Mexican Flags Outrage the Right.

There's been a huge backlash by the American right wing against the recent wave of protest demanding justice and legal recognition for the country's 12 million undocumented immigrant workers.

Personally as I stated here, I thought the fact that so many Americans were willing to take to the streets - demanding rights for immigrants - showed that many US citizens still cared about the underdog. This, after all, was the principle on which that great nation was founded and is best summed up in the words enscribed on the statue of Liberty.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she with silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

I also thought that Americans expressing such sentiments was a welcome "good news" story for a land that recent years have seen slump in international standing after the war in Iraq.

However, that is not the way the American right wing have viewed the tale. They have rather chosen to be outraged over the fact that many of the protestors... waved Mexican flags.

This, they think, is beyond outrageous.

Referring to a wave of demonstrations in recent weeks, Rep. Virgil Goode of Virginia said, "I say if you are here illegally and want to fly the Mexican flag, go to Mexico and wave the American flag."

Now one would think that a country that has, within one of it's largest cities, places known as China Town and Little Italy - a country where residents routinely refer to themselves as Italian-American, Greek-American - that such a celebration of one's lineage would be part of the acceptable norm.

Apparently not. So outraged are the right wing that certain bloggers have come up with a plan.

How it works is simple: Proudly carry an American flag with you wherever you are in public. Small parade style flags on sticks would work best for those who commute by bus or subway and those who walk to work. Carry it around with you when you go out for lunch and when you leave work.

Wear red, white and blue patriotic attire. Fly the American flag at your home. Fly an American flag from your car antenna. Tape an American flag in your car window. The goal is to have Old Glory be given the prominence it deserves and to remind everyone--politicians, illegal aliens and their enablers--that the American flag comes first in this country.

Now, personally, I think most of this manufactured right wing outrage comes from realising that huge parts of the country do not share their "Send Them All Home" philosophy.

But the lengths they will go to in order to hide this fact are fantastical.

However, were this an olympic sport, the gold medal would have to go to Lou Dobbs who, when asked how he could hold such views in the country that holds the largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the world, replied:

But let's be clear. I don't think there should be a St. Patrick's Day. I don't care who you are. I think we ought to be celebrating what is common about this country, what we enjoy as similarities as people.

How can I help Lou find out what similarities all Americans share? Oh bugger, it's easier than I thought.

Lou, why not celebrate the fact that you are all descended from immigrants?

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Tags: Mexican flags, Lou Dobbs, immigration, outrage, protest,