An immigrant like me

I've been reading a lot this summer which, like everything else, has a positive and negative bent. The positive is that I've learned quite a bit--particularly about the history of immigration in America. The negative means that time devoted to artwork has diminished in favor of spending a majority of my time reading.

This reading–frenzy is the result of a challenge posed to me by one of my professors late spring semester. I was lamenting over the fact that I could not find sufficient information explaining why my husband's immigration situation has been so difficult.

My professor suggested that instead of asking "why" this has happened, I should try asking "how." What a difference one little word can make! "Why" is a question not always answerable because asking the question "why" denotes determining internal causes: and that can be nearly impossible. “Why” demands illuminating psychological and emotional responses of individuals and groups--no easy task. But restructuring the question and asking "how” changes the focus and inspires an investigation of root causes, history and significant events that have influenced the situation”. As a result, I've been reading a lot about American culture, immigration history, racism, and white nationalism.

There is one book; in particular, that has made a lasting impression on me this summer. The book is entitled: Black like Me by John Howard Griffin. Briefly, the book is about a white Southern man who found rampant discrimination of blacks in the Jim Crow era of the 1950's morally repugnant. He decided that to completely understand the trials blacks contend with on a daily basis he would need to become black himself. The book outlines the disparity, discrimination, naked hatred and humiliation he suffers as he travels across The South as a black man.

Despite this book being published in the 1960’s, the essence of the book continues to be relevant in today’s world. Not only to blacks who still face rampant institutionalized racism but also to Hispanics and other immigrants being demonized in the current incarnation of xenophobia. In an eerie prediction of future racial strife and increasing xenophobia—not only in The South but throughout contemporary American society, John Howard Griffin states:

“The Negro. The South. These are details. The real story is the universal one of men who destroy the souls and bodies of other men (and in the process destroy themselves) for reasons neither really understands. It is the story of the persecuted, the defrauded, the feared and detested. I could have been a Jew in Germany, a Mexican in a number of states, or a member of any “inferior” group. Only the details would have differed. The story would be the same.” – John Howard Griffin

I am particularly struck by the phrase “a Mexican in a number of states”. How poignant such a phrase is, for an era—a state; Arizona-- that is trying to sanction passing a law that clearly discriminates against a specific part of a marginalized population. Just like the Jim Crow laws did in the period of 1920’s-1960’s, the SB 1070 law mandates a different set of rules and expectations for certain groups and sets up the sanctioning of increased forms of dehumanization, exploitation and vulnerability.

It occurs to me, that it would be interesting if someone would follow John Howard Griffin’s moral example and attempt to walk in a Hispanic—or any undocumented immigrants shoes-- and experience the degradation, isolation and dehumanization for just one day. I surmise it would be very illuminating.

Honoring America's deportees

So here it is, a Facebook group called Honoring America's deportees which has been formed to enlist people into some pro-immigrant activism. Thanks to some word of mouth I have a good group forming.

I have added a description of the first project we will be involved in, which is a quilt with the names of 24 immigrants deported from America's shores. I will be uploading a picture of a sketch of the design of the quilt which incorporates traditional , crazy and patchwork quilting.

For further information, please check the link below. If you want to participate, have suggestions or just want to vicariously observe, please join the group. The more the merrier!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=143274455699956

Disguising malignancy: positive psychology and the art of self-deception

I came across an article about the U.S. military implementing a new program that trains recruits in the subtle art of positive psychology. The link for the article is :

http://www.alternet.org/world/147637

According to the author of the article, positive psychology is implemented in order to develop and improve “communication skills, cognitive reforming skills and help soldiers not to catastrophize -- don’t think of the worse case scenario about every potential problem.” The program also teaches soldiers to focus on “expressing appreciation” and “correcting negative views of ambiguous events.”

Now, I don't know about you, but I'm not comfortable with the idea of our military becoming a comedic, perpetual perky version of a modern day "Hogan's Heroes". If you are too young to remember the 1960's tv show, all I can suggest is look it up on Hulu or Youtube.

I'm not saying that optimism isn't a good trait to have, but when you are working in a volatile environment and when one false move can result in your death or someone next to you, I'm not sure if "putting on a happy face" and thinking positive thoughts is the prudent approach. When confronted by dangerous situations, it is wise to consider all negative consequences and worst case scenarios. This is nearly impossible when all you are trained to do is think happy thoughts.

Additionally, I can't fathom how it is possible to express appreciation when you are being attacked by guerrilla soldiers.

Interestingly enough, just before I came across this article, I read a book entitled: Empire of Illusion: the End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle by Chris Hedges. He writes about the infiltration of illusions in American culture, and one of these illusions he tackles is the merits of positive psychology.

Chris Hedges argues that positive psychology is inherently destructive to individuals and society. He explains in the following paragraph:


"Philosopher David Jopling calls positive illusions 'life-lies'. He argues that so-called positive illusions may work for awhile but collapse when reality becomes too harsh and intrudes on the dream world. 'The deeper and more pervasive an individual's positive illusions,' writes Jopling, 'the greater their effect of diminishing his range of awareness of himself, other people, and the situation confronting him.' Jopling argues that self-deception strategies are reality filters that organize what people understand into self-relevant and self-serving packages. 'With the diminishing of the range of responsiveness and openness' to what is real. Ones' ability to interact intelligently with all of the world's real consequences diminishes. Jopling warns of the grave moral consequences for a delusional society. 'This means that the range of social, emotional, and personal relations that connect us to others, to the social world, and to our own humanity, are progressively weakened as self-deceptive strategies become progressively entrenched in behavior and thought.'" p. 123-124 Hedges

Corporations have been promoting positive psychology for decades, argues Chris Hedges. The results have been catastrophic and have facilitated the rise of consumerism, along with the emergence of an apathetic citizenry and the entrenchment of conformity and allegiance to authority: even in the midst of immorality. Hedges elaborates:

"Corporatism, aided by positive psychology, relies on several effective coercive persuasion techniques, similar to those often employed by cults, to meld workers into a "happy" collective. It sanctions interpersonal and psychological attacks and lavish praise to destabilize an individual's sense of self and promotes compliance. It uses the coercive pressure of organized peer groups. It applies interpersonal pressure, including attacks on individuality and criticism as a form of negativity, to ensure conformity. It manipulates and controls the totality of the person's social environment to stabilize modified behavior." p. 135 Hedges

Personally, I believe positive psychology is dangerous. It gives the illusion that all anyone has to do to change their circumstances is think positive thoughts and, poof..everything is rosy. It encourages reliance on magical thinking and denies the realities of social inequity and social responsibility. Most disturbing of all is it coerces conformity and an unhealthy allegiance to authority figures by stifling independent and critical thought.

As Albert Einstein said: “Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.”




Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

For a change: good news coming from Arizona

Good news! Believe me, for pro-immigrant activists and people who support human rights, this is the kind of news we want and need to hear.

Federal Judge Sue Bolton of Phoenix Arizona has blocked key controversial items from going forward on July 29th: the date the controversial SB 1070 was to go into effect!

I won't go into all the details. You can read it in the link I will supply at the end of this post from the New York Times. I just want to say I am very proud to be an American today. I had a hard time believing that the judge would block SB 1070 because of all anti-immigrant hoopla being promoted in the media . Common sense and an allegiance to the principles in the Constitution apparently trumped hatred and fear.

For that I am grateful. Let's hope these principles stand firm in the midst of probable appeals.

