crimes and completing an entry-exit system that tracks people who enter the United States on legal visas and reports those who overstay their visas to law enforcement databases.
Ending illegal immigration, however, cannot be the sole objective of reform. Developing a rational legal immigration system is essential to ensuring America's future economic prosperity.
Ensuring economic prosperity requires attracting the world's best and brightest. Our legislation would award green cards to immigrants who receive a PhD or master's degree in science, technology, engineering or math from a U.S. university. It makes no sense to educate the world's future inventors and entrepreneurs and then force them to leave when they are able to contribute to our economy.
Our blueprint also creates a rational system for admitting lower-skilled workers. Our current system prohibits lower-skilled immigrants from coming here to earn money and then returning home. Our framework would facilitate this desired circular migration by allowing employers to hire immigrants if they can show they were unsuccessful in recruiting an American to fill an open position; allowing more lower-skilled immigrants to come here when our economy is creating jobs and fewer in a recession; and permitting workers who have succeeded in the workplace, and contributed to their communities over many years, the chance to earn a green card.
For the 11 million immigrants already in this country illegally, we would provide a tough but fair path forward. They would be required to admit they broke the law and to pay their debt to society by performing community service and paying fines and back taxes. These people would be required to pass background checks and be proficient in English before going to the back of the line of prospective immigrants to earn the opportunity to work toward lawful permanent residence.
The American people deserve more than empty rhetoric and impractical calls for mass deportation. We urge the public and our colleagues to join our bipartisan efforts in enacting these reforms.
Charles E. Schumer is a Democratic senator from New York. Lindsey O. Graham is a Republican senator from South Carolina.
I read with interest the "framework" on immigration reform submitted by New York Senator Charles Schumer and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. Once again, I thought my hopes for true immigration reform were about to become a reality.
We have seen other hopeful pieces of federal legislation that had been proposed in the past, only to read in the details that little were being proposed in terms of how the legislation would affect the undocumented masses. There was plenty in the past pieces of legislation on how to do everything except deal humanely with the people most affected by the legislation. The framework provided by these two good senators is no different.
Again we have little in terms of federal legislation trying to be passed on as "comprehensive immigration reform." While both senators agree "our immigration system is badly broken," they also expressed their "belief that America's security and economic well-being depend on enacting sensible immigration policies."
Sounds a lot like the same ole, same ole baloney from the past.
So now, both senators are only proposing "draft framework for action on immigration," not even a full proposal, much less anything to propose to the Congress. Even President Obama agreed that the Schumer/Graham proposal was a good idea, probably because it didn't commit him to anything.
You will notice that Senator Schumer, the real chief of the "guidelines," and the "draft framework for action on immigration," really has nothing to propose at all. It is the same old "secure the borders and make sure we supply enough low paying jobs to the economy." Nothing in their guidelines to address the injustice and job robbery we have committed against undocumented immigrants in the past.
In essence here is their plan. "Our plan has four pillars: requiring biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; creating a process for admitting temporary workers; and implementing a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here."
Do you see anything new here? The "biometric Social Security card" proposal is nothing more than a national ID card pipe dream. The Homeland Security Department has tried different ways to impose a national ID card on Americans. Now they think they have a way around our strong objections to a national ID card.
A "biometric Social Security card" has nothing to do with immigration reform, only as a means by which the Federal Government can track workers.. Much like the question recently sent to you by the Census Bureau asking if you own or rent your home. Whose business is that in the Federal Government?? How does that relate to "the count required every ten years by the government?"
We have heard so much good news on how the E-Verify Employee tracking system is working. Wrong, we have heard how the E-Very employee tracking system has not been very reliable and how hard working individuals are being denied good employment because some federal tracking plan is not very reliable or can actually track who should or should not be working in country. Now we are going to be given a "new biometric Social Security card" that is going to be one of the pillars for comprehensive reform.
The two good senators also expect that "fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement" will be key in their immigration proposal. That doesn't sound very original either.
What these two senators are proposing is ridiculous and only means increasing ICE type enforcement in our country. "Interior enforcement?" What does that mean? It sounds like they are going to continue to separate and destroy families by increased detention and deportations and do it legally under a new comprehensive immigration law.
Our government already detains over 34,000 undocumented immigrants in detentions every single day. Our government continues to contract with private prison vendors to build and manage these jails we have built claiming they will provide us security and safety by eliminating the criminal elements associated with illegal immigration
The Obama Administration in its first year has already deported more than 120,000 fathers, mothers, and children than the Bush Administration did in it last year in power. And now our good senators want tougher "interior enforcement"? Is that something you really want? Do you really think all the people in immigration detention are the bad criminals ICE says they are?
I am not so sure I like the way the two good senators propose fixing the border issues. After spending billions of dollars on a border fence that only covers about half of the 2000 mile border with Mexico, our two good senators want to continue to pour billions more on border security. They propose, "We would bolster recent efforts to secure our borders by increasing the Border Patrol's staffing and funding for infrastructure and technology. More personnel would be deployed to the border immediately to fill gaps in apprehension capabilities."
Where have these two good senators been for the last ten years? The Bush Administration added thousands of Border Patrol agents to the border. He even assigned thousands of National Guard troops to the border, along with his hundreds of volunteer border vigilantes who stood guard on the border. Now these two good senators feel the billions spent on the Bush border wall was a waste of money and we need to spend more money on border security that only bleeds more illicit drugs and gang violence into our country?
Even I know the tactical strategy for fighting the drug war along our southern border with Mexico should be different than trying to run down undocumented immigrants who come here for a better job. We are facing two different entry strategies - one with good consequences, and the other that has created a violent war zone between Mexico and the United States over illicit drugs.
Applying the same amount of federal dollars "securing our border" should have different distinct strategies trying to prevent the hard working immigrant from crossing the border, and preventing the Mexican cartels from delivering billions of dollars in drugs to the American consumer. Maybe better interior enforcement of selling illicit drugs and human trafficking would solve a big part of the criminal element the two good senators want to capture?
I wonder if the two good senators have ever heard of the "system of supply and demand." The only reason these drug cartels are killing innocent men, women, and children is for the right to export illicit drugs to the American consumer. Yes indeed, the user who lives in the belt way, the high end condos and apartments, the rich neighborhoods, and who have the billions to spend on drug related trips away from reality?
While I may partly agree with the zero tolerance strategy to capture, detain, and deport criminals, we have seen how this policy has not worked very well under the Obama Administration. In fact, interior enforcement is stronger today than under President Bush. It is just good politicking to be for "zero tolerance."
Our two good senators are trying to sell this "new enforcement strategy" under the guise of a new proposal on immigration reform. Here is what they propose, as a way of securing "our interior." "Other steps include expanding domestic enforcement to better apprehend and deport those who commit crimes and completing an entry-exit system that tracks people who enter the United States on legal visas and reports those who overstay their visas to law enforcement databases."
Did you know that over 50% of the undocumented immigrants in our country over stay their legal visa? It is not the scene ICE likes to paint. ICE likes to portray their job as tracking down hundreds of thousands crossing the border every day and thus the need for more Border Patrol agents, more high tech surveillance, and miles more of a fence proven to be inadequate for the job.
Most of the people who fall into the category of "illegal alien," and "overstay their visas" are good people who want a new life here. They are not criminals as the two good senators would have you believe. We all are for "a zero-tolerance policy for gang members, smugglers, terrorists and those who commit other felonies after coming here illegally." The problem is the agencies involved in enforcement cannot tell the difference between "gang member, smugglers, and terrorists who commit other felonies after coming here illegally."
You have heard the expression, "Well, they all look alike." So under that false premise, ICE fills the detention centers with "criminals," in other words, just using a criminal and racial profiling kit to detain and deport hundreds of good fathers, mothers, and families under a zero tolerance that does not allow for questioning who ICE may have in their jails. I would challenge you to see what the "criminal profile" looks like in your local ICE and privately contracted detention center.
If they intend is to track down people who overstay their legal visas, and create a new "entry-exit system that tracks people who enter the United States on legal visas and reports those who overstay their visas to law enforcement databases," then look out for the need for more privately controlled detention centers that have forgotten the United States Constitution is still the law of the land.
Then look for more enforcement raids at the homes of people who have overstayed their visas. Look for local enforcement to bemoan the fact that they must now stop, detain, and report to ICE any good hard working individual because they may have overstayed their visas.
Please stop and consider for a moment. More momentum being built by the "framework or guidelines" for immigration control by these two good senators is only going to create a more suspicious and hate filled political environment in our country. Now everyone will be suspect..and trust me, this will only give law enforcement a free rein on racial profiling.
Their proposal to create a new process for allowing low income workers, I mean temporary workers, into the country, means a "new Bracero problem, I mean program." We have seen how manufacturing, farming, and the service industry have treated temporary workers. By providing a new process for allowing these low income workers in the country, will that include protections against abuse, robbery, housing, and assurances of a living wage? Or does this new process just mean more of the same?
