EDITOR
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
No need for a translator to understand racism
To the editor: Congressman Tiffany tries to hide his racism behind a defense of culture. He uses these issues to help win elections. Sadly, voters either agree with him, or fail to recognize the racism.
If you are a supporter then you might have missed these somewhat subtle racist attacks.
“...the Chinese do not respect private property and do not protect private property under the law like the U.S.”
This leads to the presumption that all Asians, regardless of their country of origin, even if it is America, don’t respect property, and thereby are undeserving of my respect.
Chinese citizens have jobs and property, this includes land. They value property the same as anyone who works for what they have. All governments control the land that they govern, and the rights that are bestowed on their citizens.
It is the Chinese Communist Party that doesn’t respect the people and their rights to property, and they will not be immigrating anytime soon. So why does he even say this to begin with?
“...no problem with migrants, like Germans, Norwegians and the Polish using native languages in their home but objected to use in public.”
He chose these countries as an example for many reasons, mainly that most of the people who vote for him can identify with them. What he’s really saying is that he is uncomfortable and offended when standing in line at the grocery store and he hears people speaking Mexican.
Followed by the thought this is America you should speak American. Of course what you are seeing is usually older adults talking freely and naturally. So what? Was you hoping to join in the conversation? Strengthen community bonds? The children go to school and are Americans. I have lived here my entire life, and not once have I heard anyone speaking German, Norwegian or Polish.
He chooses these European languages over the more likely Spanish or Hmong as to avoid sounding racist. But this is not so. This is a dog whistle, something you wouldn’t hear unless you know what to listen for. White supremacists hear exactly what he is saying. White supremacist firmly believe that America was created by European migrants FOR European migrants. And they may be right considering the whole slavery thing and forcing indigenous people onto reservations.
The congressman said “there has always been an insistence by people in America that you must assimilate into our culture”. Oh, they insisted all right.
As a kid I learned that America is a great melting pot and that we welcome people from all around the world. And not just Europe. I think a lot of people are dismayed when they drive down Abbotsford’s main street or that the fact that Curtiss’s transformation into a migrant town is near complete, and are angry about the crime that comes with it.
You can blame a rich white guy and his business model that relies on cheap labor, or farmers with more cows than they can milk with domestic help. Your government has ensured that you have had cheap food your entire life, so you could have the money for the manufactured goods that you enjoy and is the basis of the economy.
America’s culture isn’t being lost or destroyed, it is in fact evolving. It’s just a sign of the times, and a lot of people don’t like what they see. Perhaps this is the cost of cheap food?
Republicans choose to foment these culture wars for many reasons. They give people an enemy, someone they can blame, someone they can look down on and feel better about themselves.
But also they know that if we are busy fighting amongst ourselves, then we are less likely to pay attention to them and their nefarious actions surrounding the 2020 election with their attempts to keep a man who clearly lost, in power.
Pay attention to what is truly important.
Ron Gutenberger Colby
