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Monday, December 14, 2009
9500 Liberty: An Exploration of Democracy and the Changing Face of America
Words Jay Ford
Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
9500 Liberty highlights a jarring and disconcerting scenario where, in real time, we can watch the tensions, fears, and anxieties surrounding illegal immigration in America ignite.
All this plays out in Prince William County, Virginia, a community only a few hours’ drive from Hampton Roads. The film captures jaw-dropping insensitivity, ignorance, and racism, much of which has grown from these insecurities. This documentary shows how a political perfect storm of a highly influential anti-immigration blogger, a politician looking for reelection, and a community unsure about what the new face of America will look like, and how all this created a climate of intolerance that led to the passage of an abusive law.
The film provides us with insight into the concerns driving the immigration debate in America, and the need for us to reconcile new social media to the democratic process.
In this film, an anti-immigration blogger in Prince William County named Greg Letiecq uses his site to bring like-minded folks together, and organize them into a political group. Greg uses his sway to amplify and exploit the fears within members of his community. His organization, “Help Save Manassas,” becomes the driving force behind a law that requires police to check the immigration status of anyone they have “probable cause” to believe is an illegal immigrant. Purposely vague, the measure legislated racial profiling, specifically targeting Hispanic members of the community, for the way they look, the way they speak, and any other unwritten standard. The almost easy passage of the bill illustrates the vulnerability our rights have to special interest groups creating false consensus. Through the work of a coalition of concerned citizens, politicians, civil rights advocates, and the directors of the film, the measure is eventually overturned. This film serves as a cautionary tale about how our democracy can be derailed, and how we often allow fear and misinformation to skew reality.
A scene from the film.
As the film progresses you are left with no question about the opinions of the directors, as you witness them testify before civil rights commissions against the measure, and take a much more adversarial tone in their representation of those responsible for resolutions passage. I tried to keep this in mind as I watched the film and found myself wondering on multiple occasions if people like, Greg Letiecq, could even exist. The inflammatory language he used and the things he allowed to be published on his website seemed unimaginable for one person. I uncomfortably laughed aloud at some items he let remain on his website, so that I might forget that human beings could feel this way towards one another.
Likewise, Cory Stewart, the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and the person who shepherds the legislation to its initial victory, leaves you feeling disillusioned, as if you just saw the full range of political stereotypes embodied in one man. The image provided is a man who latched onto a politically expedient issue in order to help get reelected, turned a blind eye to the blatant race baiting by his supporters, and undermined their exemplary Police Chief in order to win the public debate.
While interesting to watch, Chairman Stewart reinforces the image of the perpetually self-motivated politician that so many of us wish was not so, and leaves the viewer a bit disenchanted by the political process. One cannot help but throw a fist into the air accompanied by an “In your face” when you see his countenance collapse as the measure is repealed later in the film.
A disheartening lack of dialogue allowed anyone to step into the vacuum and define the issue as they pleased, giving a small group of people disproportionate political sway. This film illustrates how groups can manipulate people’s anxieties about the changing of times, and culture in general. It leaves you the viewer with questions about immigration, and the democratic process in the face of new technologies, but rather than presenting a roadmap for addressing these issues, the directors provide us with a representation of the voices weighing in, and the possible scenarios we may confront. As one of the directors, Eric Byler, explained to me, this film seems to bring both sides closer to the middle. Staunch anti-immigration individuals will certainly be given a sense of what it feels like to exist on the defensive side of the divide, and immigration supporters can sympathize with those who fear an erosion of their accustomed way of life.
It has been said that the immigration issue is at core a battle for the Soul of America. Watching this film, and in particular hearing mere children argue for the rights afforded to every U.S. citizen, left no doubt in my mind that this is in fact, a matter of the soul. Immigration forces us to confront the narrative that is the United States of America. Who are we as a people? Current demographic trends tell us that our generation will be the first to see America cease to be a majority white nation. What will this change? Immigration and open arms to all helped to make our country great, so how will we ultimately decide to handle this most recent wave of immigration?
I have no doubt that we as a nation will in the near future be facing tough choices regarding immigration policy. 9500 Liberty is a valuable resource for anyone who is looking to make an educated decision.
The film is showing tonight @ The Naro @ 7:15. For more on The Naro’s schedule, location, and films, click here.
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ABOUT THE WRITER
Believes the world would be a nicer place if we all made some of our own furniture and grew some of our own food. He has worked on various state and national political races around the region, before switching over to issues based campaigns, where he advocated for voting rights, universal health care, and the environment. He has taught grassroots activism, and happens to think it is pretty important. He believes passionately in environmental reverence, social equality, the power of collective action, and his ability to speak with his cat. He fancies himself a part-time philosopher and thinks that people should dance on their cars more often. Jay thinks that abolishing the hand shake and replacing it with mandatory five second hugs would go leaps and bounds in changing the world.
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this was a really informative article about something that i didn’t think could really happen in a liberal place like northern virginia. it’s a big reminder that, despite how they vote, people can still harbor xenophobic and racist tendencies and it’s just the right combination of hatred and pandering to phobias that bring out the worst in everyone. keep writing i’ll keep reading. ^.^
As someone who worked on a campaign in Prince William County that year, I can tell you there was no easily discernible partisan line among voters. There were Democrats who supported the hard line taken against undocumented immigrants and there were Republicans who saw through the ploy to use immigration as a wedge issue and tact in that year’s election and thought it wrong.
