The RP’s Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Immigration

There can be no argument that Latinos and Hispanic culture have had an enormous impact on North American culture—from history to literature to music, cuisine, pop culture, language, y más y más. A federal commission is currently preparing a report on whether to open a national Latino museum in the Smithsonian Institution to celebrate and quantify Latino contributions in the United States. Check out this interesting “Room for Debate” on whether such a museum is necesario or even economically feasible in this economy. What do you think? [Room for Debate] 

As The Recovering Politician observed last week, Arizona has experienced a significant backlash in response to its anti-immigration bills and laws—including boycotts and cancelled conventions and conferences, costing the state more than $140 million in revenue. Several other states are considering bills similar to Arizona’s SB 1070. Why hasn’t the experience in Arizona deterred other state legislatures? [POLITICO] 

President Obama released his birth certificate yesterday, ending or contributing to the whole “birther” debate—depending on how you look at it. The “debate” has not been framed much in terms of anti-immigration, but the elements are certainly there (and were there long before the ink on the president’s birth certificate was even dry). [Multi-American] 

Check out this wonderful, playful version of “Englishman in New York” featuring Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra live in Berlin. Cracking! [YouTube]