Read the incentive for doing a good job, "Our framework would facilitate this desired circular migration by allowing employers to hire immigrants if they can show they were unsuccessful in recruiting an American to fill an open position; allowing more lower-skilled immigrants to come here when our economy is creating jobs and fewer in a recession; and permitting workers who have succeeded in the workplace, and contributed to their communities over many years, the chance to earn a green card ."
I must admit I find it humorous that the two good senators would propose a "tough but fair path forward" for the 11 million undocumented immigrants still in our country. They are quick to show that 1 million have left the country in the last year, but can't conduct an American census without first overspending more than 14 million dollars so far (and still don't have a reliable count).
The undocumented immigrants would have to admit they are criminals for crossing the border. They would have to pay back taxes, which I thought millions were already doing, and still not being able to apply for medical or social needs?
They would have to perform hundreds of hours of community service, or just another way to allow them to continue to work for free or low end wages.
But wait; here is what really shows me these two good senators have no grasp of reality. They propose, "These people would be required to pass background checks and be proficient in English before going to the back of the line of prospective immigrants to earn the opportunity to work toward lawful permanent residence."
They must pass a background check, after spending years in the United States doing whatever was necessary to destroy any documents or evidence they were living in the shadows of America illegally.
Must be proficient in English? Does that mean being able to say, "Wait a minute? I worked 56 hours this week, and you owe me for 56 hours of work?" "Or you promised to pay me $12 an hour to do this work, now you want to pay me $8 because you think I will not report you to the authorities? Or probably the most classic question being asked today, "What do you mean you are not going to pay me for the work I did for you because you know I am undocumented immigrant?"
If the two good senators added up all the work not paid or underpaid to today's hard working undocumented workers, they would be adding to their framework proposal for repayment to undocumented immigrants for work well done, not more community service or more in "back taxes."
I trust our Latino Evangelical leaders will not fall in the false trap of "immigration is at hand." It is not, if we are to follow the two good senators "framework for immigration reform."
As far as I am concerned, the proof is in the details. I have seen no reason to celebrate a proposed guideline for reform, one from a New York Senator, and the other from a Republican Senator. Show me the money should be our cry. Show me the details.
If our Evangelical leadership does not stand up against this false pretense that immigration is at hand, and condemn the lies of this Administration and United States Representatives and Senators, then please don't show up on the stage on Sunday, March 21st and claim immigration reform is at hand. Please don't join the liars from the government. And yes, we will be watching and listening to your speeches. Be fair, but don't lie about immigration reform being at hand, because it is not!
You know what the facts are back home in the barrio, in the local Evangelical church, in the schools back home, or on the job situation. Reading the guidelines proposed by Senators Graham & Schumer, and supported by President Obama should be enough to call for the immigration reform train to stop right now.
We will not accept your piecemeal approach to comprehensive immigration reform. We do not accept your premise that our people are bad people and thus must pay fines, do community service, and deny their culture by making them stop using Spanish to become American citizens.
I suppose if we closed the southern border tight, and allowed immigrants seeking a better life to pass by the Statue of Liberty, they would be worthy to be American citizens. Then they too could say, "¡Gloria a Dios! Hemos llegado a la tierra donde fluyen leche y miel. Siento un inmenso orgullo y es un grab honor estar aquí. Me siento como un ciudadano estadounidense, muy orgulloso. Nuestro hogar está ahora en la tierra de la tranquilidad, la justicia y la paz."
( "Glory to God, we have arrived to the land of milk and honey. I am so full of pride and honor to be here. I feel like an American citizen...so proud. We are home to a land of tranquility, justice, and peace." )
**************************************************************************************************
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972.
**************************************************************************************************
The New York Times
By Charles E. Schumer and Lindsey O. Graham
Friday, March 19, 2010
Our immigration system is badly broken. Although our borders have become far more secure in recent years, too many people seeking illegal entry get through. We have no way to track whether the millions who enter the United States on valid visas each year leave when they are supposed to. And employers are burdened by a complicated system for verifying workers' immigration status.
Last week we met with President Obama to discuss our draft framework for action on immigration. We expressed our belief that America's security and economic well-being depend on enacting sensible immigration policies.
The answer is simple: Americans overwhelmingly oppose illegal immigration and support legal immigration. Throughout our history, immigrants have contributed to making this country more vibrant and economically dynamic. Once it is clear that in 20 years our nation will not again confront the specter of another 11 million people coming here illegally, Americans will embrace more welcoming immigration policies.
Our plan has four pillars: requiring biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; creating a process for admitting temporary workers; and implementing a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here.
Besides border security, ending illegal immigration will also require an effective employment verification system that holds employers accountable for hiring illegal workers. A tamper-proof ID system would dramatically decrease illegal immigration, experts have said, and would reduce the government revenue lost when employers and workers here illegally fail to pay taxes.
We would require all U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who want jobs to obtain a high-tech, fraud-proof Social Security card. Each card's unique biometric identifier would be stored only on the card; no government database would house everyone's information. The cards would not contain any private information, medical information or tracking devices. The card would be a high-tech version of the Social Security card that citizens already have.
Prospective employers would be responsible for swiping the cards through a machine to confirm a person's identity and immigration status. Employers who refused to swipe the card or who otherwise knowingly hired unauthorized workers would face stiff fines and, for repeat offenses, prison sentences.
We propose a zero-tolerance policy for gang members, smugglers, terrorists and those who commit other felonies after coming here illegally. We would bolster recent efforts to secure our borders by increasing the Border Patrol's staffing and funding for infrastructure and technology. More personnel would be deployed to the border immediately to fill gaps in apprehension capabilities.
Other steps include expanding domestic enforcement to better apprehend and deport those who commit crimes and completing an entry-exit system that tracks people who enter the United States on legal visas and reports those who overstay their visas to law enforcement databases.
Ending illegal immigration, however, cannot be the sole objective of reform. Developing a rational legal immigration system is essential to ensuring America's future economic prosperity.
Ensuring economic prosperity requires attracting the world's best and brightest. Our legislation would award green cards to immigrants who receive a PhD or master's degree in science, technology, engineering or math from a U.S. university. It makes no sense to educate the world's future inventors and entrepreneurs and then force them to leave when they are able to contribute to our economy.
Our blueprint also creates a rational system for admitting lower-skilled workers. Our current system prohibits lower-skilled immigrants from coming here to earn money and then returning home. Our framework would facilitate this desired circular migration by allowing employers to hire immigrants if they can show they were unsuccessful in recruiting an American to fill an open position; allowing more lower-skilled immigrants to come here when our economy is creating jobs and fewer in a recession; and permitting workers who have succeeded in the workplace, and contributed to their communities over many years, the chance to earn a green card.
For the 11 million immigrants already in this country illegally, we would provide a tough but fair path forward. They would be required to admit they broke the law and to pay their debt to society by performing community service and paying fines and back taxes. These people would be required to pass background checks and be proficient in English before going to the back of the line of prospective immigrants to earn the opportunity to work toward lawful permanent residence.
The American people deserve more than empty rhetoric and impractical calls for mass deportation. We urge the public and our colleagues to join our bipartisan efforts in enacting these reforms.
Charles E. Schumer is a Democratic senator from New York. Lindsey O. Graham is a Republican senator from South Carolina.
Executive Director of Latino Faith Initiative ~ H.S. Power & Light Ministries. Share commentary and information on issues of the day challenging and calling to action pastors and faith leaders to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Address concerns of justice and righteousness for the poor and marginalized. Strong advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Licensed Minister 1972. Local government/news media Consultant/Advisor and Crisis Management. Deputy Mayor for City and County of Denver 1995 - 2000. Manager of Safety for City and Country of Denver 1994 - 2000 (Civilian manager of Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, Ex-Officio Sheriff Denver Sheriff Department. Deputy Manager/Revenue/DMV 2000 - 2003. News Broadcast Executive/news manager/Photojournalist for over 24 years 1970 - 1994. Executive Director Confianza ~ Multicultural Faith Alliance. Faith Alliance facing urban and inner city challenges and opportunities/crisis. Involved in civic policy issues & community committees and organizations.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
IRAN CONTINUES PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS -- AG PASTOR TORTURED
Here is a sad and very disturbing news story about how Christians are being persecuted and killed because of their Christian beliefs in Iran. I trust you will remember this story the next time you hear someone call for "understanding and tolerance," for people who may have different core values and religious beliefs.
At some point, we must stand fast and remain loyal to our beliefs and the core religious values that separate us from the vicious and hate filled people who would rather create confusion, fear and not care about destroying the lives of Christians. Pastor Wilson Issavi stands as the Daniel of the 21st century. Pastor Issavi needs our prayers for protection and deliverance from the evil rulers of Iran.
Blessings/Bendiciones,
Butch Montoya
**IRAN CONTINUES PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS -- AG PASTOR TORTURED
Wilson Issavi, 65, pastor of The Evangelical Church of Kermanshah (Assemblies of God) in Isfahan, Iran, was arrested on February 2, 2010, by Iranian State Security shortly after he concluded a house meeting. According to Farsi Christian News Network, Issavi's wife, Medline Nazanin, says her imprisoned husband is currently in poor condition and shows obvious signs of torture.
