Jumping into the fray of the immigration debate, TV tongue-in-cheek pundit Stephen Colbert is partnering with the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) to challenge assertions that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs from American workers.
The “Take Our Jobs” campaign offers U.S. citizens an opportunity to apply for and fill the thousands of agricultural jobs that will soon be available as harvest season approaches. According to the US Department of Labor, three out of four farm workers are immigrants, and half are undocumented workers.
The UFW is asking would-be field hands who are legal US residents to fill out an application, and they will connect applicants to farmers who are hiring and even provide job training.
“The reality is farm workers who are here today aren’t taking any American jobs away. They work in often unbearable situations,” said Arturo Rodriguez, president of the UFW. “I don’t think there will be many takers, but the offer is being made. Let’s see what happens.”
Organizers of the campaign are quick to point out that potential workers may have to use hand tools such as knives, hoes and shovels; be prepared for 100 degree plus weather in the fields; work long hours since the window for picking ripe produce is small and not expect a big paycheck . Agricultural workers are exempted from federal overtime laws and small farm are not required to pay minimum wage.
Stephen Colbert will feature the “Take Our Jobs” campaign on the July 8 episode of the Colbert Report aired on the Comedy Central network.
I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. All of us ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated, but this is not the case.
I know the proponents of this law say that the majority approves of this law, but the majority is not always right. Would women or non-whites have the vote if we listen to the majority of the day, would the non-whites have equal rights (and equal access to churches, housing, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, schools, colleges and yes water fountains) if we listen to the majority of the day? We all know the answer, a resounding, NO!
As for the undocumented workers, as was attributed to Ronald Reagan “It’s the Economy, Stupid”. When the economy is good you say let’s all celebrate “Cinco de Mayo, my brothers” but when the economy is down “it’s all your fault, you damn immigrant”. This too will pass, the real problem is the narcos, arms and people smugglers and that’s what the focus should be on.
Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics and do what is right, not what is just popular with the majority. Some men comprehend discrimination by never have experiencing it in their lives, but the majority will only understand after it happens to them.