In the wake of the tragic events in Tucson, AZ the most poignant words spoken were those by Rep. Gifford's brother in law, Commander Scott Kelly, commanding officer at the International Space Station:
"We have a unique vantage point here aboard the International Space Station. As I look out the window, I see a very beautiful planet that seems very inviting and peaceful. Unfortunately, it is not, These days, we are constantly reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence and damage we can inflict upon one another, not just with our actions, but also with our irresponsible words. We're better than this. We must do better."
These words somehow resonated with me for some reason. I am a passionate person, and while I have never advocated, condoned, joked about or in any way, shape or form encouraged or implied violence, I am still a man of strong passions and opinions and recent events have made me reflect a little more on my words. I think the first two questions that came to mind, after reading this statement, were the two in the title of this blog...Yes we must do better...but...Can we? and Are we better than this?
As you know, I am both an atheist and a liberal. I am also a bit of cynic and a pessimist when it comes to the "good nature" of my fellow man. I am a firm believer that we are, in essence, animals by nature. Sure we can talk, have opposable thumbs, and some of us can think and spell (occasionally), but at our very core we are animals with all the instincts and capabilities that such a statement implies. What ultimately makes us different is that we have social boundaries that make us behave different from animals.
For example, we would shudder at the thought of having a bowel movement (in an effort to avoid the profane and vulgar in order to not invalidate my entire argument) in the middle of the street like a dog. But that is actually a more recent development in our human history as such a thing was not unheard of in earlier times of our social development. We detest the thought of killing and, indeed, every society at some point has had some rule that made killing a detestable act, but consider this: if tomorrow the world was one post apocalyptic horror, would you hesitate to steal, and if need be, kill in order to feed your children? See? What makes us different is not our instincts, not what is in that deepest darkest place in our soul, but rather the environment we live in and operate in.
Here is another example for you to consider. I was watching the movie, "The Pianist". The movie is set in Nazi Germany during WWII. This movie gave me much to think about. I have always thought of the big names in the Third Reich and thought how evil these men were, how soulless and dark. Names like Hitler and Himmler induce thoughts of the incredible evil and cruelty these men promoted, encouraged and enacted. However, as I watched "The Pianist", what struck me was not the cruelty and horrors of Hitler and Himmler but rather of the average enlisted man, the average soldier, the average citizen. Now mind you, I do not ignore the fact that there were acts of heroism and generosity. I understand that many sacrificed their lives in order to assist and save the lives of the Jews that the cruel regime attempted to destroy. So the argument may be made that these people embody the best traits of the human animal. My reply as that these people show the strength of those social restraints when held firmly in a logical mind, the echoes of a fading society. But that is not the point of this argument. What struck me was the casual cruelty of the average soldier. The pleasure they took out of culling a few from the crowd and senselessly killing them with a casual shot in the head. The casual manner in which a group of soldiers could take a cripple in a wheel chair and dump him off of a balcony. These acts, that in any other environment would be reprehensible, were rewarded. And while yes there were acts of kindness and heroism and sacrifice, the fact that these men nearly took over the entirety of Europe brought to mind the sheer cruel animal that we can be, given the right circumstances.
John Calvin, Reformer and founder of the Presbyterian church and the Calvinistic point of view, believed that man at his very core is evil and without hope. Man, in and of himself, is incapable of helping himself or changing himself. He may wear a facade, may be bound by the constraints of society, but at his core he is an animal and can never truly be changed into something better. The answer, according to Calvin, was trust in God and that God chose some for a destiny of happiness and redemption and others for their just deserts as the animals they are. As already mentioned, I am an atheist and therefore do not subscribe to the idea that a non existing being can change man. I do, however, agree that at our core we are beasts that are held in constraint by the limitations of society, limitations that come, not from a divine being and his rules that apply to everybody other than himself, but rather from a sense of self preservation. We do not want to be killed, so therefore we prohibit it. We want to keep our things, therefore, stealing is not permitted. These rules have surfaced over time, through every step of our development but are not inherent to our race.
When I was growing up I read a book called, Through Gates of Splendor. This book was about a group of missionaries led by Jim Elliot, that went to South America, and were brutally murdered by the natives. The process was unique though. Among the Aucas, the tribe that killed them, it was considered a skill to befriend and lull to complacency an enemy before killing them. Killing them was an art but it was considered an achievement to "fatten for the kill". For these people, killing was not only a way of life, it was an expected behavior. The Mayans were notorious for massive feasts that involved nothing more than butchering countless victims, ripping their hearts out and holding it up while the organ beat its last. The point I am getting at is that when man is removed from the constraints of society, of "civilized" society, then the same patterns of violence and cruelty will emerge. Even more pertinent to the tragedy in Tuscon, is the case of Nazi Germany that I already mentioned; when society adapts to allow for violence and even encourages cruelty, as a race we will, with a few exceptions, revert back to the basest instincts that exist in our genetic makeup.
So I ask again...ARE we better than this? The answer, in my opinion, is that at our core we are not, BUT thanks to the restraints of society we CAN be a part of the facade in order to promote self preservation. In other words...We MUST do better. But what happens when logic, self preservation and the general well being of our fellow man is superseded by a sick mind? Well the tragedy that happened in Tucson is what happens. The despicable irreverence of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas that plans on protesting at the funerals of the victims of this tragedy happens. What separates us from animals is not only the restrictions of society, but our ability to understand why they are necessary and the capability of the human mind to understand the logic, and in the absence of logic, the emotional reasoning for adhering to those rules and restrictions. When we lose the ability to understand we lose the ability to restrain ourselves from foolish and sometimes cruel acts.
Much has been made of Sarah Palin and the political rhetoric of our time. It is no secret that I am no fan of Sarah Palin. I have made that abundantly clear on this blog. I will not go so far as to say that Palin is to blame for this violence, the perpetrator must be responsible for his own actions, and blaming Sarah Palin for it does nothing to solve the problem. Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, Keith Olberman, Ed Harris, Rachel Maddow and the other extremists on both sides of the political spectrum have certainly not helped the environment but they are not to blame for this person's actions, he is.
I do not believe that either side is innocent in the extreme tension that has taken over the conversation in this country. I do not, however, agree with those that say that both sides are equal and that the left is as violent as the right, but in the final analysis, pointing fingers does not fix the problem. Neither does covering for people fix the problem. Whether Sarah Palin likes it or not, whether the pundits from the right like it or not, Palin did post a map with cross hairs and then called for her followers to "not retreat but reload". With all the respect I can muster for Limbaugh, Bortz, Hannity and the others rushing to Palin's defense, if she meant it as geological survey symbols she would have referred to "digging the opponents out" not reload to remove them. Her intentions were clear and covering for her only excuses her. I repeat that I am not blaming Palin for this act, but I do blame her and others like her for promoting an environment that removes those social restraints and provides an excuse in the mind of those whose mind is already disturbed. No, the shooter was not a Tea Party member, and more than likely really lacked any real political identification or affiliation. His politics is not what makes the connection to Palin and others like her, it is the fact that at our core we are violent animals and it is only the restraints of society that keeps that beast in check and when an environment promotes that violence, and excuses that violence, making it non consequential, then those restraints are removed and the weakest minds in our midst can, in the chaos of their own mind, excuse their behavior.
Conservative blogger, David Frum, said it best:
"Again: this talk did not cause this crime. But this crime should summon us to some reflection on this talk. Better: This crime should summon us to a quiet collective resolution to cease this kind of talk and to cease to indulge those who engage in it."
