I don't like to get political on this blog. However, sports has now found itself amongst controversial politics. I seem to be an outsider to the rest of the sports media when it comes to Arizona's new illegal immigration law. I'm not going to stop reading their articles or watching their TV programs just because they have a opinion that differs from mine. Which brings me to the Phoenix Suns. Tonight, they wore their "Los Suns" jerseys as a statement against the Immigration Law in Arizona.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. The only problem I have is the injection of racism into the equation.
As I brought this issue up on Monday, when T.J Carr and myself filled in for Johnny "Ballpark" Franks, I wanted to eliminate the petty crap (such as crime, welfare, jobs, etc.) from the conversation. I'm not sure if I succeeded or failed with Arizona Jay. The issues that I find valid and plausible are enforcing the law (for the bill) and the probability of racial profiling (against it). I can see where the probability for profiling is, but the law should be enforced at the same time.
Which brings me to my point.......Have we as Americans become so smug and narcassistic that we shouldn't be compelled to identify ourselves as a law abiding citizen??? I bring this example up because I remember working behind a pharmacy counter 5 years ago. An old man would walk in to pick up a prescription for Vicodin. Living in South Carolina at the time, it was law to document identification for controlled substances. The man complied but said "I've been coming here for years and I still have to show my I.D.?" Yes, sir. If you have nothing to hide, then why the hell are you complaining? I still get carded to purchase an adult beverage and it never bothers me, because I have nothing to hide.
To say this law is comparable to Nazi-Germany and Jim Crowe Laws (as some articles may say) is a bit of a stretch. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, it's a federal crime to be in this country illegally, right?
I know some friends who are in law enforcement and they can't pull anyone over unless there is "probable cause". That's Law Enforcement 101, right? So the hispanic men and women who are in this country legally should have nothing to hide and not smug enough that they can't identify themselves.
I'm not going to boycott the MLB Players Union or The Phoenix Suns for taking a stand, they have their opinions. However, I believe their stand is misguided. The issue shouldn't be race, it should be the law. In conclusion, hasn't the definition of racism become perverted with frivolous accusation after frivolous accusation? Do we just throw that word out forgetting what it means? Has the word become so abused that the law doesn't apply anymore?
No comments:
Post a Comment