Respeto [Respect] in Disrespect: Clashing Cultural Themes within the Context of Mexican Immigration

In a contrasting scene, this one taking place not online but on the streets of Washington, D.C., immigrant rights activists and their allies marched asking for the very thing that the blogger above claimed he does not have toward Mexican immigrants, namely, respect. In this scene thousands of immigrants and supporters joined to urge the U.S. Congress to pass bipartisan immigration reform that would pave a path to citizenship for undocumented persons and that would bring an end to thousands of noncriminal deportations that have separated thousands of immigrant families. Notions of respect were significant enough to prompt march organizers to dub the event: “Camino Americano: March for Immigrant Dignity and Respect.” To advance their message at the Camino Americano [American Path] marchers carried signs, some bearing the term “respect” in English and others respeto in Spanish. Throughout the day’s events, which included speeches on the National Mall by regional and national proponents, orators enthusiastically echoed the terms. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi addressed the crowd, proclaiming, “And in this debate, we must keep that value as a guiding principle the respect and dignity of every person” (“Pelosi Remarks at Camino Americano,” 2013).