Archive for the human rights Category

Fear of Being What We Are

Posted in 2008, America, Americans, ICE, Immigration, civil rights, death, dehumanization, deportation, discrimination, fear, human rights, ideas, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, law, life, news, people, personal, race, racial discrimination, racism, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 25, 2008 by iamashadow

Well, that is what it has come down to. Once again, in North Carolina. Again, I feel sorry for undocumented people living in this state. I’m glad I’m not there but I highly doubt my state is any better.

Anyway, it seems that Hispanic leaders have to be afraid because they are pro-immigrant. They have received the usual, profanity filled messages, hate messages, among others, I’ve received the same treatment. But now, they’ve received death threats. I mean, wow, how far are people willing to go.

This is from the News and Observer.

This is not about immigration,” Bazán said. “This is not about debating policy. This has moved on to another sphere. This is hate.”

Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat who sponsored the bill (in-state tuition for undocumented students bill), said she received one phone message warning that “my days are numbered.” She said the message, which included profane insults, felt like a threat.

“I have not seen anything like what illegal immigration elicits,” Harrison said. “It’s revealing a very ugly side of humanity that I’ve never seen before.”

“When you describe immigrants as Third World invaders or murderers, or say that they are swarming or coming in hordes, this is dehumanizing language,” Lauter said. “That kind of rhetoric inspires others who might act out on hate.”

How low does this country have to go before things get better?

Of course, the comment section of the newspaper has comments like the following.

From Stonewall83.

Plain and simple get rid of those mexicans. We don’t need them. This is a country founded on wonderful anglosaxon traditions. Anything contrary is plain unamerican. Get out mexicans!

Buzzaw

People are sick and tired of non whites telling whites to conform to their cultures. This country was intended to be a european only country. Since we have strayed away from that, we have been on a sharp decline.

And I saw other recognizible names from an anti-immigrant website that I won’t mention, which leads me to believe that the rest of the comments are no better. It is sad that this is the norm. But at least we are not being killed on the streets–oh, wait.

Dream Act Students

Posted in America, Americans, Dream Act, ICE, Immigration, anxiety, dehumanization, deportation, discrimination, human rights, ideas, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, inspiration, justice, law, life, opinion, people, personal, politics, undocumented student, undocumented students, videos, youtube on July 24, 2008 by iamashadow

Another great video. Must watch.

About those opportunities…

Posted in Americans, ICE, Immigration, anxiety, dehumanization, deportation, depression, discrimination, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, inspiration, life, opinion, people, personal, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 24, 2008 by iamashadow

Well, the following is written by Elrandomhero over at his blog, American Wetback. I advice everyone to read it, it is really cool. So, I decided to re-post his entry on my blog because he and I share the same feelings on regards to opportunities. Read on…

In the last few days I have been contemplating something that I shouldn’t be and that’s passing on an internship. Without getting into any incriminating details, I basically passed on an internship opportunity this week because it means putting my self at risk. Again without getting into too much detail, the government has way of knowing everything you do in your life, whether you want them to know or not. Taking on this paid internship would have meant doing things that I shouldn’t be doing in the first place. I am not a legal U.S. resident , thus I cannot legally work or apply for internships that pay. Obviously I have considered the chance that I might still be able to be part of the internship without pay, but I need to focus on other things, despite again passing up such a great opportunity. This is not the first nor the last time I will have to make a decision like this. I have turned down many a job because of my legal status and every time I go through this stupid cycle of semi-depression. Every time I get my hopes up thinking that this time around they’re be some way for me to be able to take on a better paying job, I get denied. I’ve done it so many times now that it has sadly become a routine. People see the type of person I am and want to help me, but what good is that help if the U.S. says I don’t qualify for that help because of my illegal residence. The depression use to be a lot worse a year ago. Ohh man when I got frustrated back then about work, life and my x-girl I would go outside and punch walls till my knuckles bleed. Now adays I just pretend like everything is cool, when in reality I’m still dealing with what happened inside my head. Sometimes all that thinking makes me hungry for junk food that’ll only make me fatter. Passing by on great opportunities is part of my daily life. I don’t get excited about anything anymore really. Why should when I know that I’ll be denied and tossed to the side. I know that there are internships that don’t ask for the things that I lack, but those are hard to come by and sought after, just like scholarships. I know that it’s not impossible to make it because others have and sometimes I look to those who came before me for inspiration. Then again they had the support of family and friends. I on the other hand am grateful and extremely lucky to have the friends that I have, but at the end of the day it’s just me and my dog against the world. That’s what I’m reminded of when I have to turn down great opportunities, it’s me against the world. Somedays I even feel like going to sleep and never waking up ever again. Course those are the days when I’m depressed or bummed out, kinda like today.

