Happy Halloween! October 31, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in life, personal, thoughts.1 comment so far
Happy Halloween everyone. If you go out, beware of sketchy people. Have fun.
My plans? Staying in my dorm and playing Dead Space. It is a terrifying game, I have been known to yell the following. :”FUCK. DAMN. WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING! NO! ISSAC DON’T DIE!”. After the screaming, I usually die. It’s a scary video game, one that fits the day. Anyway, everyone have a happy day and get lots of candy.
Gandalf vs. The Balrog October 31, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in Gandalf, Lord of the Rings, entertainment, famous people, fiction, fight, films, literature, videos, youtube.add a comment
This fight is pretty amazing. Lots of great special effects. What? I like things that don’t exist…
Watch and enjoy.
Email to My Girlfriend October 31, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in Immigration, Muslims, dehumanization, deportation, depression, discrimination, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, life, opinion, personal, politics, race, racial discrimination, racism, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students.add a comment
I sent out this email, now edited for blogging purposes, to speak about the highlights of an event I went to about the scapegoating of Muslims in American.
Okay, I’m bored. And tired. And I don’t know when I’ll see you, probably not today or tomorrow, so I’m writing about what happened at the event or my highlights anyway.
The event was mainly about Muslims and how they’ve become of the scapegoats for America. I really liked what one of the speakers said though. She said this to us, the audience (the audience being university students). If someone in class or anywhere, says anything that would be considered hateful against Muslims, don’t wait for the Muslim student to stand up for himself. No, that is putting the burden of defending an entire group of people on one who is already directly affected by the hate. Instead, the speaker told us to stand and say that hate speech is wrong, don’t wait for the Muslim to defend himself. He/she is a human being, just like anyone in the audience was.
That goes for standing up for immigrants and homosexuals. Don’t put the burden on the one being directly affected by the issue. No, defend them because they are human beings. One of the Muslim professors also
agreed. He said that he wants more people standing up for the oppressed (the ones being dehumanized) people, people not being affected by whatever issue is being talked about. He said that he, as a Muslim, is always the one defending himself and his people. He said that it is a tiring, stressful, extremely depressing and discouraging business to do so. He said he liked events like the one he saw today because he knows that there are people who think like him and is grateful because he wouldn’t be in this country if that wasn’t the case. While he might take it upon himself to defend, defend, defend, he doesn’t want his kids to follow that because it is one of despair.
I have to agree. It is discouraging, being that voice. God knows it is depressive, discouraging, stressful and tiring. I know that better than most. One of the speakers says it is the job of the elite, of the university students, to change this. But that is discouraging, because not nearly many people defend the issues and try to stop the oppression of either Muslims, immigrants or the gay community. I’m tired of the burden falling on me, at least on immigration. Immigration was talked about.
A friend wonders how is it that I’m still functional, despite everything I go through every single day being that voice. I told her that I don’t know. What else is there to do right, but to march on and continue.
There was also very valid talk about the oppressed. Since when did it become fashionable to have an oppression Olympics, to see which group is the most oppressed, and therefore only help out that group. No.
There needs to be more cooperation. Should a Muslim not stand up for the hate that goes towards gays? Towards immigrants? Just because it isn’t happening to your group doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to
defend others. We are all divided it seems. That was another one of the big points.
End of email. I believe now, that I will not only stand for immigrants, but all dehumanized people. I hope anyone reading this entry also joins me.
Paranoia October 30, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in Immigration, McCain, Obama, election, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, life, opinion, personal, politics, race, racial discrimination, racism, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students.1 comment so far
Not my paranoia for a change. Apparently, some people are afraid that undocumented immigrants might intending to sneak up on the polls and try to vote. Here is a quote from PrimeBuzz.
A group calling itself the November Patriots held a press conference Tuesday in the Statehouse to voice their worries that non-citizens may be sneaking into the polls Tuesday.
They say a now-closed loophole in state law allowed many (50,000, by one estimate) to get drivers licenses without proving residency. The Patriots worry that those folks may have also registered to vote.
A tiny bit later in the article, the following gem is found…
The Patriots couldn’t offer any evidence that illegal immigrants are meddling with Kansas elections.
