David Mas Masumoto, the Del Rey farmer and author, has an excellent column on the various terms we put on workers who come to the San Joaquin Valley to harvest our crops. He says they are "ghosts" because they are in the shadows of our society. Others call them undocumented workers, illegal aliens, unauthorized immigrants -- and those words say a lot about what those doing the labeling think about them.
Here's a quote from Masumoto's latest column:
"They escape the public spotlight, work underground and often demand little. In this election year, we have the opportunity to shed light on them. But the question is: How do they become visible? The words and terms we use to frame the debate will control the discussion."
Masumoto always offers a unique perspective in his column, which runs monthly in The Bee.
Yes, most farmworkers are here illegally but their work is needed here. We don't classify our citizens by legal or illegal thus we shouldn't classify the farmworkers in that light either. I would love to see an open call for those jobs to see how many of our own people would show up to do that job. My guess is it would be a short line. If these jobs were put out at schools you might get some high schoolers to work some.
I love Masumoto's pieces so much--I'm so happy he's a regular contributer to the bee
Doesn't being a citizen mean you are here legally Jackie?I think Mas has a fondness for the illegal aliens because his family profitted from them for years and breaking the law doesn't seem to be an issue for him.All his pretty words do not change that. What a hypocrite.
Brian,
You too are part of the same hypocrisy. Do you buy only certified undocumented worker-free food? Do you make your bed and clean your towels when you stay in a hotel? Do you do the dishes when you’re done eating in a restaurant? Do you insist on paying more for these services so only “legal Americans” will work these jobs?
Brian denigrates those who risk their lives to enter this country to eke out a living so he can buy lettuce for $1.25 a head instead of $5.50 a head. Instead of being concerned with terrorist entering our country (and the latest report from our government shows it is still fairly easy for terrorist to enter), Brian is concerned with people entering the country who want to clean up after him for minimum wage. How sad and unchristian.
Brian yes being a citizen means you are here legally and the illegals come here to work in the fields which has to be done but the american citizens think they are above that type of work. Mas is just thankful that someone will come and work the fields.
I have a judgement I apply to myself-I'd be a hypocrite to say I'm not a hypocrite.How about you Wayne-you know very little about me but that's OK because I'm comfortable in my skin and not into self loathing.I've lived amongst and worked with aliens of varying legal status for close to 30 years.I know what I've done to assist them and I know at times I have been and may still be part of the problem. It's high time we all sucked it up and did what is best for CA and the country Secure the borders,hold employers responsible and bring these folks out of the shadows and hold them accountable while crafting a sensible solution for this mess. Doesn't Mexico have some culpability in this? Are you comfortable with the status quo? Do you want to keep these folks down while they burden our resources at the same time? Dr.Wayne- can you help us fix our country.
If the Mexican people spent half as much time trying to change their own country as they spend trying to get us to make things great for them here then their country would be a better place and somewhere that they would want to stay. Businesses are going to Mexico so they can make more profit because we don't make it lucritive for them here. Most things that we buy American are made elsewhere. Change is needed for our economy and our own people.