Speech #940056969

Latino Americans. and Black Americans. who for so long have been excluded from justice and equality and meaningful assistance to opportunity. which compels me to take this stand. It makes no sense to take aid which millions of unemployed Americans desperately need. and give it to those whose need has not only not been determined. but whose need might not exist at all if it had not been for our folly in removing them from their own country in the first place. The logic of the whole refugee situation. from beginning to end. eludes me. The whole removal operation was haphazard and unplanned and uncoordinated. to say nothing of its being unjustified. Who decided which persons could qualify to become refugees? The decision was finally a circumstantial one: whoever clawed his way over an embassy wdll. or paid his way with bribes. or overpowered another in line. or had a friend among the American elite. or had been a past collaborator with the corrupt military. became a refugee. Who decided what reasons were sufficient for entry into the United States? As it turned out. the arbitrator was panic. fear of change. fear of bombingseven by Americansthe fulfillment of a lifelong dream. a sense of adventure. or a chance to share in the materialistic benefits long associated with the American presence. It certainly was not fear of the Communists or even of personal death that motivated most to come here. And no bloodbath resulted for those left behind. In fact. the New York Times reported: Refugees appeared to be fleeing in panic. rather than for political reasons ... Not one said it was because he or she hated or feared the communists. What rationalizations can then be summoned to defend a refugee assistance bill? Is it because we are saddled with an extra 120.000 or more persons we now know not what else to do with? Is it because other nations have refused to accept these we thought we could pawn off on them?