New group, same tactics
French potato farmers from Lille, Maine
French Canadian dairy farmer near Rutland, Vermont
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In a similar way, a new group has been targeted in the American cross hairs of hatred. For this generation, it has become Mexican Immigrants. For today's generation, what the French were in the 19th century are what Mexican-Americans are today. In ways similar to the French, they are thought to be lazy and criminals who are coming to the United States for the purpose of stealing from us. Quotes from the countries biggest immigration opponents are similar. We are told that they've come to our homes and that they are here to damage the middle class American. That they are here to take away everything that we hold dear as Americans and that if we don't do something about it, we'll no longer have the freedoms that we currently enjoy. The stereotype still remains that immigrants are stealing all of the jobs..
The jobs that the immigrants are having are often dangerous or low jobs that many Americans do not want. The French took all of the jobs that nobody wanted including; manual labor, farming, working in mills and mining. Immigrants today are working in similar low skills jobs. Which is similar to the migrant workers today. Without the farmers and laborers of the French and the laborers today, our society would not be able to function. We need to fills jobs and there are immigrants who can fill those jobs. |
Quote Comparison
In 1928, Presidential Candidate Herbert Hoover said the following
"These men of many nations must be taught American ways, the English language, and the right way to live."
Today, candidate Donald Trump said
"This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish"
In both cases, these anti immigration politicians are talking about how these immigrants (though from different countries) are so harmful to the United States and how they must be assimilated. That they must adapt to us and that they must fit our demands. While the target has changed, the tactics are the exact same. The idea is that by dehumanizing them and creating an "Us vs Them" envirmont, the Americna people will be tricked into backing the candidates that spew the same rhectoric as they want to hear. America has always been a melting pot of all cultures, and with this there has always been those who oppose it. Even though people can try to ignore that immigrants are people as well, there will always be the underlying truth about human dignity and respect. The times may change, but the tactics rarely ever will.
"These men of many nations must be taught American ways, the English language, and the right way to live."
Today, candidate Donald Trump said
"This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish"
In both cases, these anti immigration politicians are talking about how these immigrants (though from different countries) are so harmful to the United States and how they must be assimilated. That they must adapt to us and that they must fit our demands. While the target has changed, the tactics are the exact same. The idea is that by dehumanizing them and creating an "Us vs Them" envirmont, the Americna people will be tricked into backing the candidates that spew the same rhectoric as they want to hear. America has always been a melting pot of all cultures, and with this there has always been those who oppose it. Even though people can try to ignore that immigrants are people as well, there will always be the underlying truth about human dignity and respect. The times may change, but the tactics rarely ever will.
French Boys who were Doffers in Kerr Thread Mill in Fall River, Massachusetts