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Progress requires mutual respect
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Chris Simcox of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corp came to the Student Union Building Tuesday night.
Simcox’ presentation: “America’s Battle on the Border,” focused on border security in the United States. The room was full, and a line of people waited to get in. Boise City Police officers were present in case a riot
broke out.
The campus club Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan, (MEChA) brought a large following to protest the speech, wearing red shirts (the remnants of the NOT rally held at Boise State last November retrofitted to criticize Simcox). They sported iron-on slogans on their backs, statements such as “Take your hate and get off our campus!” and “End racism now.” A few had a depiction of a Minuteman with a prohibitory sign placed over it.
Simcox gave a slideshow presentation on what his organization’s goals were and how it went about accomplishing those goals. The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps Mission Statement reads: “To see the borders and coastal boundaries of the United States secured against the unlawful and unauthorized entry of all individuals, contraband, and foreign military. We will employ all means of civil protest, demonstration, and political lobbying to accomplish this goal.” Find out more information and check out www.minutemanhq.com.
The Minuteman Civil Defense Corp. patrols our borders but isn’t supposed to actually make contact with people crossing unless they are in need of medical attention. They alert the U.S. Border Patrol and leave actual apprehension to them. One of the slides depicted a woman Minutemen rescued from dehydration, as well as some tasteless photos of a dead Guatemalan and a decomposing body.
The main point throughout the presentation was the need to protect the borders against drug and human trafficking. Simcox also specified he wasn’t just talking about the Mexican border, but also the Canadian border and our coasts.
When the Canadian ambassador to the U.S., Michael Wilson, came to BSU this spring, he mentioned the issues his country faces on our northern border with drugs and illegal weapons being smuggled across. These are very real concerns we face.
Despite his legitimate concerns about illegal activities on the borders, Simcox was callous in that he didn’t suggest any solutions to the immigration problems. The most compassionate thing he said was that he was willing to compromise over illegal children to stay in America, and possibly their parents. He also made a few inflammatory remarks about what it means to be American.
It was definitely more of an assimilation outlook than the mosaic perspective.
It is the individuality of people that make America a great and diverse country, and people shouldn’t be required to conform. No “1984″ here!
Simcox has caused riots on other campuses, and has even worn bulletproof vests.
Most of the audience remained calm during the presentation, but MEChA members marched out in unison a little over an hour into the question/answer period. There was no riot, but there was anger in the room.
Both sides seemed to lack any kind of consideration for the other side. Some MEChA members were disruptive and rude, which negated their protest. Equally, Simcox and some of his supporters were offensive. Because of such attitudes and behavior nothing is getting resolved.
JACQUELINE WAYMENT
Assistant Opinion Editor