First, let us analyze, the video. All through the video, several pictures are shown of struggling Latinos and of them protesting. Both of those pictures are exactly the wrongs ones to show right now. As it is, there isn't that many jobs available for citizens or residents of the US. Hence, to show how these unlawful Latinos have jobs which other citizen or resident could have had, only further kindles the anger of those in power. Some might argue, nevertheless, that the Latinos working in the video were righteous workers abiding by the laws. This could indeed be the case but then, wouldn't that make them "malinches" as expressed in Kinto's video?
The second thing to look at here are the video clips showing Latinos protesting. The videos only show that Latinos are one conflicting people. If we look at past history, one can find that political action is by far more effective than parading across a city. Parades and protest are also useless nowadays. Why? Well, if you have ever been trapped in the middle of a street because some dude decided he had nothing best to do than to walk in the middle of the street then you have part of the answer of why protesting in a "parade form" is a failure. Indeed, protesting only causes the general public to be further displeased about the issue. Let us however, fall into the trap of just mere bashing; protests are in fact useful to achieve goals. They must, let us not forget either, be done in the right place and at the right time. The middle of a recession is not exactly the best time...
I don't know who is directing the protests, or Kinto's videos for that matter, but someone needs to tell these guys that some times, the best way to help a cause is not to help at all.
3 comments:
I am pretty sure Cesar Chavez would be ashamed of this video. I agree with Isaac, although this video did have a positive message, it was rhetorically directed at the wrong audience. If the purpose of the video was to motivate latinos to rally against immigration laws, than it could be successful, however, the video instead tried to justify immigration to a crowd that already believes it just. Considering the fact that most of the immigration laws are constructed primarily by older, white, republican men, Kinto Sols use of the resentful, angry, mexican machismo attitude is probably not the best way to convince their antagonists that they are no threat to American society. Check out this video... sometimes satire is the only way to effectively communicate a necessity for change. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn5hkcd8TMM
I don´t agree with several of the arguments you are making. First, I don´t think that they are trying to help the issue of immigration so much as trying to bring the Latino community together. "Donde ´stan mis compas, todos los que luchamos. No sirve nada si estamos empujando en diferentes direcion." This is video is not directed to the policy makers as an audience, it is directed to la raza! He´s asking that they come together to get something done. And the images of the Latinos working hard I believe is to counter the images and stereotyped that many have of Latinos as being lazy and only wanting handouts. Now, your comment on the issue of protests being failure is all wrong. Let´s look back into history. August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. lead the infamous March on Washington. This example alone discounts your argument that protests are failures. These mass protests are political action. It´s the people joining en mass to have their voices heard. And many times, protests that do occur are held at the right time because permission has to be given first by the local governments. I feel that protests , especially like the ones we saw in LA, are culminations of peoples voices in frustration to a situation that they have not been able to control. The rhetorical situation is powerful when more people take part in it.
More than anything, Kinto Sol with their title of their new album are forming an identity rooted not in America, but one with an indigenous past. The corn, el maize, symbolizes the people who live, and still do, on tortillas de maize, el posól, tamales, y mas! This is rhetoric for construction of identity. Obviously, the audience they are appealing to is not someone like McCain, but maybe Chican@s looking for identity roots! The mestizo can get lost in this American life!
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