Posted 2 years, 6 months ago in the wee hours by oso
A rare double post from Global Voices. (refresh the page in your browser to see the translation formatting)
Though International Workers Day (better known as “May Day”) was first established in the United States after the Haymarket Riot, government fear of spreading socialism caused then-President Grover Cleveland to adopt the September commemoration of Labor Day as the official federal endorsement. As a result, many - if not most - Americans did not know what May Day is nor what it celebrates.
That has changed this year, however, thanks to the Great American Boycott, or in Spanish, El Gran Paro Americano. Or “El Boicot.” Or, “A Day without an Immigrant.” Or, the “Nothing Gringo Boycott.” In fact, as we shall soon see, the titles for the day are as varied as its participants. Bloggers on both sides of the border have expressed conflicted feelings about the cause, which includes an international boycott against all products of American-based companies in a show of solidarity against the bill “H.R. 4437.”
Eduardo Domínguez of Monterrey, Mexico acknowledges in his post “Boicoteando” that:
Hay cientos de razones por las cuales estar a favor o en contra del mentado boicot que se haría en México a los productos gringos este primero de mayo.
A mi gusto, es cándido pensar que Washington se intimidará por un boicot de esta naturaleza, porque, seamos honestos, nos gusta lo gringo y a lo gringos lo mexicano (toda proporción guardada) y nadie quiere cambiar eso. Give me Mcallen or give me death. Eso del boicot pareciera ser un “Hoy no compro gringo. Mañana sí”. La verdad no hay mucha ganancia por ahi.
According to my own tastes, it’s simplistic to think that Washington will be intimidated by a boycott of this nature because, let’s be honest, we like what’s American and we like Americans. Give me McAllen [a Texas border city popular for weekend shopping trips by Northern Mexicans] or give me death. All this talk of the boycott seems to be “today I won’t buy gringo, but tomorrow sure.” Honestly, there’s not much won in that.
Domínguez goes on to say that if Mexicans are serious about making social change, that they should start in their own country.
Raúl Ramírez of the popular Mexico City-based design blog Isopixel, makes note of just how difficult a true boycott against American products is in our globalized world.
Muchas cadenas de emails piden apoyar a los migrantes de este lado de la frontera, no comprando productos gringos, algo complicado por la proliferación de mercancías provenientes de Estados Unidos. Además es harto complicado estar buscando de donde demonios proviene un producto para consumirlo o no. Salvo las multinacionales muy reconocidas como Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Mc Donald’s, Starbucks y Domino’s. Mi mismo proveedor de hosting es americano, así que ni modo de no conectarme.
Desde aquí nuestra solidaridad con nuestros compatriotas indocumentados en una tierra ajena.
From here we offer our solidarity to our undocumented compatriots in a far land.
Hector Centeno says he will join the boycott, but then wonders if the sushi restaurant he plans on eating at is an American chain.
Quoting a news item from Notimex, Eduardo Arcos titles his post, “the boycott in Mexico could amount to 36 billion dollars in lost revenue.” Attempting to clarify the confusion of which companies are American and which are not, Arcos mentions that the popular convenient store chain, Oxxo belongs to Coca-Cola, but that Starbucks, Domino’s, Burger King, and Popeye’s “belong to Grupo Alsea, which in reality is Mexican.” But when someone suggests boycotting the internet because it was “invented by Americans,” Arcos responds that he believes that the internet belongs to everyone, concluding that, “what many simply don’t understand is that this boycott is a symbolic form of supporting the boycott being carried about by the Latinos in the United States.”
Still the suggestion of boycotting the internet creates a debate in the comment thread over whether American products should just not be purchased or not be used at all. When Arcos contends that using an American product is not the same as purchasing it, “DRG” replies:
no trates de defenderte diciendo que usar no es lo mismo que comprar y por eso está bien, porque hasta vos te das cuenta que ese argumento hace agua por todos lados. para usar algo tenés que haberlo adquirido antes. o haberlo robado. como sea. es un acto de consumo igualmente. además, qué sentido tiene boicotear los productos estadounidenses donde sea *UN DÍA* si el resto de los días se vuelven a consumir (sea de la manera que sea, comprándolos, hablando positivamente de ellos -cofapplecoff- o como sea) como si fueran vitales. ni los propios latinos en EEUU van a dejar de hacerlo. peeero… es más fácil no ir a comer la hamburguesita del día y sentirse revolucionario por ello que hacer algo al respecto…
Another commenter, Karina, also says she is against the boycott.
