Thank you! December 24, 2007
Posted by iamashadow in Christmas, Immigration, friends, friendship, illegal immigration, mentors, personal, politics, quote, undocumented student.2 comments
So, it is Christmas, the season to give thanks. To appreciate the things around us. At least I have been told that by a friend of mine, I will quote her,
“A word of wisdom: Times are darker when you’re looking at your shadow. Turn around and see the sun behind you and remember that you’re blessed. If nothing else this Christmas, do that and give thanks for what’s good in your life.”
So, what is good in my life? The people around me definitely.
To my mentors.
What can I say about you guys? I can’t think of anything to say, or anything that I say will never be enough. I owe you guys the place where I study and everything that I am today. To my first ESL teacher, I owe you my ability to speak and write. I will forever cherish that, I am a writer because of you. To my teachers in high school, I owe you my sanity. Thank you all for being there for me when no one was? Thank you for believing it was possible for me reach this place when even I didn’t think it was possible. Thank you for even now keeping up with me when you don’t have to. To my librarian, thank you for making me do the college applications, I’ve never would have done them on my own and probably would have failed at them without your guidance. To my university professor, thank you for believing that I could do well at your university and for giving me the opportunity to continue my education. I only wish that I could have done better in my freshman year.
To my friends.
I also owe you guys my sanity. Thank you for trying to understand my situation, thank you for being great people that I can tell my secret. Thank you guys for not screwing up (except for almost that one time…) and not sending my mind to hell by giving me away. Without you guys I would have gone crazy long ago. Thank you for keeping me company in my darkest of moments and basically for putting up with me. I know it must be hard work, god knows I’m usually depressive. Oh, and to my roommate if he ever reads this, the Wii is in fact better than the 360.
I can never say thank enough…all I can say is I hope everyone is having splendid holidays!
Quote December 24, 2007
Posted by iamashadow in Immigration, illegal immigration, politics, quote, undocumented students.add a comment
Writing is a struggle against silence. Carlos Fuentes
I think that is the ultimate reason for this blog. I’ve been silent for far too long, 10 years almost. Not anymore, and while I can’t show my true identity, one day I will. I often said that I had to leave the job of speaking to the citizens and legal residents, but I don’t see that happening. Often I see Lou Dobbs and Bill O’Reilly speaking, and people like them. In most immigration articles on the internet, the comment sections are dominated by people who are anti-immigrant, usually surrounding a pro-immigrant person by a margin of 20 to 1. Do believe that those people are the majority, I should hope not. I say now though, it is not the voice of the anti-immigrant that will bring about my deportation, but the silence of those who know me and say and do nothing. I know I’m not alone though, otherwise I wouldn’t be here, so I ask everyone to raise their voices for the immigration cause. That is what democracy is all about isn’t it?
Ricardo Arjona December 24, 2007
Posted by iamashadow in Immigration, illegal immigration, music, undocumented student.add a comment
The following song is from Ricardo Arjona. I like to think that there is a tinge of truth to it. I also like of some of his other stuff and I highly recommend it if you speak Spanish, but other songs tend to be more on the romantic side of things. Haha, yeah, I’m a sucker for romantic songs, I’ll blame my mom on that matter. Haha. I translated it so English readers could understand it. No anti-immigrant people, I’m not trying to supplant the English language. It is possible to know two languages and value them equally. I’ll try to put up a youtube video of the song, once I learn how…
“Mojado” por Ricardo Arjona (con Intocable)
Empacó un par de camisas, un sombrero
He packed a couple shirts, a hat
Su vocación de aventurero, seis consejos, siete fotos
his job of adventurer, six advices, seven photos
Mil recuerdos
One thousand memories
Empacó sus ganas de quedarse
He packed his desire to stay
Su condición de transformarse
His condition of transforming himself
en el hombre que soñó
into a man he dreamed to be
y no ha logrado
and hasn’t achieved.
Dijo adiós con una mueca disfrazada de sonrisa
He said goodbye with a grimace disguised in a smile
Y le suplicó a su Dios crucificado en la repisa
And he prayed to his crucified God on the shelf
El resguardo de los suyos
Protection of his own.