We, and I do mean we, have to realize that providing an excuse, making violence humorous or worse, patriotic, using extremes to describe and define our elected officials, only removes the restraints that bind us from the weakest minds amongst us resulting in the kind of tragedy we have seen in Arizona. Are we better? No, not really, but we MUST do better...there is no doubt about that...
Showing posts with label Arizona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arizona. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tea Party Crackpots Strike again...
Shall we start talking about "Radical Leaders prey on the fearful & naive"? I am too angry to even begin on this one...
"W" ring a bell? You don't even WANT me to get started on King George. Now THERE was a radical leader that was a MASTER at preying on the fears and naiveté of the American people.
How about the leaders, from BOTH parties, that sold our rights down the drain (Patriot Act ring a bell?) for the illusion of security?
How about the Republicans feeding the xenophobia, racism and white supremacy as they do their best to set this country back 50 years in civil rights race baiting and setting Americans against Americans, feeding on their fears and naiveté? Or how they took the balanced budget of the Clinton years and turned it into an unbelievable debt that they are trying to pass off on Obama while their brain child, the Teabaggers, turns on them and bites the hand that created them.
Do we REALLY want to talk about radical leaders preying on the fear and naiveté of the people they want to rule?
To compare Obama to Hitler, a man that murdered millions of Jews or Lenin that instituted one of the cruelest regimes of modern history while ignoring and defending Jan Brewer and the State of Arizona that wants to turn it into the "Show me your papers" state which just happened to be step number one of the Holocaust is grossly irresponsible and hypocritical. But then irresponsibility and hypocrisy are the calling cards of the Tea Party anyway...along with hate, racism and ignorance.
I don't even know how to end this so I am going to just stop here and continue muttering the rest of the day....
Monday, June 14, 2010
A Progressive's Coming Nightmare (In the middle of living the dream)
So this year has already been a year of big changes, and there are many more to come. I began my year with the following resolution: Live, Laugh, Love and Learn. I feel like this year has already been a better year than last year. I met a wonderful lady that I have grown crazy in love with. (I always hated the phrase, Fall in love, is like you tripped on your shoe laces or something!) Mandy and I have decided that our families are perfect together. Bethanie loves her to death and she loves Bethanie. Abby and Molly love me and Zach I think tolerates me, but I am growing on him. And I love them deeply and am looking forward to being a part of the family and helping raise these kids together.
So the goal is for us (that would be Bethanie and Myself) to move down there sometime this year, more than likely at the end of the summer. This is a dream come true. She really is all I ever wanted in a woman. She and I relate on so many levels. We have the same dreams, plans and goals in life. I really could not ask for anymore...plus..hell...she is a redhead! I mean seriously guys...it doesn't get any better than this! lol
In the middle of this dream come true, there is a single shadow of a nightmare...kind of a Dream within a Dream (or nightmare as the case may be). As I have made it clear in my blog I am a Progressive. For you sanctimonious conservative bitches that means I am a "librul". Yeah...exactly...one of those 'Merica Hating, Nazi, Communistatic, gay loving, baby killing, terrorist thingamagie type of people. So living in Georgia is one of those things where I usually feel like a sore thumb. In my little town of Chatsworth, GA I think I am the ONLY person that admits to voting for President Obama...and really? I may be the only one that actually did! I am pretty much in the same situation as vjack over at Athiest Revolution and Red State Progressive. A progressive in a conservative state.
So, having said all that, I am now finding myself in the position of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. GA politics, while conservative...are not quite as nutty as SC. In SC the conservative Republicans are so in control that they even control who runs as a Democrat (i.e. Alvin Green). It is a heavy Tea Party state that is infatuated with *wink wink* Palin. So just to kind of take a view of SC Politics....lookie lookie at the Circus:
1. Jake Knotts.
Now here is a real idiot. As the primaries heated up for the South Carolina Governor's seat, Republicans, who have no need to attack the basically non existent presence of Democrats, were busy in fighting. And since they are all competing to be the most conservative, it left little to attack except on a personal level. So Nikki Haley, candidate for Governor, was attacked for her ethnicity...her parents are of Indian decent and Sikh. She was Sikh until just seven years ago. And the implied argument goes that she became Christian for political reasons and has become more and more "Christian" the more opportunities she had in politics. Obviously, as is the case with the right wings nut jobs, ONLY radical Christians are even QUALIFIED to govern. So Jake Knotts had the brilliant idea of going on a show and saying that we have already one raghead in the White House and we don't need another raghead in the Governor's Mansion. Nice. Seriously...I really could add so much to this but hell...that is another blog.
2. Nikki Haley (and the Tea Party)
OK. I will start off saying that if I had to choose a Republican in SC, Nikki Haley would be that Republican. Thankfully I do not have to pick a Republican because even she nauseates me. She is pure Tea Party. And I don't even have to go there. The fact that Sarah Palin endorses her is enough to make me say no to the Crack Pots! Sad thing is...since a Democrat doesn't have a prayer she more than likely will be the next Governor...of course...from what I can tell she is the lesser of 3? 4? evils.
3. Arizona Wannabes.
Talk in South Carolina is all the rage about the illegal immigration and the need to duplicate Arizona's infamous Immigration Law. I have already dealt with this subject so I won't go into it again here. Suffice it to say that it just adds another facet to the madhouse that is South Carolina politics. And they don't really care about boycotts since technically they have been under a boycott for years for flying the confederate flag on government property.
4. Alvin Green
Have you seen this guy? For those that are not familiar with him, this is the completely unelectable Democrat candidate for senator that will be running against wildly popular tea party Senator DeMint. This guy is facing criminal charges for showing pornographic pictures to a college student who he then allegedly attempted to seduce. He did not spend enough on his campaign to even have to register as a candidate...yet somehow he won an astounding 58% of the democratic primary. How? Well to hear him tell about it he did it with good old fashion hard work...but oddly enough nobody knows him. The Democratic Party in South Carolina has begged him to step down rather than sully their name and drag them to further depths then they have already sunk in South Carolina politics, but as expected, he refuses. As high up as the Democratic establishment in DC is saying that this guy is plant by Republicans, which when you look at the facts...makes perfectly good sense. The question is...why? I mean let's face it, DeMint is so wildly popular in this nutbag state that he would have trounced anybody that had run against him...so why? In a state where people can cross party lines to vote in the primaries, it is pretty obvious that the cruel streak is not a "leadership" issue...but rather the rank and file Rethugs.
So...here I am...a Progressive, Puerto Rican, Democrat atheist...jumping out of the frying pan into the fire...if my vote meant nothing in Georgia...it will mean less than nothing in South Carolina...but knowing me I will still get a kick out of watching people's faces turn 20 different shades of purple as they sputter how un American I am. I have a feeling we have an interesting life ahead of us Mandy, my Love, in so many ways and I look forward to every minute of it...all I have to say is if we ever move...we move to some place more...Progressive...like California...just think..beaches, Hollywood...*echo echo echo*
Oh...one more thing...since this all about SC and GA and all...Let me just say...
GO DAWGS!!!
(heheheh...Love you Mandy!)