Ayer (no recuerdo el nombre) decia que la mejor manera de apoyar el boicot es generando más empleos en México.
Femsa es una empresa mexicana por lo mismo no estoy de acuerdo en dejar de comprar productos hechos en México. Eso de boicotear a empresas que generan empleos en México como que no le veo caso.
Femsa [the bottler of Coca-Cola in Mexico] is a Mexican business, which is why I don’t agree with not buying products that are made here in Mexico. All this talk of boycotting companies that create jobs in Mexico doesn’t make any sense to me.
Some Latino bloggers in the United States, despite their clear solidarity, also feel conflicted about joining the school and work walkouts. Lotería Chicana, the weblog of a Mexican-American graduate student at UCLA, explains how she came to the difficult decision of participating in today’s protests despite skipping out on her new job.
Although I respect decisions to go to work, I know that I had to change my mind. I thought of my grandparents who came here with several children in hopes of a better life. Although my parents and their families did not come as undocumented immigrants, I know well that I have a number of extended family members and good friends who do not have that privilege.
“Xoloitzquintle,” who describes himself as “a thirty-something freelance anthropologist and university instructor” is also conflicted. In the end he says:
It seems like this immigrant will be around on Monday. I will not buy anything and I will probably attend the rally again, but my commitment to teaching is greater than my immigrant solidarity.
This notion finds resonance with other Latino teacher-bloggers. Jennifer, a professor in Texas who recently held class at a protest against H.R. 4437, comments:
i’m also teaching on monday. i had my reseravations, but it’s the last week of school, and my students are doing group presentations. i canceled class on april 10th, but we don’t have any more days to “make up.” anyway. i do plan on participating in the economic boycott that day…
“MsAbcMom,” a Panamanian-American teacher in California explains her decision to hold class today:
While I support the boycott, I also support my student’s need for an education. All but one of my students are either immigrants themselves or children of immigrants. The majority of the kids in my class come from very modest, humble and hard working families. Their parents value their education tremendously and have done an excellent job of instilling this value in their children … I guess you could say that I feel like I will be doing my part in participating in the boycott by coming to work and educating these immigrant children, mi gente, on that day.
Regarding the question of whether or not she’ll discuss the boycott with her students:
I am a little torn on this subject too. Part of me thinks that I need to keep my personal politics out of the classroom. My students think that everything I say is what is right. While I kind of like that, I want to make sure that I don’t abuse that power I have over them. It is important that I help them to be independent critical thinkers. The subject will probably come up though and we will discuss it in our circle/calendar time. If it doesn’t though, I might even bring it up myself. We do discuss current events during our circle time so it isn’t like it is something out of the ordinary.
It is law student César Garcia who most passionately articulates his participation in “El Gran Paro” in a post that was also published on AlterNet.
Some have noted that, historically, one-day boycotts have little lasting economic impact. Consumers simply shop a bit more the day before or the day after. Such criticism is valid of boycotts intended to bring the targeted businesses to their knees. That is not my goal, nor that of the thousands who I will join.
I do not intend to wreak economic havoc on any business. After all, their economic well-being provides jobs for immigrants. The millions of people who have taken to the streets in recent weeks have done so expressly to protect the ability of immigrant workers to work.
Instead, I will cease my economic activity on May 1 to remind our legislators that this economy functions only because immigrants carry it on their shoulders as workers and consumers.
I will join the boycott to remind our legislators that they serve me. Their distant debates are my concerns, the concerns of my family, friends, and neighbors. Yes, I am watching the discussion in Washington. And on May 1, I will remind them that I have not stopped paying attention.
