Since Shakespeare's birthday this year, when Governor Jan Brewer signed into law the controversial Arizona Immigration Senate Bill 1070, The Institute has been attempting to decipher the various interests at play, and to explore the controversy as a "teachable moment" regarding the subject of Conflict Resolution. Without a doubt, there are myriad perspectives on the issue of undocumented migration across America's borders, but in the maelstrom of emotive rhetoric and vitriolic "debate" on the issue, these have ultimately been distilled into the business-as-usual "us vs. them" frame of reference, with one side being described as bleeding hearts and the other as racists.
While The Institute recognizes and understands that racism and inauthentic compassion do indeed play a role in the issue, it is a tenet of our philosophy to insist that no issue can be so brutally polarized if it is to be understood and, more importantly, resolved. Without a doubt, there are interests mutual to all concerned. To truly make sense of what is occurring in Arizona, and to a lesser degree across our nation, we recognize that we must strive to understand the numerous perspectives that have played a role in creating the cultural landscape that brought this issue to the fore of American consciousness.
For instance, in the avalanche of "news" coverage since April 23rd, little mention has been made of Robert N. Krentz, Jr., shot and killed a month earlier on his ranch - a ranch that had been in his family for over a century - after radioing that he was aiding a suspected undocumented immigrant he had found on his property. The murderer is assumed to be one of the increasing number of drug mules who have been crossing the border in recent years with packs full of illegal drugs. We are curious as to how this murder affected every other ranch family that resides along the border, and their extended family and friends. How was news of this murder received by other Arizona residents, perhaps families with young children living in nearby communities? What was their assessment of system failures that allowed such an event to occur? What is the social-psychological cost of knowing that you're not entirely safe in your own home, on your own property?
This last question is one that we are fairly certain many undocumented immigrants would be able to answer. Indeed, what is it that inspires a person to risk life and limb, to leave mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, children behind, perhaps forever, if not the desperation associated with extreme poverty, hunger, and lack of opportunity, the fact that neither oneself nor one's family is safe? Where in the debate are the stories of undocumented immigrants who have come to this country and made it better, stronger, more in keeping with the American values housed in our Constitution and history? How many lives have been preserved because an undocumented citizen made the harrowing decision to leave everything behind in order to save it?
At the end of our explorations, questions such as these are what we have left, because we recognize that they are the starting point for uncovering solutions. The issue of illegal immigration - like any issue - is a human one, and unless we start asking the types of questions that reveal the sorrows and joys associated with this conflict, we will never be any closer to making sense of possible solutions. We are all people. It's easy to forget that when we label each other as "racists," "illegals," or "do-gooders." But we are people, and all people have their reasons for making the decisions that they make. Understanding where they are coming from is the first step in discovering where we're headed.
Once these questions are asked and answered, and ardently understood, we will be able to begin asking some of the more concrete questions, with the attending luxury that these types of questions offer more concrete answers as well. For instance, we think it would be important to know how many apprehended gang members are here illegally. How many illegal drugs are seized at our unprotected borders, and how many can we estimate are entering? How is the War on Drugs contributing to the importation of drugs across our borders? What would it cost to more effectively patrol the Southern border, and from where will that money come? What is the true burden on government coffers when undocumented citizens receive social services? What is their contribution to the economy, as spenders and as taxpayers? How many jobs are held by undocumented workers eager to do them for less pay than an American citizen? How much do corporations profit from this system of employment? What is the attending impact on the presence and work of labor unions? How have NAFTA and CAFTA contributed to the issue of undocumented immigration? Are there more workers staying in their own countries because they have access to more jobs? What happened to American workers when our corporations moved South for economic reasons? What might the role of these trade agreements be in resolving the issue?
Like all social issues, Arizona Senate Bill 1070 is extremely complex, and interwoven with many other pressing American and global concerns. Indeed, it is another of our tenets here at The Institute that such interconnections are the rule, not the exception. Making sense of them will be a process longer than most folks generally want to wait in order to come to a decision. However, we are certain that, in unraveling the various threads for a closer look, we will make real progress, and move our country one step closer to the American Dream that all partners to this conflict, on both sides of the border, are hoping to protect and ensure. In the meantime, the drawing of more concrete lines will likely only result in more transgressions, and boundaries of all sorts will continue to be crossed, for this is human nature: interaction is conflict. The Institute insists that learning how to better navigate these interactions must be everyone's primary intent, and we are certain that this both begins and ends in seeing our Self in the Other.
- The Institute for the Advancement of Community
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