The Iranian government has accused Issavi of "converting Muslims" a crime punishable by death under Islamic law and is holding him in an unmarked prison. Iranian intelligence officials told Nazanin her husband may be executed for his alleged actions.
"There's no casual Christianity in Iran," states Omar Belier, AG World Missions regional director for Eurasia. "Faith in Christ can result in some form of persecution, with imprisonment and even death being possible. These brothers and sisters in Christ desperately need our prayers not only for protection, but for the Holy Spirit to continue to move in that land and transform lives."
Isfahan, located about 200 miles south of Tehran, currently appears to be targeted by the Iranian government. Several Christian and other religious leaders have been arrested since Issavi was taken captive some whose whereabouts are still unknown.
Issavi's church, which has been active for 50 years, focused on ministering to the local Assyrian community. However, it was shut down by the government in early January. Since that time, Issavi had been conducting services in homes around Isfahan.
According to the 2009 International Religious Freedom report issued by the U.S. Department of State, there are an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Assyrian Christians living in Iran and an estimated 300,000 Christians overall. However, that estimate appears to be shrinking on a daily basis as persecution increases.
In the testimony of Leonard Leo, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that was given before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on February 25, 2010, USCIRF continues to recommend Iran be named a "country of particular concern" (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedoms. Iran has earned this dubious distinction every year since the creation of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
According to Leo, "Since 2005, the Iranian government has intensified its campaign against non-Muslim religious minorities. A consistent stream of virulent and inflammatory statements by political and religious leaders and an increase in harassment and imprisonment of, and physical attacks against, these groups indicate a renewal of the kind of oppression seen in the years immediately following the Iranian Revolution in the late 1970s.
"Christians, particularly Evangelical and other Protestants, in Iran continue to be subject to harassment, arrests, close surveillance and imprisonment," Leo testified, "many [Christians] are reported to have fled the country."
On a note of another concern, Leo reported that "official policies promoting anti-Semitism are on the rise in Iran." Stating that the Iranian president and other top political and clerical leaders have publicly denied the existence of the Holocaust, Leo says that the government even sponsored a Holocaust denial conference.
Following the testimony, Leo and the USCIRF urged the U.S. government to take further action against Iranian government officials who have engaged in particularly "severe religious freedom violations."
To read the full report, visit:
http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2997
--AG News
At some point, we must stand fast and remain loyal to our beliefs and the core religious values that separate us from the vicious and hate filled people who would rather create confusion, fear and not care about destroying the lives of Christians. Pastor Wilson Issavi stands as the Daniel of the 21st century. Pastor Issavi needs our prayers for protection and deliverance from the evil rulers of Iran.
Blessings/Bendiciones,
Butch Montoya
**IRAN CONTINUES PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS -- AG PASTOR TORTURED
Wilson Issavi, 65, pastor of The Evangelical Church of Kermanshah (Assemblies of God) in Isfahan, Iran, was arrested on February 2, 2010, by Iranian State Security shortly after he concluded a house meeting. According to Farsi Christian News Network, Issavi's wife, Medline Nazanin, says her imprisoned husband is currently in poor condition and shows obvious signs of torture.
The Iranian government has accused Issavi of "converting Muslims" a crime punishable by death under Islamic law and is holding him in an unmarked prison. Iranian intelligence officials told Nazanin her husband may be executed for his alleged actions.
"There's no casual Christianity in Iran," states Omar Belier, AG World Missions regional director for Eurasia. "Faith in Christ can result in some form of persecution, with imprisonment and even death being possible. These brothers and sisters in Christ desperately need our prayers not only for protection, but for the Holy Spirit to continue to move in that land and transform lives."
Isfahan, located about 200 miles south of Tehran, currently appears to be targeted by the Iranian government. Several Christian and other religious leaders have been arrested since Issavi was taken captive some whose whereabouts are still unknown.
Issavi's church, which has been active for 50 years, focused on ministering to the local Assyrian community. However, it was shut down by the government in early January. Since that time, Issavi had been conducting services in homes around Isfahan.
According to the 2009 International Religious Freedom report issued by the U.S. Department of State, there are an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Assyrian Christians living in Iran and an estimated 300,000 Christians overall. However, that estimate appears to be shrinking on a daily basis as persecution increases.
In the testimony of Leonard Leo, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that was given before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on February 25, 2010, USCIRF continues to recommend Iran be named a "country of particular concern" (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedoms. Iran has earned this dubious distinction every year since the creation of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
According to Leo, "Since 2005, the Iranian government has intensified its campaign against non-Muslim religious minorities. A consistent stream of virulent and inflammatory statements by political and religious leaders and an increase in harassment and imprisonment of, and physical attacks against, these groups indicate a renewal of the kind of oppression seen in the years immediately following the Iranian Revolution in the late 1970s.
"Christians, particularly Evangelical and other Protestants, in Iran continue to be subject to harassment, arrests, close surveillance and imprisonment," Leo testified, "many [Christians] are reported to have fled the country."
On a note of another concern, Leo reported that "official policies promoting anti-Semitism are on the rise in Iran." Stating that the Iranian president and other top political and clerical leaders have publicly denied the existence of the Holocaust, Leo says that the government even sponsored a Holocaust denial conference.
Following the testimony, Leo and the USCIRF urged the U.S. government to take further action against Iranian government officials who have engaged in particularly "severe religious freedom violations."
To read the full report, visit:
http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2997
--AG News
Executive Director of Latino Faith Initiative ~ H.S. Power & Light Ministries. Share commentary and information on issues of the day challenging and calling to action pastors and faith leaders to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Address concerns of justice and righteousness for the poor and marginalized. Strong advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Licensed Minister 1972. Local government/news media Consultant/Advisor and Crisis Management. Deputy Mayor for City and County of Denver 1995 - 2000. Manager of Safety for City and Country of Denver 1994 - 2000 (Civilian manager of Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, Ex-Officio Sheriff Denver Sheriff Department. Deputy Manager/Revenue/DMV 2000 - 2003. News Broadcast Executive/news manager/Photojournalist for over 24 years 1970 - 1994. Executive Director Confianza ~ Multicultural Faith Alliance. Faith Alliance facing urban and inner city challenges and opportunities/crisis. Involved in civic policy issues & community committees and organizations.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
"Fool me once...shame on - shame on you"
by Fidel "Butch" Montoya
"But one thing they never believed in their wildest dreams is that President Obama would have a record like this, where he surpassed the Bush administration in deportations,” Wilkes said. “It is unconscionable to have over 387,000 deported in the first year of an Obama presidency, and our community is angry.”
These are the words of Brent Wilkes, executive national director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, who recalled the words of candidate Obama who promised to include immigration reform in his first year as President.
Not only has LUCAC, one of our country’s most respected Latino civil rights groups, been deceived, but more and more Latinos are coming to the realization that Candidate Obama is not President Obama. Candidate Obama promised to push reform, and President Obama has forgotten his promise.
It is hard to believe that under the Obama Administration, more families of undocumented immigrants have been separated and deported. On any given day, more than 32,000 immigrants are in detention under President Obama.
For a community that believed Candidate Obama, and supported him with over 70% of their votes, the Latino community has been sorely disappointed and hurt by the promises made by Barack Obama while he was a candidate.
Over 5.5 million U. S. citizen children have at least one parent who is undocumented immigrant. The Obama Administration is responsible for more undocumented immigrants being detained and deported while creating families that are now separated facing undo hardship and heartache.
The Obama Administration has no shame when it comes to destroying families by deporting them, but what is worst, is the number of undocumented immigrants who have committed no crime other than a civil violation of illegally crossing the border. Undocumented immigrants are being held for a civil violation no more serious than running a red light or failure to stop at a stop sign.
Pramila Jayapal, the executive director of the Seattle-based OneAmerica Group believes the Obama Administration “seems proud to out-enforce the Bush Administration.” Why has President Obama taken a hard line on enforcement when he promised to address this issue in his first year as President and to do it in a more humane fashion?
We were deceived by Candidate Obama when he promised to deal more humanely with the issue of undocumented families being separated, detained, and deported. In fact, during the last year of the Bush Administration, his administration deported 120,000 less undocumented immigrants than the total 387,000 deported by President Obama in his first year.
Wilkes says our community is angry about being lied to about the immigration policy Candidate Obama promised he would follow as President. His Administration has been far more enforcement heavy than any Latino civil rights group could have imagined. But is being angry enough?
Under pressure of the March 21st demonstration planned for Washington, D.C., President Obama finally met with New York Senator Chuck Schumer and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham about the federal legislation they are working on.
While this was a good PR move, no one seems to know what the Schumer/Graham immigration reform legislation will look like. Will this be a case where immigration reformers are so desperate to see a reform bill go forward that they will accept whatever Schumer/Graham proposes?