Y perforó la frontera
And he broke through the border
Como pudo
However he could
[coro]
Starts here
Si la luna suave se desliza
If the soft moon slides over
Por cualquier cornisa
whatever corner
Sin permiso alguno
without any permission
Porque el mojado precisa
Why does the wetback need
Comprobar con visas
to prove with visas
que no es de neptuno
that he is not from Neptune.
Ends here
El mojado tiene ganas de secarse
the wetback would like to dry off
El mojado esta mojado por las lagrimas que evoca la nostalgia
the wetback is wet because of the tears evoked by his nostalgia
El mojado, el indocumentado
the wetback, the undocumented
Carga el bulto que el legal no cargaría
carries the load that the legal person wouldn’t carry
Ni obligado
even if forced to.
El suplicio de un papel lo ha convertido en fugitivo
The torture of a paper has turned him into a fugitive
Y no es de aquí porque su nombre no aparece en los archivos
and he is not from he because his name does not appear in the files
Ni es de allá porque se fue
nor is he from there because he left
[coro]
Mojado
Wetback
Sabe a mentira tu verdad
Your truth tastes like lies
Sabe a tristeza la ansiedad
Like sadness tastes the anxiety
De ver un freeway y soñar con la vereda
Of seeing a highway and dreaming of the path
Que conduce hasta tu casa
that goes to your house
Mojado, mojado de tanto llorar
Wetback, wet of so much crying
Sabiendo que en algún lugar
Knowing that in one place
espera un beso haciendo pausa
a kiss is waiting paused
Desde el día en que te marchaste
since the day you walked out
[coro]
Si la visa universal se extiende
If the universal visa is extended
el día en que nacemos
the day that we are born
y caduca en la muerte
and expires at death
por qué te persiguen mojado
why do they persecute you, wetback
si el cónsul de los cielos
if the consulate of the heavens
ya te dio permiso
already gave you permission.
Arizona December 23, 2007
Posted by iamashadow in Immigration, illegal immigration, politics, undocumented student.5 comments
Oh Arizona. It will be the test to see if cracking down on immigration will work. I don’t think it will, but than that’s me and I’m biased. Haha. But all this anti-immigrant talk is the talk of bigotry, racism, and fear. History shows us that, look at the Irish, Italians, Russians, Poles, Chinese, and the Japanese. I would have thought that the country that consider itself the best in the world would learn from its mistakes but apparently not. Oh, and before the anti-immigrant people come here and say that all their ancestors came in legally, let me just put this out there. “Until 1918, the United States did not require passports; the term “illegal immigrant” had no meaning. New arrivals were required only to prove their identity and find a relative or friend who could vouch for them.” Yeah, that’s right, hell eventually a literacy test was introduced but…it was on the native language of the immigrant. But I know anti-immigrant people won’t listen to me, like Fox News, they repel logic and common sense. For now though, I’m just happy I don’t live in Arizona.
How do I know once again this new wave of immigrants is met by racism and scorn, it is comment like the following that tell me. This comment can be found in the link I posted.
“The spread of tuberculosis by illegal aliens threatens our entire school system whioch is being downplayed by public health. I am in the medical field and can tell you for a fact that illegal aliens are exposing Americans to disease by circumventing legal proceses. Even an exposure to TB requires you to take antibiotics for 6 to 9 mos that can destroy your liver. It IS a big deal that illegals are here stealing and endangering our health. “
I mean, come on! This is ignorance at its best. I think the person took the ‘illegal alien’ term way to seriously. We are all human, we all have hands and no, just because we are a little bit more brown does not mean we carry killer diseases. If an immigrant carried such deadly diseases, I think crossing the border would be the last thing in their mind. From all the immigrants that I know and believe me, I know plenty, no one has ever had TB or even heard of such a thing. And no, as an immigrant myself I can tell you that no, I’m not a thief.
Undocumented December 23, 2007
Posted by iamashadow in Immigration, Mexico, illegal immigration, life, politics, undocumented student.1 comment so far
A new friend of mine told me about the danger of putting up the way that I came to the United States. I listened to the warning and took down those posts. Just to generalize, I’m from Mexico. I didn’t want to come but my mom ordered. Unlike most anti-immigrant people think, I didn’t actually had control over my coming to this country. I was ten.