Embracing my inner eccentric

There is a book entitled Eccentrics by David Weeks. I have not personally read it but I did peruse a blog post that mentioned it. In fact, the blogger included an excerpt written by Weeks that lists 15 traits of an eccentric. I found the list fascinating because many of the traits apply to me. The list can be found below with my comments added in bold :


•Nonconforming: YES

•Creative: YES

•Strongly motivated by curiosity: Absolutely

•Idealistic: wants to make the world a better place and the people in it happier: This definitely describes me

•Happily obsessed with one or more hobbies: Yeah, definitely

•Aware from early childhood that he/she is different: YES

•Intelligent: YES

•Opinionated and outspoken, convinced that he is right and that the rest of the world is out of step: Opinionated yes; outspoken, not usually—but as I get older I am becoming more so. The second part I plead the 5th.

•Noncompetitive, not in need of reassurance or reinforcement from society: Definitely non-competitive

•Unusual in his eating habits and living arrangements: Not so much

•Not particularly interested in the opinions or company of other people, except in order to persuade them to his the correct - point of view: True to an extent. I am interested in certain people’s company and in people who have informed opinions rather than those who structure their belief systems around cultural conditioning and emotional reactions-- exclusive of rational thinking. As a rule; I do not follow the herd mentality and prefer spending time with creative or unusual people with original ideas.

•Possessed of a mischievous sense of humor: YES

•Single: No, but I did not get married until I was 37

•usually the eldest or an only child: Only child

•Bad speller: Guilty as charged.


Since grade school, I have always recognized myself as somewhat of a misfit. I never had a problem making friends: although they usually came from the margins of “popularity central”. This meant that I befriended the artists, poets, punks, intellectuals, introverts, and other people outside the dominate society.

I intrinsically knew, even from a young age, that my opinions, beliefs and life experiences were somehow different from the majority of my classmates. For awhile, I attributed that to my introverted nature, but I may need to tweak that understanding a bit and just decide to embrace my inner eccentric!

As a result, I should not be surprised to find myself in love with and married to an immigrant: nor should it be surprising that I am committed to fighting the discriminatory system that has deemed my husband disposable, deportable-- and continues to stifle him within a soft cage of institutionalized xenophobia.

Additionally, it is not shocking to find myself in the minority when it comes to rallying for immigrant rights and immigration reform. Nor is it out of character for me to be vehemently opposed to a dehumanizing, unconstitutional and evil law as SB 1070. The herd mentality I mentioned before requires a blind allegiance to-- and a fervent belief in the unquestioned moral righteousness of assigned leaders, media moguls and law makers/ enforcement. I have no such illusory concepts.

So, as one of the greatest minds of American literature once stated: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” Mark Twain

I completely agree! 'Cos just because it's popular doesn't make it healthy, moral or just.

When the hate hits close to home

I don't mind saying that I am worried. The recent explosion of anti-immigrant fervor running rampant through this country has resigned me to fear the worst. With Jan Brewer, governor of Arizona, trying to stoke the fire of moral panic against Hispanics by claiming law enforcement has found bodies with decapitated heads, and the rise of neo-nazi vigilantes wielding guns and searching for immigrants crossing the border, and more states looking to implement similar laws to SB 1070 I don't see how the situation can get much worse--well, other than the eruption of widespread violence. Honestly, (and I apologize for the pessimism) based on the level of hate that has risen to the surface, I don't think violence is out of the question.

But what has disheartened me the most is when the hate is spewed from people within my immediate circle. I'm not talking about family members. We are fortunate to have family who have been incredibly supportive. I'm referring to people that I have come to respect and consider friends. People who have expressed concern for Khalid's situation in the past. Individuals who have met Khalid and have commented on what a nice, respectful person he is.

And yet, even when they know Khalid, his story, how he has been mistreated, locked up, and dehumanized; they can still support a discriminatory law like SB 1070 and spew hateful rhetoric about Hispanics. And I wonder: what good has come from talking about my husband's situation? Why did I put our lives up for scrutiny? I was idealistic and actually thought sharing our story would help temper the hate. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe all the condolences, empathy and well wishes were all lies.

Personally, I cannot make a distinction between my husband and all the Hispanic immigrants in this country. There is no way I can compartmentalize his story and say he deserves to stay in America and yet deny that same privilege to Hispanics. That is exactly what my "friends" are doing when they express empathy for my husband and yet profess disdain for Hispanics. Whatever happens to Hispanics in Arizona can certainly happen to my husband.

The struggle against the SB1070 law is not just to secure human rights for Hispanics--although that is a moral enough cause; it is also to end the dehumanization and inferiority status for all immigrants-- whether they are legal or illegal. All people are sacred and no group-- whether they are white, black, brown, disabled, homosexual, transgendered, etc-- deserves to be singled out by discriminatory laws.

After all, dehumanization and keeping "undesirables" in their place were the reasons behind the statute in apartheid South Africa that made it mandatory for black people to keep documentation. Dehumanization and keeping "undesirables" in their place were the reasons for implementing the Jim Crow laws and certainly dehumanization and keeping "undesirables" in their place was the purpose behind the Holocaust. We can NEVER forget that! And how did all these things occur? How did ordinary people ignore the cruelty that was inflicted? By designating that these specific groups of people simply did not matter.

However, what is particularly terrifying to me is my emotional reaction to this recent phenomenon. I've never considered myself a hateful person and I don't believe anyone would characterize me as such. I've certainly disliked some people in my lifetime but never hated anyone. But now, sometimes I feel so disillusioned, so frustrated, so sick of the stereotypes, the ignorance that runs rampant and unchecked through the immigration debate that I feel hate. It's not a good feeling. And I'm ashamed.

But then I remember, it is just this kind of feeling--unadulterated hate-- that is fueling this anti-immigration fire in this country. A hate so fiery, irrational and uncontrollable that it threatens us all: whether we are citizens, legal or otherwise. We are all in danger.

At least I have acknowledged and named my hate. Now I can conquer it. By conquering hate I can ensure that it will not spill over and adversely affect anyone else. I wish we would all acknowledge and conquer our hate. If we did, our world would be a lot less volatile.

The Crisis of Western Civilization

Thom Hartmann is a genius! I don't say that lightly because geniuses seem to be in short supply these days. According to Hartman, all of Western society's; and by extension through globalization, the world's problems-- can be attributed to faulty and irrational thinking.

Since researching immigration, sexism, racism, homophobia, neo-liberal policies, environmental degradation and the prison industrial complex I have come to the conclusion that most--if not all--of these issues stem from the same fundamental problem. Hartmann eloquently gives a name to this root cause: "cultural dysfunction" and names the basis for this dysfunction as being the unbridled and illusory notion that economies should exponentially grow without barriers, restrictions or limitations. Hartman explains this notion is illusory and dangerous because there are not enough natural resources to sustain this type of growth.

Rather than looking at all things natural as being sacred and inherently valuable in its own right, Western civilization strives, through its fervent worship of growth economics, to turn everything into commodities. Utilizing patriarchy-- and what Hartmann terms; unnatural tools of hierarchies, Western civilization attempts to divvy out material goods to the most deserving populace.

I highly recommend watching the entire interview. It is a half an hour long but well worth the time invested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poMPeSx_WnY&feature=PlayList&p=40421D748A1E3E02&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=12

Cowards out of men

At the moment, we are still waiting for a determination on the waivers we have submitted to Homeland Security to adjust Khalid's status to that of legal permanent resident. It has been over a year since we first submitted it and we are still w...a...i...t...i...n...g... Additionally, we have also requested a pardon from the governor of New York and we are awaiting the outcome of that as well. Might as well leave no stone unturned.