Much like the Gutiérrez CIR-ASAP bill which many Latino immigration reform activists claim is enforcement heavy and have refused to support. Will this be the same situation with the Schumer/Graham attempt at immigration reform as well?
How can we support federal legislation on comprehensive immigration reform if we don’t know what is in the bill?
As the thousands gather for the March 21st Comprehensive Immigration Reform demonstration in Washington, D.C., let’s hope they don’t endorse any federal legislation that Schumer/Graham and President Obama propose unless we have had an opportunity to weigh in on the specifics of the bill.
Just because we want comprehensive immigration reform now, doesn’t mean we should accept anything handed to us. For those who attend the March 21st demonstration, go slow….and let’s make sure we don’t accept “just any immigration bill” just because we are desperate for reform.
After the promises made by Candidate Obama, let’s make sure we do not just accept his word anymore. We need to make sure our concerns and issues are included in any federal legislation on comprehensive immigration reform and we do that by making sure our fingerprints are all over any proposed reform bill.
What did President Bush say once? “There’s an old saying in Tennessee – I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee – that says, fool me once, shame on – shame on you. Fool me – you can’t get fooled again.”
We know what he meant.
**************************************************************************
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972
"But one thing they never believed in their wildest dreams is that President Obama would have a record like this, where he surpassed the Bush administration in deportations,” Wilkes said. “It is unconscionable to have over 387,000 deported in the first year of an Obama presidency, and our community is angry.”
These are the words of Brent Wilkes, executive national director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, who recalled the words of candidate Obama who promised to include immigration reform in his first year as President.
Not only has LUCAC, one of our country’s most respected Latino civil rights groups, been deceived, but more and more Latinos are coming to the realization that Candidate Obama is not President Obama. Candidate Obama promised to push reform, and President Obama has forgotten his promise.
It is hard to believe that under the Obama Administration, more families of undocumented immigrants have been separated and deported. On any given day, more than 32,000 immigrants are in detention under President Obama.
For a community that believed Candidate Obama, and supported him with over 70% of their votes, the Latino community has been sorely disappointed and hurt by the promises made by Barack Obama while he was a candidate.
Over 5.5 million U. S. citizen children have at least one parent who is undocumented immigrant. The Obama Administration is responsible for more undocumented immigrants being detained and deported while creating families that are now separated facing undo hardship and heartache.
The Obama Administration has no shame when it comes to destroying families by deporting them, but what is worst, is the number of undocumented immigrants who have committed no crime other than a civil violation of illegally crossing the border. Undocumented immigrants are being held for a civil violation no more serious than running a red light or failure to stop at a stop sign.
Pramila Jayapal, the executive director of the Seattle-based OneAmerica Group believes the Obama Administration “seems proud to out-enforce the Bush Administration.” Why has President Obama taken a hard line on enforcement when he promised to address this issue in his first year as President and to do it in a more humane fashion?
We were deceived by Candidate Obama when he promised to deal more humanely with the issue of undocumented families being separated, detained, and deported. In fact, during the last year of the Bush Administration, his administration deported 120,000 less undocumented immigrants than the total 387,000 deported by President Obama in his first year.
Wilkes says our community is angry about being lied to about the immigration policy Candidate Obama promised he would follow as President. His Administration has been far more enforcement heavy than any Latino civil rights group could have imagined. But is being angry enough?
Under pressure of the March 21st demonstration planned for Washington, D.C., President Obama finally met with New York Senator Chuck Schumer and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham about the federal legislation they are working on.
While this was a good PR move, no one seems to know what the Schumer/Graham immigration reform legislation will look like. Will this be a case where immigration reformers are so desperate to see a reform bill go forward that they will accept whatever Schumer/Graham proposes?
Much like the Gutiérrez CIR-ASAP bill which many Latino immigration reform activists claim is enforcement heavy and have refused to support. Will this be the same situation with the Schumer/Graham attempt at immigration reform as well?
How can we support federal legislation on comprehensive immigration reform if we don’t know what is in the bill?
As the thousands gather for the March 21st Comprehensive Immigration Reform demonstration in Washington, D.C., let’s hope they don’t endorse any federal legislation that Schumer/Graham and President Obama propose unless we have had an opportunity to weigh in on the specifics of the bill.
Just because we want comprehensive immigration reform now, doesn’t mean we should accept anything handed to us. For those who attend the March 21st demonstration, go slow….and let’s make sure we don’t accept “just any immigration bill” just because we are desperate for reform.
After the promises made by Candidate Obama, let’s make sure we do not just accept his word anymore. We need to make sure our concerns and issues are included in any federal legislation on comprehensive immigration reform and we do that by making sure our fingerprints are all over any proposed reform bill.
What did President Bush say once? “There’s an old saying in Tennessee – I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee – that says, fool me once, shame on – shame on you. Fool me – you can’t get fooled again.”
We know what he meant.
**************************************************************************
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972
Executive Director of Latino Faith Initiative ~ H.S. Power & Light Ministries. Share commentary and information on issues of the day challenging and calling to action pastors and faith leaders to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Address concerns of justice and righteousness for the poor and marginalized. Strong advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Licensed Minister 1972. Local government/news media Consultant/Advisor and Crisis Management. Deputy Mayor for City and County of Denver 1995 - 2000. Manager of Safety for City and Country of Denver 1994 - 2000 (Civilian manager of Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, Ex-Officio Sheriff Denver Sheriff Department. Deputy Manager/Revenue/DMV 2000 - 2003. News Broadcast Executive/news manager/Photojournalist for over 24 years 1970 - 1994. Executive Director Confianza ~ Multicultural Faith Alliance. Faith Alliance facing urban and inner city challenges and opportunities/crisis. Involved in civic policy issues & community committees and organizations.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Immigration Reform Losing Steam?
By Fidel "Butch" Montoya
While it appears the immigration reform movement has stalled in Washington, there are some who claim that the immigration reform movement is actually getting stronger, while others will argue that the movement is not as organized and united as some allege. The fact is that the reform movement across the country is losing steam and taking second place to the unemployment crisis in the Latino community.
When people cannot put beard and butter on the table for their own families, the urgent need for one's own survival becomes the priority. It is unfortunate, but the veracity of the Great Recession is a fact for many Latino families. Immigration reform while an crucial issue for the Latino community, it is taking a back seat when the issues become foreclosure, need for food and ability to pay one's bills such as light, water, and heat.
“An estimated 1.3 million Latino families will lose their homes to foreclosure between 2009 and 2012,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of the NCLR. In a NCLR report, it outlines how foreclosures are affecting the stability of Latino homeowners, and the long term effects of losing one’s home in the Latino community. “This represents a shocking loss of wealth and a major blow to community stability. This study brings to light the human and social costs of foreclosure and the urgent need for stronger government intervention to help homeowners, including those who are unemployed.” NCLR reports that 8 million homeowners are behind in their mortgage payments and about 400,000 Latino families were expected to lose their homes to foreclosure as of 2009.
The extremely cold and wet winter so far this year is also taking its toll on many Latino families. Winter has been particularly hard on those workers who are dependent on jobs that have been adversely affected by the wintery storms that have hit across the USA. Those who depend on hourly pay have been the hardest hit by the long winter.
Just two weeks ago, Keith Hall, commissioner of the US Labor of Bureau Statistics reported to the Congress that although the unemployment rate in January was 9.7 percent, that statistic in fact is masking the high unemployment in other areas. Since the start of the Great Recession in December of 2007, over 8 million jobs have been lost. Financial pundits are now saying it is going to take five or more years to create new jobs to replace those lost.
While many financial analysts tried to paint a positive picture, claiming that the unemployment rate was dropping....10 percent to 9.7 percent, it is hard to find any positive news in the US Labor of Bureau Statistics report when in fact the Latino community continues to face high unemployment rates. The report stated in very clear terms that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Latino households compared to non-Latino Whites continued to push double digits. For Latino households, unemployment was estimated at 12.6 percent compared to 8.7 percent for non-Latino Whites.
In one startling statistic, the high unemployment rate in the Latino community shows the severity of the effects of the Great Recession. The report stated that 2,849,000 Latinos remained unemployed in January 2010 and that these people "represented 30.6 percent of the total unemployed in the US." If that one statistic does not demonstrate why immigration reform is rapidly losing its place as the priority issue facing the Latino community, some people are obviously being blinded by the facts. The growing problem of unemployment is taking a hard toll for Latino workers and their families.
In fact from January 2009 to this past January 2010, the unemployment rate for Latinos went from 9.9 percent to 12.6 percent. The unemployment breakout is equally disappointing and frightening for our community. "Among Latino adults (ages 20 and over), the unemployment rate for Latino women in January was 11.5 percent. For Latino men, the unemployment rate was 13.8 percent." For teenage Latinos, (ages 16 to 19), 37.8 percent were unemployed!
The unemployment statistic for the Black community is even worse, with 16.5 percent remaining unemployed. In fact for both Latino and Black communities, the unemployment rate no doubt will continue to go up.