Now, for all the anti-immigrant people who might stumble upon this I’ll say this even though your small brains will probably not understand. I am not a criminal. I came here when I was ten years old for god’s sake. My sister came when she was 6. She and I are proof that immigrants do in fact *gasp* assimilate. I know, shocking isn’t it. I’m a university student, if that does not prove that I assimilated than I don’t know what does. My sister will soon be in high school as well, she barely speaks Spanish. I said in the about me section, illegals is not a noun. I’m undocumented, I didn’t choose to be in this position and yet I’ve done the best I can in my situation reaching a very good university. No, I didn’t steal anyone’s seat at the university, I’m just that f****ng good. Hell, I’m not even in-state on my state which I find pathetic. I hate living in fear because your bigotry and ignorance. But at least I sleep well at night, knowing I’m not oppressing anyone for just being ‘brown’.
Movie quote December 22, 2007
Posted by iamashadow in movie, quote.add a comment
The following quote has taken more and more meaning as time passes along and things get harder for me. In some ways it is true, in ways that my friends do not understand. The quote is from the movie Blade Runner, one of my favorite films of all time and one of the best. I suggest to anyone reading this blog to watch it, it is not a movie to be missed.
Quite an experience to live in fear, that’s what it is to be a slave. Roy Batty
Quote of the day December 21, 2007
Posted by iamashadow in Mexico, Oaxaca, heroes.add a comment
This one is from Benito Juarez. He was the president of Mexico from 1861-1863 and 1867-1872. He was an Zapotec Indian from the state of Oaxaca, and now considered a Mexican hero. In my opinion, he probably has been the only honest president Mexico has ever had.
Entre los Individuos, como entre Las Naciones, El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz.
Between indiviuals, like between nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.
I only wished that there was more respect for all individuals, we are all human after all.
Facebook December 21, 2007
Posted by iamashadow in Facebook, Immigration, illegal immigration, undocumented student.add a comment
I, like all responsible college students, have Facebook. Here is a descrition of a group I found and wanted to join it but in the end I decided not to. I’m very paranoid when it comes to my status, but that’s life right? Anyways, I thought it was very funny and no, this does not count for my quote of the day, I’ll put that up later. I unfortunately do not fit all the requirements that the group listed, I guess that makes me a bad undocumened student. Better get to work on learning martial arts…
“Why would any real illegal immigrants join a group like this? Well, while most of us enjoy being inconspicuous and has mastered the art of traveling incognito, we do like to flaunt our achievements and make our presence known once in a while. Wouldn’t this be asking for trouble, you ask? Yes, but like Number Two, we also like to live dangerously.
This group is a homage to all the Undocumented Immigrants who has made it this far and conquered obstacles unknown to common men/women. We party hard, because we know the immigrant agency could come for us any day, and we work hard because we’re here to make cash and kick ass. We’re kinda awesome.
Of course, not everyone is physically/psychologicall fit to endure the difficult yet rewarding hardship of an illegal immigrant. To be an effective undocumented traveler, one must possess the basic traits and characteristics listed below:
-Ability to fit into tight spaces
-Team worker
-Fast swimmer
-Ability to blend in at will
-Multilingual
-Travels for both business and pleasure
-Stealthy like a ninja
-Competent in some form of martial art
-Ability to sing more than 5 national anthems
-Expert in PFAFF
If you fit into the above criteria, is an undocumented immigrant, suspect your parents or ancestors to be undocumented immigrants, have illegal immigrant friend(s), support illegal immigrancy or anything else illegal, wish you’re an undocumented immigrant, like to travel, or simply enjoy swimming in the ocean and long walks on the beach while gazing off to the far distant land/horizon, this group is for you.”
Quote of the day December 20, 2007
Posted by iamashadow in quote.1 comment so far
Actually, it is not really a quote but the last paragraph of the novel I am Legend. I love it, and it made a large impression on me.
Robert Neville looked out over the new people of the earth. He knew he did not belong to them; he knew that, like the vampires, he was anathema and black terror to be destroyed. And, abruptly, the concept came, amusing him even in his pain.
A coughing chuckle filled his throat. He turned and leaned against the wall while he swallowed the pills. Full circle, he thought while the final lethargy crept into his limbs. Full circle. A new terror born in death, a new superstition entering the unassailable fortress of forever.
I am legend.
Hello world! December 20, 2007
Posted by iamashadow in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
Well, I guess I better start posting now that I’m here.
