The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming is a 1966 award-winning movie about a Soviet submarine grounded off the coast of New England and the dramatic comedy that results. It was made at the height of the Cold War and brings home the concept of the “Red Scare” experienced by our country during the latter half of the 20th Century.
It was followed in 1984 by Red Dawn, a film set in Colorado about the coming of World War III after the disbanding of NATO. In the movie, America is attacked by the Soviet Union, the Warsaw Pact nations and their Latin American allies. Today, distant echoes of the Cold War are still in play as Russia makes war on Ukraine. The echoes include the actors and armaments being supplied by the West and the political rhetoric being voiced particularly against NATO and its leader the United States.
But contrary to the external threat America faced from the Soviet Block in the 20th Century, the new “invasion” being played out on our southern border are by asylum seekers especially from Latin America. However, let us make one thing clear, it is not Mexican immigrants that are clogging up our southern border as many in this country think or would like to believe.
Along with inflation and deficit spending that resulted from the effort to combat the effects of a 3-year COVID Pandemic on our economy, two other issues are frequently mentioned: the southern border and fentanyl. Both appear to be blamed on Mexico as if there was some sinister government sponsorship of drug cartels and Mexican labor coming to the United States.
The opioid crisis was not invented by Mexico, but rather, is a result of the many habits and tastes develop in this country for illicit drugs and having the money to buy them. Just like the taste for liquor during Prohibition and the ability to purchase it created the Mafia we are doing the same with drugs and drug cartels.
Ironically, it was only when the children of well-to-do families became part of the 60+ million drug and alcohol abusers in this country that we began to hear complaints and blame. To be sure, the money that bankrolls the drug cartels and the arms to protect those interests in Mexico and Latin America largely comes from American and European users.
Solving the opioid crisis in America is in large part also a solution to the drug cartel problem. The issue was created and is being created in this country and it needs to be addressed here.
When Donald Trump initiated his campaign for the 2016 election he did it on the backs of Mexican immigrants calling them rapists, criminals and drug traffickers. Although he also referred to immigrants from other places, the impression left Mexicans as the target of hatred. Although immigration from Mexico no longer contributes significantly to the U.S. labor market, the general feeling is that it is Mexicans and not asylum seekers are the ones that are coming in.
This together with related conspiracy theories contributes to this hatred and encourages further division. People just refuse to differentiate between Central Americans, Cubans, Venezuelans, Haitians, Ukrainians, Russians and Mexicans and do so because it seems to be good politics.
The fact is that Mexico is experiencing immigration pressures on both its northern and southern borders and they are more severe than those faced by the United States. It is also true that Mexico is already here with us.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of la Voz bilingüe. Comments and responses may be directed to news@lavozcolorado.com.