I have no idea what is taking so long--other than to blame the delay on the well-known governmental presupposition towards bureaucratic inertia. The facts have been spelled out, our backgrounds have all been checked, re-checked and then checked again. No doubt, we have been subjected to various surveillance. I am sure the government is well aware of what kind of people we are, who we hang out with, our credit histories, opinions and affiliations. Obviously, there are no indications that we are violent or a threat to national security.

However, there is one possible cog in the wheel of securing Khalid's freedom-- That is this blog. Since this blog is publicly displayed on the web there is a good chance that it has been monitored by the government. Anyone who regularly reads my blog will attest to the fact that I am critical of aspects of the contemporary incarnation of our government, along with culture, capitalism, religion, and American exceptionalism.

In all honesty, this tendency towards criticism is a direct result of meeting Khalid and understanding his story. Before meeting my husband I did not find politics, law, culture or foreign policies the least bit interesting. I spent my time reading fiction, creating aesthetically pleasing artwork and remaining blissfully ignorant of how politics and world events can affect individual lives.

However, I will digress for a minute. For people who feel I am exaggerating the role of surveillance in our lives I recommend that they read the full expanse of The Patriot Act. Lovers of freedom, privacy and American ideals will, no doubt, find subsequent clauses quite objectionable.

The extent of surveillance for me, as a U.S. citizen, has likely been minimal and predominately limited to information found within the public sphere including credit scores, my education, addresses, my blog, etc. Despite this minimal intrusion it is still unsettling to think the government may still be monitoring my life. However, In addition to public information being monitored, I am confident that my banking records have been perused and even my phone has been tapped--particularly when we were first married.

Why? Well, when Khalid was first detained I'm sure he was tagged under the auspiciousness of being a possible Muslim terrorist. Therefore, his entire background was scrutinized in order to find evidence of misconduct. It is not a breach of logic to conclude, that I, as his wife, was also subject to a certain amount of surveillance. Exactly how much is debatable--and I have resigned myself to the reality of never knowing.

During this ordeal, I have occasionally doubted the prudence of maintaining this blog and being honest about my experiences and feelings. It has occurred to me that the things I say here have labeled me a "rogue" (in the real sense of the word, not the Palin-esque, misconstrued and sleight of hand invocation of the word recently implemented).

After the self-doubt seizure ends I can never deny my interpretations of the events that have swirled around us and how those events have impacted our lives. I could not sleep with a clear conscious if I remained silent and impotent. It is not in my DNA. And although I don't have enough disposable income to travel around the country actively protesting in pro-immigrant rallies..I can protest within my own small corner of the blogsphere-- always with the hope that I am educating someone about the current injustices perpetrated on minorities, immigrants and their families.

As Abraham Lincoln once said; "To stand in silence when they should be protesting makes cowards out of men."

Let me introduce you to......

….John Tanton. A retired, small town ophthalmologist, John Tanton’s appearance is not particularly extraordinary or noteworthy. His interests include botany, conservationism and environmentalism. No one would guess that he regularly fraternizes with white nativists, neo- Nazis and white supremacists.. Regardless of this innocuousness, John Tanton is an unapologetic white nationalist.

According to Wikipedia-“White nationalism advocates a racial definition of national identity, as opposed to multiculturalism. The contemporary movement is a reaction to a perceived decline in white demographics, politics and culture.” According to Samuel Francis, it is ‘a movement that rejects equality as an ideal and insists on an enduring core of human nature transmitted by heredity.’"

Samuel Huntington elaborates:, “Rather than espouse violence, they use statistics and social science data to argue for a self-conscious white identity.[ They say a natural hierarchy should triumph over the ‘false promise of egalitarianism’- and that the downfall of white dominance spells doom for representative government, the rule of law and freedom of speech.”

“Supporters say they stand for racial self-preservation and claim culture itself is a product of race. As a result, according to Huntington, they say the demographic shift in the U.S. towards non-whites brings a new culture that is intellectually and morally inferior. With it comes affirmative action, immigrant ghettos and declining educational standards. By challenging established policy on immigration, civil rights and racial integration, they seek to build bridges with moderately conservative white citizens.”

Now, I am not going to waste time identifying the inconsistencies, analytical errors and racist ideology of eugenics,” natural” hierarchy, and the illusion of a invariable white identity. Instead, I am concerned with illuminating John Tanton’s influence on anti-immigration rhetoric in this country. He has been an integral force for enacting the harsh and stringent immigration laws of the last fourteen years and has fuelled the conflated moral panic directed against legal and illegal immigrants in this country—and based his conclusions on unsubstantiated statistics.

Additionally, I won’t enlist the contemporary tendency to cloak the ugly face of racism with artificial, cosmetic concealment in order to make it palatable to the general public. Despite rants to the contrary, white nationalists are racist-- in every abhorrent characteristic of the term. A snake is a snake regardless of the semantics he may use to disguise his identity.

As a proponent of white nationalism, John Tanton established the largest and arguably most influential anti-immigrant group in the country called FAIR. The goal of FAIR is to restrict and significantly curtail immigration, particularly from those of the southern hemisphere. While their website seems innocuous enough, the underlying goal of FAIR is the banishment of all supposedly--unassimiable black and brown immigrants from this country, and the subsequent re-establishment of America as a predominately white nation.

In fact, the recently passed Arizona law SB 1070 was formed, written and implemented by John Tanton along with other well known white nationalist: including Arizona senator Russell Pearce and Kris Kobach. John Tanton also had a hand in shaping the Arizona law that prohibits ethnic studies from being taught in public schools.

So, the next time someone asks me if I think the Arizona law SB 1070 is racist, I can unequivocally, confidently and vehemently shout YES………absolutely yes!!

Practical, if not probable, solutions for immigration reform

Here it is, my feeble attempt to take on the mess that is our U.S. immigration system. However, I do not believe that a few simple fixes will fundamentally change the root cause of institutionalized immigrant discrimination. To end institutional immigrant discrimination you first need to eliminate institutionalized racism/sexism--and, unfortunately, I do not see that changing anytime soon.

Racism, sexism and classism will only abate when the social hierarchies of wealth and power structures in American capitalism are dismantled. Indeed, capitalism--especially late stage, unregulated capitalism, requires an ever-increasing number of hyper-exploitable, vulnerable workers to utilize against other workers in order to drive down wages for everyone.

Of course, race and sex are two favorite modes of classifying and segregating these workers: legal and illegal workers is another. It behooves capitalism to segregate workers in hierarchies in order to pit the various groups against each other. This ensures there is always a vulnerable group for capitalism to exploit (should one group get too demanding and uppity) and also keeps the working masses so busy fighting and blaming each other they will never unite together and fight their common oppressor: the elite capitalists.

Having said that, if I was the American President and had unlimited power (unrealistic--I know) I would do the following--listed in order of priority.

#1

The first thing I would do is ensure that The Family Unification Act and The Dream Act will pass. Two many wives, husbands, children, brothers and sisters are being needlessly torn apart with little prospect of reuniting. Additionally, many promising and intelligent young people are being deported before they can finish their degrees. The majority of them did not have a choice as to whether to stay in the US illegally. They came here as young children. Deporting any of these individuals-without a legal avenue to adjust their status-- is barbaric, ridiculous and goes against morality and commonsense.


