Fear and Self-Loathing Among Immigrants

Recently, I wrote about the Republican Party’s attempt to kill itself. Specifically, I talked about how the GOP stance on immigration is increasingly being viewed as intolerant to Latinos.

Now, it’s easy to dismiss the harsh rhetoric coming from the right wing as the toxicity of a few racists, many of whom have found a home in the Tea Party or other conservative organizations. What’s more disturbing is when the object of scorn — in this case, immigrants — line up to help with the derision. For example, in Arizona, home of everyone’s favorite law (SB 1070), there is a group with the unwieldy name of the Latino Legal Immigrant Tea Party Patriots. The group recently gave an award to Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who has been criticized for his aggressive tactics toward undocumented people. Apparently, the LLITPP loves Arpaio’s efforts to round up people who look like them.

Of course, there are plenty of immigrants who lean toward the conservative side of the political spectrum. No doubt, most of them honestly believe that the Republican Party better addresses the needs of Hispanics, immigrants, and the country overall. I’ll admit that I don’t agree with that opinion, but it’s a legitimate viewpoint.

As such, it’s one thing to support the GOP. Don’t forget that Latino singer Daddy Yankee endorsed John McCain in the 2008 election (it was an odd sight). But the reggaeton star, a U.S. citizen,  specifically mentioned McCain’s moderate (at the time) stance on immigration and Hispanic issues. That makes him, and most other conservative Hispanics, different from the Latino immigrants who go out of their way to actively praise people like Arpaio. People like the good sheriff, who is currently being sued by the U.S. Justice Department, have made it perfectly clear what they think of immigrants.

This nativist approach appeals to a certain segment of the Latino population who want nothing more than to be considered “American.” An even stronger version of this affliction comes out in those immigrants who believe they were the last good people to enter the country. Are they the immigrant equivalent of the many social conservatives who turn out to be gay? In other words, is there a strain of self-loathing in these attempts to curry favor with the establishment?

If so, I congratulate them on adopting a true American mindset.

Photo Credit: Sasha Wolff