In the early 20th century it was not unusual in both the
United States and Western Europe for a naïve nationalism to mix with progressive
views about abortion and population control. The ultimate mix layered all of this
with anti-immigration views and, yes, racism. The layering continues into the
21st century. Today on ChurchandWorld, Hans Cornelder linked to an
article at Polizette, “Southern
Poverty Law Center Turns Leftist Bully: Once-important civil rights
organization has become liberal propaganda machine, according to new lawsuit.”
The article is about a lawsuit the Federation of American Immigration Reform is
filing against a hate-watch group The Southern Poverty Law Center. The article
caught my attention because in the past, starting more than twenty years ago,
when writing about racism I traded information with the SPLC.
Although I disagree with SPLC’s
stances on homosexuality, I applaud their articles on racism and anti-Semitism.
They, in fact, posted several articles on the vile anti-Semitic Veterans Today
after I alerted them to its content. So I
decided to explore the Federation of American Immigration Reform. I was surprised
to say the least, although perhaps I should not have been. The organization was
birthed not from some fundamentalist sect but rather from those who have
embraced population control and abortion. And, of course, environmentalism
figures in the mix. In their early
beginnings they had and in some cases still do, close ties to Planned Parenthood.
John H. Tanton was the
founder and chair of the Federation of American Immigration Reform (FAIR). In a
footnote to an appendix written by Tanton, he points to his involvement
with Planned Parenthood and other organizations concerned with population
control:
“In pursuit of his demographic and immigration policy
interests, Tanton has served as organizer and president of Northern Michigan
Planned Parenthood (1965-71); as chair of the National Sierra Club Population Committee
(9171-74); as a member of the National Zero Population Growth Board (1973-75);
as chair of its Immigration Study Committee (1973-75); as its national
president (1975-79); as organizer (1979) of the Federation of American Immigration
Reform (FAIR) and its chair (1979-87); and as a board member of Population/Environment
Balance (190-80).[1]
Tanton’s wife, Mary Lou, who was involved with his various
organizations was an advocate for abortion. Her essay on the subject was
printed in the Charlevoix Courier in 1969.[2]
Dan Stein, now the president of FAIR, complains, according the
Polizette article that “"The
SPLC is deeply invested in promoting mass immigration, bullying political
opponents into silence, and is nothing more than a daily smear machine
uninterested in the free exchange of ideas. It uses the same ad hominem tactics
year in and year out to try to manage political speech in the interests of its
own agenda." But what about FAIR’s immigration ideas. On their site they
are offering a comprehensive immigration reform plan they hope President elect Donald
Trump and congress will buy into, “Fair
Immigration Priorities for the 2017 Presidential Transition: A Special Report
from the Federation for American Immigration Reform.”
The report is long and needs
a great deal of analysis. However, it should be noted that the plan calls for
no amnesty at all. No medical attention or schooling for illegal alien
children. In fact, it calls for greater limitations on legal immigration. It is definitely an anti-immigration document.
It has two core concerns. One that illegal aliens are causing horrific problems
in the United States:
“Illegal immigration and
unchecked legal immigration are detrimental to the quality of life in the
United States. The American family is increasingly bearing the costs of urban
sprawl, environmental degradation, traffic congestion, increased crime,
overburdened health care, overwhelmed public schools and debt-ridden state and
municipal governments—all results of uncontrolled immigration. The fiscal costs
of immigration, legal and illegal, have always been substantial, but with the recent
economic downturn, these costs have become even more burdensome. The social,
cultural and political costs are being felt more acutely as we receive immigrants
in numbers too large to be successfully incorporated into our way of life and assimilated
into our communities.”
And secondly that America’s immigration
policies should be absolutely focused on the needs and desires of United States’
citizens and therefore only those offering exceptional skills should be
admitted. On
the introduction page of this paper FAIR states:
“The U.S. immigration system
must be reformed to reflect broad national interest, not the narrow special
interests that seek cheap labor and increased political influence. This means
ending illegal immigration, reducing overall levels of immigration and only
admitting immigrants who have the education and skills to succeed in 21st
Century America.”
While true conservatives
complain about the brutality of the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, FAIR complains
about what is called the Mariel Boatlift when 125, 000 Cubans escaped from
Cuba. They write in their policy plan, “Stretching
back to the Mariel boatlift and beyond, the United States has periodically been
faced with mass migration events. The recent Unaccompanied Alien Minor crisis
on the southern border clearly demonstrates that a comprehensive border control
strategy requires a robust and sustainable capacity to confront and manage
these migrant surges.”
While it is true that Castro
released some criminals and convicts to make that journey, nonetheless many
Cubans found freedom in the United States and were welcomed here by their
families.
The Southern Poverty Law
Center would of course not complain about FAIR’s connection to abortion
advocacy but they do have important information including FAIR’s connections to
racist ideals. Their article “Federation
for American Immigration Reform” is important and factual.
In
the Federation for American Immigration Reform one sees, as I have stated, a
merging of progressive views of population control including abortion, and
nationalism tinged with racism, supposedly for the sake of environmentalism. There
are several groups connected to this organization all concerned with
immigration and population control. Californians
for Population Stabilization (CAPS) is one. Another is The Social Contract Press.
Psalm one tells the faithful that we
are blessed when we do not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the
path of sinners or sit in the seat of scoffers. Wickedness is growing ramped,
may we be wise and discerning. And have mercy on the foreigner and the refugee.
[1] Appendix
B End of the Migration Epoch? Time for a
New Paradigm by John H Tanton, in Mary
Lon, John Tanton a Journey
into American Conservatism by John F. Rohe,
[2] Appendix
C Ibid. (A 1969 essay in the Charlevoix Courier by Mary Lou Tanton advocating for abortion. An appendix to Mary Lon, John Tanton a Journey into American Conservatism by John F. Rohe. )
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