Ethnic Cleansing?

November 1, 2007

There has been much talk about the issues surrounding Oklahoma's new immigration law, which takes effect today. The pros and cons have been well-aired. I doubt anyone needs me to issue a lengthy dissertation on the matter. So I won't.

I sympathize with illegals that face deportation. I understand that most are here to work and live a better life. They mean no one harm. And that's fine. But for me, the word "illegal" in the term illegal immigration kind of says it all.

If I drive down the road without buckling my seat belt, I'm not hurting anybody. But a cop will issue a citation to me anyway. The cop will do so because not wearing a seatbelt is illegal. And illegal acts bring negative consequences---even for born and bred American citizens.

I was born here. I've lived my entire life here. I've paid taxes here for decades. If I can't do something illegal and get away with, I'm afraid I can't see myself clear to support allowing non-citizens to walk in and live here illegally and get away with.

Sorry if that attitude offends anyone. But I find my stance reasonable.

All the above aside, if I needed a reason to throw my full support behind the new law, I got it last night while watching the local news. Some jerk went before TV cameras and accused this city, the sheriff and the Tulsa police of engaging in, and I quote, "ethnic cleansing."

That statement went well beyond standard hyperbole. It crossed the lines of reasonable discourse. And, as a Tulsa citizen, I took great umbrage to it.

Such an allegation makes it sound as if Mexicans, and others of Latin heritage, are being rounded up by cops, beaten, raped, tortured, imprisoned and shot. Nothing could be further from the truth.

On behalf of my city, I call upon Latin activist leaders to issue a public retraction of, and public apology for, this unjustifiable, horrible lie from hell.