First of all, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Phew* Okay…actually, wait, no. Hahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Okay…I think I’m done. Please. Undocumented immigrants trying to attempt to vote. Please. I’ve lived in a community that has a lot of immigrants and let me tell you, they will not be going to voting booths anywhere. I mean, come on, it is hard enough to make some Americans vote, why would an immigrant. Especially if the process if convoluted. Nah, forget about that, it is all just conspiracy theory, in case Obama wins, I’m sure we will be blamed though because in the minds of some Republicans, no one like Obama would win in without cheating. Oh well.
Unmentionable site October 30, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in America, Americans, Immigration, Latinos, Mexicans, human rights, ideas, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, life, opinion, personal, politics, race, racial discrimination, racism, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students, white supremacy.2 comments
The following quotes come from an unmentionable site. Why unmentionable? Because I don’t want put up a link towards them and drive more traffic towards them.
They have an entry for thread that is also not going be named. The thread is about Mexicans, not undoucmneted immigrants and what would happen if they left. The following two are comments by people who visit said site. Why am I that site? It is good to know what the opposition is up to, and sometimes they make laugh. God, I’m a masochist.
we’d have room on our highways and less gridlock.
we’d have space for american kids in our city classrooms.
we’d have room in our jails and prisons.
we’d have, what, 14 less americans killed every day?
we’d have a lot less drunk drivers, murderers, rapists, child molesters, gang thugs, and other miscreants running around causing mayhem in our society.
we’d have a society that was not being torn down and ruined by uninvited, rude, entitlement-minded, classless, lying, filthy illegal bargers from the third world who love to call their long-suffering hosts racists.
and
We might be able to drive on the freeways again, our kids may actually have a chance at a good education in public schools, we may have a better shot of surviving if god forbid we are admitted into an emergency room, the American poor may actually find a decent paying job, it might finally be possible for our local police to actually protect and serve us and last but not least we might not have to press one for English.
Now, what is wrong with those comments. Well, first up, they are racists? Why? Because they asked what if 20 million Mexicans went home. They are transforming the word Mexican into a dirty word, as if saying, all undocumented immigrants are Mexican. That is an outright lie. But, because they seem to have a small world view, all Mexicans are illegal aliens.
Second up. Most of the comments are dehumanizing. They are dehumanizing the enemy, which is quite sad. They remind me of certain people from the 1930s, from this country called Germany. They also said some nasty comments like those and looked where they ended up. I would hope nothing like what I’m talking about happens. All generalizations, not a shred of truth. It is annoying to be dehumanized and quite tiring to have to defend oneself all the time against that kind of ignorance. Bleh.
Life in College October 30, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in Immigration, Latinos, dehumanization, deportation, depression, discrimination, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, life, personal, politics, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students.add a comment
Life in college is interesting. Especially if you are undocumented. One day, everything seems to be going well and the next someone comes in and crushes most of your hopes and dreams. Not all of them. Just enough to despair.
I’ve been feeling down lately, but I think that those feelings are dying down. I’m feeling better. I also found out that my current school still supports people like me, that makes me happy.
The mood swings come and go. I don’t know how to control them. One day I feel great, the next I feel like crap. I don’t get it. It is not what people can do either, I don’t think there is anyone out there that cheer me up if I feel like crap. I don’t know.
I have a rather large project for this Friday. I have to re-enact one of the scenes for Shakespeare’s King Lear. It will be fun. The acting that is. But unfortunately, I also have to talk about the play which will suck because I’m terrible public speaker. I mean, in writing, I’m awesome but not speaking. Even if I do research, I’ll suck. So, I’m nervous about this. This will happen on Friday. The world will be a better place afterwards.
I’m also playing Dead Space, great game. Very scary.
PS. Also, I apologize for my Google reader subcribers. I wrote this post so it would come at a certain time of day, but instead of coming out on the 30th, it came out as if it was the 3rd of October. My bad. This is new, not old. The way I work is that I write most posts and they are laters posted during the day. Sorry!
Gears of War 2 Trailer October 29, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in Microsoft, Xbox 360, entertainment, games, thoughts, trailers, video games, videos, youtube.add a comment
This trailer is exciting. I can’t wait for this game. Why is that most of the good games of the year come out now. I don’t have enough money to get them all. Fable 2? Far Cry 2? Gears of War 2? Guitar Hero 4? Fallout 3? I mean, really. I think publishers need to spread them out so I can buy everything instead of just buying a few. I mean, I’m waiting for Dead Space in the mail now, which would be an excellent Halloween video game choice. Anyway, enjoy the trailer. 360 exclusivity ftw! Sorry, I had to do that.