Thanks again Randomhero for allowing me to repost this entry.

Another Political Cartoon

Posted in America, Americans, ICE, Immigration, art, dehumanization, deportation, history, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, justice, law, life, opinion, people, picture, politics, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 23, 2008 by iamashadow

This is another political cartoon I like. Enjoy. From the US News and World Report.

Radio Stupidity, and a Question.

Posted in America, Americans, conservatives, dehumanization, discrimination, diseases, human rights, news, opinion, people, quote, quote of the day, quotes, sexism, stupidity, thoughts on July 22, 2008 by iamashadow

I will put the following quotes from the man known as Michael Savage as he said them on his radio show. From Media Matters.

Now, the illness du jour is autism. You know what autism is? I‘ll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out. That’s what autism is.

What do you mean they scream and they’re silent? They don’t have a father around to tell them, “Don’t act like a moron. You’ll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, idiot.”

Autism — everybody has an illness. If I behaved like a fool, my father called me a fool. And he said to me, “Don’t behave like a fool.” The worst thing he said — “Don’t behave like a fool. Don’t be anybody’s dummy. Don’t sound like an idiot. Don’t act like a girl. Don’t cry.” That’s what I was raised with. That’s what you should raise your children with. Stop with the sensitivity training. You’re turning your son into a girl, and you’re turning your nation into a nation of losers and beaten men. That’s why we have the politicians we have.

Wow, well, stupid and sexist. Apparently, autism is a disease for girls only, according to his logic. Now, this individual put his opinion out there, with no training whatsover and why is he still on? I can read about cancer and yet I’ll probably still know next to nothing, which is why I don’t put an opinion or diagnose anyone on the disease or cures or whatever. So, America, why is this man still on the air? Really? Please, explain this to me America. WHY? Please, America, take the garbage off the air. Oh, by the way, you have the politicians you have because you elected them…

Immigration Enforcement Working!

Posted in America, Americans, ICE, Immigration, cops, courts, dehumanization, deportation, discrimination, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, justice, law, life, opinion, people, police, politics, race, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 22, 2008 by iamashadow

Oh yea, enforcement is working. It is taking those countless criminal scumbags of aliens of the streets and back where they belong. They are all so dangerous and scary. Lets take a look at the first example of a dangerous individual.

First up, as reported by FOXNews. There was an evil librarian in the town of Burlington, NC. Yep, she was taken care of. She was dangerous all right, being here for so long that she doesn’t remember the place she came from. And of course, she married a real American and had a kid. She committed the crime of stealing that guy from a real American woman. The shame! I’m so glad that giving the police immigration powers is working so swell.

Second to the plate, by the NY Times. This wretched human being was caught for driving badly. So, she went to jail for 6 days, she was 9 months pregnant and had a kid on a hospital while having an officer watching over her. Of course, she was also chained to the bed with handcuffs while having the kid. We all know women usually have a very merry time while giving birth. Having a kid is so easy that she could have tried to escape. So the police did the right thing by chaining her, right.

Now, I’m not even going to bother writing anything about this because I couldn’t seriously make this up or make fun about it, I’ll just quote the article.

After she was discharged from the hospital, Mrs. Villegas was separated from her nursing infant for two days and barred from taking a breast pump into the jail, her lawyer and a doctor familiar with the case said. Her breasts became infected, and the newborn boy developed jaundice, they said.

No, let me speak seriously for a minute. ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS??? The woman had a baby for Christ’s sake. But of course, she is a dangerous individual.

