Eric Schlosser dissected the nations fast food industry in his 2001 book "Fast Food Nation," but on Thursday he visited the Auburn Dixon Hotel and Conference Center to explain the implications of HB 56 and what it means to be an American.
"I really would like to stand here and tell you what to do about this law, but I feel like, coming from northern California, telling people in Alabama what to do just doesn't make a lot of sense," Schlosser said. "I wish I could tell you this Alabama law, which I personally find very offensive, is some unique, once in a life time thing that no one has ever done before, but it's not. It's part of a real history in this country on how we have treated people that are somewhat different from ourselves."
Schlosser began his research by investigating illegal immigrant workers in California, and said he found many more hard-working individuals than those alleged to cheat the welfare system.
"I found that illegal immigrants have always been a part of the California economy and for a very simple reason, cheap labor is really nice when you can get it," Schlosser said.
Schlosser also attempted to define what being an American meant within the context of his speech and said the two most important documents to look for this definition was the Declaration of Independence and "Common sense," written by Thomas Pain.
"(Paine) was only an American for two years when he wrote the pamphlet," Schlosser said. "If you want to look for a document that really is at the core of defining what America is, I would guide you to these two documents. Because (Paine) was worried about being arrested by the kings army, he signed (the pamphlet) anonymously, he signed it an Englishmen. So this crucial document of America was written by someone who didn't even consider himself American."
Retired History professor Larry Gerber said Schlosser made a point most people don't understand.
"I think it actually delivered a very important message," Gerber said. "I think the immigration law in Alabama is hurting the state and I think a lot of people aren't fully aware of what was in the law, and so I think this is a very important message that he delivered."
With the attack on immigrants, Schlosser mentioned how the politicians are at fault by using an age-old tactic of picking on people who are weak.
"I personally think something very simple is happening in this state," Schlosser said. "Politicians in power are picking on the weakest, poorest, most defenseless people that live in the state of Alabama. I think it's actually quite cowardly to do that. It's incredible to me that this law would have forced illegal immigrants out of their mobile homes. Your talking about the poorest workers in the state having to leave their mobile homes because they can't get their registration."
History professor Wayne Flynt also presented a brief statement at the lecture, explaining how immigration is related to the economy.
"Morph into the world you're going to enter when you graduate from this University," Flynt said. "In 2005, the total exports amounted (in Alabama) to $10 billion. Until this year, we exported $18 billion worth of products. No matter how you feel about immigration, you live in a global economy."
Scholssler also explained how politicians in the state are picking on children, and by using them to reveal the legal status of their parents at school is forcing children out of school.
"It's bad enough to force any child out of school, but to try to force children who are legally entitled to be in school, I don't think that's a very brave thing to do," he said.
Although Schlosser is against illegal immigration, he said that a rational system can be put into place to make the current illegal immigrants legal.
"We need immigration reform and we need every illegal immigrant in this country to be brought out of the shadows and given an identity card with a hologram on it that can't be counterfeited, and then given an opportunity and a system to become legal resident. Pay a fine, work for some certain number of years, not break the law and become citizens."
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