But John Guzman, a native of Colombia who has lived most of his life in the United States, disagrees:
I am not boycotting anything. In fact I urge everyone to go to work and not observe this movement. People need to understand the issues that they are fighting for and what they are going to be able to accomplish with their efforts. This movement is not going to help anything. Sure it might illustrate the buying power of Hispanics in this country, or their impact on some cities with a high concentration of Hispanics. But then what? Whose cries are going to be heard? Whose demands would be met?
I have felt like an outsider since I moved to the U.S. I am sure my position on this subject is not going to make me new friends in the community. I am sorry but I love America, I love the dream that I fight for every single day and I wish people would try to fight just as hard instead of waiting for a favor or a handout.
This is just a small, though hopefully representative sample of what bloggers from both sides of the border have been saying about today’s boycott. Of course, a thin slice of cyber-chatter cannot be taken as a measurement of overall opinion, but it does go to show that complex reactions have been inspired by a complex movement.
Well aren’t you the cyber-ethnographer?
What I find interesting is the contrast between the personal accounts that you have summarized and the image being put forth in the “mainstream” media.
For heaven sake, the “expert” to analyze the days events on the “Today Show” this morning was Pat I-am-a-sensible fascist Buchanan.
And all the hoopla surrounding the “Spanish” American national anthem. Who the Hell cares? Most people don’t know the words in English!
Not only do immigrants (not just Latinos/Latin American/Mexicans/(illegal) aliens) have to fight ignorance, they have to struggle with the constant misrepresentation in all aspects of life.
If we are to succeed (all of us, because we are in this together) we will have to overcome the many obstacles that lie ahead. Do we have the will? I am not sure. I do believe that things will get worse, more contentious, and probably nastier in tone before it gets better.
I’m in North LA and I expected to see a great difference today. Nevertheless, cafeteria workers are here, repairs are still going on at the hotel where I’m staying, and things look normal. My Costarican coworker was blissfully unaware of the boicott until I mentioned it. I don’t know what to make of it, I’m expecting that as the day progresses I’ll get to see a little bit more of what it’s supposed to be about.
Os, thanks (to you and Cindylu) for sharing all of these varied opinions over what is going to take place today. Both of you are right as many of us, Mexican-American, legals are conflicted. I believe it’s time that we heed more attention to the immigrants in this country (of all races and cultures) and at times I think what is taking place today will only separate the asians, the latin american, and the european immigrants that should also fall under this cause.
The boycott to me becomes a blurry matter. What will it really do?
I know some folks are scared there’s going to be chaos, but quite frankly, I highly doubt our entire country will fall to it’s feet. However, all of this—I am glad—is finally opening up dialogue.
I want this to continue.
Cindylu, pondered whether she should even participate, and I felt the same way. I work at a private university that caters a lot to hispanics—but I also work at an IT department that has nothing to do with illegal immigration. Even then, most of my co-workers are taking time off, in observance of today.
I’m doing it too.
My fiancee went to work today, and she was confused. She doesn’t know what to think. She doesn’t quite understand. And as I drove her to work today, I tried to explain, as I have been for the last few weeks, why something like this is important to me, and to everyone else. Should she have stayed home?
No, there are countless other ways to express solidarity, compassion, and understanding about this movimiento popular than just a boicot.
Xolo,
I agree with your pessimism. Nativism will always trump tolerance. No one cares that we’re all “newcomers” in one way or another. I really appreciate you pointing out the “contrast between the personal accounts that you have summarized and the image being put forth in the “mainstream” media.” Because that difference is really what Global Voices is all about. It’s a daunting task to dig deeper on international issues than the mainstream media is willing to offer, but in all honesty, I think that GV is the best place to start.
Medea,
I can’t wait to read your reflections. And … I think that when we meet, I should take you for a real tour of sorority houses - it’s even worse in real life.
Ces,
I don’t think I got enough sleep last night to effectively articulate my own thoughts about the boycotts, but I do see a lot of complexity, lots of contradictions, and a little hypocrisy. I’m gonna go take a nap and then cycle around the city with my camera. it’ll be interesting to see what the day brings us.
