Macros, on 10 June 2026 - 05:29 PM, said:
Le Sigh.
I can't even summon the energy.
Fucking morons, a white guy was just sentenced for murdering his pregnant wife, I see no riots./
Fuck people
Immigration is a magnet for racists but it’s not really, or only, a racist issue. There are some real and legitimate concerns, even if wrong politicians are failing to address them.
South Africa is having a new bout of xenophobic riots too. They use xenophobic instead of race because everyone is black but not everyone is a black South African. I sometimes think making that distinction is cutesy as it doesn't seem necessary.
Countries have a responsibility to an in group, the citizens. There is a path to citizenship for immigrants and they in theory should become part of the in group. Even here there is tension about assimilation but let’s put that aside for now.
At the end of the day the in group of citizens is asking why the out-group is getting better treatment in the form of welfare, charity, special treatment, jobs. The list is broad and changes country to country but the core complaint is basically the same. Why are outsiders getting helped over ME.
That’s also the problem, immigration in the USA is a net benefit for example if you look at the data. However it’s. A powerful wedge issue with republicans but more importantly people are not statistics only countries as a whole are. A struggling blue collar worker who lives in a trailer doesn’t want to hear that workers from Mexico benefit the economy as a whole. He wants his personal life to benefit and thinks he is competing directly against those Mexicans for his livelihood. He feels threatened in a way a white collar banker doesn’t.
Sadly, poverty and poor education are the breeding grounds for racism. The human minds software works in generalizations and if you feel antipathy to Mexican workers who compete with you for jobs that can easily become hate for all Mexicans.
If we continue to just treat such complaints with contempt they will only grow. (Not meant as an attack on you Macros, I have similar thoughts all the time. However I see these hate movements only growing as a result of being ignored) Brexit which was a self inflicted economic wound the like of which has no equal was in a huge part because of immigration.
I am an immigrant myself also. I left my country for a better opportunity elsewhere. I mention this because I am obviously pro immigration. Immigrating was hard and I had it easier than most. If someone walks through a dessert to cross into the USA, rather than lazy, I know that person is driven and it’s not over yet. He has to find a job, somewhere to live all while battling an exchange rate that will eat his life savings alive. The only reason to do it is for a better job and a better life and maybe money to send back home in a lot of situations.
I also know that as an immigrant, I am a guest. Until I get my citizenship I can be removed. Like most immigrants I fear that outcome. Hence I avoid even small criminal offenders that many Americans wouldn’t bother with. I won’t even a carry multitool because of how bizarre USA knife laws are. A citizen would likely get a slap on the write. I could get a mark on my record that could lead to deportation or a red flag for when I do try naturalize.
Edit- I was once asked at a party by a friend of a friend, if I’m pro immigration. I made a joke that I was fine with it as long as we cut off Africa. I meant that to be funny because I thought it was a stupid question to ask me. Hours later I was horrified when I suddenly realized I don’t know if everyone knew I was South African and if I was being sarcastic.
This post has been edited by Cause: 15 June 2026 - 04:49 PM