I’m so tired of the bullshit that comes from giving police immigration powers. Instead of going after people that actually put people in danger, you know, actual criminals, they do this shit. Going after librarians? Recent mothers? People working at factories? I mean, come on, the hypocrisy of immigration enforcement is so thick I could cut it with a knife.

Those two stories above are shameful and people should be embarrassed that their tax payer money (including my parents’) is being used like that. How did we come to this? What next? I’ll be taken out because I was having fun at my university?

Op-ed on recent immigration raid in Providence

Posted in 2008, America, Americans, ICE, Immigration, civil rights, dehumanization, deportation, discrimination, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, opinion, politics, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 21, 2008 by iamashadow

Garcia Hernandez gives a good historical background & some really disturbing reflections on the judiciary’s involvement in this raid & on its implications for migrants’ ability to seek justice in the US.

read more | digg story

Past, Present and Future

Posted in Immigration, history, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, opinion, personal, picture, politics, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 21, 2008 by iamashadow

This picture alone says so many things about immigration…

It comes from the following site.

Lack of Understanding?

Posted in Immigration, dating, friends, friendship, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immgrants, life, opinion, personal, race, relationships, school, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 21, 2008 by iamashadow

I was recently asked a question about my relationship with my girlfriend. Is my immigration status a hindrance  of sorts? Is she capable of understanding what I go through?

I answered that no one is capable of understanding what I go through, she is no exception. Only people like myself can understand what it is to live like this. I don’t care about her any less because of her lack of understanding though. Nor do I resent any of my friends who know what I am because they don’t understand. It is a fact of life I have to live with, one I’m accustomed now going towards my third year of college. Aside from 2 others individuals, no one out of 17,000 students is like me. If I wanted friends who would understand me completely, than I wouldn’t have any, let alone someone to date. That is what makes one feel alone, but you know, I’ve learned to live with it. Pain and solitude hurt, but giving up and quitting lasts forever.

I also understand that my friends go through things that I probably don’t understand, mainly because I’m so far away from the norm in many ways. I try my best as I’m sure they try their best to understand me, the street goes both ways to some extent.

So, is my relationship harder or a hindrance or bad in comparison to other multiracial relationships where documentation is not an issue? I would wager that it is not, it just has different worries with different solutions. I’m glad that I was able to find someone who is kind and understanding to the best of her abilities. One of the perks of my relationship is that I’m able to tease her about being so very unpatriotic because she is dating me. We get good laughs out of that.

Sweeps Threaten Latinos and Constitution in Maricopa County

Posted in America, Americans, ICE, Immigration, dehumanization, deportation, discrimination, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, justice, law, police, race, racial discrimination, racism, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 17, 2008 by iamashadow

The deputies began driving into the neighborhood, terrorizing the community until almost 11 p.m. that night. Young Latino men were brought into the parking lot in handcuffs. They looked terrified as they arrived in the back of sheriff
’s vehicles.Stadium lights were everywhere. The media was on-site interviewing deputies and concerned residents.

read more | digg story

Illegal Founders

Posted in America, Americans, ICE, Immigration, comedians, comedy, comic, deportation, entertainment, funny, history, human rights, humor, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, laugh, life, parody, people, politics, race, undocumented student, undocumented students, videos, youtube on July 17, 2008 by iamashadow

This is from FarkTV. I think it is hilarious. Have a good laugh.

Not My World

Posted in America, ICE, Immigration, art, civil rights, dehumanization, deportation, discrimination, fear, history, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, picture, politics, race, racial discrimination, racism, undocumented student, undocumented students, white supremacy on July 16, 2008 by iamashadow

I found this via Citizen Orange (belonging to Signs of the Times), this picture, as Kyledeb said, is the world where the antis would love to live in. This is not how its going to go down though, or I least I hope not. I think the world is moving to a more progressive side, slowly but surely, we will get there and this picture will not come to pass.

