COMMENTARY: In his June 22 commentary, Heath Haussamen argued that separation of immigrant children from their families is part of a larger pattern built over generations. He concluded by saying, “Going forward, we must fight with the same zeal and unity to dismantle oppressive systems and stop unjust actions by our government regardless of which political party is in charge. There’s lots of work ahead.”
Which begs the question, “How do we take on such an enormous and complex challenge?” Here are a few thoughts for consideration.
Courtesy photo
Billy Garrett
To begin, I suggest that each of us ask, “What do I truly care about?” Injustice takes many shapes. Trying to personally confront every kind of abuse is an exercise in futility. I’m an architect with a long career in public service. I’ve chosen to work primarily — but not exclusively — on issues involving abuse of government power, the environment, and community development.
Second, it is useful — at least for strategic purposes — to divide issues of injustice into symptoms, systems of oppression, and root causes. For example, a child going hungry may be symptomatic of poverty and flawed food distribution systems, both of which are the result of a political ideology that favors corporate interests over basic human needs.
Work is needed on all these fronts. Feeding that child, providing access to fresh food where none currently exists, and campaigning for a candidate who supports a living wage are all essential actions — each in their own right and in concert with one another.
Third, oppressive systems do not usually change overnight. Only a combination of individual and collective efforts can sustain the kind of long-term campaign this work requires. The simple truth is that strength is in numbers, our voices (and votes) are our most effective tools, and change requires visible advocacy. So, reach out, speak out, and step out.
And finally, I believe that opposition is not enough by itself. We must offer an alternative to the oppressive systems we oppose.
In the tradition of American political values, this means balancing individual freedom with community responsibility, reaffirming the importance of self-government independent of corporate interests or big money, and tempering national unity with support for local, regional and global associations.
The oppression we face today is rooted in fear that the American Dream is slipping away. We need new ideas to counter ever-widening income gaps, “zero-tolerance” law enforcement, and social fragmentation.
It is time to engage every American in pursuit of a better future based on respect for all, affordable and accessible health care, better jobs, responsive government, sound environmental policy, responsible development, and life-long educational opportunities.
The American narrative is grounded in opposition to oppression. From rejection of the English monarchy to abolition of slavery and the defeat of fascism, our history is a story of people pursuing a noble vision while protecting their rights — and the rights of others. In the spirit of this tradition, I am confident that we will rise to the challenge before us.
Billy Garrett, a Democrat, is a Doña Ana County commissioner. Agree with his opinion? Disagree? NMPolitics.net welcomes your views. Learn about submitting your own commentary here.