So the goal is for us (that would be Bethanie and Myself) to move down there sometime this year, more than likely at the end of the summer. This is a dream come true. She really is all I ever wanted in a woman. She and I relate on so many levels. We have the same dreams, plans and goals in life. I really could not ask for anymore...plus..hell...she is a redhead! I mean seriously guys...it doesn't get any better than this! lol
In the middle of this dream come true, there is a single shadow of a nightmare...kind of a Dream within a Dream (or nightmare as the case may be). As I have made it clear in my blog I am a Progressive. For you sanctimonious conservative bitches that means I am a "librul". Yeah...exactly...one of those 'Merica Hating, Nazi, Communistatic, gay loving, baby killing, terrorist thingamagie type of people. So living in Georgia is one of those things where I usually feel like a sore thumb. In my little town of Chatsworth, GA I think I am the ONLY person that admits to voting for President Obama...and really? I may be the only one that actually did! I am pretty much in the same situation as vjack over at Athiest Revolution and Red State Progressive. A progressive in a conservative state.
So, having said all that, I am now finding myself in the position of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. GA politics, while conservative...are not quite as nutty as SC. In SC the conservative Republicans are so in control that they even control who runs as a Democrat (i.e. Alvin Green). It is a heavy Tea Party state that is infatuated with *wink wink* Palin. So just to kind of take a view of SC Politics....lookie lookie at the Circus:
1. Jake Knotts.
Now here is a real idiot. As the primaries heated up for the South Carolina Governor's seat, Republicans, who have no need to attack the basically non existent presence of Democrats, were busy in fighting. And since they are all competing to be the most conservative, it left little to attack except on a personal level. So Nikki Haley, candidate for Governor, was attacked for her ethnicity...her parents are of Indian decent and Sikh. She was Sikh until just seven years ago. And the implied argument goes that she became Christian for political reasons and has become more and more "Christian" the more opportunities she had in politics. Obviously, as is the case with the right wings nut jobs, ONLY radical Christians are even QUALIFIED to govern. So Jake Knotts had the brilliant idea of going on a show and saying that we have already one raghead in the White House and we don't need another raghead in the Governor's Mansion. Nice. Seriously...I really could add so much to this but hell...that is another blog.2. Nikki Haley (and the Tea Party)
OK. I will start off saying that if I had to choose a Republican in SC, Nikki Haley would be that Republican. Thankfully I do not have to pick a Republican because even she nauseates me. She is pure Tea Party. And I don't even have to go there. The fact that Sarah Palin endorses her is enough to make me say no to the Crack Pots! Sad thing is...since a Democrat doesn't have a prayer she more than likely will be the next Governor...of course...from what I can tell she is the lesser of 3? 4? evils.3. Arizona Wannabes.
Talk in South Carolina is all the rage about the illegal immigration and the need to duplicate Arizona's infamous Immigration Law. I have already dealt with this subject so I won't go into it again here. Suffice it to say that it just adds another facet to the madhouse that is South Carolina politics. And they don't really care about boycotts since technically they have been under a boycott for years for flying the confederate flag on government property.
4. Alvin Green
Have you seen this guy? For those that are not familiar with him, this is the completely unelectable Democrat candidate for senator that will be running against wildly popular tea party Senator DeMint. This guy is facing criminal charges for showing pornographic pictures to a college student who he then allegedly attempted to seduce. He did not spend enough on his campaign to even have to register as a candidate...yet somehow he won an astounding 58% of the democratic primary. How? Well to hear him tell about it he did it with good old fashion hard work...but oddly enough nobody knows him. The Democratic Party in South Carolina has begged him to step down rather than sully their name and drag them to further depths then they have already sunk in South Carolina politics, but as expected, he refuses. As high up as the Democratic establishment in DC is saying that this guy is plant by Republicans, which when you look at the facts...makes perfectly good sense. The question is...why? I mean let's face it, DeMint is so wildly popular in this nutbag state that he would have trounced anybody that had run against him...so why? In a state where people can cross party lines to vote in the primaries, it is pretty obvious that the cruel streak is not a "leadership" issue...but rather the rank and file Rethugs.So...here I am...a Progressive, Puerto Rican, Democrat atheist...jumping out of the frying pan into the fire...if my vote meant nothing in Georgia...it will mean less than nothing in South Carolina...but knowing me I will still get a kick out of watching people's faces turn 20 different shades of purple as they sputter how un American I am. I have a feeling we have an interesting life ahead of us Mandy, my Love, in so many ways and I look forward to every minute of it...all I have to say is if we ever move...we move to some place more...Progressive...like California...just think..beaches, Hollywood...*echo echo echo*
Oh...one more thing...since this all about SC and GA and all...Let me just say...
Monday, May 24, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
So how DO we fix the illegal immigration problem?
So I have done the ranting and raving at the new Arizona "show me your papers" Law. I have ranted at the racists and the bigots and neo nazis. I have cussed screamed and seethed. But the truth of the matter is....there really IS a problem that must be dealt with. It is a problem that must be dealt with at a Federal level because it is a security issue which clearly falls under the constitutional responsibility of the federal government. The reason, however, is not only constitutional but is also practical. If you have every state making its own laws you will have some that are more lenient and others that are hate filled racists.
Having said that, what SHOULD be done? The problem is not an easy one to solve. First, let's make clear what will NOT solve it. With respect to neo nazi republican J.T. Ready and his tea bagger friends...a mine field is not the answer neither is a division of marines. The marines are not the answer for two reasons. First, their president George W. Bush sent them off to defend his oil interests and OUR president lacks the nuts to pull them back. Of course at this point we are in so deep that just issuing orders cannot be done without leaving a bigger mess in its wake. The second reason is simple; do you KNOW any marines? My brother is a former marine and tact and gentleness and consciousness of political and civil right consequences is NOT in their play book or way of thinking. Can you IMAGINE thousands of these people with guns and hand grenades and missile launchers on our border? It would only be a matter of time before we have the Second Mexican War on our hands!!!
Obviously the law in Arizona, the infamous SB1070, is not the answer. Let's make this clear. There are two distinct problems in Arizona, and the REAL problem is NOT going to be solved by SB1070. The rancher that was killed that was used as the driving force to get this law passed turns out was killed by drug smugglers and the police actually believe it was a white man...not an illegal Mexican. The dirty truth that Arizona GOP do not want to realize or admit to is that the Drug Smuggling and the illegal immigrant problem are two separate problems that are not even related. Solving the illegal immigrant problem will not solve their REAL problem...the drug related crimes and the drug smuggling. The law in Arizona is merely a statement. And it is an ugly statement at that. There are states like Minnesota that do not even HAVE a real immigration problem, but in their racism and anti federal government attitude are wanting a similar law. They want to be part of the statement.
Before we can do anything that is truly effective in fixing this problem we need to fix our attitudes about it. Latinos AND whites. First, Latinos need to fix their attitude of entitlement. Just because you are a minority does not mean you are entitled to special treatment. The law is the law. It must be followed. I am against racism but I am also against people that defend the illegal actions of others. Forgery of papers, purchase of forged documents and other crimes committed can NOT be defended. Defending the actions of illegal activity is not right, regardless of race or color. There is a process, and that process must be followed. While I agree that the process needs to be fixed, that process still exists.
I will, however, repeat...I am against racism and hate. I am against constitutional rights being abrogated in any manner that includes race and color. I am against being stopped on the street and forced to show my birth certificate to some Texas Ranger wannabe that wouldn't know if my birth certificate is legit or not. Here is a scenario I have SEEN happen. I lost my birth certificate and order a new one. I get the new one. I am 33 years old so my birth certificate should show wear and tear because I am 33 years old. I get stopped and am required to show my brand new birth certificate that I just got in the mail from the State of California. Because it is new...it must be fake. I have seen this happen. The truth is that that kind of thing happens many times. The truth is undeniable....these same people that have made the illegal immigration their problem or their mission in life to fix are the same people or children of the same people that fifty years ago were seeing the black man as the menace to society and wanted to keep him segregated like an animal. The attitude has not changed. I have been on the other end of it. If you want legitimacy in this issue then people with level heads and honest concern, rather than hate, must be in charge and at the forefront leading the change.