Beaufort County, SC and Operation Surge

Posted in ICE, Immigration, anxiety, civil rights, cops, dehumanization, deportation, discrimination, fear, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, justice, law, news, people, race, racial discrimination, racism, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 16, 2008 by iamashadow

What, now counties? Unlike my other two postings, which consentrated on blaming immigrants for the end of the world, now it is an entire county. It seems like we are moving up. Actually, this is quite scary since this has been the third article of this kind in the last couple of days.

So, what’s going on in South Carolina. Well, the entire state hates us but this county does it with a vengeance. The started something called Operation Surge, which to what I’m reading, it means that all brown people will be arrested and have the documents checked. No, of course there is no racial profiling, who would ever think that!?

It is disgusting that things are happening this way. Note to self, never visit Beaufort County, Escondido or Freemont. I’ll take my money elsewhere.

Read the article over the crap that is going over there in the following link.

Escondido, oh the irony…

Posted in ICE, Immigration, anxiety, dehumanization, deportation, depression, discrimination, fear, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, law, news, opinion, people, race, racism, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 15, 2008 by iamashadow

The city of Escondido is now adding itself to the list of cities that want to get rid of us.  Because we are nuisances. It’s ironic that the city is trying to get rid of its brown residents when the name of the city itself comes from such people. Escondido, El Paso, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, and the like, all the cities with Spanish backgrounds. It is just funny to me.

Anyways, the mantra of Escondido is that if you can’t get rid of us directly, use the stereotypes against us. Ordinances against trash, graffiti and junk cars. Oh no, this is not racist at all, because really, only Latinos do this, no wait! Undocumented people is now a race.

From the article.

The police department’s most controversial move, however, was establishing checkpoints to find unlicensed drivers. Last year, the department set up 18 license checkpoints, resulting in 293 impounded cars, 14 arrests and 296 citations. Maher said those checkpoints helped officers find at least 290 unlicensed drivers and helped reduce the city’s number of hit-and-run crashes.

“Some folks say they are controversial because they target a specific segment of the population,” he said. “That is absolutely not true. Our checkpoints are for one reason and one reason only: traffic safety.”

Traffic safety? Yeah, right. What a world we live in folks. The purges continue and another dark chapter in the long dark history of US immigration is being written. Unfortunately for me, I feel the damn ink hurting all over.

Read the rest of the article here, courtesy and all rights belonging to the LA Times.

In Limbo

Posted in America, Americans, Dream Act, ICE, Immigration, anxiety, civil rights, college, dehumanization, deportation, discrimination, human rights, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, immigrants, justice, law, life, news, opinion, people, personal, politics, thoughts, undocumented student, undocumented students on July 14, 2008 by iamashadow

Wow, talk about being stuck in limbo and then some. I have the unique advantage of people not knowing my location and such, I keep a low profile. I mean, I could go out and party and such, make a disgrace of myself but I choose not to, I think it is the smarter move. Anyway, back to the point, this kid who goes by the name of Arthur Mkoyan is stuck in the limbo from hell.

He graduated with a 4.0 GPA, probably higher than most of his American-born peers, and a letter of admission to UC Davis. So, that would be good right. Well, no, he is an undocumented immigrant from Armenia. But wait you say, I thought all undocumented immigrants were stinky Mexicans. No, you are wrong, epic fail.

So, why is the kid an undocumented immigrant. His father made the choice of emigrating to the US bringing his wife and kid, Arthur, at the age of 1. So, now, after a 16 year process that didn’t give the family assylum, they are supposed to be deported. Apparently having your house burned down and shop they owned getting ransacked aren’t valid enough reasons to flee your country and seek asylum elsewhere.

Well, now, here we are 16 years later and Arthur is stuck in limbo. He wants to continue his education but that has become doubtful considering he is undocumented. So, here we have a kid who would probably do well in life, his life in the US, but can’t because of the mistakes of others. Are you going to ask him to leave to a place where he has never been? Is that fair? And I thought I had it bad. I still can’t believe things like this could happen in this country but I guess I was wrong.

Read more about Arthur and his family’s story in the following article.

Umm…if only there was a piece of legislation that would allow his DREAMs to come true. Nah, I’m sure there isn’t one, no wait–