The Minuteman Project

Protectors of our nation's borders or self-appointed lawless vigilantes? Here is an excerpt from The Minuteman Project website which describes their operation:

It is a call to peacefully assemble at the Arizona-Mexico border to bring national awareness to the decades-long careless disregard of effective U.S. immigration law enforcement.  It is a reminder to Americans that our nation was founded as a nation governed by the "rule of law", not by the whims of mobs of ILLEGAL aliens who endlessly stream across U.S. borders . . . Future generations will inherit a tangle of rancorous, unassimilated, squabbling cultures with no common bond to hold them together, and a certain guarantee of the death of this nation as a harmonious "melting pot." The result:  political, economic and social mayhem. Historians will write about how a lax America let its unique and coveted form of government and society sink into a quagmire of mutual acrimony among the various sub-nations that will comprise the new self-destructing America.

These crusaders for liberty are protecting America from marauders who cross the U.S.-Mexico border daily to spread political, economic and social mayhem? It really gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to know that a bunch of gun-toting, truck-driving white guys are keeping my country safe from poor brown people.

Cynicism and satire aside, I cannot believe that our government would allow civilians to form a para-military group to do the job of the U.S. Border Patrol. The minutemen are armed with guns, radios and night-vision equipment. Without supervision, these civilians may inflict harm on families who are crossing the border. I agree there is a problem with border security in this country, but giving a bunch of rednecks guns to go hunt down illegal aliens is the wrong solution.

The ACLU will be providing legal observers to make sure the Minutemen do not commit any human rights violations. Gustavo Arellano from the OC Weekly identifies the important political and diplomatic implications of the Minuteman Project. For instance, the deadly Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatruchas has already stated that they will retaliate against the Minutemen. Arizona resident Arthur Martori has a good editorial about the Minuteman project and the foolishness of anti-immigrant ideology. What's next? A war with Mexico?

Comments

[The Alchemist]

Imigration, he he he... Sorry. For the purposes of private edification I looked up your American population density. 31 people per square kilometer (sorry, these figures are not reckoned in real units). When your density hits 240 Americans per km2 you can start worrying about imigration squire.

[Agitprop]

Update on this story:

USA Today: Border volunteers disruptive, feds say

[Steambomb]

Sorry Agitprop... I have to disagree with you on this one. I think that some good might come from this minuteman project. They are indeed bringing more attention to a very important issue facing our nation. Also we as a nation are at a very serious crossroads in our socioeconomic path. Our economy continues to underperform in the job creation category and analysts dont see an improving picture. Employers that will hire undocumented workers take full advantage of the exploitation of them. This means greatly reduced rates of pay and poor benefits. The argument that they are only doing jobs that no american would do is a lie. There are many undocumented workers entering the construction industry. Their enfluence on the United States job market will not stop there. Thanks for the opportunity to voice my opinion. It would be nice if you would put me on your blogosphere list.

[Greg]

If you like the Minuteman Project, here is the logical conclusion: Ranch Rescue http://www.ranchrescue.com/index.htm

[Agi T. Prop]

Greg,

If you read the piece then you would see I'm not too fond of the Minutemen. I think their efforts are rather misguided. But yes, Ranch Rescue is a scary outcome of this vigilante phenomenon.