The lack of job creation is one factor that is threatening any hopes for recovery in the economy. We are facing a bleak future unless the Congress can come up with a bill that will stimulate job growth. Even now, we are finding that the partisan atmosphere in Washington is killing any agreement that the Congress can stop fighting amongst themselves to work for the common good.
While one can claim that the comprehensive immigration reform movement is stronger and more organized, it is facing a much stronger opponent than the rightwing conservatives or Tea Party movement. The need to survive and keep one's family in a home that is threatened by unemployment and foreclosure is a tough foe.
With the high unemployment rate in Latino households, homes are being lost to foreclosure every day. Only this week, after months of claiming he was doing something to help families keep their homes, President Obama has come up with a billion dollar proposal to help families in mortgage trouble. For some, this effort may come too late.
There is no doubt more people are aware of the need for comprehensive immigration reform, and want to see the Congress do something to fix a very corrupt and broken system, there are still many who will not support the Gutierrez Bill, CIR-ASAP because they claim it is enforcement heavy.
In fact the Gutierrez Bill has not received the broad support from Latino activists it needs if it is going to pass in the House. Activists claim there are still many questions that need to be addressed, and many immigration reform supporters assert that Gutierrez is jamming his bill down our collective throats.
In the United States Senate, New York Senator Schumer still has not even allowed anyone to go through his proposed comprehensive immigration reform bill. No one really knows or fathoms what his immigration proposal will look like. While he claims to have received the support of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina to co-sponsor this legislation, much like the Gutierrez bill, there is no guarantee that the Latino community will support this proposed legislation.
Unfortunately the present economic situation is not going to help comprehensive immigration reform. Even with the financial study that came out a few weeks ago that claimed immigration reform would add billions of dollars to a damaged economy, too many people seem more concerned with the short term damage the economy is doing to our community than any long term solution.
When food, shelter, and financial security are threatened by unemployment, it leaves little strength to fight for immigration reform. With more Latino families living in the shadow of financial ruin and destruction, worrying about immigration reform seems farfetched. With mid-term elections coming up, issues like unemployment, foreclosure concerns, and worries about present employment are taking center stage.
Perhaps in better times, immigration reform would have been the priority issue for the Latino community, but in today's bleak economic picture, survival of one's own family is the main concern. It has nothing to do with being insensitive to the needs of so many people in our country that deserve to be treated better, and given the opportunity to legalize their status, it is a matter of just trying to survive the Great Recession.
There is no question that this country needs to fix its broken immigration system, unfortunately, when so many Latinos are worried about their own economic blight, I am afraid immigration reform will not rise to the pole position of issues facing the voters in the mid-term elections of 2010.
Timing is everything, and unfortunately for comprehensive immigration reform, with the lack of support from the President, with the House Speaker speaking out of the two sides of her mouth, with the Senate Majority Leader uncertain about his future in the Senate, and no agreeable immigration legislation introduced in the Congress, it is not going to happen this year.
As long as the threat of losing one’s job, or the prospect that one will not find a job in today’s economy, most people are focused on surviving the Great Recession. Even if most immigration reform proponents are working to force the President and the Congress to deal with comprehensive immigration reform, as long as the jobless rate continues to climb in the Latino community, reform will not happen this year.
Even though candidate Obama claimed to have comprehensive immigration reform as a priority in his first year, the reality of a poor economy has forced the President to change his priorities for the country. Unfortunately, job creation and efforts to continue to jump start our economy will take precedence, and immigration reform will lose the battle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972.
While it appears the immigration reform movement has stalled in Washington, there are some who claim that the immigration reform movement is actually getting stronger, while others will argue that the movement is not as organized and united as some allege. The fact is that the reform movement across the country is losing steam and taking second place to the unemployment crisis in the Latino community.
When people cannot put beard and butter on the table for their own families, the urgent need for one's own survival becomes the priority. It is unfortunate, but the veracity of the Great Recession is a fact for many Latino families. Immigration reform while an crucial issue for the Latino community, it is taking a back seat when the issues become foreclosure, need for food and ability to pay one's bills such as light, water, and heat.
“An estimated 1.3 million Latino families will lose their homes to foreclosure between 2009 and 2012,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of the NCLR. In a NCLR report, it outlines how foreclosures are affecting the stability of Latino homeowners, and the long term effects of losing one’s home in the Latino community. “This represents a shocking loss of wealth and a major blow to community stability. This study brings to light the human and social costs of foreclosure and the urgent need for stronger government intervention to help homeowners, including those who are unemployed.” NCLR reports that 8 million homeowners are behind in their mortgage payments and about 400,000 Latino families were expected to lose their homes to foreclosure as of 2009.
The extremely cold and wet winter so far this year is also taking its toll on many Latino families. Winter has been particularly hard on those workers who are dependent on jobs that have been adversely affected by the wintery storms that have hit across the USA. Those who depend on hourly pay have been the hardest hit by the long winter.
Just two weeks ago, Keith Hall, commissioner of the US Labor of Bureau Statistics reported to the Congress that although the unemployment rate in January was 9.7 percent, that statistic in fact is masking the high unemployment in other areas. Since the start of the Great Recession in December of 2007, over 8 million jobs have been lost. Financial pundits are now saying it is going to take five or more years to create new jobs to replace those lost.
While many financial analysts tried to paint a positive picture, claiming that the unemployment rate was dropping....10 percent to 9.7 percent, it is hard to find any positive news in the US Labor of Bureau Statistics report when in fact the Latino community continues to face high unemployment rates. The report stated in very clear terms that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Latino households compared to non-Latino Whites continued to push double digits. For Latino households, unemployment was estimated at 12.6 percent compared to 8.7 percent for non-Latino Whites.
In one startling statistic, the high unemployment rate in the Latino community shows the severity of the effects of the Great Recession. The report stated that 2,849,000 Latinos remained unemployed in January 2010 and that these people "represented 30.6 percent of the total unemployed in the US." If that one statistic does not demonstrate why immigration reform is rapidly losing its place as the priority issue facing the Latino community, some people are obviously being blinded by the facts. The growing problem of unemployment is taking a hard toll for Latino workers and their families.
In fact from January 2009 to this past January 2010, the unemployment rate for Latinos went from 9.9 percent to 12.6 percent. The unemployment breakout is equally disappointing and frightening for our community. "Among Latino adults (ages 20 and over), the unemployment rate for Latino women in January was 11.5 percent. For Latino men, the unemployment rate was 13.8 percent." For teenage Latinos, (ages 16 to 19), 37.8 percent were unemployed!
The unemployment statistic for the Black community is even worse, with 16.5 percent remaining unemployed. In fact for both Latino and Black communities, the unemployment rate no doubt will continue to go up.
The lack of job creation is one factor that is threatening any hopes for recovery in the economy. We are facing a bleak future unless the Congress can come up with a bill that will stimulate job growth. Even now, we are finding that the partisan atmosphere in Washington is killing any agreement that the Congress can stop fighting amongst themselves to work for the common good.
While one can claim that the comprehensive immigration reform movement is stronger and more organized, it is facing a much stronger opponent than the rightwing conservatives or Tea Party movement. The need to survive and keep one's family in a home that is threatened by unemployment and foreclosure is a tough foe.
With the high unemployment rate in Latino households, homes are being lost to foreclosure every day. Only this week, after months of claiming he was doing something to help families keep their homes, President Obama has come up with a billion dollar proposal to help families in mortgage trouble. For some, this effort may come too late.
There is no doubt more people are aware of the need for comprehensive immigration reform, and want to see the Congress do something to fix a very corrupt and broken system, there are still many who will not support the Gutierrez Bill, CIR-ASAP because they claim it is enforcement heavy.
In fact the Gutierrez Bill has not received the broad support from Latino activists it needs if it is going to pass in the House. Activists claim there are still many questions that need to be addressed, and many immigration reform supporters assert that Gutierrez is jamming his bill down our collective throats.
In the United States Senate, New York Senator Schumer still has not even allowed anyone to go through his proposed comprehensive immigration reform bill. No one really knows or fathoms what his immigration proposal will look like. While he claims to have received the support of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina to co-sponsor this legislation, much like the Gutierrez bill, there is no guarantee that the Latino community will support this proposed legislation.
Unfortunately the present economic situation is not going to help comprehensive immigration reform. Even with the financial study that came out a few weeks ago that claimed immigration reform would add billions of dollars to a damaged economy, too many people seem more concerned with the short term damage the economy is doing to our community than any long term solution.
When food, shelter, and financial security are threatened by unemployment, it leaves little strength to fight for immigration reform. With more Latino families living in the shadow of financial ruin and destruction, worrying about immigration reform seems farfetched. With mid-term elections coming up, issues like unemployment, foreclosure concerns, and worries about present employment are taking center stage.
Perhaps in better times, immigration reform would have been the priority issue for the Latino community, but in today's bleak economic picture, survival of one's own family is the main concern. It has nothing to do with being insensitive to the needs of so many people in our country that deserve to be treated better, and given the opportunity to legalize their status, it is a matter of just trying to survive the Great Recession.