Once the attitude is fixed there are some changes that must be made to fix it. And busing them all south of the border is not the answer. I know these neo nazi hate mongers think that that is the answer but our economy cannot afford for such a huge percentage of the people pumping money into it to be suddenly gone. The small town I live in would be a ghost town, would go under, if the dumb rednecks get their way. No change must come in a different way. Here is my opinion on how...
(1) Secure the Border.
Internal change cannot happen and last unless the valve is closed. This is not about more manpower, it is about being smarter. A fence is only a mild deterrent more like a snag in the crossing. They have to cut it, jump it...sure...but it does have some sense in slowing their entry. The other half of this is technology. You mean to tell me they can take a picture of you in your back yard from a satellite but cannot patrol our borders with that kind of technology and dispatch units check out movement? I don't know all the ins and outs of it but surely we have technology that we can use and not have to resort to explosives like J.T. and his buddies want to because any life that is not white is not really life is it? We have satellites for everything else...why not?
(2) Fix the current system
If you have never been involved in the system then you really don't understand how totally screwed up it is. The immigration system is too often run by incompetent, lazy and inconsistent personnel. I have seen one person that did not deserve approval sail through and a good, honest and hard working man with a family get rejected for no reason at all. I currently know a situation where a man and his wife and children live here. He went through the process and when his interview came up he was deported because the judge felt that there was no evidence that his wife and children would suffer from his absence. His family is already losing their home. Why should these people follow a system that is inconsistent and lets the dead beats stay and the hard working people that would be a positive addition to our community be deported?
Another problem is that states have different rules and enforce the rules with different levels of dedication. Even different counties in the same state have different rules and different levels of dedication. In one county an offender may be released to the street and then in the next deported. The immigration laws and system has to be made consistent across the country on a federal level.
(3) Zero Tolerance
Simply put we need to enact and enforce it. We have laws. You break the law you don't belong here. I don't know how many times I have seen somebody that has committed a misdemeanor or even in some cases a felony and is released on probation. Why? We are looking for people that will be an honest and positive addition to our community. People that drink ad drive, do drugs, steal, beat their wives and commit a myriad of other crimes should not be allowed to remain in this country. There is no bail. There is not parole. There is no probation. They are gone. If they commit a violent crime, or another crime (such as drug related) let them serve their time, pay their debt and have a nice bus trip (of the State conducted type) to the border, handed over to border officials and sent packing back to where they belong.
(4) Streamline the process for the current illegals here.
I know. Amnesty pisses white people off. (not all so don't get on me Mandy lol) When you argue amnesty you get a whole bunch of people all up in arms cussing and swearing that that just rewards a bunch of *expletive* wetbacks and sets it up for a whole new crop of them to come in. And this is true if you do not fix the border and fix the system. But if you fix these two issues then it is a matter of sifting through this mess and getting the ones that are a good addition to our community legalized and move on. Simply put, the reality is this. Our economy cannot afford to send these people home. These people work and they spend their money here. If you bus them all home that will leave a huge void in our economy that we cannot recover from. So we sift through them, and the dead beats, the losers, the criminals (zero tolerance) we ship out. The rest? we get legal and move on.
In conclusion, let us remember one thing. We are all immigrants and descendants of immigrants. English, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Russian, Asian, African, Spanish, Mexican, South American, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Indian....all of us. Unless you are Native American...TRULY Native American...not just some...well my granddaddy married a Native American...I mean true blue Native American...you are descendant of an immigrant. Mandy's ex, in defense of SB1070 said that he was ok with it...so what...HIS descendants are from here...sorry buddy...just not the case. My family is descended from Jews, fleeing the Inquisition in Spain. We are all from somewhere else. I am not saying we should let every sorry loser in. I am definitely in favor of making sure we are getting healthy people physically, mentally and morally (and by morally I am not referring to some form of forcing your moral values on somebody else I mean in legal matters, DUI, drugs, violence...etc.) I am not talking about carte blanche. Something needs to be done. Arizona's SB1070 is NOT the answer. Fix the border, fix the system and fix the current illegals. It is a simple formula and a simple plan for success that ALL Americans can live with...unless you are just some racist neo nazi pig...and in that case...I say we just give them their own little country...with it's Capitol in...shall we say..Tucson?
Having said that, what SHOULD be done? The problem is not an easy one to solve. First, let's make clear what will NOT solve it. With respect to neo nazi republican J.T. Ready and his tea bagger friends...a mine field is not the answer neither is a division of marines. The marines are not the answer for two reasons. First, their president George W. Bush sent them off to defend his oil interests and OUR president lacks the nuts to pull them back. Of course at this point we are in so deep that just issuing orders cannot be done without leaving a bigger mess in its wake. The second reason is simple; do you KNOW any marines? My brother is a former marine and tact and gentleness and consciousness of political and civil right consequences is NOT in their play book or way of thinking. Can you IMAGINE thousands of these people with guns and hand grenades and missile launchers on our border? It would only be a matter of time before we have the Second Mexican War on our hands!!!
Obviously the law in Arizona, the infamous SB1070, is not the answer. Let's make this clear. There are two distinct problems in Arizona, and the REAL problem is NOT going to be solved by SB1070. The rancher that was killed that was used as the driving force to get this law passed turns out was killed by drug smugglers and the police actually believe it was a white man...not an illegal Mexican. The dirty truth that Arizona GOP do not want to realize or admit to is that the Drug Smuggling and the illegal immigrant problem are two separate problems that are not even related. Solving the illegal immigrant problem will not solve their REAL problem...the drug related crimes and the drug smuggling. The law in Arizona is merely a statement. And it is an ugly statement at that. There are states like Minnesota that do not even HAVE a real immigration problem, but in their racism and anti federal government attitude are wanting a similar law. They want to be part of the statement.
Before we can do anything that is truly effective in fixing this problem we need to fix our attitudes about it. Latinos AND whites. First, Latinos need to fix their attitude of entitlement. Just because you are a minority does not mean you are entitled to special treatment. The law is the law. It must be followed. I am against racism but I am also against people that defend the illegal actions of others. Forgery of papers, purchase of forged documents and other crimes committed can NOT be defended. Defending the actions of illegal activity is not right, regardless of race or color. There is a process, and that process must be followed. While I agree that the process needs to be fixed, that process still exists.
I will, however, repeat...I am against racism and hate. I am against constitutional rights being abrogated in any manner that includes race and color. I am against being stopped on the street and forced to show my birth certificate to some Texas Ranger wannabe that wouldn't know if my birth certificate is legit or not. Here is a scenario I have SEEN happen. I lost my birth certificate and order a new one. I get the new one. I am 33 years old so my birth certificate should show wear and tear because I am 33 years old. I get stopped and am required to show my brand new birth certificate that I just got in the mail from the State of California. Because it is new...it must be fake. I have seen this happen. The truth is that that kind of thing happens many times. The truth is undeniable....these same people that have made the illegal immigration their problem or their mission in life to fix are the same people or children of the same people that fifty years ago were seeing the black man as the menace to society and wanted to keep him segregated like an animal. The attitude has not changed. I have been on the other end of it. If you want legitimacy in this issue then people with level heads and honest concern, rather than hate, must be in charge and at the forefront leading the change.