#2

The second adjustment I would implement is changing our economic and foreign policies in order to foster cooperation with developing nations to strengthen their economies rather than plundering their raw materials, exploiting their labor force and undermining their autonomy. The stronger a nation becomes--and the more stable--the less likely people will move from their homelands. With that being said I will digress for a moment:

People don't like moving from their homeland, friends and families. In general, people prefer to remain in familiar surroundings with people of a similar language, customs and a shared history. Migrants don't like moving to foreign lands but they are compelled to do so for various reasons including extreme poverty, starvation, political/ethnic/religious violence and turmoil in their homelands. And although there has always been migration; the contemporary waves of immigrants from the southern hemisphere towards the epicenters of capitalism in the Northern hemisphere is unprecedented in history.

So, we need to ask ourselves, why is this mass exodus happening?

In a nutshell, these mass migrations are fueled by globalization and the unequal power dynamics between rich and developing countries that can be traced to colonialism, imperialism and the contemporary incarnation of unregulated turbo charged-capitalism. These policies of global de-regulation and unlimited free trade have been facilitated by IMF and WTO loan policies to control developing nations. The United States has significantly contributed to the financing of the IMF and WTO and therefore has undue influence in shaping these loan policies.

Jarrett S, Lovell, author and activist explains the history of the IMF specifically, and how it has metamorphosed into the neo-liberal institution it is today:

"In assessing the rise of corporate domination, many observers identify the aftermath of the Second World War as the era when corporate power became most pronounced. Indeed, the roots of contemporary discontent over corporate globalization can be found within the international trade institutions and policies that emerged at the end of the Second World War. Specifically after the war ended, the United Nations Monetary and financial Conference was assembled at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, where the International Monetary fund (IMF) was created to finance the construction of Europe and to prevent international financial crises. To be sure, the IMF is a public institution. It is financed by taxes provided by citizens from contributor nations. It was established to allow countries experiencing financial problems to continue with global trade uninterrupted. the IMF initially recognized that even so-called free markets require regulation to prevent economic and social catastrophe. By the 1980's, however, the IMF operated according to an ideology that viewed any regulation as a barrier to capital. Under a new doctrine of neoliberalism, officials from the IMF encouraged countries to "liberalize" their economies, that is, to reduce or do away with such barriers as tariffs and humanitarian or environmental regulations."

So, in order to pave the way for free trade in developing nations, the IMF and WTO will coerce a country to dismantle their social networks, eliminate environmental protections for their citizens, de-value their currency and implement any number of laws and conditions that favor commerce (aka "progress") over citizenry. Some countries have even been strong armed into altering their constitutions in order to placate transnational companies.

So, transnational companies move into an area, set up temporary factories and hire the indigenous people for a pittance. They exploit and mistreat their workers while simultaneously destroying and poisoning the communities and residential areas where their employees live.

Suddenly--they will close up shop, layoff their workers and move to another developing nation where they can pay the work force less and exploit the populace and environment further. Leaving all workers, the world over, vulnerable, subjugated and intimidated.

#3

If I was President, I would consider one of my most fundamental jobs would be to hold myself, and all other public people and institutions to a high standard of ethics, particularly paying close attention to how words can fuel hate and human rights violations.

Citizens in The United States are fearful and look to the future anxiously. When people are scared they tend to look for a scapegoat to blame their troubles on. As Bertrand Russell eloquently states: "Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd."
The President must be aware of this tendency and must not only choose his words wisely but must also publicly chastise those public individuals who use language unscrupulously to fuel hate and fear-mongering.

#4

As President I would completely overhaul the U.S. immigration court system. I would make sure that all judges sitting on the immigration court benches actually had a degree in immigration law. I would hire more immigration judges to take on the expanding load of immigration cases.

Additionally, I would expand the number of approved asylum quotas--based on need per each individual country.I would also implement some type of committee to oversee immigration lawyers. Any lawyers found misrepresenting themselves or exploiting immigrants would be fined and disbarred.

These are a few of the reforms I would put in place. There are more I could add but these are the most urgently needed.

"Other people's baggage"

The title of this post was borrowed from a phrase written on a blog maintained by a good friend of mine. Her name is Giselle Stern Hernandez and her husband was deported to Mexico back in 2000. A few months later she left her homeland in the United States to join him.

Giselle is a multi-talented artist who travels across the States and Mexico to perform a monologue piece she created about her exiled experience and the consequences of her husband's deportation. I highly recommend her blog and will include a link.

After reading a particular post on Giselle's blog: The Deportees Wife entitled "When Dialogue is Pointless." I was particularly struck by a specific phrase that Giselle wrote. The phrase was "other people's baggage" It was written in response to how some people miscontrue the fundamental message of her monologue, or make uneducated judgments about Giselle, her personality and lifestyle--in addition to forming opinions about her husband. This oftentimes happens even before they attend her show and is based upon sound bites and posters.

I am often confronted by "other people's baggage" when I engage in dialogue with individuals about my husband's immigration problems. I never know exactly how people think about our story, unless they are completely forthright --and that seldom happens. I often get exclamations of empathy and "I can't believe this is happening in America." Oftentimes I feel people within my inner circle are sympathetic to a point--but only because Khalid is someone they know or have heard about--and because he is my husband. Otherwise, this sympathy does not extend to other immigrants with similar circumstances.

People come with "baggage". I come with "baggage." This is a fundamental truth about human behavior. Many things can contribute to the accumulation of baggage including history, media and personal experiences. We, as educators and activists, can never know what kind of baggage the people with whom we engage in dialogue are carrying. Some people are so burdened by their own baggage that they will never make the effort to understand our stories. Luckily, some will. These are the people who put down their baggage long enough to pick up somebody else's.

And there will be others who may not "get it now" but through maturity and additional knowledge may "get it later." Unfortunately, some people will "get it" only when they or a loved one experience the deportation of someone close to them. This is the time when people like Giselle and I need to put down our baggage; and pick up somebody else's.

http://thedeporteeswife.wordpress.com/

Immigrant rights activism

As a result of connecting with other U.S. citizens whose significant other has been deported or detained, I have decided that I need to do something productive. There are far too many of us going through this tragedy. This needless suffering must come to an end! There are various ideas floating in my head, and I’m sure you have ideas too. We need to communicate with each other and brainstorm like crazy—and come up with ways to educate the public.

One idea I’ve been pondering involves borrowing an idea from our AIDS activist friends and creating a quilt that depicts the names of loved ones who have been deported or under deportation proceedings. This idea involves getting together a significant number of interested individuals willing to help create the quilt. Ideally, each person would agree to create a square of their loved one—or someone they know. Individuals who do not personally know anyone deported will still be welcome to participate. We can assign them a name. There is certainly not a shortage of people being deported and families being separated-- and the numbers increase every year.

Preferably, each quilt square would be created with materials that are durable. We want this quilt to be a testament to our determination to end these deportations—so it must be created to endure for decades. The idea is to send this quilt, upon completion, to various galleries and functions across the country to help raise awareness.

I have years of experience in needlework, sewing and designing so I am capable and willing to help coordinate the effort. If anyone else has similar experience, motivation or just passion please let me know. This group, unlike the contemporary functioning of our government-- will be a democratically organized community.
However, you don’t have to be an artist, designer or even be creative to make a quilt square. All that is needed is a willingness to learn and be spontaneous. I can help anyone who needs advice and can even design specific motifs. I’m sure there will be others willing to assist as well.

I do sincerely believe that art can change social consciousness. Art activists the world over are working diligently to help improve their communities. Right this minute there are thousands of activists, artists and performers who have congregated in Detroit to forge a different world. Change is not only possible, it is necessary.
Change begins with an idea—activists take those ideas and make them a reality. Let us be the immigrant rights activists who change the world for the better. If you are interested please contact me.

