The recent sensationalized coverage of the H1N1 influenza strain in the United States has been used as the latest emotionally-charged platform against Mexican immigration.
They call it “Swine Flu” because the strain was correctly associated with pig farming. In fact, the strain of H1N1 that has received so much press coverage in recent weeks, actually originated on a California-based pig farm, although the huge corporate farm in question was jointly owned by American and Mexican partners. The seriousness of the strain’s prevalence should not be minimized. According to a Centers for Disease Control website updated as of May 5, 2009, 403 cases of the flu have been reported in humans, with one confirmed death.
Despite the facts, a trough-full of conservative talk show hosts have managed to blame the recent epidemic on the influx of “Mexican illegals and other immigrants” into the U.S. Some of the most egregious comments emerged from the gob of WTKK-FM Boston-based conservative talk show host Jay Severin, who was indeed suspended for such comments as, “So now, in addition to venereal disease and the other leading exports of Mexico – women with mustaches and VD – now we have swine flu.” He further described Mexicans as the “world’s lowest of primitives.” Explained Severin, “When we are the magnet for primitives around the world, and it’s not the primitives’ fault by the way, I’m not blaming them for being primitives, I’m merely observing they’re primitive.” Severin’s lips kept up the racist banter. “It’s millions of leeches from a primitive country come here to leech off you and, with it, they are ruining the schools, the hospitals, and a lot of life in America.”
While Severin was suspended from his talk show, he should have been fired outright. Unfortunately, to many Americans, such rhetoric is not only considered clever and accurate, but is often instrumental in shaping immigration policies by lawmakers who may be in agreement with the sentiments expressed. If Severin had uttered similar comments against African-Americans or Americans of Jewish descent, he almost certainly would have been fired. But immigrants not currently in favor, such as Mexican nationals or people from Muslim countries, are considered “fair game.”
A. Banerjee is a Houston immigration lawyer in Texas. Before selecting an immigration lawyer in Houston Texas, contact the Law Offices of Annie Banerjee or to learn more about Houston immigration lawyer, immigration lawyer in Houston, Houston immigration attorney, visit their information filled web site at Visatous.com.