An Immigrant’s Story: Mariana October 29, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in 2008, America, Americans, Dream Act, ICE, Immigration, Latinos, dehumanization, deportation, depression, discrimination, dreams, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, inspiration, justice, law, life, opinion, people, personal, politics, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students, videos, youtube.1 comment so far
Another video, like some of the ones that I sent put up before. Another brave person, more than I.
Colin Powell Endorcement October 29, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in Islam, Muslims, Obama, dehumanization, human rights, ideas, life, opinion, people, politics, thoughts, videos, youtube.add a comment
While this is not directly related to immigration, I really like this video. The question is of course, what if Obama was indeed Muslim? So what? This is America. I know people like to think that all Muslims are evil. But that is not true. Just like not all Latinos in this country are illegal, not all Muslims are radical. No. That is just hate. That is just scapegoating and no one group should be marginalized for the sins of a few. I don’t agree with that kind of point of view. This endorcement is a very good one.
Marriage Proposal in Chrono Trigger October 28, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in 2008, America, Americans, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, cute, life, love, marriage, nerd, people, personal, thoughts, video games, videos, youtube.1 comment so far
First of all, I have to apologize. I’ve been gone for far too long. I had midterms, fall break, lots of stress and such. But I’m back. Hopefully I’ll be able to have more posts in the near future. Life is always busy and a tiny bit sad if you are an undocumented student. More to come.
Now I’ll leave you with something that I found to be incredibly cute, nerdy and awesome. If I ever ask anyone to marry me, I can only hope to ask in such an original way. If you are impatient, go to 6:10 in the video to see the actual question.
Midterms October 14, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in college, education, life, personal, school, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students.add a comment
I’m having midterms. Way too many midterms. It is annoying. But eh, I have a lot of work and it can’t be helped. I’ll be done soon though and I’ll come back to posting more regularly, like last week. My next post should be sometime on Thursday.
Midterms. Ah! I hope I’m doing okay in them.
An Immigrant’s Story: Julio October 11, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in 2008, America, Americans, Immigration, Latinos, dehumanization, deportation, depression, discrimination, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, inspiration, justice, law, life, personal, politics, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students, videos, youtube.add a comment
Julio’s story is told.
McCain’s People October 10, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in 2008, America, Americans, Democrats, McCain, Obama, Republicans, fear, life, media, opinion, people, race, racial discrimination, racism, scary shit, stupidity, thoughts, videos, white supremacy, youtube.add a comment
The following people are scary. They are allowed to vote. I hope the best for Obama if he is elected. From blogger interrupted.
If being a terrorist has to do with names, than I guess Muhammad Ali is also one. *sigh*
Higher-Ed Purgatory October 10, 2008
Posted by iamashadow in Dream Act, Immigration, Latinos, dehumanization, deportation, depression, discrimination, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, justice, law, life, people, personal, politics, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students.4 comments
Another one us speaks out in the following article on regards to paying out of state tuition in Colorado.
Someone commented on the article, I’ll use the quote and argue against it. Read the article first though.
“OK – I consider myself do be a pretty left wing liberal but on the subject of instate tuition this article is wrong.
These are not “undocumented” anything. They are ILLEGAL. Undocumented would mean a legal resident alien who has not renewed his green card. These people are not that.
If, as I did, I send my kids out of state for tuition they have to pay out of state rates. They don’t get to study at instate rates even though they are legal citizens of the US. These kids, unless you believe in anarchy and ignoring the rule of law have the right to go to the university in their home country at whatever rate they are charged there, which is presumably less that what an outsider would have to pay.
Apparently people get a little daft on this subject when the student is illegal and says they cannot afford to go to a state university at out of state rates. Well, there are plenty of people in Colorado who cannot afford to send their kids to university EVEN at the instate rates.
NO – Say NO to anarchy – rules are rules. Follow them. The rest of us have to.”
Jose is just like the kids of the commenter. I mean, if Jose wanted to go to an out-of-state college, he would out-of-state tuition. No one is asking for that to change. As for asking for him to pay in-state tuition, that would be because his parents have paid taxes. Let me repeat that. Undocumented immigrants do in fact pay taxes.
No one is asking for anarchy. It is a matter of education. Not anarchy. I hate it when people have this image of the law that is black and white. The world is not like that. The world is unfortunately in shades of gray. This is not Lord of the Rings where good and evil are so easily defined. But that’s me.