There is no question that this country needs to fix its broken immigration system, unfortunately, when so many Latinos are worried about their own economic blight, I am afraid immigration reform will not rise to the pole position of issues facing the voters in the mid-term elections of 2010.
Timing is everything, and unfortunately for comprehensive immigration reform, with the lack of support from the President, with the House Speaker speaking out of the two sides of her mouth, with the Senate Majority Leader uncertain about his future in the Senate, and no agreeable immigration legislation introduced in the Congress, it is not going to happen this year.
As long as the threat of losing one’s job, or the prospect that one will not find a job in today’s economy, most people are focused on surviving the Great Recession. Even if most immigration reform proponents are working to force the President and the Congress to deal with comprehensive immigration reform, as long as the jobless rate continues to climb in the Latino community, reform will not happen this year.
Even though candidate Obama claimed to have comprehensive immigration reform as a priority in his first year, the reality of a poor economy has forced the President to change his priorities for the country. Unfortunately, job creation and efforts to continue to jump start our economy will take precedence, and immigration reform will lose the battle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972.
Executive Director of Latino Faith Initiative ~ H.S. Power & Light Ministries. Share commentary and information on issues of the day challenging and calling to action pastors and faith leaders to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Address concerns of justice and righteousness for the poor and marginalized. Strong advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Licensed Minister 1972. Local government/news media Consultant/Advisor and Crisis Management. Deputy Mayor for City and County of Denver 1995 - 2000. Manager of Safety for City and Country of Denver 1994 - 2000 (Civilian manager of Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, Ex-Officio Sheriff Denver Sheriff Department. Deputy Manager/Revenue/DMV 2000 - 2003. News Broadcast Executive/news manager/Photojournalist for over 24 years 1970 - 1994. Executive Director Confianza ~ Multicultural Faith Alliance. Faith Alliance facing urban and inner city challenges and opportunities/crisis. Involved in civic policy issues & community committees and organizations.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Can't We Just Pray About It?
By Fidel "Butch" Montoya
For days before the National Prayer Breakfast, many critics of this national prayer event, warned the President to stay away from this annual prayer event. Their false accusations that the leaders of the prayer breakfast, called The Fellowship were allegedly tied to legislation that calls for the imprisonment and execution of homosexuals in Uganda. Following the example of other Presidents of over a half century, President Obama chose to ignore the liberal critics and attend the National Prayer Breakfast.
President Obama has not been recognized as a religious president and often criticized for his speeches where he has down played the significance that God, or the Holy Bible have played in the founding of our nation.
During the campaign summer of 2006, candidate Obama made the following statement during a speech at a “Call to Renewal” conference held by Sojourners. “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation – at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”
The statement, “At least, not just” a Christian nation, caused uproar particularly among Evangelicals who believe our nation was founded on the Judeo-Christian moral values. Many faith leaders felt the President showed little respect for the historic moral values, including the Ten Commandments, which were observed by our forefathers who did believe in God.
As the President gathered at the National Prayer Breakfast, he tried hard to portray a President who respected the need for prayer. “I’m also here for the same reason that all of you are, for we share a recognition – one as old as time – that a willingness to believe, an openness to grace, a commitment to prayer can bring sustenance to our lives.”
As some may remember, candidate Obama threw his pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright under the church bus when Pastor Wright came under heavy criticism for preaching sermons claiming America was a racist nation. In one of his sermons on racism, Wright had called out “God d*** America! The only problem, the sermons were sometimes as old as six or seven years old.
Reporters took Wright’s sermons out of context and in order to distance himself from the controversy, candidate Obama disassociated himself from his pastor and spiritual advisor of over twenty years. Obviously, the fact candidate Obama disassociated himself so easily from his longtime spiritual advisor, gave Evangelicals little respect for a man who demonstrated how little spiritual back bone he may have processed.
Even today, many Evangelicals doubt and continue to mistrust President Obama as to whether or not he is really a man of prayer and if he possesses any strong spiritual values linked to his character.
At the prayer breakfast, Obama admitted the value and his need for prayer. “There is, of course, a need for prayer even in times of joy and peace and prosperity. Perhaps especially in such times prayer is needed -- to guard against pride and to guard against complacency. But rightly or wrongly, most of us are inclined to seek out the divine not in the moment when the Lord makes His face shine upon us, but in moments when God's grace can seem farthest away.”
It seemed like a stark admission coming from someone who had so quickly turned his back on the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. For the record, I don’t believe it was fair for the news media to take the sermons out of context and then act as if Wright was a preacher bent on destroying our nation.
It seems highly reasonable to me that it was the sin of racism in this land that not only frustrated and hardened those activists and clergy members who led the Civil Rights Movement along with Dr. Martin Luther King, and who fought for freedom from racism and bigotry. Imagine if they had refrained from condemning racism and racists in our country.
But at the prayer breakfast, beyond trying to repair his poor record of church attendance as President, he also chose to convince the nation that he was truly a President who relied on prayer and a belief in the supernatural to sustain his faith.
There was no doubt President Obama who has felt the pressure from his critics that he has not always hit the right tones on faith, and spirituality, was at the National Prayer Breakfast to make a bigger point on condemning the lack of civility not only in the Halls of Congress, but on Main Street USA.
“Empowered by faith, consistently, prayerfully, we need to find our way back to civility. That begins with stepping out of our comfort zones in an effort to bridge divisions. We see that in many conservative pastors who are helping lead the way to fix our broken immigration system. It's not what would be expected from them, and yet they recognize, in those immigrant families, the face of God.
We see that in the evangelical leaders who are rallying their congregations to protect our planet. We see it in the increasing recognition among progressives that government can't solve all of our problems, and that talking about values like responsible fatherhood and healthy marriage are integral to any anti-poverty agenda. Stretching out of our dogmas, our prescribed roles along the political spectrum that can help us regain a sense of civility.”
President Obama went on to say, “Civility also requires relearning how to disagree without being disagreeable; understanding, as President [Kennedy] said, that "civility is not a sign of weakness." Now, I am the first to confess I am not always right. Michelle will testify to that. But surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith, or, for that matter, my citizenship.”
“Challenging each other's ideas can renew our democracy. But when we challenge each other's motives, it becomes harder to see what we hold in common. We forget that we share at some deep level the same dreams -- even when we don't share the same plans on how to fulfill them.”
It was clear the President was not about to lose this opportunity, in spite of his liberal devotees demanding that he not show up at the National Prayer Breakfast, to make his case for civility and for making the point that he recognized the need for all of us to work together for the common good.
He made his case for civility and desire to work together with the “party of no,” and others who have not only criticized the President’s agenda, but who have often taken to challenge the President to the point of calling into question his citizenship and desire to be a good President.
It was clear that Obama sensed this was the time to call upon all Americans to stop consorting with one another to destroy the very nature of our county and public narrative needed to restore our country to its destiny.
“It is this spirit of civility that we are called to take up when we leave here today. That's what I'm praying for. I know in difficult times like these -- when people are frustrated, when pundits start shouting and politicians start calling each other names -- it can seem like a return to civility is not possible, like the very idea is a relic of some bygone era. The word itself seems quaint -- civility.
But let us remember those who came before; those who believed in the brotherhood of man even when such a faith was tested. Remember Dr. Martin Luther King. Not long after an explosion ripped through his front porch, his wife and infant daughter inside, he rose to that pulpit in Montgomery and said, "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."
To the critics of the President attending this year’s National Prayer Breakfast, they obviously were very wrong to discourage the President from making an appearance and making a bold speech on the need for this country to come together to tackle the very issues that have caused division, hate, discord, and lack of ability to work out our differences.
“Surely we can agree to find common ground when possible, parting ways when necessary. But in doing so, let us be guided by our faith, and by prayer. For while prayer can buck us up when we are down, keep us calm in a storm; while prayer can stiffen our spines to surmount an obstacle -- and I assure you I'm praying a lot these days -- prayer can also do something else. It can touch our hearts with humility. It can fill us with a spirit of brotherhood. It can remind us that each of us are children of a awesome and loving God.”
Mr. President, I will extend my hand to yours and to others who together sense the urgent need to open our hearts and recognize for our country to retain its role as a spiritual leader in the world, our faith and purpose depends not only upon our common humanity, but on our need to be guided by our personal faith and our prayers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972.
For days before the National Prayer Breakfast, many critics of this national prayer event, warned the President to stay away from this annual prayer event. Their false accusations that the leaders of the prayer breakfast, called The Fellowship were allegedly tied to legislation that calls for the imprisonment and execution of homosexuals in Uganda. Following the example of other Presidents of over a half century, President Obama chose to ignore the liberal critics and attend the National Prayer Breakfast.
President Obama has not been recognized as a religious president and often criticized for his speeches where he has down played the significance that God, or the Holy Bible have played in the founding of our nation.
During the campaign summer of 2006, candidate Obama made the following statement during a speech at a “Call to Renewal” conference held by Sojourners. “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation – at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”
The statement, “At least, not just” a Christian nation, caused uproar particularly among Evangelicals who believe our nation was founded on the Judeo-Christian moral values. Many faith leaders felt the President showed little respect for the historic moral values, including the Ten Commandments, which were observed by our forefathers who did believe in God.
