Is Nothing Sacred?

THE FACE OF IMMIGRATION REFORM?



Seriously, can it get any more bizarre than this? What started out as something of a joke on FreakingNews.com has turned into the rope over which the immigration tug-of-war is being contested. Seriously.
Actually, the web site is really interesting: it offers the opportunity to Photoshop a variety of faces in the news and sponsors contests to see who can be the most creative. Definitely off-center, but all in good, clean fun...at least Debbie Groban of Sarasota, Florida, thought when she did the Dora thing last year. Now, both sides have begun to use the photo to fuel the vitriol that seems to be emanating every day.
Dora, of course, has never been outed as far as where she is from or where she lives, but the clues offered by the righteous on the right say consider these items: 1. Salsa music often plays during her adventures. 2. the topography where she lives has pyramids. 3. There are tropical elements like palm tress and various animal friends like a monkey and an iguana. So...if not Mexico, certainly somewhere south of El Paso...thus, she's illegal and should be deported. Seriously, people believe this and actually say it out loud!
Opponents of the immigration law point to the obviously abused little girl and moan sympathetically. After all, Dora has taught a great number of our children to not only understand Spanish but gain a bit of acceptance for diversity. This is bad?
The voice of Dora belongs to a young woman whose grandparents were Cuban. She is an American citizen but proud of her heritage. Originally, of course, the voice belonged to a woman from Peru. However, this was 'way back before we got so interested/paranoid about immigration.
It's a cartoon, people! While illegal immigration is a definite problem, I think the oil from the Gulf of Mexico which will destroy the Gulf fishing and ecology is a far more pressing issue now.
I'm just glad my grandparents got here from Europe before all of this hysteria got started.