I can be reached on Facebook under the name Beth Brotherton, Hamilton College or at e-mail: silverwing6700@yahoo.com If you know of anyone else who may be interested please feel free to forward this message. Please, if you have any additional ideas let me know. I want to help forge a strong and unified community so we can help each other.

An American oubliette

It’s interesting to note how many times I’ve written about racism in this blog. When I started this blog a year ago I never thought the concept of race would become such an integral part of my writings. But as the months went by and I started to do more research and took more classes—I realized that the constructions and definitions of race has contributed significantly to my husband’s difficult immigration predicament. I also became aware of how racism operates in contemporary culture and how it has been wiped from the consciousness of white America.

It is not surprising that I have been confronted by people who deny that race is a “big deal” in contemporary American society. I have been asked, point blank, if I truly believe that race has had any influence on my husband’s case; oftentimes with an incredulousness tone in their voice that defies me to contradict what they perceive as the “racelessness” of American culture.

I am always taken aback by this question. First off, I am vocal about racial, ethnic and religious discrimination and how those factors have influenced and shaped the rising xenophobia that has gripped this nation since the 9/11 attacks. As a result, I wouldn’t think it necessary to ask this question. I fervently believe that racism, unrestrained capitalism and the resulting rise of poverty, along with white nationalism have contributed to this moral panic that has spread across this country like a biblical plaque of locusts. But I soon realized this question has little to do with interrogating my convictions and everything about the questioner reinforcing their own viewpoints. These particular questions always come from white people—and normally from those who mistakenly believe that racism is a relic carefully contained in the oubliette of America’s distant past.

After explaining my opinion I am usually confronted with the following: How do you explain previous generations of immigrants including the Poles, Italians and Irish who faced extreme prejudice and discrimination? I explain it in the same way I explain my husband’s situation. Discrimination of immigrants, whether in the past or present, is shaped by distinctions made between those who are considered “desirable’ and those that are labeled “undesirable.” One of the most influential factors determining the merit of an immigrant group attempting to assimilate into American society has always been race.

These designations are based on arbitrary definitions that include evaluations on race, ethnicity and religion. While all three factors have been used historically in this “sifting”—and continue to be utilized, I would argue that contemporary evaluations have a tendency to highlight race and religion. This makes sense in the light of the recent war on terror (aka war on Islam) and the current wave of black and brown immigrants.

Even in the historical case of the Poles, the Irish and the Italians, race was a determining factor. The definition of “whiteness”, and who could claim such a designation has altered over the centuries; shifting alongside changing social landscapes to begrudgingly include some and exclude others. Back “in the day”, it was acceptable to discriminate against the Poles, the Irish and the Italians—not only because of the perceived ethnic difference, but because they were not considered to be white; and therefore were designated as sub-human.

I recently read an article that explained this phenomenon. ( the link can be found below.) Although it’s a decent article, and deals with some of the issues I have brought up in this blog post, I do not condone the author’s proclamation that “whites”—despite losing their majority status in 2050, will still retain their privilege. Basically, the author postulates that despite all the fear mongering about whites becoming a minority, the assimilation of light-skinned Hispanics into the fold of “whiteness” will ensure that “white power” continues unabated.

What???

Absolutely-- fear mongering should abate because one group of the world’s citizens should not hold dominion over another and the retention of white privilege should cease. However, to chide fear mongers for perpetuating the myth that white privilege will end in the near future—is just ethically and morally corrupt.

Don’t mind me...I’m just trying to climb out of America’s oubliette of racism and hypocrisy.


http://www.alternet.org/immigration/147235/why_fearmongering_about_a_white_minority_in_america_is_wrong,_wrong,_wrong/

Minority entitlement vs. white privledge

Entitlement. I’ve been hearing that word quite a lot recently: the result of a variety of social factors including the failing economy, the moral panic over immigration, rising xenophobia and the novelty of the first African-American elected to the presidency. It’s curious because I’ve rarely heard that word used—presumably because in the past there was a certain amount of social compulsion to be politically correct—a desire apparently quenched by the antics of controversial personalities including Glen Beck, Pat Robinson and Sarah Palin. Political correctness is now passé.

What’s interesting, particularly to someone like me—a person who studies the social behavior of humans—is the way that word is being implemented. I am not convinced that the people who are utilizing the word “entitlement” really know what it means.

I hear this word uttered by the lips of white people who are accusing minorities of implementing entitlement in their day to day affairs. The unsettling part resides in the realization that this is an engagement in faulty logic and requires a perverse inversion of the actuality of power dynamics in contemporary American society. While this most often functions as a means to silence and reprimand minorities from claiming their rights as fully engaged and equal citizens (in much the same way the words “slut”, “bitch”, “whore” and “cunt” are used to reprimand and silence women who step outside patriarchal constructions of subservient femininity) it can easily be transferred to poor people and basically any group that appears outside the margins of dominant white/male society.

I’ll give you an idea of what precipitated this musing. I was perusing movie titles in a local video store. After a minority woman dropped off some past due DVD’s at the counter, I overheard a white employee exclaim: “why do minorities always return things late. They always feel entitled to keep things as long as they want.”

This proclamation in a public venue and in the midst of other patrons shocked me by the brazen nature of the outburst. But it’s not the only time I’ve heard similar sentiments expressed. You could substitute a myriad of scenarios for the late DVD’s including: a minority person muscling their way to the front of a line, illegitimately taking a handicapped parking space, or recklessly driving a cart through a crowded grocery store-- but if we look at each rationally we can surmise that these offenses are not exclusive to one particularly race or group of people. They are common breeches of etiquette and good manners that are committed by everyone at one time or another—simply because we are all human and therefore imperfect.

Bad manners and inconsiderate behavior, although impossible to accurately tally, can be understood as universal transgressions perpetrated by all races and groups of people. To characterize transgressions committed by minorities as examples of “entitlement”-- and to simultaneously ignore similar behavior committed by whites is illogical—and quite frankly, racist.

In my opinion, “entitlement”—and all the brutal, inhumane and violent actions that are implemented in its extreme forms are more commonly perpetrated by white elites against minorities. I’ll list a few examples:

• Indian Removal Act 1830
• Asian Exclusion Act of 1924
• Jim Crow laws
• Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment
• Dropping the atomic bombs on Japan during WWII
• Recent rise in white nationalism that influenced the recent Arizona laws SB170 and laws eliminating ethnic studies in Arizona schools
• Neo-liberal imperialistic policies
• Japanese internment during WWII
• Zoot suit Riots

I could go on, but you get my point. At the heart of this matter is a failure to enlist perspective. I do not think that returning DVD’s late is an example of minority entitlement. It may result in temporary annoyance and anger, but it does not drastically affect the quality of someone else’s life. However, white privilege has resulted in numerous atrocities that have not only affected the quality of life for many individuals —but has oftentimes taken away millions of people’s land, livelihoods, pride, identity, and even lives.

That’s what I have to say about entitlement.

The Baby quandry

This blog post is arguably one of the most personal I have-- and probably ever will write. Before I started to write this blog I decided that I was going to depict as honestly and accurately the experiences of my husband and I. That would include, I surmised, even the most personal, fearful, humiliating, horrible aspects of this journey. This includes experiences and feelings most people keep hidden. If people are going to empathize or understand the unique experiences of being a deportee-- or the wife of a deportee, I knew I had to be completely forthright.