As the President gathered at the National Prayer Breakfast, he tried hard to portray a President who respected the need for prayer. “I’m also here for the same reason that all of you are, for we share a recognition – one as old as time – that a willingness to believe, an openness to grace, a commitment to prayer can bring sustenance to our lives.”
As some may remember, candidate Obama threw his pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright under the church bus when Pastor Wright came under heavy criticism for preaching sermons claiming America was a racist nation. In one of his sermons on racism, Wright had called out “God d*** America! The only problem, the sermons were sometimes as old as six or seven years old.
Reporters took Wright’s sermons out of context and in order to distance himself from the controversy, candidate Obama disassociated himself from his pastor and spiritual advisor of over twenty years. Obviously, the fact candidate Obama disassociated himself so easily from his longtime spiritual advisor, gave Evangelicals little respect for a man who demonstrated how little spiritual back bone he may have processed.
Even today, many Evangelicals doubt and continue to mistrust President Obama as to whether or not he is really a man of prayer and if he possesses any strong spiritual values linked to his character.
At the prayer breakfast, Obama admitted the value and his need for prayer. “There is, of course, a need for prayer even in times of joy and peace and prosperity. Perhaps especially in such times prayer is needed -- to guard against pride and to guard against complacency. But rightly or wrongly, most of us are inclined to seek out the divine not in the moment when the Lord makes His face shine upon us, but in moments when God's grace can seem farthest away.”
It seemed like a stark admission coming from someone who had so quickly turned his back on the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. For the record, I don’t believe it was fair for the news media to take the sermons out of context and then act as if Wright was a preacher bent on destroying our nation.
It seems highly reasonable to me that it was the sin of racism in this land that not only frustrated and hardened those activists and clergy members who led the Civil Rights Movement along with Dr. Martin Luther King, and who fought for freedom from racism and bigotry. Imagine if they had refrained from condemning racism and racists in our country.
But at the prayer breakfast, beyond trying to repair his poor record of church attendance as President, he also chose to convince the nation that he was truly a President who relied on prayer and a belief in the supernatural to sustain his faith.
There was no doubt President Obama who has felt the pressure from his critics that he has not always hit the right tones on faith, and spirituality, was at the National Prayer Breakfast to make a bigger point on condemning the lack of civility not only in the Halls of Congress, but on Main Street USA.
“Empowered by faith, consistently, prayerfully, we need to find our way back to civility. That begins with stepping out of our comfort zones in an effort to bridge divisions. We see that in many conservative pastors who are helping lead the way to fix our broken immigration system. It's not what would be expected from them, and yet they recognize, in those immigrant families, the face of God.
We see that in the evangelical leaders who are rallying their congregations to protect our planet. We see it in the increasing recognition among progressives that government can't solve all of our problems, and that talking about values like responsible fatherhood and healthy marriage are integral to any anti-poverty agenda. Stretching out of our dogmas, our prescribed roles along the political spectrum that can help us regain a sense of civility.”
President Obama went on to say, “Civility also requires relearning how to disagree without being disagreeable; understanding, as President [Kennedy] said, that "civility is not a sign of weakness." Now, I am the first to confess I am not always right. Michelle will testify to that. But surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith, or, for that matter, my citizenship.”
“Challenging each other's ideas can renew our democracy. But when we challenge each other's motives, it becomes harder to see what we hold in common. We forget that we share at some deep level the same dreams -- even when we don't share the same plans on how to fulfill them.”
It was clear the President was not about to lose this opportunity, in spite of his liberal devotees demanding that he not show up at the National Prayer Breakfast, to make his case for civility and for making the point that he recognized the need for all of us to work together for the common good.
He made his case for civility and desire to work together with the “party of no,” and others who have not only criticized the President’s agenda, but who have often taken to challenge the President to the point of calling into question his citizenship and desire to be a good President.
It was clear that Obama sensed this was the time to call upon all Americans to stop consorting with one another to destroy the very nature of our county and public narrative needed to restore our country to its destiny.
“It is this spirit of civility that we are called to take up when we leave here today. That's what I'm praying for. I know in difficult times like these -- when people are frustrated, when pundits start shouting and politicians start calling each other names -- it can seem like a return to civility is not possible, like the very idea is a relic of some bygone era. The word itself seems quaint -- civility.
But let us remember those who came before; those who believed in the brotherhood of man even when such a faith was tested. Remember Dr. Martin Luther King. Not long after an explosion ripped through his front porch, his wife and infant daughter inside, he rose to that pulpit in Montgomery and said, "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."
To the critics of the President attending this year’s National Prayer Breakfast, they obviously were very wrong to discourage the President from making an appearance and making a bold speech on the need for this country to come together to tackle the very issues that have caused division, hate, discord, and lack of ability to work out our differences.
“Surely we can agree to find common ground when possible, parting ways when necessary. But in doing so, let us be guided by our faith, and by prayer. For while prayer can buck us up when we are down, keep us calm in a storm; while prayer can stiffen our spines to surmount an obstacle -- and I assure you I'm praying a lot these days -- prayer can also do something else. It can touch our hearts with humility. It can fill us with a spirit of brotherhood. It can remind us that each of us are children of a awesome and loving God.”
Mr. President, I will extend my hand to yours and to others who together sense the urgent need to open our hearts and recognize for our country to retain its role as a spiritual leader in the world, our faith and purpose depends not only upon our common humanity, but on our need to be guided by our personal faith and our prayers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972.
Executive Director of Latino Faith Initiative ~ H.S. Power & Light Ministries. Share commentary and information on issues of the day challenging and calling to action pastors and faith leaders to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Address concerns of justice and righteousness for the poor and marginalized. Strong advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Licensed Minister 1972. Local government/news media Consultant/Advisor and Crisis Management. Deputy Mayor for City and County of Denver 1995 - 2000. Manager of Safety for City and Country of Denver 1994 - 2000 (Civilian manager of Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, Ex-Officio Sheriff Denver Sheriff Department. Deputy Manager/Revenue/DMV 2000 - 2003. News Broadcast Executive/news manager/Photojournalist for over 24 years 1970 - 1994. Executive Director Confianza ~ Multicultural Faith Alliance. Faith Alliance facing urban and inner city challenges and opportunities/crisis. Involved in civic policy issues & community committees and organizations.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Immigration Reform - Not in 2010
By Fidel "Butch" Montoya
With the election of Republican Scott Brown to the Senate and the fallout from the election still raining down, almost lost in the news of the week was the fact that South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham agreed to join New York Democrat Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Schumer in the fight for immigration. As a Republican, Graham is committed to tackling many of the difficult issues facing our country.
For a Republican to admit he is willing to work with Liberal New York Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer on passing comprehensive immigration reform, that is news. Non-partisan politics in this day and age is almost unheard of, in spite of the promise that candidate Obama made to work together with the other party.
Having a conservative Republican join a liberal Democrat, coming together to work on immigration reform, sets the stage for the formula for passage of comprehensive immigration reform.
Immigration leaders issued a statement refuting the fact that Brown’s election to the Senate dealt a death knoll to immigration reform. “Many naysayers and peddlers of conventional wisdom have already begun to write the obituary for President Obama’s agenda, including comprehensive immigration reform. But their thinking is exactly wrong. Unlike health care, comprehensive immigration reform has traditionally garnered bi-partisan support, and a path to victory in the United States Senate will require votes from both sides of the aisle.”
If there is any hope at all of passing comprehensive immigration reform, it is going to take members of the GOP joining Democrats who may have the will to pass reform. As we have seen from this democratically controlled Congress, being a Democrat does not mean one will vote for health care, much less immigration.
Passing comprehensive immigration reform is going to take strong Republicans and Democrats wanting to see justice and righteousness prevail.
Most polling indicates there is consensus that immigration reform should be addressed by the Congress. According to the Benenson Strategy Group, there is a strong support for passing comprehensive immigration reform, including from Republican voters.
The two top most pressing issues that Republicans feel the Congress should deal with are the economy and health care. 63% of Republican voters say the economy is the number one issue. Health care came in second with 54% of Republicans saying it was important.
With the issue of immigration, only 6% thought it was an issue Congress should tackle. It still rated higher than abortion, energy, or crime. When asked if Congress should pass comprehensive immigration reform, 62% of Republicans said yes, with only 26% saying no.
You would think with the findings of the Benenson Strategy Group, Democrats in the Congress would motivate the two parties to join together to share the findings of what seems like a workable partnership.
Even 88% of Republicans say that they support granting citizenship to immigrants as long as they met several conditions to be eligible for becoming citizens. This means “amnesty” to the fire brand racists and fear mongers in our country.
Yet, in spite of the political landscape that seems favorable to passing immigration reform, there is a lot of uncertainty as to whether or not reform can actually pass out of the Congress.
