The following is a letter to the editor responding to an article about the 9500 Liberty Project - See blog post "Nativism on Film: The 9500 Liberty Project" from November 3, 2007.
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Stirring a Melting Pot in Prince William
Washington Post
Saturday, November 17, 2007; A16
The Nov. 3 front-page story "Raw Look at Immigration Crucible" described the attempt of filmmakers Annabel Park and Eric Byler to deepen the debate in Prince William County on illegal immigration.
During the past few months, this issue has been promoted as a "crisis" by a county politician, but the debate has been based on no credible, objective information. Instead, it has been an attempt to elicit negative emotions from the residents in a way that divides the community and garners votes for the politician.
Part of this nation's economy has been based on the labor of undocumented workers for decades, if not centuries. Would this have continued for so long if it were not beneficial? We have seen no cost-benefit analysis of the current situation.
It is well documented that it takes three generations for assimilation to occur in immigrant families, yet people are now clamoring for instant assimilation. We have been given no objective information to support this expectation for recent immigrants, illegal or otherwise.
Whenever someone sets out to stir people up based solely on negative feelings, the only one who benefits is the instigator. Ms. Park and Mr. Byler are exposing this issue for what it is, and I applaud their effort.
MARGARET GRIFFIN
Manassas
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/16/AR2007111601829_pf.html
image: taken from Liberty by Peter Max http://images.artnet.com/artwork_images/428/216424t.jpg
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