Once the attitude is fixed there are some changes that must be made to fix it. And busing them all south of the border is not the answer. I know these neo nazi hate mongers think that that is the answer but our economy cannot afford for such a huge percentage of the people pumping money into it to be suddenly gone. The small town I live in would be a ghost town, would go under, if the dumb rednecks get their way. No change must come in a different way. Here is my opinion on how...
(1) Secure the Border.
Internal change cannot happen and last unless the valve is closed. This is not about more manpower, it is about being smarter. A fence is only a mild deterrent more like a snag in the crossing. They have to cut it, jump it...sure...but it does have some sense in slowing their entry. The other half of this is technology. You mean to tell me they can take a picture of you in your back yard from a satellite but cannot patrol our borders with that kind of technology and dispatch units check out movement? I don't know all the ins and outs of it but surely we have technology that we can use and not have to resort to explosives like J.T. and his buddies want to because any life that is not white is not really life is it? We have satellites for everything else...why not?
(2) Fix the current system
If you have never been involved in the system then you really don't understand how totally screwed up it is. The immigration system is too often run by incompetent, lazy and inconsistent personnel. I have seen one person that did not deserve approval sail through and a good, honest and hard working man with a family get rejected for no reason at all. I currently know a situation where a man and his wife and children live here. He went through the process and when his interview came up he was deported because the judge felt that there was no evidence that his wife and children would suffer from his absence. His family is already losing their home. Why should these people follow a system that is inconsistent and lets the dead beats stay and the hard working people that would be a positive addition to our community be deported?
Another problem is that states have different rules and enforce the rules with different levels of dedication. Even different counties in the same state have different rules and different levels of dedication. In one county an offender may be released to the street and then in the next deported. The immigration laws and system has to be made consistent across the country on a federal level.
(3) Zero Tolerance
Simply put we need to enact and enforce it. We have laws. You break the law you don't belong here. I don't know how many times I have seen somebody that has committed a misdemeanor or even in some cases a felony and is released on probation. Why? We are looking for people that will be an honest and positive addition to our community. People that drink ad drive, do drugs, steal, beat their wives and commit a myriad of other crimes should not be allowed to remain in this country. There is no bail. There is not parole. There is no probation. They are gone. If they commit a violent crime, or another crime (such as drug related) let them serve their time, pay their debt and have a nice bus trip (of the State conducted type) to the border, handed over to border officials and sent packing back to where they belong.
(4) Streamline the process for the current illegals here.
I know. Amnesty pisses white people off. (not all so don't get on me Mandy lol) When you argue amnesty you get a whole bunch of people all up in arms cussing and swearing that that just rewards a bunch of *expletive* wetbacks and sets it up for a whole new crop of them to come in. And this is true if you do not fix the border and fix the system. But if you fix these two issues then it is a matter of sifting through this mess and getting the ones that are a good addition to our community legalized and move on. Simply put, the reality is this. Our economy cannot afford to send these people home. These people work and they spend their money here. If you bus them all home that will leave a huge void in our economy that we cannot recover from. So we sift through them, and the dead beats, the losers, the criminals (zero tolerance) we ship out. The rest? we get legal and move on.
In conclusion, let us remember one thing. We are all immigrants and descendants of immigrants. English, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Russian, Asian, African, Spanish, Mexican, South American, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Indian....all of us. Unless you are Native American...TRULY Native American...not just some...well my granddaddy married a Native American...I mean true blue Native American...you are descendant of an immigrant. Mandy's ex, in defense of SB1070 said that he was ok with it...so what...HIS descendants are from here...sorry buddy...just not the case. My family is descended from Jews, fleeing the Inquisition in Spain. We are all from somewhere else. I am not saying we should let every sorry loser in. I am definitely in favor of making sure we are getting healthy people physically, mentally and morally (and by morally I am not referring to some form of forcing your moral values on somebody else I mean in legal matters, DUI, drugs, violence...etc.) I am not talking about carte blanche. Something needs to be done. Arizona's SB1070 is NOT the answer. Fix the border, fix the system and fix the current illegals. It is a simple formula and a simple plan for success that ALL Americans can live with...unless you are just some racist neo nazi pig...and in that case...I say we just give them their own little country...with it's Capitol in...shall we say..Tucson?
Friday, April 30, 2010
The New Anti Latino Agenda of the Republican Party...GOP goes Anti-Brown
Much has been made of the new Arizona immigration bill. I for one have ranted plenty on the subject. There have been significant calls for boycotting the state for the clearly racist legislation. The calls mostly are coming from minorities and people that are on the "hippy tree hugging" liberal crowd. While FAUX Noise traipses a long parade of old white guys through Prime Time explaining why this racist law, ISN'T racist and why we should be THANKFUL for this law...the Republicans defend it by saying the Government (which they controlled for eight years)has ignored the problem for YEARS (years they were in control mind you) and how it is ALL the Obama Administration's fault. Well what did you expect?
Talk is already circulating how this will drive a wedge between the GOP and the rapidly growing Hispanic population. Of course, some in the GOP are already blaming the Democrat's for doing this because...well..it couldn't be their own damn fault right? (Read Article here) Or could it? Consider the following...FACTS...
(1) New Gallup Poll indicates that 51% of the country is in favor of the new Arizona Nazi "carry your documents" law. But if you go deeper into the numbers you will find an interesting fact...of those that said they had heard a great deal about the bill 75% Republicans were in favor of it as opposed to 34% Democrats. The Party of No is apparantly the Party of YES to racial profiling and oppression of people that are beneath them...basically that don't speak English and are not white...
(2) In Keeping with the "Say no to Brown" theme, Congressmen Duncan Hunter (R-CA) is now proposing and supporting deporting American citizens that are born to illegal immigrants. This may seem like a good idea on the surface but it would require a change to our Constitution, one that can lead to serious repercussions....
(3) GOP Candidate Pat Bertroche seems to think that if microchipping is good for his dogs then it should be good for illegal immigrants.
(4) When Congress voted this week to give Puerto Ricans the chance to vote on becoming a state, FAUX Noise had an interesting statement that has been mostly overlooked by most people..."Republicans attempted to add provisions to the legislation that would have made English the official language of a potential Puerto Rican state." Are you out of your MIND???? Now, let's get this straight...Puerto Rico is and always HAS been a bilingual territory, it is just bilingual in reverse of, let's say, Georgia. There Spanish is the primary language and English is secondary. That is the culture of the island and always has been. I lived in Puerto Rico for ten years and it was there I actually learned Spanish. There is a rich culture that makes it a beautiful place to visit and vacation. But to have the audacity to force cultural changes on them just so they can belong...it shows..at least in my book...how far these racist White supremecists will go...
(5) Republican candidate for Alabama (no surprise here for sure) Tim James is running on a platform that is actually against federal law. It sounds good to the people that will vote for him...but it is against federal law...and he is lying to his voting base..but that is ok...he is showing that he is right there with them and understands their fears...and it is not his fault the nasty ol' feds won't back him up...of course..what would you expect with a nazi-Socialist-Marxist-Kenyan in the White House right?
(5) There is a very clear neo nazi connection influencing the law in Arizona and self proclaimed Republicans like Jason J.T. Ready who are openly members of neo nazi racist group. Ol' J.T. apparantly is in favor of minefields on the border and Marines defending his xenophobic ideology. J.T. is actually listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center a watch group that reports and keeps an eye on hate groups around the country.