So, here it goes: Khalid wants a child. In the early days of our relationship; before the realities of our precarious predicament became clear to me, I wanted a child as well.

In fact, in March 2007 I found out I was pregnant. I was overjoyed and found myself, as most expectant mothers do, fantasizing about holding, playing and teaching the future newborn. I could-- in my mind’s eye; see, touch, smell and hear the child. This child was as real and alive to me as any living being in this temporal world. Despite some basic trepidation of financial concerns and my own insecurities about a lack of parenting skills, I was looking forward to having a child.

But things began to go wrong. My blood pressure began to spiral out of control and I kept getting sick. I have asthma, and the respiratory infections I kept getting took a toll on my already weakened lungs. I had to take antibiotics and other medications that I could only hope would not adversely affect the baby.

Then, in the middle of May I got deathly sick. I coughed continuously for two full weeks, had a temperature and could not eat nor could I get any rest during most of those nights. Khalid was concerned because he had never seen me so ill. I stayed in bed and only went to go see the doctor after Khalid forced me.

Finally, I started to get better. However, on May 26th I had a miscarriage. I was devastated. Nothing can prepare you for this kind of tragedy. Women don’t normally talk about these types of experiences and now I know why. It’s as if a small but integral part of your heart dies along with the baby. How can you speak of things so intimate, inherently fragile; eternally and exclusively linked to all our women ancestors: women who look upon our collective misfortunes in empathy and forgiveness?

Khalid, though devastated too, was there beside me to hold me up, even though I struggled to swim above the current in a frothy, torrential, and merciless ocean of despair.

When I finally emerged from my grief I was empowered in a way I can’t explain. I knew I wanted to be consumed by something, something that would give me meaning and identity. I decided to go back to college: specifically Hamilton College and prove that I could succeed at such a prestigious institute. I needed to prove my intelligence, tenaciousness and creativity. Education and self improvement have always been an important part of my life and I finally wanted to complete my studies.

So, I started to take course at Hamilton College in the Fall of 2008. I decided to major in Women’s Studies; a decision I have never regretted.

Taking Women’s Studies has forever altered my viewpoint of the world. I won’t go into specific intricacies—that would take too long, but in general I have learned not to take the world or the people in it at face value. More specifically I have learned not to internalize the pressures and expectations of a patriarchal, mediocre, moderate ideology. Rather than defining myself and my success based on what the dominate culture qualifies as normal-- I can decide for myself.

So, you ask: do you still want a baby?

Honestly, there is still a slight desire to have a child: someone I can pass my knowledge, skills and talents to. We’ve tried..but it isn’t happening. Despite this failure I’m not devastated. For various reasons, including financial, my feminist sensibilities, environmental and political concerns I am not as intent on having a child as I was. Certainly, if Khalid had a green card, a job that pays him what his experience and skills are worth, I was ten years younger and had my college degree then I would be more likely to consider becoming a parent.

The truth is, we are still in a precarious situation. If I were to get pregnant now-- I would be in a high risk category. That means I would need to go to the doctor’s frequently and there is a high chance of complications and birth defects. Additionally, we would have to go through a fertility clinic. Despite having insurance, this process would be very expensive. I am-- at this point, unwilling to put myself, our finances and my body through this ordeal.

My one regret, is denying Khalid the chance at being a father. He has been very gracious and supportive during this painful reflective period. I know he would make a wonderful, attentive and loving father: all those things that were denied to me.

Even though he has never pressured me into having a child and sincerely understands my reluctance and concerns there is a tinge of regret that if circumstances were different, we would easily and freely have a child. This is just another causality in the ongoing battle between us and the U.S. immigration system.

Another unnecessary deportation: Saad Nabeel

Saad Nabeel is an American in every way. However, in November 2009, when he was taken into custody by U.S. immigration officials, he lacked the one thing that would have allowed him to stay in the only country he has ever known: an approved green card.

Ironically, Saad’s father had a green card approved when he and his family were arrested, detained and ultimately deported. Unfortunately, the green card was not expected to arrive until January 2010.

Please check out the links below to read Saad’s full story. There are links to videos, petitions and even a place where you can donate money to help ensure Saad and his family can return home to the United States.

If you feel, like I do: that these injustices must stop-- please help to further the cause of just and fair immigration reform. Immigrants are not disposable people, and many of them, like Saad and my husband, are American in every way. They just need a legal avenue to make it official; something that has so far been denied to them.

http://www.bringsaadhome.com/

Fight back with words: a performance

Last night I had the privilege of performing onstage with 12 other strong, courageous and beautiful women. The experience is still reverberating within my psyche and I've been reliving the experience over and over within my mind's eye.

First off..it is a MIRACLE that I was able to get on stage in front of a hundred plus people and tell Khalid's and my story. I have always had a profound phobia of public speaking. My voice would always quake, hands would shiver, sweat poured from my forehead, there was an overwhelming adrenalin rush, and I would be in a cyclone of anxiety for days before I had to perform.

Since attending Hamilton the phobia has become more manageable. Hamilton not only promotes in depth, analytical writing but also expects students to channel those skills into effective public speaking. Without this opportunity, I would never had the ability to master my public speaking fears.

I was truly amazed, proud and awestruck by the diversity, talent and courageousness I witnessed on the stage last night. Some women talked about body image, others found a creative way to tell their stories through poetry or storytelling, another talked about identity issues stemming from having a mixed race background. Additionally, two brave women talked about being raped.

It bothers--no, that's too weak a word: pisses me off that even in this day and age, women-- whether they are black, rich, poor, white, Hispanic, Asian, Arab, young or old, immigrant or native--are still treated as if they are disposable. The act of getting up in front of an audience, sharing our stories--no matter how sad, hurtful, horrific, funny or outrageous is one way to shout to the world "we are not disposable! We are important, strong and necessary.

We need to continue to tell our stories in order to reclaim our rightful place as equals in a world dominated by a patriarchy that wants to silence our voices, deny our experiences and use us for their own agendas. The world; and everything in it that men love, could not exist without women! This is why we fight back with words....

"There's an old Chinese saying that says "women hold up half the sky." What would happen to all the men if we just decided one day--to drop it?

Reclaiming a latent talent

I’ve always been known for being an expert sleeper. When I was a child I could literally sleep in any position, sitting up, on my head, scrunched up in a doll’s crib, and even upside down. I could fall asleep in the car, amongst a loud group of people and while listening to heavy metal music. Nothing-- I repeat nothing-- would get between me and a good night’s sleep. (or a good nap)

It hasn’t been until recently, that I’ve become aware of how my talent for sleeping has been compromised. Since about 2006, when I became aware of Khalid’s immigration situation, my penchant and talent for sleep has gone awry. It’s not that I have shunned practicing. On the contrary, I was horribly distraught and tired most of the time. As a result I coveted the peace that sleep time brings.

But apparently, when the chores of the day were completed, and my head hit the pillow, I was unable to quiet my mind. I incessantly obsessed over the dark tidings the future had in store for us. It seemed it was fated that my husband and I would be separated and every night was spent wondering whether this would be the last night we would spend together.

I have spent four years worth of unrelenting and merciless nights-- tossing and turning, pondering, anticipating and surmising the worst. I have caught only the briefest glimpses of the ever-flickering fragments of my nightmares because I would awake intermittingly throughout the night.

I was exhausted, annoyed, anxious and angry most of the time. The worst part of all is—I didn’t know it. I thought--despite the circumstances—that I was doing fine.

I didn’t know any different until the last visit we made to Homeland Security and the Deportation Officer admitted they could not obtain the travel documents to India. That night I slept like the dead. There was no tossing, no turning and no waking up during the night.

