I am a culturalist. I am adverse to some cultural influences. I believe that some cultures (including our own), some subcultures and many micro-cultures, have negative elements that must be resisted. Cultural influences, like a diseases, are dangerous and are carried across borders by humankind.
I have experienced some of these dangers here in my our own back yard. Some immigrants would welcome a theocracy, others tribal vigilantism to enforce their religious laws, and still others a drug-cartel-culture of brutality and bribery.
Hence, although we should be tolerant and open to the world’s dispossessed, even if accused of bigotry, we must also be highly selective of those we invite to share in our way of life. If in our immigration policies we are not careful and reverse the trend I and perhaps others have experienced, we may find in the not so distant future that we too, as has occurred outside our borders, will have our police forces replaced by drug cartels, our neighborhoods terrorized by religious fanatics or our beliefs being dictated by a theocracy.
Loren M. Lambert (c)
May 22, 2008
2 comments:
I am deeply troubled by this post. Your tone and premise reek of bigotry. Your exclusion of drug-cartel culture obviously aimed at hispanics and based in negative stereotypes of hispanics as involved in drug trafficking. Your exclusion of people who believe in enforcing religious views as criminal laws is obviously aimed at Muslims and middle easterners and the stereotype that they all hold fundamental Islamic views. Are you advocating for the exclusion of all Muslims, people from the middle east, and hispanics? Are you arguing for the exclusion of people based on their religious beliefs? Are you demanding the exclusion of hispancis based on a criminal stereotype? Your premiss that we exclude these cultures indicates that you view all members of these races and religions as tainted.
Your rant exposes the truth you tried to keep hidden: you are prejudice against hispanics, people from the middle east, and muslims and want to keep them out of our country. As an attorney, you would be aware that our constitution prevents the establishment of a theocracy regardless of the religious majority. You would also be aware that what you fear from religious terrorists and drug-cartels are illegal and unlawful activities. As an attorney, you would also be aware that the immigration process conducts extensive background checks to exclude those who have committed crimes or are known or suspected to be involved in criminal conduct or terrorist activities. You would also know that, under our current immigration laws, an immigrant who commits a crime can be deported. It is obvious that you deem the safeguards in place are insufficient and you seek to exclude all members of the races and religion you target for exclusion. This is the central tenant of the darkest prejudice.
Dear Anonymous,
I deeply gratified that you are deeply troubled by my post titled "I am a culturalist." It was the very response that I think it should have gotten. However, I do not know what possessed you to allege that my "exclusion (sic--inclusion) of drug-cartel culture" was obviously aimed at hispanics. That seems to be a very small minded thing to assume. Please be aware that some of the most influential and successful drug cartel CEO's were caucasians born and raised right here in the good ol' USA. You go on to assume that my "exclusion (sic-inclusion) of people who believe in enforcing religious views as criminal laws is obviously aimed at Muslims and middle easterners," is another interesting assumption. You again need to be educated that some of the most adament beleivers in a theocracy have again been raised here in my own home town, host to thousands of Mormons who would relish installing a theocracy (but only when Christ comes), or white supremists who advocate their brand of religious domination, so don't get all wounded and wheepy on me. So, to answer your question, I am not "advocating the exclusion (correct use of the word this time) of Muslims, people from the middle east, or hispanics." Nor am I "arguing for the exclusion of people based on their religious beliefs." What I am arguing is that through the strength or our superior ideas, ethics and individual choices that we (all people, of all races, of all national origins, and of all religions) combat the divisive and corrupting cultural influences of the drug culture and religious extremism where ever they arise, whether home grown or imported from abroad. I also declare to all of my clients, friends, family members and countrymen and women who advocate for religious hegemony, who work on behalf of the drug cartels, either directly or indirectly, or who subscribe to a culture of corruption, that you are wrong. And lastly, I am not confalting as you are that culture x = drug culture. No, to the degree it is beneficial to all (this is another debate) come and enjoy and contribute to our free and great nation, but leave behind your ideas and those that want to displace our way of life with a culture of vice, intimidation and domination by professed angels or demons. It is naive that you would suggest that our constitution alone, without the vigilence of its supporters, can act as an infallible shield to prevent the establishment of a theocracy or a drug-cartel. No, the constitution without the force of those who deeply believe in freedom from all forms of tyrany is nothing more then a piece of paper that will be atomized into oblivion if our borders remain open and our immigration process is not sound. You assert that "it is obvious that [I] deem the safeguards in place are insufficient and you seek to exclude all members of the races and religion you target for exclusion." No, no, no, no. What do you mean this is obvious? I would never propose a race or religious test, but what I would propose testing to ensure that the principles of our constitution are not only understood bur are venerated. Why? On a more and more frequent basis I have encountered people from many walks of life and from diverse backgrounds who revile our way of life and want to remake it into the failed systems that are either imagined in their deluded bent minds or are adopted from their countries of origin. Moreover, it might surprise you, but their are people who have lied to get into the country with the express purpose of destroying it. On a lighter note, I support Obama for President, I could care less about is color, his national origin and would vote for him even if the rumor mongers allegations that he is a closet muslim were true. Thank you for your interest and concern.
Sincerely Loren
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