Latino Congressional leaders are trying to put the best face on the prospects of getting a reform bill through the Congress. With mid-term elections coming up, immigration still lurks out there as one of the most emotional and divisive issues facing our country.
With the economy on life support, the issue of immigration still fires up the fear of allowing 12 million immigrants to become citizens would mean fewer jobs for Americans. The fear that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs that Americans want to do.
Already blamed for contributing to the Great Recession, undocumented immigrants find themselves victims of the economy, losing hope for their families and dreams of a better future. But even with growing evidence that shows immigration reform would have a positive impact on the economy, the questions about passage persist.
The Center for American Progress and the Immigrants Policy Institute, issued a study, “Raising the Floor for American Workers: The Economic Benefits of comprehensive Immigration Reform,” which plainly states the path to economic recovery must include comprehensive immigration reform.
According to the study,”immigration reform would create $1.5 trillion in added GDP over ten years and newly legalized workers would increase tax revenues by up to $5.4 billion in the first three years.” With such positive economic indicators, why would we not be demanding that our Congress vote for comprehensive immigration reform?
Imagine the long term financial benefits passage could have on our economy and deficit which threatens the economic future of our country. Is racism so strong in our country that we become blinded to do doing the right thing for ourselves, and undocumented immigrants?
Unprecedented town hall meetings across the country last week have brought together immigration proponents, faith leaders, union members, youth, educators, business leaders, and parents pushing for reform. Yet, the voices of opposition continue to grow and dim the hopes and dreams of 12 million undocumented immigrants.
Representative Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairman believes advocates for immigration reform should continue the battle in 2010, but the odds for passage this year are not good.
In an interview in Roll Call, Grijalva said, “It’s going to be ugly, but I think we need to push it. Cam we get a bill? I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m ready for the fight, but I don’t know if we can win it.”
Grijalva feels Latino lawmakers have to continue pushing the issue because they cannot afford to go back home and say, “That nothing happened on the issue.” Realistically though, legislation cannot pass until 2011.
Another Congressional Hispanic Caucus member equally pessimistic about passage of immigration reform is Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). “I want to see it, but practically, I just don’t see it.”
The problem with passage this year, are the mid-term elections where the anger and frustration of voters signaled a change in the landscape in the Senate. A seat held by the Democrats for over 46 years was lost, leaving Democrats reeling in disbelief.
Until President Obama realizes that jobs are the real issue and priority facing our country, and unless immigration proponents can make the case that immigration reform will in fact benefit the economy, fear and racism will win out…again. Cuellar says Democrats in swing districts could end up being hurt by voting for such a controversial issue as immigration reform.
So while news was being made about the changes in the Senate and what it may mean to the President’s agenda, the good news about how comprehensive immigration reform could have the most significant positive change on our economy, it all has become lost again because the old issues of hate, fear, racism, and stupidity have free rein.
And the odds of comprehensive immigration reform passing in 2010? Don't hold your breath.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972.
With the election of Republican Scott Brown to the Senate and the fallout from the election still raining down, almost lost in the news of the week was the fact that South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham agreed to join New York Democrat Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Schumer in the fight for immigration. As a Republican, Graham is committed to tackling many of the difficult issues facing our country.
For a Republican to admit he is willing to work with Liberal New York Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer on passing comprehensive immigration reform, that is news. Non-partisan politics in this day and age is almost unheard of, in spite of the promise that candidate Obama made to work together with the other party.
Having a conservative Republican join a liberal Democrat, coming together to work on immigration reform, sets the stage for the formula for passage of comprehensive immigration reform.
Immigration leaders issued a statement refuting the fact that Brown’s election to the Senate dealt a death knoll to immigration reform. “Many naysayers and peddlers of conventional wisdom have already begun to write the obituary for President Obama’s agenda, including comprehensive immigration reform. But their thinking is exactly wrong. Unlike health care, comprehensive immigration reform has traditionally garnered bi-partisan support, and a path to victory in the United States Senate will require votes from both sides of the aisle.”
If there is any hope at all of passing comprehensive immigration reform, it is going to take members of the GOP joining Democrats who may have the will to pass reform. As we have seen from this democratically controlled Congress, being a Democrat does not mean one will vote for health care, much less immigration.
Passing comprehensive immigration reform is going to take strong Republicans and Democrats wanting to see justice and righteousness prevail.
Most polling indicates there is consensus that immigration reform should be addressed by the Congress. According to the Benenson Strategy Group, there is a strong support for passing comprehensive immigration reform, including from Republican voters.
The two top most pressing issues that Republicans feel the Congress should deal with are the economy and health care. 63% of Republican voters say the economy is the number one issue. Health care came in second with 54% of Republicans saying it was important.
With the issue of immigration, only 6% thought it was an issue Congress should tackle. It still rated higher than abortion, energy, or crime. When asked if Congress should pass comprehensive immigration reform, 62% of Republicans said yes, with only 26% saying no.
You would think with the findings of the Benenson Strategy Group, Democrats in the Congress would motivate the two parties to join together to share the findings of what seems like a workable partnership.
Even 88% of Republicans say that they support granting citizenship to immigrants as long as they met several conditions to be eligible for becoming citizens. This means “amnesty” to the fire brand racists and fear mongers in our country.
Yet, in spite of the political landscape that seems favorable to passing immigration reform, there is a lot of uncertainty as to whether or not reform can actually pass out of the Congress.
Latino Congressional leaders are trying to put the best face on the prospects of getting a reform bill through the Congress. With mid-term elections coming up, immigration still lurks out there as one of the most emotional and divisive issues facing our country.
With the economy on life support, the issue of immigration still fires up the fear of allowing 12 million immigrants to become citizens would mean fewer jobs for Americans. The fear that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs that Americans want to do.
Already blamed for contributing to the Great Recession, undocumented immigrants find themselves victims of the economy, losing hope for their families and dreams of a better future. But even with growing evidence that shows immigration reform would have a positive impact on the economy, the questions about passage persist.
The Center for American Progress and the Immigrants Policy Institute, issued a study, “Raising the Floor for American Workers: The Economic Benefits of comprehensive Immigration Reform,” which plainly states the path to economic recovery must include comprehensive immigration reform.
According to the study,”immigration reform would create $1.5 trillion in added GDP over ten years and newly legalized workers would increase tax revenues by up to $5.4 billion in the first three years.” With such positive economic indicators, why would we not be demanding that our Congress vote for comprehensive immigration reform?
Imagine the long term financial benefits passage could have on our economy and deficit which threatens the economic future of our country. Is racism so strong in our country that we become blinded to do doing the right thing for ourselves, and undocumented immigrants?
Unprecedented town hall meetings across the country last week have brought together immigration proponents, faith leaders, union members, youth, educators, business leaders, and parents pushing for reform. Yet, the voices of opposition continue to grow and dim the hopes and dreams of 12 million undocumented immigrants.
Representative Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairman believes advocates for immigration reform should continue the battle in 2010, but the odds for passage this year are not good.
In an interview in Roll Call, Grijalva said, “It’s going to be ugly, but I think we need to push it. Cam we get a bill? I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m ready for the fight, but I don’t know if we can win it.”
Grijalva feels Latino lawmakers have to continue pushing the issue because they cannot afford to go back home and say, “That nothing happened on the issue.” Realistically though, legislation cannot pass until 2011.
Another Congressional Hispanic Caucus member equally pessimistic about passage of immigration reform is Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). “I want to see it, but practically, I just don’t see it.”
The problem with passage this year, are the mid-term elections where the anger and frustration of voters signaled a change in the landscape in the Senate. A seat held by the Democrats for over 46 years was lost, leaving Democrats reeling in disbelief.
Until President Obama realizes that jobs are the real issue and priority facing our country, and unless immigration proponents can make the case that immigration reform will in fact benefit the economy, fear and racism will win out…again. Cuellar says Democrats in swing districts could end up being hurt by voting for such a controversial issue as immigration reform.
So while news was being made about the changes in the Senate and what it may mean to the President’s agenda, the good news about how comprehensive immigration reform could have the most significant positive change on our economy, it all has become lost again because the old issues of hate, fear, racism, and stupidity have free rein.
And the odds of comprehensive immigration reform passing in 2010? Don't hold your breath.
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Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972.
Executive Director of Latino Faith Initiative ~ H.S. Power & Light Ministries. Share commentary and information on issues of the day challenging and calling to action pastors and faith leaders to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Address concerns of justice and righteousness for the poor and marginalized. Strong advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Licensed Minister 1972. Local government/news media Consultant/Advisor and Crisis Management. Deputy Mayor for City and County of Denver 1995 - 2000. Manager of Safety for City and Country of Denver 1994 - 2000 (Civilian manager of Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, Ex-Officio Sheriff Denver Sheriff Department. Deputy Manager/Revenue/DMV 2000 - 2003. News Broadcast Executive/news manager/Photojournalist for over 24 years 1970 - 1994. Executive Director Confianza ~ Multicultural Faith Alliance. Faith Alliance facing urban and inner city challenges and opportunities/crisis. Involved in civic policy issues & community committees and organizations.
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