Are we in the midst of a movement?

Question

Just finished learning about the Civil Rights movement of the 50's and 60's. It seems like it was a big deal just from reading our history books, but i want to know from someone who remebers this time if it was as publicized a movement as it appears. Is it possible that we are in the midst of another similar movement today with regards to immigration?

Answer 1

We are always in the midst of a movement. That is how we progress as a nation, and as a world. Unfortunately the repression that people are trying to overcome are things that should have been all along (essentially world peace). Not to sound like a beauty queen, but world peace would solve everything. Again unfortunately we live in a world that doesn't believe in reaping what you sow. This is why it is such a big deal when a peace deal is struck, or something "major" like giving people with dark skin a chance to vote (which should have been the entire time).

Great question.

Answer 2

It was a big deal and people knew it at the time. It was the dominate political issue for years until the Viet Nam War blew up in the late 60's, and far more divisive the the current abortion debate, just as the Viet Nam war produced stronger feelings that does the current war in Iraq. As of now immigration has aroused resentment among people because it is blamed for economic problems, but it is more like what happened in the 1920's than the 1960's. What ever happens with immigration it will not transform society the way the Civil Rights Movement did, because there is no fundamental moral principle involved and the demographics are going to produce a European minority in the US in 50 years no matter how the current debate turns out.

Answer 3

You can go to a university library and look up news over the past 100+ years.

Spike Lee's "4 Little Girls" is a good documentary (even if you don't like his films, his documentaries are excellent) on one of the most significant events during the civil rights movement. King's "I Have a Dream" speech happened 8/28/63, the bombing happened 9/15/63. A few months later Kennedy was shot.

Selma to Montgomery happened 2 years later due to an event in 1965 involving a state trooper, and was the second one due to the first one met with police force.

This is a different matter.

I do find it interesting that Cesar Chavez is brought up as a figurehead in the Latin community, but he was also a union figurehead of sorts who fought against illegal immigration. In 1969, he, Ralph Abernathy, and Walter Mondale led a march to the border to protest illegal immigration. He was no different than Jimmy Hoffa.

A lot of reinvention with his image has gone on, and it's way off the mark of what he was working towards.

There was a lot of overreaction in the 20th century. Eisenhower was relentless about "cleaning up" illegals, but throughout history, a lot of people who owned homes and land legally were kicked into Mexico.

He was the one that was taking on businesses that would pay coyotes (smugglers) to bring people over.

To me it's really funny that illegals rally on Cesar Chavez day, and tells you how little people in general know of what Chavez' agenda ever was.

The Minutemen are far more politically correct and more well behaved than Chavez' UFWs ever were.