[...] Here is a random sample of posts about May Day Protests. [...]
Oso:
I was so wrong in my assumption that most kids would attend. I only had 7 show up. I was so happy that so many students and their parents took part in the protest today. At the same time, I was happy to see the 7 who showed up. They came to school today especially eager to learn since our state test is two weeks away. After work, I took my daughter to a local rally. At the end of the day I felt very fulfilled and very positive. Today, from what I saw in person, on FLICKR and on tv, was a beautiful demonstration of peacefully spreading our word to others in our city, state, nation and to the world.
¡Si se puede!
It’s true that there were conflicted feelings. As a teacher, it concerned me that so many were absent (given the loss of per diem rates that fund the schools), but encouraged to finally see some activism and engagement. As an observer of U.S. history and culture, it was exciting to see May 1 celebrated by workers in this country. Most of all, I hope it serves the purpose of consciousness raising. “Hoy marchamos, mañana votamos”.
Oso said:
“I agree with your pessimism. Nativism will always trump tolerance.”
(Sorry about that improvized quote, I can’t figure out how to quote passages)
Where I feel uncomfortable is this whole idea of nativisim…it is where the battle turns into a Chicano nativism vs Anglo nativism. Nativism is one of the aspects of (at least some sections of) the Chicano movement that I’ve always had an issue with. It is the waving of the Mexican flag at protests, but not as a symbol of cultural pride (which I have no problem with) but as a symbol of Mexico against the invading power of the United States, it is the view that the Mexican immigration is not just a physical movement of people in search of opportunity, but a political movement of taking back the land that was originally stolen from Mexico (who of course originally stole it from the indigenous).
Most of the time when I hear talk about liberating Aztlan, I make excuses for it, recognizing that all political movements need a concept around which to increase the sentiment of community and therefore create a cohesive political unit that can be mobalized. In that respect Aztlan, or liberating it, are myths the movement has created to sustain itself. But at the same time its obvious they are more than purely rhetorical concepts, and that they do help create a nativism vs nativism instead of a dialogue to try to seriously address our concerns about civil rights and our concepts of citizenship or who we believe has legitimate claim to be here.
Immigration is not an issue that is cut and dry, when the discussion gets framed in an “us” against “them,” or a pro vs anti-immigrant(ation) discourse, it anticipates a more neuanced discussion of the situation, as well as our ability to asses in what ways it affects our society. What the benefits and the possible drawbacks of mass immigration are, whom it may harm (and benefit) the most in our communities, and in what ways those negative aspects might be able to be ameliorated through policy. Or whether, rather than centering on slogans like “keep on crossing,” it might be more productive to discuss what could be done to decrease the push factors in Mexico (or other countries) and the pull factors here in the US that lead people to see their only salvation as being forced to leave their families and communities behind in order to travel thousands of miles away from home to eke out a meager living in a foreign land.
I truly believe in defining myself as a global citizen, one who (while recognizing the affects that our location has on who we are) does not define himself by any affinity to a political territory. I realize it is more of an ideal that I strive for than a reality, as I realize that the concept of “global citizenry” is to some extent bullshit as long as we still place an unequal value on the different political territories (and those who come from them). I also realize that nationalism can be an important tool to fight oppression, but I think it needs to be used (if it is to be used at all) with a serious recognition of its shortcomings and negative aspects.
Visit beautiful Puerto Vallarta and see corruption in its natural enviornment. Look closely at the many varieties of police -local, state, federal, naval - (PV has a rust-bucket, WWII surplus destroyer to chase drug smugglers (ho,ho,ho)) See the pick-up trucks zooming by filled with handcuffed miscreants headed for nowhere - visit your friendly local bank guarded by a uniformed machine-gun toter and offer your Travelers Check to the poor wretch of a girl whos hands are stained blue from counting 100 peso notes.See the women clerks munching tacos at lunch hour outside at a taqueria. One peso por favor and we guarantee the iguana meat is fresh-killed. THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TREATS ITS OWN PEOPLE LIKE SHIT! Do you wonder why they leave?