Netroots Nation: Going to Pittsburgh

categories: Advocacy and Activism, History of Migration

Published August 11, 2009 @ 12:17AM PT

I have the opportunity this week not only to attend Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh, but I'll also be part of a panel discussing social change and the pro-migrant blogosphere (Friday at 4:30 p.m.--stop by if you are able). My co-panelists are Kety Esquivel of NCLR, Edmundo Rocha (a.k.a. XP), Dee from Immigration Talk with a Mexican-American, and the ubiquitous Prerna. I'm looking forward to finally meeting people I've known online for what seems like forever (but is certainly far shorter).

I'm also stoked at the prospect of getting to know my co-bloggers at change.org better, as some of them will be in attendance. I am continually impressed by their awesomeness. Case in point: Gay Rights blogger Mike Jones got another international corporation to confirm its commitment to LGBT rights.

Perhaps, though, Netroots Nation won't be the place to air my emerging doubts about the moniker "progressive" in light of Aristide Zolberg's indispensable history of immigration in the U.S., which I'm slowly working my way through. As it turns out, early 20th-century progressives were at the forefront of the growing restrictionist movement, figuring they could utilize immigration policy to purify the nation, ridding the body politic of unhealthy influences like its Jewish and Chinese communities. Hopefully I'll be able to firmly distinguish modern progressivism from its historical antecedents and my mind will be at peace once again.

But given the current state of the nation, I have a few doubts.

Share this Post

Comments (6)

Pray tell how anyone can rid our country of Jews, the Chinese or any other ethnic group if they are citizens of this country or legal immigrants? I know of no such movement.

We are all pro-"immigrant" or at least most of us are. Again I see the word "restrictionist" being used. I find that very offenseive as a label being used on law abiding Americans who only want our immigration laws enforced. All laws are restrictive. That is why they are called laws.

Posted by Mark Lindley on 08/11/2009 @ 05:39AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
Well, given your deplorable ignorance of American history, past or present, I vote for "The Ignorati" -- how's that strike you? But the term "restrictionist" does seem more polite.

Posted by a d on 08/11/2009 @ 02:49PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Mark
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Let us know how it goes, Dave. I'm a little envious that I can't be attend, so I want hear all about it! By coincidence, I'm reading Matt Bai's The Argument: Billionaires, Blogger, and the Battle to Remake Democratic Politics, a pretty controversial book among the bloggers themselves -- or so I'm told. Not sure I agree with the premise, but it's a fun read...and it's got a great cast of characters -- everyone from Markos Moulitsas Zúniga (who doesn't come off very well) and Jerome Armstrong to George Sorros. Well, say hi to Dee for me. :-)

Posted by a d on 08/11/2009 @ 03:03PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by a
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I know all about American history but what has that to do with today's immigration laws? No need to call me ignorant or any other inflammatory names. It is childish and immature. Why can't you discuss this issue civily?

Posted by Mark Lindley on 08/12/2009 @ 05:40AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
More than happy to, Mark. But if you truly wish to discuss this issue civilly, try being civil. Keep in mind that we don't show up on your favorite anti-immigrant blogs just to fling mud at people. Tell you what...if you'll agree to stop calling our undocumented friends "illegals," "criminals," or "invaders," etc., we'll be happy to refer to your side by any name you like (save "pro-America" because this implies that our side is not, which is misleading). The ball's in your court, Mark. It's up to you to decide what kind of game to play: civil or mean-spirited. Just saying.

Posted by a d on 08/12/2009 @ 10:49AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Mark
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Please show where I have been uncivil or threw mud at anyone "first". Thanks!

By the way I nearlly always refer to whom you call "undocumented" as those in our country illegally. I have never called them criminals per se. I don't recall calling them invaders either in here. Although anytime anyone enters another one's home uninvited they are commonly called "invaders". I don't believe in being PC just to appease someone. I use words and terminology that are factual.

I doubt that you could ever be civil in a pro-laws forum or blog. I never came in here with guns ablazing insulting anyone. If I have made any deragatory remarks it was in retaliation of being targeted first. Try some soul searching for the truth about me and try reading my posts again and you will see that is exactly how things have gone down in here. But I have found that is what many pro-advocates do, they twist the whole scenario around to be something it wasn't to take the guilt off themselves.

Posted by Mark Lindley on 08/14/2009 @ 08:07PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Mark
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

David is an attorney in Philadelphia, PA, where he helps immigrants to the U.S. navigate the complex immigration legal system. Views he expresses at change.org are his alone and don't represent the views or opinions of his employer, Nationalities Service Center. The information contained on this site is intended for educational and advocacy purposes only.