There’s a Made-For-TV series I’ve been watching called Breaking Bad. The show is in its third Emmy-winning season and I’m totally addicted. The story follows a mild-mannered family man going through a bad mid-life crisis, eking out a living as a chemistry teacher in New Mexico. His life takes a turn for the worse when he is diagnosed with stage III cancer, then realizes his income is not enough to support his wife, son with Cerebral Palsy, and their newborn infant. A reckless decision finds him moonlighting his chemistry skills to cook up the highest grade Crystal Meth on the street. The narcs and drug dealers are closing in on him with each new episode.
Breaking Bad contains unspeakably violent scenes involving Mexican gangs, drug cartels, police and DEA agents. Even I am shocked that the show is airing on prime time with all of its Tarantino-like blood splatter and unbridled gore. Yes, I know, I have eclectic TV viewing habits. It’s not Dancing With The Stars. (That’s on Monday and Tuesday nights.)
So where am I going with this? The show might be fictitious, but it’s not far from the reality of our Border States struggling with illegal aliens crossing over the border, some with ties to Mexican gangs and drug cartels. Drug dealers and gangs are nefarious: Think Pablo Escobar ordering his men to brutally torture DEA agents. Escobar was Columbian and killed in 1993, back when heinous drug violence happened further south, away from the states. Today however, the Mexican drug cartels and gangs have become equally diabolical – and they’re right next-door.
But blaming Mexicans who cross the border is like expecting lobsters to be happy in a pot of boiling water. Mexico is nearly lawless today. If the tables were turned, Americans would surely be sneaking across the border into Mexico.
The Border States as well can hardly be blamed for trying to control the influx of illegal aliens when every state in the country is dealing with a bad economy, health and welfare issues, increasing crime, and high unemployment. Who can deny that the Border States have it bad?
That said, Arizona however unfortunate, is shooting first – and aiming later. Arizona’s Immigration Law, SB 1070, will create more long-term problems than solutions.
First, Arizona can thank George Bush for his Guest Worker Program that created the mess. It was he who quietly put the law into place in 2004 to secure his second term in office – relaxing the immigration restrictions as a way to win the election. Or buy the election.
Now after obediently keeping quiet for years under the Bush administration, Arizona suddenly couldn’t wait for Congress and felt a need to craft a shoddy state law that appears to be unconstitutional, violating basic civil rights and forcing Attorney General Eric Holder to consider filing suit against the state. He has no choice really; other knee-jerk states may follow Arizona’s lead.
Arizona has failed to think about the consequences: By placing all the responsibility on law enforcement to question citizens, the state is forcing police officers to be the Arizona Gestapo. Have they given any thought to the welfare and safety of the officers? How much support is Arizona giving them really, if the practice is unconstitutional and might not stand up in court? That’s a state-load of responsibility to place on front line police.
If the boycotts and protests aren’t enough to dissuade Arizona from repealing the law, then “Buenas suerte, Phoenix!” Arizona will realize later that their SB 1070 Immigration Law will not only cost them economically long-term, but will also cost them the state’s honor. They may get the results they want short-term, but at the expense of long-term consequences.
©May 14, 2010 Reiko Eoh
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OMG! Freaking hilarious!