Nothing is more symptomatic of a society’s future course than the cultural attitudes reflected through its government.

Since 9/11, the role and scope of our government’s diplomatic policies have drastically changed.

And the political justifications offered to the public for these policies have become increasingly myopic and presumptuous.

Although our leaders have not even attempted to specifically define “terrorism,” the term “terror” now appears so frequently in their speech that it has been widely accepted as a realistic threat.

As the reality of terror has become unquestionable, we are tempted to redefine and strengthen our ideas regarding democracy, justice, nationality, culture and eventually even race.

The result is an America suffering from secularization. We are afraid of a terrorist threat that may not be limited to the outside world.

If the threat is not only foreign but also internal, then that internal threat must be classifiable.

The nature of our media- culture demands that the individuals who pose this supposed threat have clear, understandable characteristics.

Thus we create an image of the enemy.

So what could this terrifying enemy possibly have to do with illegal immigration?

The historic analogies are often sinister and unforgiving.

But history has repeatedly demonstrated that extremist nationalism – ultimately reflected in new bureaucracy – is an inevitable consequence of a fearful society bent on solving problems through government.

Simply because of its size and economic clout, the population of immigrants from Mexico has been the first to feel this new wave of intolerance.

The conflict over immigration policy that has erupted between the U.S. House and Senate has come to be considered such a serious issue because, in reality, these immigrants are not a meaningless presence in our nation’s framework.

They have a definite effect on the function of our economy and our culture.

The perceived threat of terrorism is only one of several factors motivating activists against illegal immigration.

But the political climate from which this frantic concern has emerged clearly shows its every impetus stems from either nationalism or the political exploitation of these sentiments.

The proposed policies on immigration are the result of our political and cultural transformation, not of a solid, factual threat or problem.

Conflicts over illegal immigration seem to always be manifest, regardless of the situation.

For example, the effect of illegal immigration has hardly changed in recent years.

But suddenly, Gov. Janet Napolitano has declared a state of emergency along Arizona’s border.

How can this be explained if it’s not merely a consequence of our dwindling tolerance of things we consider alien and our increasing tolerance of political propaganda?

It is time for us, as Arizonans who understand illegal immigrants’ role in society and who value democracy and justice over fear and fabrication, to refuse the manipulation this conflict is imposing upon us.

If we are suddenly to view illegal immigrants – the vast majority of whom are poor laborers – as criminals and a detriment to our country, we are being complacent to a process of cultural and political dishonesty that is fundamentally unconstitutional and thus anti-American.

Teen columnist Daniel Schaller is a junior at City High School. E-mail: ds_schaller@yahoo.com.

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