The day I was invisible

In a hundred cities in the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago-million demonstrators marched through the streets, crossing bridges and in parks and squares together on May Day to demand an end to the persecution against immigrants and support the promise of President Obama to effect an effective and comprehensive immigration reform.

There were millions, but television did not see them.

I believe it was not censorship. That day also lost many hours of TV the alarming and alarmist news about avian flu.

It was not that. It was more innocent or innocent. With the retirement of David Souter, one of the judges of the Supreme Court, analysts spent hours and hours wandering about who the successor would be appointed by the president Barack Obama, and robbed of space to the most important events of the day.

Commentators interpret this country delirious all the criteria of "gender and ethnicity," and wondered whether it would be white, black, male, female or gay person appointed by the president. The more "liberal" ended up recommending that, should not be a gay candidate, the appointment of a lawyer who is both female and Hispanic.

For my part, I think that gender and ethnicity are so irrelevant to judge a person as would the zodiacal sign or year of birth on the Chinese calendar.

However, this country has replaced its traditional obsession with the race by another based on gender and ethnicity, and so find it difficult to understand any social phenomenon that exceed those parameters.

The millions of invisible beings who came that day to the streets demanding rights to identity, work, freedom, health, language and culture that have been removed or are at risk. They were not only legal and illegal immigrants. They were accompanied by trade unions who are celebrating for the first time in the U.S. International Labour Day. Did not see on television.

If all this seems journalistic no cameras, something that perhaps may find it urgent. At this time of economic bankruptcy, immigration reform is essential for the survival of the United States. Here are a few reasons for this:

First, immigration is a net fiscal benefit for the U.S. economy. A report of the Council of Economic Advisers, the White House in 2007 indicates that the increase in the workforce, thanks to immigrants, has stimulated capital investment and GNP increased by 37 billion dollars each year.

Second, immigrants pay more in taxes than they consume in benefits. This was determined in 1997 the National Research Council, National Research Council, or NRC under its acronym in English.

Third: Illegal immigrants also pay taxes.

Texas, Iowa and Oregon are among the states reporting in public reports, between 2006 and 2007, these workers, instead of draining public services, subsidies. Texas even fears that a possible lack of them back to that state to fiscal bankruptcy.

Fourth: The Social Security Administration reports that undocumented immigrants account for a greater share of the billions of dollars that come in their boxes and has no counterpart. These workers provide false numbers to your employer who will deduct that payment and makes it effective. However, they may never have access to a minimum benefit.

Fifth: This year marks 64 years, and begin to retire, the baby boomers. " It is named for Americans born in 1945, after the Second World War when soldiers returned home and produced an explosion of births. It is estimated that their numbers are similar to those now receiving pension every month. What will Social Security pay? ... The legalization of immigrants is their only way.

There are many reasons, but they count. I remember them because that day I participated in the march to the Capitol of Oregon. As a Latin American writer invited me to be speaker, spoke at our beloved Castilian, the language that makes us free ... and like millions of others, I was also an invisible being.

2 comments

• 

  By Milagros Hernández Chiliberti - SorGalim , May 17, 2009 @ 24:16

  Hi, Eduardo. I visitándote and marking card. I have read again your text interesting. They are effective in your way and style of criticism because you know to get the reader.
  A hug

• 

  By August blond , July 15, 2009 @ 2:45 pm

  Gonzalo Viana good speech teacher. and Castilian as it should be. I leave the greeting of Chimbote, the city where they meet "all the time, the foxes from the bottom up.
  By the way, I was told this was about chimbote July 24. if so please confirm me because I need to interview for my blog in vñideo CULTURAL TIDE.

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