(6) GOP Candidates and lawmakers all around the country are watching Arizona and waiting to see how far this country will let them go with their racial profiling and hate environment. States like Texas, Ohio and South Carolina are anxious to follow.
I will give a nod of appreciation and recognition, however, to the Republican Governor of Texas Rick Perry, Former President George W. Bush and Former Republican Governor of Florida Jeb Bush in opposing these measures. The truth remains, however, that the Republican party is making it more and more clear that there is not a place for Latinos in a party that demographically would have a home naturally in their midst. I am a liberal, but a vast majority of Hispanics tend to be conservatives and would fit in the GOP...if the Rethuglicans would stop insisting this pursuit of a xenophobic, racist and intolerant agenda that makes it clear to us that the only way we belong is if we become just like them...which is impossible.
Talk is already circulating how this will drive a wedge between the GOP and the rapidly growing Hispanic population. Of course, some in the GOP are already blaming the Democrat's for doing this because...well..it couldn't be their own damn fault right? (Read Article here) Or could it? Consider the following...FACTS...
(1) New Gallup Poll indicates that 51% of the country is in favor of the new Arizona Nazi "carry your documents" law. But if you go deeper into the numbers you will find an interesting fact...of those that said they had heard a great deal about the bill 75% Republicans were in favor of it as opposed to 34% Democrats. The Party of No is apparantly the Party of YES to racial profiling and oppression of people that are beneath them...basically that don't speak English and are not white...
(2) In Keeping with the "Say no to Brown" theme, Congressmen Duncan Hunter (R-CA) is now proposing and supporting deporting American citizens that are born to illegal immigrants. This may seem like a good idea on the surface but it would require a change to our Constitution, one that can lead to serious repercussions....
(3) GOP Candidate Pat Bertroche seems to think that if microchipping is good for his dogs then it should be good for illegal immigrants.
(4) When Congress voted this week to give Puerto Ricans the chance to vote on becoming a state, FAUX Noise had an interesting statement that has been mostly overlooked by most people..."Republicans attempted to add provisions to the legislation that would have made English the official language of a potential Puerto Rican state." Are you out of your MIND???? Now, let's get this straight...Puerto Rico is and always HAS been a bilingual territory, it is just bilingual in reverse of, let's say, Georgia. There Spanish is the primary language and English is secondary. That is the culture of the island and always has been. I lived in Puerto Rico for ten years and it was there I actually learned Spanish. There is a rich culture that makes it a beautiful place to visit and vacation. But to have the audacity to force cultural changes on them just so they can belong...it shows..at least in my book...how far these racist White supremecists will go...
(5) Republican candidate for Alabama (no surprise here for sure) Tim James is running on a platform that is actually against federal law. It sounds good to the people that will vote for him...but it is against federal law...and he is lying to his voting base..but that is ok...he is showing that he is right there with them and understands their fears...and it is not his fault the nasty ol' feds won't back him up...of course..what would you expect with a nazi-Socialist-Marxist-Kenyan in the White House right?
(5) There is a very clear neo nazi connection influencing the law in Arizona and self proclaimed Republicans like Jason J.T. Ready who are openly members of neo nazi racist group. Ol' J.T. apparantly is in favor of minefields on the border and Marines defending his xenophobic ideology. J.T. is actually listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center a watch group that reports and keeps an eye on hate groups around the country.
(6) GOP Candidates and lawmakers all around the country are watching Arizona and waiting to see how far this country will let them go with their racial profiling and hate environment. States like Texas, Ohio and South Carolina are anxious to follow.
I will give a nod of appreciation and recognition, however, to the Republican Governor of Texas Rick Perry, Former President George W. Bush and Former Republican Governor of Florida Jeb Bush in opposing these measures. The truth remains, however, that the Republican party is making it more and more clear that there is not a place for Latinos in a party that demographically would have a home naturally in their midst. I am a liberal, but a vast majority of Hispanics tend to be conservatives and would fit in the GOP...if the Rethuglicans would stop insisting this pursuit of a xenophobic, racist and intolerant agenda that makes it clear to us that the only way we belong is if we become just like them...which is impossible.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
"How is Arizona wrong exactly?"
This was the question I was asked on Twitter when I was on my rant about Arizona and this ridiculous hate law that they signed and is being touted and the "strongest immigration law" in the country. Make no mistake this law is horrendous and is one of the worst laws I have seen passed in this country in a very long time. It is a violation of civil rights, it promotes racism and harassment of American citizens and violates some basic tenants of our society and of the Constitution. I would go so far as to say this is the biggest violation of basic civil and constitutional rights since the Patriot Act from the Bush Regime.
Before I continue let me get the emotional crap out of the way because I won't lie I am severely worked up, insulted and over all ashamed that these ass wipes have the temerity to even call themselves Americans. I do not acknowledge these racist pigs as my Brothers and I spit on them and their very existence...pure and simple. So just a few "emotional" points to be made BEFORE I get into the meat of my blog.
(1) This is the exact type of BULLSHIT, swine vomit and weasel piss I would expect from a state held hostage by the fucking teabaggers. This is a law that puts personal interest of racist white supremacist above the interests of Americans. The Constitution means nothing to Tea Party "Patriots". The American Flag means nothing to them. I will go as far (in my anger) to say that these racists pigs have turned the American Flag into their own Swastika. They use it as their symbol of racism, because REAL Americans are just like them...or they don't belong here. I would expect this law from people that protest holding card board signs that say "This sign is the brownest thing on this entire block".
(2) The Tea Party ass wipes want to complain about the power of government and an intrusive government but are willing to support, even demand the GOP Governor of Arizona to sign a law that pushes Arizona closer to a police state than any law since the Patriot Act. They are hypocritical, they are full of hate and racism and they full of fucking horse shit.
(3) I am an American. Don't you dare read this article and say, "Oh you must be a greaser wetback." First, I am Puerto Rican, not Mexican (not that I have a problem with Mexicans. I simply despise people's attitude that we are all the same.) Second, I am a proud American Citizen, born American from American parents. I just happen to be Hispanic by the luck of the draw, not something I am ashamed of or bothered by, but nonetheless it is who and what I am. My family is a military family. My Dad served in the US Army. My brother served in the USMC with distinction. A decorated and injured in combat veteran, he served this country with honor and distinction. I tried to join the military but due to health problems was rejected. What I am saying is don't you fucking question my loyalty to my Country! I love this country.
(4) I firmly believe that SOMETHING needs to be done about the illegal immigration problem. I believe some of the sacks of shits coming from ALL OVER THE WORLD need to be culled and shipped back to their country of origins. 9/11 is a perfect example of us allowing the wrong people in this country (for the record, if you think this law is good becuase of 9/11 I would remind you the perpertrators of 9/11 came from accross the OTHER border...Canada NOT Mexico!). Studies of crime rates indicate a percentage of crimes that simply would not be happening without these unwanted aliens here. I firmly believe much of this stupid law is about trying to force the government's hand to do something about immigration, but what the hell? What do they think will be accomplished? Right now the GOP is on a personal vendetta to end and obstruct any legislation that the President might put forth or that Democrats are remotely in favor of. The Party of No is nothing but a bunch of sacks of shit that couldn't care about what happens in this country as long as they keep every single legislation from happening. Congress taking up immigration reform right now would be a waste of time since the Rethuglicans would have to block it just to keep up with their party's legislative agenda.
