Unnecessary Rhetoric
By Jesus Rodriguez
I was reading the latest edition of a local Milwaukee magazine called “Aqui Milwaukee” and not too surprisingly I came across a "letter to the editor" that made me want to write a response to it, so here it is.
In this letter from the editor, Raul Vasquez takes up the issue of cost for Wisconsin college tuition as it is currently being applied to children who are technically here illegally, since their parents are undocumented. Currently, children with good grades, who would otherwise be eligible for in-state tuition and governmental assistance are being charged out-of-state prices due to the technicality. Most of these children have either been in Wisconsin their whole lives or for most of it and in my opinion deserve to be treated equally. This is an issue that I take serious and actually agree with Mr. Vasquez on, kind of.
You see Mr. Vasquez, in typical radical fashion (whether he really is radical is or not), uses a lot of unnecessary rhetoric in his proposition for the ethical treatment of these kids. I agree with Mr. Vasquez in that it is both compassionate and beneficial for everyone in Wisconsin if these children are able to pursue a higher education. But what I don’t agree with the editor about is comparing those in our community who argue the legality of the issue and are opposed to any change in policy with the same people who, in the past, argued in favor of slavery and against women’s suffrage. Is that necessary?
Not only is it unnecessary, but from how I see it, very very counterproductive. Both because it’s not only a straw-man but an ad hominem attack on a significant number of people in our communities. I think it is “nonsense” (to use Mr. Vasquez’s own word) to imply that people who have an issue with this situation are simply discriminatory and basing their entire argument on legality alone. I do not agree with those who feel that it is the right thing to deny these kids the ability to succeed academically through an extra cost burden. But, I understand that many people have legitimate reasons to be concerned and not ready to give undocumented children the same benefits as legal citizens.
I think the reason why this particular editorial caught me the way that it has is because it seems to me (intuition only) that Mr. Vasquez’s tone (not Mr. Vasquez or his opinion) is more in line with the new totalitarian mentality of the Democratic Party than with how the Hispanic community sees this issue and other Hispanic issues as a whole and I reject it. I am not suggesting that Mr. Vasquez does not truly believe in this cause, I really appreciate him bringing more light to the subject, neither am I speaking on behalf of the entire Hispanic Community. However, I sense from many people, who supported the current “change” (Si se puede), feel as if they no longer have to have a respectful dialogue with those who have opposing views because “change” a la Obama is going to happen with or without your input (you remember the whole “I Won” comment that Obama made to Republicans his first week in the White House). I reject this too.
The bottom line is, as a Hispanic member of society I feel that we Hispanics always need to appreciate the views of all people in our local communities. We may not always agree with each other and it may lead to some heated debates, but to write off and potentially incite unnecessary anger with inflammatory rhetoric (that always leads to more resistance) from those who disagree with us is not going to help our cause, and in my opinion not worthy to be a reflection of the Hispanic Community as a whole.
Viva la Raza!
Jesus Rodriguez, President of the Hispanic Commonweal
zeus@hispaniccommonweal.org
Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi!
Hispanics for School Choice