In fact, every night since that day I have known nothing but peace during the night. Besides having my husband by my side, peace is the most valuable element in my life.

Oh--and also the satisfaction of reclaiming a latent talent...

Another trip to Albany

This past Monday we travelled once again to Albany New York and paid a visit to the office of Homeland Security. After being kept waiting for hours during some of our previous visits we decided that we weren't ever going to give them the opportunity to detain us for an entire day--so we now arrive around 2:00-3:00 PM. That gives Homeland Security only 1-2 hours of our time to waste before the office closes at 4 in the afternoon.

We were not left waiting very long on this particular visit. After only about 10 minutes Khalid's deportation officer came out. Curiously, she came right out and sat opposite us in the waiting room. She usually meets us in the waiting room, however, it was curious that she sat down. Normally she stands up when she speaks to us.

She seemed very relaxed and spoke in a casual manner. She told us that there were no new developments. They haven't procured the travel documents and it was unlikely that they would. She even added that the Indian consulate won't even return her phone calls. I thought it very curious that she divulged that bit of information.

She asked about Khalid's work permit and he mentioned that he had received it. Then she turned to me and started asking me about my work. I wasn't inclined to maintain a long conversation--why? Well..because conversing with a deportation officer is akin to speaking to a police officer while you are under arrest: "anything you say can and will be held against you..." It's best to keep answers short and sweet.

Another curious thing occurred at the end of the meeting. She told us that if it was necessary, to come back in six months. Then she warmly shook my husband's hand and then my hand and said take care.

We were both shocked because she had never shook our hands before but had always maintained a professional, assertive and detached demeanor. My husband and i spent a substantial portion of the drive back to Utica contemplating these strange happenings. We both agreed it felt as if she was saying goodbye--but why?

Was she planning on leaving Homeland Security? It is no secret that employees who work for Homeland Security have low job satisfaction.

Are they going to be transferring Khalid to a Syracuse office? She has mentioned that its a possibility that a DHS/ICE office may be opening up in Syracuse.

Or does she have an inclination that the waiver may be approved? She did mention that the excludability waiver has the best chance of being approved.

We will just have to wait to find out. In the meantime Khalid and I will look forward to the upcoming Summer season without having to fear separation. That is a blessing beyond measure!

Voraciousness and Farmville

Voracious. I’ve been thinking about that word lately. It’s a good word—-has more than two syllables, starts with a “v” so it’s a rare word. It rolls off the tongue smoothly but it has an angry sound to it. Have you ever noticed that there’s something surprisingly angry about the word voracious?

I am a voracious person. I can admit that. I’m angry and voracious at the same time. This is not a good combination. I think most Americans are voracious. It is hotwired into us by a fast-paced, consumerist culture that rewards impulsivity, competition and callousness. We want everything. In reality, we can’t have everything and that makes us angry. Some of us-- based on sexuality, class and race-- can get more “stuff” than others. This is how the American system works—-indeed, how the capitalistic system works in general. Power structures serve as gatekeepers in order to ensure that consumer goods are distributed to those who supposedly “deserve” them and deny them to those who don’t.

As Americans, we are expected to want everything. In fact, our American society is so vehement about the virtue of consumerism that we are able; via cultural conditioning, into thinking that our wants are actually needs. We need that new car, the fancy washing machine the seventh pair of red shoes. This mindset is dangerous and has caused untold suffering to ourselves and the rest of the world.

Ironically, I’ve been reminded of my own voraciousness in an unexpected way. You see, I’ve become addicted to the Facebook application “Farmville”. No, I’m not kidding. Although one would think that playing a game about farming would be benign—I assure you it is one of the most dangerous games out there. Sad, but true.

Why? Well, the whole purpose of Farmville is to grow and harvest crops and then sell them for “Farmcash” so you can go to market and buy “stuff.” There are no limits to the animals, trees, buildings, decorations and even natural formations you can buy. Recently, I purchased an Old Faithful geyser in the Farmville shop and it’s been one of my favorite items. It erupts anytime I double click it. I am: at any time, only one mouse-click away from simultaneously satisfying my consumerist and power weilding God-like cravings. Nothing is better than that. While you can buy some items with “Farmcash”, other more coveted items can only be bought with real cash. In line with capitalism’s tendency towards novelty, new items are added regularly; based on various holiday’s , sports events, and regional themes. For instance, farmers have been able to buy torches, award stands and a ski jump throughout the duration of the Olympics and during Mardi Gras we could buy French Quarter buildings, masquerade masks and a carnival tree.

You’ve got to hand it to the enterprising spirit in this country; selling virtual items to gullible people. Who woulda thunk it?

Mind you, this is Farmville; a farm village—what possible purpose would a farmer need for an Olympic torch, a ski jump or a panda? It’s quite ridiculous. But, it mirrors the decadence and excessiveness of our current age.

This has given me pause and the motivation to take stock of my own consumerist tendencies. Realistically speaking, I don’t have a lot of disposable income; however, I do not manage what I have in a moderate manner. I spend countless dollars on crafts, clothes, DVD’s, books and music that I do not need nor will I ever utilize in a lifetime.

So, I have decided that I need to curtail my consumerist excesses and in addition I want to involve myself in the slow food movement. Certainly, industrial farming is harmful to the environment, people’s health and contributes to the degradation inherent in rampant consumerism. It will be an ongoing process but one necessary if I want to have a positive effect on my inner peace and my community at large.

However, I can’t give up Farmville—at least not yet: I haven’t yet acquired the million dollar villa!

All is fair in love and capitalism: The Barbaric Heart

Recently, The Supreme Court ruled in favor of big business when they lifted the ban on political spending by corporations in candidate elections. The ban on spending was put in place to keep a certain amount of checks and balances in place between corporate power and citizen interests. Now, thanks to this ruling, political candidates can be bought and paid for by special corporate interests without the threat of monetary limitations or competition from an impotent public. Soon we will be seeing politicians wearing flashy jumpsuits with the blazing logos of Microsoft, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Wal-mart. For a detailed explanation of the decision and its implications please click on the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/us/politics/22scotus.html

Curtis White is an author as well as a professor of English at Illinois State University. In his most recent book he implicates the rise of The Barbaric heart as facilitating America’s unprecedented allegiance to The Market God (i. e. capitalism)—at the expense of all other virtues. The Barbaric Heart is an ancient entity that is concerned exclusively with the satiety of the Ego. It knows no other beauty than the accumulation of things—wealth—and it will do so with lustful vigor by any means necessary: including violence. The Barbaric Heart does not recognize the inherent beauty and virtue in a pristine sparkling river, or the resplendent melody of a symphony or a majestic mountain.

These are all—to those ensnared within The Barbaric Heart, only valuable as commodities. Who cares if a mountain is home to people and animals? Who cares if the mountain is lovely to look at and has served as the muse for countless writers and artists? The Barbaric Heart stands unwavering in its quest for profit and remains unmoved by the beauty in just being. There is coal within those mountains and it will stop at nothing to get to it; even if that means destroying the mountain and everything that depends upon it. Never mind that blowing off the mountaintop will result in displacing thousands of native people, poisoning the land and water and destroying an important eco-system. All is fair in love and capitalism. Briefly-- The Barbaric Heart may contemplate the ramifications. No doubt there will be a few unfortunate side effects along the way; people and animals may die, a whole generation will lose its identity, the beauty of natural vistas will be marred and forever altered—but what really matters is that “progress” is allowed to march forward unhindered.