Now...having said all that I will try to answer more specifically, the title question of this blog post...How is Arizona Exactly Wrong?
(1) This is an "illegal Mexican" not "illegal immigrant" law
Let's face it...This law is NOT about illegal immigrants. This law is about illegal Mexicans. In one breath they talk about the police stopping anybody they "suspect" of being illegal and in the next talk about the Mexico-Arizona border and then they try to convince us that this is all about the safety of our country and is NOT going to be about race. I cry BULLSHIT! This law is specifically designed to deal with the very real problem of illegal immigrants from South American countries, specifically of HISPANIC/LATINO decent. That being said it is equally self evident that this law is specifically designed for a specific racial decent. As such it is inherently designed and inescapably structured to allow and even promote racial profiling. There is no escaping this fact, no matter how the GOP wants to label this pile of horse shit.
(2) This is a racial profiling hell in the making
You may read this and shake your head and say that I am just playing the race card. That is very easy for you to say if you have never been mistreated for being Hispanic. I have lived for many years in the State of Georgia. A State where we do NOT have ridiculous laws such as this blatant insult that Arizona has just passed and I have REPEATEDLY been racially profiled by people and by law enforcement in this state. I have had my citizenship questioned for no other reason than my name is Julio and my skin is darker than theirs. So until you have been there you cannot and will not understand what I am talking about and your opinion means less than pigeon shit to me!
By passing a law that is unequivocally directed at a race of people, they have set this country back in time in regards to civil rights. Simply put, there is an ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION problem, but it is not just Latino immigrants. How will they have "reasonable suspicion" of a Canadian that is here illegally? Australian? Russian? British? Without a little Spanish and dark skin and obvious Latino features, how will they have "reasonable suspicion"? The answer? They won't! Simple as that. That is because you cannot just look at an individual and magically have a "feeling" that they are here illegally. The weak argument that this law prohibits it be based on nationality is bullshit. The simple truth is that there is no other way to "suspect" somebody that has not committed a crime or misdemeanor of some sort without basing that suspicion on race and/or language and culture.
(3) This law makes Americans of Hispanic descent feel unsafe in their own country
I will not cross the state line in to Arizona or any other State that passes this law. Simple as that. I do not feel safe in a state where just because I am standing on the street corner talking in Spanish I might become a "suspect" that would justify some Barney Fife to harass me based solely on my race and language. YES. I do speak English fluently. I speak English without even a trace of a Spanish accent. I also speak Spanish fluently. I am privileged to be bilingual. We are fast reaching a point where a group of white supremacist racist asswipes can, since they cannot outlaw me speaking Spanish, will make it to where I am afraid to do so for fear that a gun toting punk with a badge can harass me for daring to be different. If this law continues to spread to other States, and reaches the State in which I reside, I fear that the law enforcement will merely become an arm of the INS and my safety, and the safety of my property and of my family will suffer as a result.
(4) This puts judicial power in the hands of idiots
The Arizona lawmakers are naive. They state that they trust their law enforcement officers to be responsible and to follow what they consider the "spirit" of this law and not use it based on race. In my immediate family of four, my brother and my parents and myself, each of us can give at least two detailed stories of police harassment and racial profiling in the last 15 years. That is 8 cases in just one family. And THAT is in a state where the police officers are not protected by nebulous law that does not define any parameters at all other than a very vague provision that it cannot be based solely on race or nationality. You mean to tell me some tobacco chewing dumbass redneck that hates "damn wetbacks" and suddenly got his badge and gun and thinks he is the poster boy for the Texas Rangers with express blessing of the Patron Saint of the Texas Rangers, Chuck Norris, is going to have the intelligence and responsibility to be able to follow the "spirit" of this law? I would argue that indeed they WILL follow the "spirit" of this law...a spirit of hate, racism and divisive prejudice.
(5) This begins the deterioration of Arizona (and any states that follow) into a police state.
When a police officer pulls me over for speeding he is within his right and responsibility to ask for three things: Driver's License, Vehicle Registration and Proof of Insurance (in a State that requires car insurance). These are tools related to the infraction...my citizenship status has absolutely NOTHING to do with my speeding or trying to get by that yellow light. Up until now, documents such as birth certificate (which I have misplaced long ago), passport and other sensitive documents most people keep in a safe deposit box, have not been necessary. How will a police officer determine if a person's social security card is valid? How will he determine if a person that comes from, let's say Tennessee where you do not have to be a citizen or legal resident to get a driver's license, is here legally or not? What documentation would I have to show to some jack ass, that typically I would have to show only in a court of law, to prove what I should NEVER have to prove in the first place...that I am a proud citizen of the United States of America?
You may ask...well what is the big deal if you have to prove you are a citizen? Simply put this, I am a citizen of the United States of America. I enjoy the EXACT same rights you do as WHITE American citizen. You enjoy the right, one you deserve, to not be unduly harassed or inconvenienced by law enforcement. You have the right to a court of law, and certain issues (such as your citizenship, which would not be questioned because you "look and sound" American, whatever that means) are specifically challenged and proven in a court of law. These are rights YOU have as a WHITE American citizen. Up until this last Friday I, as an American citizen that just happens to be Hispanic, had them as well.
P.S. I would recommend you read on the Gestapo tactics in Nazi Germany. Where Jews were required to carry their documents with them. Just food for thought. And how long before we have to start sewing gold corn burritos or a big H on our jackets to better identify ourselves in the police state these asswipes are promoting. And to my WHITE American brethern consider this...you think this is a good idea...what will yo uthink when the offcers are not responding to calls for roberries, murders and car wrecks because they are too busy playing INS?
I have rarely ever straight up asked for comments, but this blog is VERY emotional for me..your opinion would be interesting and I would invite debate. I also NEVER ask for people to pass this on...but I do ask...if you agree with me...please pass this on...I want people to know there are American Citizens that feel endangered by this law and by the facts that other states are considering it as well. Thank you!
Before I continue let me get the emotional crap out of the way because I won't lie I am severely worked up, insulted and over all ashamed that these ass wipes have the temerity to even call themselves Americans. I do not acknowledge these racist pigs as my Brothers and I spit on them and their very existence...pure and simple. So just a few "emotional" points to be made BEFORE I get into the meat of my blog.
(1) This is the exact type of BULLSHIT, swine vomit and weasel piss I would expect from a state held hostage by the fucking teabaggers. This is a law that puts personal interest of racist white supremacist above the interests of Americans. The Constitution means nothing to Tea Party "Patriots". The American Flag means nothing to them. I will go as far (in my anger) to say that these racists pigs have turned the American Flag into their own Swastika. They use it as their symbol of racism, because REAL Americans are just like them...or they don't belong here. I would expect this law from people that protest holding card board signs that say "This sign is the brownest thing on this entire block".
(2) The Tea Party ass wipes want to complain about the power of government and an intrusive government but are willing to support, even demand the GOP Governor of Arizona to sign a law that pushes Arizona closer to a police state than any law since the Patriot Act. They are hypocritical, they are full of hate and racism and they full of fucking horse shit.
(3) I am an American. Don't you dare read this article and say, "Oh you must be a greaser wetback." First, I am Puerto Rican, not Mexican (not that I have a problem with Mexicans. I simply despise people's attitude that we are all the same.) Second, I am a proud American Citizen, born American from American parents. I just happen to be Hispanic by the luck of the draw, not something I am ashamed of or bothered by, but nonetheless it is who and what I am. My family is a military family. My Dad served in the US Army. My brother served in the USMC with distinction. A decorated and injured in combat veteran, he served this country with honor and distinction. I tried to join the military but due to health problems was rejected. What I am saying is don't you fucking question my loyalty to my Country! I love this country.
