FrankRep
08-22-2010, 09:06 AM
Note: The author suffers from self-denial, but I find it interesting that even Wisconsin is feeling the effects of the Mexican drug cartels.
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/2/63/447/263447d4-ad6e-11df-a85f-001cc4c002e0-revisions/4c704a34a1554.preview-300.jpg
Hands on Wisconsin: Mexican drug violence splatters Wisconsin (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/column/phil_hands/article_aefae97e-ad6e-11df-841f-001cc4c002e0.html)
Wisconsin State Journal
August 21, 2010
The drug violence that plagues Mexico has splattered across Wisconsin. Last week the Madison police department rounded up members of a Latino gang, who were planning an attack to avenge the murder of one of their members, and in a seemingly unrelated story, federal officials found hundreds of pounds of pot in the forests of northern Wisconsin that were apparently being tended by Mexican nationals.
This cartoon is a powerful image that illustrates that reality. I really like this cartoon, but I also understand that some folks will probably use this image to further their anti-Latino agenda, so let me be clear: this is not a cartoon advocating for more draconian immigration laws or calling for the deportation of Latino immigrants who are in this country illegally.
Most undocumented immigrants are law abiding residents (with the exception of their disrespect for our immigration laws). They don't want to draw attention to themselves and risk deportation. The vast majority of these illegal immigrants simply want to work, earn money and live the American dream. They are only here illegally because the process of coming here legally is prohibitively expensive and unrealistically restrictive.
I drew this cartoon because I want the people of Wisconsin and the rest of the nation to realize that the violence in Mexico affects us. It's not something that just happens on the evening news. America is the primary market for the Mexican drug cartels. Cash from our citizens is funding this violence, one dime-bag at a time, and we, as a nation need to realize that.
Here in the U.S. we need to either stop buying illegal drugs, (which has about as much chance of happening as Mexicans immigrants adhering to our immigration laws) or we need to have a serious discussion about legalizing drugs to undermine the business of the Mexican drug cartels.
In recent weeks, the cartels have adopted terrorist tactics with car bombings and beheadings of police officers and public officials. Their goal is to delegitimize the Mexican government. The Mexican people are strong and despite all of its flaws so is the Mexican government. I don't know if the cartels will be successful. But if they are, the United States will have a serious problem on its southern border.
And if you think illegal immigration is bad now, just wait.
SOURCE:
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/column/phil_hands/article_aefae97e-ad6e-11df-841f-001cc4c002e0.html
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/2/63/447/263447d4-ad6e-11df-a85f-001cc4c002e0-revisions/4c704a34a1554.preview-300.jpg
Hands on Wisconsin: Mexican drug violence splatters Wisconsin (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/column/phil_hands/article_aefae97e-ad6e-11df-841f-001cc4c002e0.html)
Wisconsin State Journal
August 21, 2010
The drug violence that plagues Mexico has splattered across Wisconsin. Last week the Madison police department rounded up members of a Latino gang, who were planning an attack to avenge the murder of one of their members, and in a seemingly unrelated story, federal officials found hundreds of pounds of pot in the forests of northern Wisconsin that were apparently being tended by Mexican nationals.
This cartoon is a powerful image that illustrates that reality. I really like this cartoon, but I also understand that some folks will probably use this image to further their anti-Latino agenda, so let me be clear: this is not a cartoon advocating for more draconian immigration laws or calling for the deportation of Latino immigrants who are in this country illegally.
Most undocumented immigrants are law abiding residents (with the exception of their disrespect for our immigration laws). They don't want to draw attention to themselves and risk deportation. The vast majority of these illegal immigrants simply want to work, earn money and live the American dream. They are only here illegally because the process of coming here legally is prohibitively expensive and unrealistically restrictive.
I drew this cartoon because I want the people of Wisconsin and the rest of the nation to realize that the violence in Mexico affects us. It's not something that just happens on the evening news. America is the primary market for the Mexican drug cartels. Cash from our citizens is funding this violence, one dime-bag at a time, and we, as a nation need to realize that.
Here in the U.S. we need to either stop buying illegal drugs, (which has about as much chance of happening as Mexicans immigrants adhering to our immigration laws) or we need to have a serious discussion about legalizing drugs to undermine the business of the Mexican drug cartels.
In recent weeks, the cartels have adopted terrorist tactics with car bombings and beheadings of police officers and public officials. Their goal is to delegitimize the Mexican government. The Mexican people are strong and despite all of its flaws so is the Mexican government. I don't know if the cartels will be successful. But if they are, the United States will have a serious problem on its southern border.
And if you think illegal immigration is bad now, just wait.
SOURCE:
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/column/phil_hands/article_aefae97e-ad6e-11df-841f-001cc4c002e0.html