June 04, 2005

Minneapolisians celebrate diversity, global connectedness, sweetness, light

The wife (Megan O'Hara) of the mayor of Minneapolis (R.T. Rybak) offers us a wonderful, heartwarming, life-affirming lesson that's not just about that city's Minneapolis MOSAIC Arts Festival, it's about how absolutely wonderful immigration is. If you haven't yet had your daily cup of treacle, dip into "Our urban culture reflects heritage of immigrants":

Immigrants have come from across the world to leave their mark on Minneapolis. French fur traders and European settlers made their living in trade with the Native Americans living here for millennia. One hundred years ago it was Swedes, Norwegians and Eastern Europeans... [etc. etc. etc.]

...Despite a Minnesota tradition of welcome and strong social services, recent surveys have shown a strain in the fabric of generosity in our state. Some Minnesotans worry that immigrants put too high a burden on our public services and take our jobs.

Ah hah! I knew this editorial had a point. Apparently some Minnesotans - xenophobes all - are trying to inject some reality into O'Hara's multiculti fantasy world.

But if the post-9/11 world has shown us anything, it is that we live in state of global connectedness. As trade barriers have fallen and immigration has risen, the faces we see all around us are part of the new economy and the new society...

In other words, like it or not, this is what we're going to do, so you might as well just get used to it. As for the 9/11 bit, that's verging awfully close into Ward Churchill territory.

[...she goes on...] There is no better way to understand each other than to revel in the songs, drumming, dance, theater and spoken traditions of our neighbors. But it's not just celebrating diversity, it is celebrating our common life... [...she goes on some more...]

Think of her as a condescending, useful idiot, Sally Struthers of globalization and free trade.

I'll stipulate that immigration is great, if people like O'Hara are willing to fully disclose exactly why they and their associates are so much in favor of it and are willing to discuss the downsides as well.

Previously:
"[MN Governor] Pawlenty Asks Cities To Rethink Immigration Ordinances"
Richfield Minnesota gets infiltrated
MNDaily: "Bill would get Minnesota immigrants in-state tuition"
Counting the lies in Moccio / Fennelly screed

Posted to MultiCultiCult at June 4, 2005 12:35 PM

Comments

"French fur traders and European settlers"

That's pretty funny.

Why are some people so anxious to try to make it seem that, at this late point in its history, there is still no such thing as an American? The truth is, every modern nation is closedly identified with a specific race/ethnicity; for those having trouble with this regarding America, think 'Founding Fathers'.

Posted by: eh at June 5, 2005 11:02 AM