So what the is liberal position on illegal immigration? I am curious.
Wow, thanks for a very well-written, highly informative piece. Sadly, it is very sobering to encounter such kinds of human beings in this planet, let alone in this country.
I wish many people could see it to indeed, make an educated decision.
Yeah. This was certainly not a partisan matter. Ultimately, this was about racial profiling and how it conflicted with what we believe about equal treatment. Yermom, if I’m lucky altdaily will let me share my thoughts on immigration in the future, and I look forward to you tearing me apart.
The most important thing is to come see the movie tonight. There will be a discussion afterwards with some of the films creators, both of whom will be a great resource for those with questions.
I’m really interested in film that addresses immigration, esp. in my own community. But am I just missing it, I don’t see the time, date, or place where this will be screened? I’d like to try to come if possible.
Thank you.
Tonight at 7:15 at the Naro. I hope you can make it. There will be a discussion afterwards for those interested on weighing in on the topic.
I can’t come see the movie, but I would like to reiterate my question. What do liberals (or whatever you guys who ignore me think of yourselves as being) think we should do with illegal immigrants? I am just curious. I am not approving of this guy; I’m just curious as to what y’all think of illegal immigration.
As an admitted “liberal,” my first response is to say that I have no idea. Granting citizenship to someone who got into the country illegally seems to be promoting illegal entry. But kicking out people who have lived here for years and proven to be better citizens than many natural-born Americans doesn’t make sense to me either.
I would say that any ‘caught’ illegal immigrant should be allowed to stay (and be put on a path to citizenship) if they can prove that they a) left their home country due to poverty or persecution and b) are working, law-abiding additions to our American society experiment.
How do you prove those things? I have no idea. It would cost a zillion dollars and end up being totally subjective.
So, tail between my legs, I return to: I have no idea.
It is a good and fair question folks… We are talking about a group that is by very definition breaking the law. How should we deal with this? Round them up? Change the law or offer amnesty? Open the borders? This is a very complex question. How do you enforce immigration laws without crossing the very thin line into the realm of racial profiling? What do you think?
Let’s be clear, nobody is FOR illegal immigration. But this is not a simple, “Illegal is Illegal” issue as some might want to suggest.
My advice, go see the film.
“nobody is for illegal immigration.” Well, it looks like Your faddah is. Looks like you guys have a disagreement to resolve.
Hey! Was that the real antiBVBL.net admin? Did we have a celeb post?
the liberal view… would be favorable to progress or reform in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedoms possible befitting a freeman… is free from prejudice or bigotry, and a encompasses a tolerant attitude towards all. it is open-minded and not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc. and is characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts. it’s not always guaranteed by law/ secured by governmental protection of civil liberties…or certainly the “liberal” party. but, nonetheless, tolerance, compassion, and forebearance are THE MOST IMPORTANT ways to go about handling any issue. especially ones dealing with the treatment of other living beings. the liberal view would be to have no borders, because there would be no cause for a fencing in or zoning of our earth. the liberal view would hold no agressions, because we would all understand that everyone, no matter how different or unflattering to our lifestyle, is the answer to someone elses question. the liberal view would be free of agression and embrace all cultures… replacing words like “invader” or “alien” with “new friend” and not understand the concept of taking ones legal status into question when dealing with an issue of overstepping an invisible segregationm of our lands. we are one people. i have no nationality.
so putting aside the rhetoric, you are for illegal immigration I am guessing? No immigration laws at all I am guessing?
Great film! And good to meet you, Jay.
Great meeting you too!
As a US CITIZEN, born and raised, going through the process of bringing someone legally into the country…I have one simple suggestion.
Make the total cost of citizenship $19.99!
Immigration problem done.
What most people don’t know is that it can cost over thousands of dollars to become a citizen with all the documentation, application fees, biometric scans, etc. This doesn’t include the use of a lawyer (which isn’t necessary if you read the instructions)…so heaven forbid if “English” is not your first language.
I was born in Chile and feel lucky that I was able to immigrate to this country legally. But while in the U.S., I’ve met plenty of people — mostly students or tourists– who ended up staying after their visa expired. And the reason has always been about opportunities, and the ability to work, and to live away from the type of cataclysmic events, such as coup d’etats or economic disasters, that plague most of the world. Nobody has set out to become an “illegal,” but circumstances force some people to stay (or to cross a border), and it’s difficult for me to judge these people. I am a “liberal,” and I don’t advocate illegal immigration, but I understand why people make that choice. We constantly read about millions of people fleeing famine in Ethiopia or war in the Congo, and living on borders and we consider that a humanitarian emergency. We don’t blame those people and we don’t call them “illegals” for crossing those borders. In the U.S., we forget that we share a border with a third world country and we fail to see the reasons why so many people live in need in a crowded, often desperate world. We can either curse our fate that we live so close to extremely poor people or try to help them in their countries sustain a living. This anti-immigrant hysteria only brings out ugly instincts in people here, and it doesn’t address the fact that we live in a disastrous world in which billions of people are often living in desperate straits.