(4) I firmly believe that SOMETHING needs to be done about the illegal immigration problem. I believe some of the sacks of shits coming from ALL OVER THE WORLD need to be culled and shipped back to their country of origins. 9/11 is a perfect example of us allowing the wrong people in this country (for the record, if you think this law is good becuase of 9/11 I would remind you the perpertrators of 9/11 came from accross the OTHER border...Canada NOT Mexico!). Studies of crime rates indicate a percentage of crimes that simply would not be happening without these unwanted aliens here. I firmly believe much of this stupid law is about trying to force the government's hand to do something about immigration, but what the hell? What do they think will be accomplished? Right now the GOP is on a personal vendetta to end and obstruct any legislation that the President might put forth or that Democrats are remotely in favor of. The Party of No is nothing but a bunch of sacks of shit that couldn't care about what happens in this country as long as they keep every single legislation from happening. Congress taking up immigration reform right now would be a waste of time since the Rethuglicans would have to block it just to keep up with their party's legislative agenda.
Now...having said all that I will try to answer more specifically, the title question of this blog post...How is Arizona Exactly Wrong?
(1) This is an "illegal Mexican" not "illegal immigrant" law
Let's face it...This law is NOT about illegal immigrants. This law is about illegal Mexicans. In one breath they talk about the police stopping anybody they "suspect" of being illegal and in the next talk about the Mexico-Arizona border and then they try to convince us that this is all about the safety of our country and is NOT going to be about race. I cry BULLSHIT! This law is specifically designed to deal with the very real problem of illegal immigrants from South American countries, specifically of HISPANIC/LATINO decent. That being said it is equally self evident that this law is specifically designed for a specific racial decent. As such it is inherently designed and inescapably structured to allow and even promote racial profiling. There is no escaping this fact, no matter how the GOP wants to label this pile of horse shit.
(2) This is a racial profiling hell in the making
You may read this and shake your head and say that I am just playing the race card. That is very easy for you to say if you have never been mistreated for being Hispanic. I have lived for many years in the State of Georgia. A State where we do NOT have ridiculous laws such as this blatant insult that Arizona has just passed and I have REPEATEDLY been racially profiled by people and by law enforcement in this state. I have had my citizenship questioned for no other reason than my name is Julio and my skin is darker than theirs. So until you have been there you cannot and will not understand what I am talking about and your opinion means less than pigeon shit to me!
By passing a law that is unequivocally directed at a race of people, they have set this country back in time in regards to civil rights. Simply put, there is an ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION problem, but it is not just Latino immigrants. How will they have "reasonable suspicion" of a Canadian that is here illegally? Australian? Russian? British? Without a little Spanish and dark skin and obvious Latino features, how will they have "reasonable suspicion"? The answer? They won't! Simple as that. That is because you cannot just look at an individual and magically have a "feeling" that they are here illegally. The weak argument that this law prohibits it be based on nationality is bullshit. The simple truth is that there is no other way to "suspect" somebody that has not committed a crime or misdemeanor of some sort without basing that suspicion on race and/or language and culture.
(3) This law makes Americans of Hispanic descent feel unsafe in their own country
I will not cross the state line in to Arizona or any other State that passes this law. Simple as that. I do not feel safe in a state where just because I am standing on the street corner talking in Spanish I might become a "suspect" that would justify some Barney Fife to harass me based solely on my race and language. YES. I do speak English fluently. I speak English without even a trace of a Spanish accent. I also speak Spanish fluently. I am privileged to be bilingual. We are fast reaching a point where a group of white supremacist racist asswipes can, since they cannot outlaw me speaking Spanish, will make it to where I am afraid to do so for fear that a gun toting punk with a badge can harass me for daring to be different. If this law continues to spread to other States, and reaches the State in which I reside, I fear that the law enforcement will merely become an arm of the INS and my safety, and the safety of my property and of my family will suffer as a result.
(4) This puts judicial power in the hands of idiots
The Arizona lawmakers are naive. They state that they trust their law enforcement officers to be responsible and to follow what they consider the "spirit" of this law and not use it based on race. In my immediate family of four, my brother and my parents and myself, each of us can give at least two detailed stories of police harassment and racial profiling in the last 15 years. That is 8 cases in just one family. And THAT is in a state where the police officers are not protected by nebulous law that does not define any parameters at all other than a very vague provision that it cannot be based solely on race or nationality. You mean to tell me some tobacco chewing dumbass redneck that hates "damn wetbacks" and suddenly got his badge and gun and thinks he is the poster boy for the Texas Rangers with express blessing of the Patron Saint of the Texas Rangers, Chuck Norris, is going to have the intelligence and responsibility to be able to follow the "spirit" of this law? I would argue that indeed they WILL follow the "spirit" of this law...a spirit of hate, racism and divisive prejudice.
(5) This begins the deterioration of Arizona (and any states that follow) into a police state.
When a police officer pulls me over for speeding he is within his right and responsibility to ask for three things: Driver's License, Vehicle Registration and Proof of Insurance (in a State that requires car insurance). These are tools related to the infraction...my citizenship status has absolutely NOTHING to do with my speeding or trying to get by that yellow light. Up until now, documents such as birth certificate (which I have misplaced long ago), passport and other sensitive documents most people keep in a safe deposit box, have not been necessary. How will a police officer determine if a person's social security card is valid? How will he determine if a person that comes from, let's say Tennessee where you do not have to be a citizen or legal resident to get a driver's license, is here legally or not? What documentation would I have to show to some jack ass, that typically I would have to show only in a court of law, to prove what I should NEVER have to prove in the first place...that I am a proud citizen of the United States of America?
You may ask...well what is the big deal if you have to prove you are a citizen? Simply put this, I am a citizen of the United States of America. I enjoy the EXACT same rights you do as WHITE American citizen. You enjoy the right, one you deserve, to not be unduly harassed or inconvenienced by law enforcement. You have the right to a court of law, and certain issues (such as your citizenship, which would not be questioned because you "look and sound" American, whatever that means) are specifically challenged and proven in a court of law. These are rights YOU have as a WHITE American citizen. Up until this last Friday I, as an American citizen that just happens to be Hispanic, had them as well.
P.S. I would recommend you read on the Gestapo tactics in Nazi Germany. Where Jews were required to carry their documents with them. Just food for thought. And how long before we have to start sewing gold corn burritos or a big H on our jackets to better identify ourselves in the police state these asswipes are promoting. And to my WHITE American brethern consider this...you think this is a good idea...what will yo uthink when the offcers are not responding to calls for roberries, murders and car wrecks because they are too busy playing INS?
I have rarely ever straight up asked for comments, but this blog is VERY emotional for me..your opinion would be interesting and I would invite debate. I also NEVER ask for people to pass this on...but I do ask...if you agree with me...please pass this on...I want people to know there are American Citizens that feel endangered by this law and by the facts that other states are considering it as well. Thank you!
Monday, April 26, 2010
My sentiments about the new Arizona Immigration Law
My favorite scene from Boondocks Saints. In it Rocco (the big Italian guy with the foul mouth at the end of this scene) best articulates (in a manner of speaking) My sentiments about the new immigration law in Arizona. I warn you the language is far from polite....and once I have cooled down enough to speak articulately about the subject I will post another blog about it.
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