In this case, “progress” is used as a euphemism for greed and oftentimes veils the violence necessary for it’s implementation. When the capitalist: a contemporary incarnation of The Barbaric Heart, implements the term “progress” it is actually referring to the progression of it’s own wealth. It cares little for the progression of equality, fairness and the what is good for the public welfare. Double-speak is a favorite tool of those ensnared by The Barbaric Heart. Words seemingly familiar and determinate such as freedom, democracy and liberty are restructured into terms that simultaneously mask and codify the greed, consumption and insatiability of The Barbaric Heart.

The Barbaric Heart has found a home within every known historical period. Although it has traded in animal pelts, clubs and spears for Armani suits, briefcases and Blackberries; the ferocity of it’s grim mission remains unadulterated and is just as potent and dangerous as in years past. What is different is the scope of The Barbaric Hearts influence. Via globalization, technology and population mobility The Barbaric Heart has laid siege to the entire Earth: like the frenzied rampage of a blood thirsty, foaming-at-the mouth and irrational monster: a monster that is rendered worse than any imagined in a child’s fairytale—if for any other reason than it is real.

This ruling by the Supreme Court has basically unfettered this dreadful beast from the few sinewy ropes that held it in check. What can we expect for the future? For starters-- the idea of a government of the people, by the people and for the people will indeed perish from America. Corporations will be wedded to the American military so the chances of widespread multiple wars across the planet increase as capitalists seek more nations to plunder for oil and raw materials. Civil liberties, already dealt a blow by the Patriot act, will further erode. The poor will be further marginalized and rendered disposable because they cannot contribute to the capitalistic machine. Debtors’ prisons will likely resurface and the poor along with other dispossessed groups will become the latest victims of the industrial prison complex. (Actually—this has already happened.)

Is this our fate as a nation? Some people envision this as a likely scenario. Writers like Robert Bly and Curtis White don’t think this has to be our fate. Our salvation, they argue, resides in the intangible realms of the human imagination. It is upon the sweat of the artist’s brow that our civilization will redeem itself. Is this far-fetched? I don’t think so. Creative visionaries have always inspired people to higher aspirations. Even now I can see the beginnings of an awakening in the public consciousness. There have been revolutionary movies made recently, including Avatar, The Visitor and District 9; that have cloaked contemporary moral problems within the guise of entertainment. Writers, musicians and artists the world over are banning together to facilitate change. The world may not be saved by the grace of a lofty messiah or the fierceness of a military force but rather-- by the humility of regular individuals wielding nothing but a paintbrush.

Citizens versus consumers: the rise of apathy

I've recently joined a local reading group. Currently we are reading Robert Bly's Sibling Society. In a nutshell, Bly argues that the destabilization of the nuclear family, particularly the absence of a stable father figure, has created a society of "half baked adults"; frozen in adolescence and unwilling to grow up. This can be seen in the recent trends of hyper-capitalism, declining wages, corporate irresponsibility, environmental degradation, and a reckless adherence to literalism and fundamentalism.

Although there are some problematic assertions in this book--namely Bly's unrealistic faith in traditional patriarchal values and his idealistic belief that poetic and mythological masturbation can save humanity from itself--there are some compelling points.

I've been particularly intrigued by his explanation of the propensity of contemporary adults to embrace selfishness and apathy. Bly explains this situation in the following paragraph taken from the book Sibling Society:

"In the suburbs and small towns, parents are subtly modeling for their children non combative speech--which the CNN anchors have already modeled for them. Many college teachers tell me stories of the strange silence in their classes; and the silence has an economic orgin. They are in college in order to get a job. The literature of social protest--Dreiser, Steinbeck--produces no resonating passions for justice. Many columnists recently have detailed the rapid decline in citizen participation, in fraternal orders, church sodalities, parent-teacher associations, and so on. The heat for public welfare is cooling."

According to Bly, this lamentable situation is the direct result of the sibling society creating adults who lack impulse-control and who indulge in unrestrained ego-gratification. Empathy cannot flourish in the hearts of individuals who are obsessed with acquiring material possessions while simultaneously alienating themselves by acquiring the newest technological gadgets.

Focusing on material possessions, gaining wealth and shirking public responsibility creates a nation of consumers rather than citizens. Whereby citizens see themselves as part of a community and feel some responsibility for the public welfare,conversely--consumers are predominately concerned with the self. Social justice concerns, empathy, creativity, ingenuity, poetry are all spurned in favor of the superficiality of the consumerist society.

I see this infiltration of selfishness and apathy in the college classes I take. When there is mention of social justice issues, immigrant or gay rights, race issues or whenever American exceptionalism is questioned there is often an unsettling silence that ensues. It feels as if there is an invisible authority in the room shushing any dissention from popular ideology.

I am also aware of this epidemic of apathy occasionally when I am engaged in the subject of immigration. Some people will merely shrug their shoulders and say "discrimination has always existed and there is no way to get rid of it." This illustrates apathy at its most dangerous. Imagine if women suffragists had succumbed to apathy--women would have never gained the right to vote. What if Paul Rusesabagina had turned his back on the thousands of Tutsi refugees in Rwanda who were facing extermination? Suppose the Allies during World War II had never battled against the Nazi tyranny because--well they just didn't care what happened to innocent people in the throes of unimaginable horror?

Yes, discrimination, in one form or another has always existed and probably always will. However, when we engage in apathy, we are allowing the basest and most destructive elements of human nature to reign supreme and unrestrained. By becoming engaged and active citizens, rather than passive consumers, we can encourage the structures of society to promote and encourage more positive and constructive behaviors rather than encouraging the destructive ones.

The Present...

Obviously, with my recent postings, it is clear I have not been writing about immigration recently. For the last few months I have been reluctant to delve into immigration politics simply because I have decided that it does not define the entire essence of my identity. Other issues and activities are important to me and since the title of this blog is "Diary of an immigrants wife" it is acceptable--even natural--that I should write about other events taking place in my life. I will never abadon my goals for immigration reform, but I may be more successful in my efforts if I alter my focus slightly.

I will explain this shortly. However, I imagine some readers are curious to know where my husband's immigration status stands. We did receive a rejection of his adjustment of status petition. Although this sounds disastorous, there is still some hope for a positive outcome.

It is not surprising that his adjustment of status petition was denied. Based on the 2nd circuit court judgement there was no other choice. We both knew this--but it was still a shock to receive the denial notice. We reserved a small amount of faith that some miracle would happen and it would be approved. So much for magical thinking. However, since it was denied, that means that the waivers--both the hardship and excludibility waivers can now be evaluated. This process was begun in Novemeber, and can take another 6 months to complete. So far, there has been no determination.

We went to a Homeland Security appointment in October and were told no new developments had been forthcoming. Status quo--again. They did not want to see us for six months! Which likely indicates that India has refused to issue the travel documents--either because Khalid is Muslim or because he has been away from India for too many years. There is only one other, remote possibility: that they are waiting for the completion of the adjustment of status petition and its rejection to deport him. This is a remote possibility because travel documents are only good for a certain amount of time and if the U.S. government had the travel documents in hand they would not hesitate in deporting my husband! So, we basically have one more anxiety-ridden trip to Homeland Security and then if it's status quo again--we are out of the woods. If they don't procure the travel documents by March--it is unlikely that they ever will.

It has come to my attention that my spiritual beleifs have a lot to do with my passion for immigration reform. Maybe it is time to investigate my spirituality and join a local group. Within this group I can hone my teaching skills and perhaps do some good.