Thursday, April 20, 2006
Hidden Peoples
The dominant economy of central Washington state, where I grew up, was built on agriculture, and Mexican immigrants were central to its success--still are. So when I saw the headline from Wenatchee LULAC proclaiming, "Today We March--Tomorrow We Vote," I was not surprised in the least to read of the number of locations from Okanagan to Walla Walla where proimmigrant rallies were scheduled for May Day.
The fact that many of these place names--like Yakima, Wapato, Toppenish, Kennewick and so on--are indigenous, is indicative of the hidden peoples, still extent, who share an autochthonous heritage in the continent with these immigrants, and likewise have, until recently in historical terms, been largely excluded from the social discussions and political decisions affecting the future of our land. In this sense, I take heart in the burgeoning expression of their humanity and dignity, and hope in the possibility of awareness of their moral power and its ultimate exercise of influence for economic and social change.
Which brings me back to the slogan proferred by LULAC--a mostly middle-class organization of US citizens of Mexican descent--and how limited it is in projecting the aspirations of those who recently took to the streets in outrage against legislated discrimination. Not that voting is entirely meaningless, but becoming pawns of the Democratic Party--depending on elite-approved politicians for the meager handouts we presently receive from our allegedly representative government--is not a program, not a demand of the powerful, and not even close to meeting the needs of their people, or of our society.
They could demand--and get--so much more.
The fact that many of these place names--like Yakima, Wapato, Toppenish, Kennewick and so on--are indigenous, is indicative of the hidden peoples, still extent, who share an autochthonous heritage in the continent with these immigrants, and likewise have, until recently in historical terms, been largely excluded from the social discussions and political decisions affecting the future of our land. In this sense, I take heart in the burgeoning expression of their humanity and dignity, and hope in the possibility of awareness of their moral power and its ultimate exercise of influence for economic and social change.
Which brings me back to the slogan proferred by LULAC--a mostly middle-class organization of US citizens of Mexican descent--and how limited it is in projecting the aspirations of those who recently took to the streets in outrage against legislated discrimination. Not that voting is entirely meaningless, but becoming pawns of the Democratic Party--depending on elite-approved politicians for the meager handouts we presently receive from our allegedly representative government--is not a program, not a demand of the powerful, and not even close to meeting the needs of their people, or of our society.
They could demand--and get--so much more.
