In December the Mexican government officially released a comic book that sanctions illegal aliens crossing our southern border. They claim it is to help
migrant worker with the title
The Guide for the Mexican Migrant, but upon viewing the comic book it shows illegal aliens crossing the Rio Grande, trapsing through Arizona,avoiding border patrol agents and instructs them on how to hide in American society so they aren't caught.
I'm a little late on covering the comic book and there is a lot of commentary across the web which I will list below.
There is an online version of the comic book at the Mexican government website here. You can also download a copy of the comic book here(758K PDF file).
There is a translated english version over at Is Full of Crap and QandO as well as at The Free Republic
Here's a quick excerpt from the Free Republic translation:
DANGERS OF CROSSING IN HIGH-RISK ZONES
Crossing the river can be very risky, especially if you cross alone and at night..
Thick clothing increases your weight when wet and makes it hard to swim or float.
If you cross in the desert, try to travel when the heat is not so intense.
Highways and towns are very far apart, so that it could take you several days to find roads and you will not be able to carry food or water for that long; you could even get lost.
Salted water helps you retain body fluids. Although you get more thirsty, if you drink salted water the risk of dehydration is lessened.
...
Avoid calling attention to yourself, at least while you are arranging your residence papers to live in the United States
The slap in the face is the last page which says:
This consular protection guide is not promoting the crossing [of the border] of Mexicans without legal documentation required by the government of the United States; its objective is to make known the risks implied and to inform about the rights of migrants regardless of their legal residence.
So after instructing on how to cross without getting caught and/or injured illegally they then state that the comic book is all about legally migrating. There's not much in the comic about legally migrating other than a sentence or two at the beginning which then quickly disolves into the ins and outs of getting across illegally.
Arizona Republic
The 32-page book, The Guide for the Mexican Migrant, was published in December by Mexico's Foreign Ministry. Using simple language, the book offers safety information for border crossers, a primer on their legal rights and advice on living unobtrusively in the United States.
Dramatic drawings show undocumented immigrants wading into a river, running from the U.S. Border Patrol and crouching near a hole in a border fence. On other pages, they hike through a desert with rock formations reminiscent of Arizona and are caught by a stern-faced Border Patrol agent.
The Mexican government is defending the comic.
Reuters
... Mexico's foreign ministry said the booklet was an attempt to save lives and inform migrants of the legal consequences of entering the United States.
"Last year over 300 Mexicans died in their attempt to enter the United States in search of a job and the government has the obligation to avoid that," Geronimo Gutierrez, the ministry's undersecretary for North American affairs told Reuters.
"The guide clearly states that the safe and appropriate way to enter any country is with a valid passport and a visa, and in no way promotes undocumented immigration," he added.
The official said some 1.5 million copies of the pamphlet had been distributed to several states in central Mexico with high migration rates.
Yeah it does clearly state that. In one sentence out of the whole book.
The book also covers the rights they have if caught including the right to not disclose their immigration status. It's really outrageous that rather than actually trying to discourage illegal aliens from making the trek and therefore reducing the death toll that the Mexican government notes above they would rather spend that time sending out instructions in a colorful manual that encourages and gives a sense of hope to those that may be contemplating the border hoping.
Tipped by: Michelle Malkin
Other Commentary:
Randy at A Little About Everything has a lot to say on this topic. Excellent read.
Common Sense Runs Wild is a Bush supporter who hates Bush's immigration stance, just like I do.
Another Day Closer who has it filed appropriately under the category of "WTF!"
Crystal Clear touches all the bases and brings out an open borders proponent who attacks her (linked below). Then they get into a scuffle at numerous other posts.
A Thousand Winding Roads an open border proponent who seems to think people in favor of enforcing immigration laws and requiring people to come here legally is a bad thing.
LoneWacko has a group of postings on the comic book.
The Stein Report
Say Anything
Hyscience
SlantPoint
First of all, people should be clear that the very own U.S. government SUPPORTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS from entering and working in this country. Why? Cheap labor boosts the economy and aids the big businesses who are in league with the "higher-ups" IN the government. It follows the same logic as those companies who open up plants and factories in other countries where they can employ (and exploit) people for the cost of next-to-nothing. Meanwhile many Americans still remain jobless.
Sure you'll get candidates up there "fighting for the American public" and telling you how they'll try to stop this "unjust invasion," but once they get up to a high enough position they'll get their beaks wet and then what? Just another empty promise.
In the '70's the U.S. attempted a major overhaul of deporting illegal immigrants like "Chief" suggested above. The government found this to be counter-productive and, as mentioned before, the economy suffered. Plus Americans don't usually humble themselves to work menial jobs, so there were many job vacancies, to say the least. Illegal immigrants do not "take" jobs, and if you're still not convinced blame AMERICAN big business for employing illegals over their own countrymen.
As for myself I'm Latino and I wish to exclude myself from those who have "grown to hate you" (as the post above mentions). I don't agree with that and I don't hate anybody. But looking back at history, this whole country was stolen from others through deception, invasion, bloodshed, and other means of trickery and force. The irony is that the southwestern states themselves were stolen from Mexico through illegal immigration BY Americans.
My opinion is that it basically all goes back to kharma and universal justice. Things happen as a result or consequence of something else and even "the most powerful nation in the world" is not exempt from this. To me, hearing someone complain about the immigration problem equates to, "We stole this land fair and square, what do you think you're doing?!" and I can't help but sigh from the hypocrisy.
Posted by: Ariel at
January 8, 2008 04:53 PM
