Irony, Xenophobia and Hypocrisy

Interesting that Benjamin Franklin, the Bostonian turned Philadelphian and among the founding fathers (and even among his contemporaries throughout the world) perhaps the most cosmopolitan, first demonstrated the seeds of American xenophobia as he considered German immigration into Pennsylvania prior to 1750.

A factual study of our history (rather than a mere indoctrination into our propaganda) makes clear that irony pervades our nation of immigrants who, once accepted here, seem to almost automatically become xenophobes.

Of course, our xenophobes now come in two principal flavors, blatant (i.e., Republicans) and hypocritical (Clinton Democrats).

If only such hypocrisy had lasting benefits rather than merely using immigrants as political pawns. Of course, the Democratic Party has for the past century been an odd mixture of pawns all too willing to subvert their own interests for a few pats on the head and “attaboys”. Blacks, Hispanics, union members, so willing to be consistently betrayed.

If only all such pawns rejected that role and recalling and honoring their roots and real interests, became political forces of their own.

Perhaps a confederation of “Former Pawns United”.
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© Guillermo Calvo Mahé; Manizales, 2017; all rights reserved