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.
7 comments:
I hope that your idea has some impact. However, I see a problem.
What seem to be lacking in the immigration debate are practical ideas for how to change the system. I know that political beliefs often have little to do with reason, but I would like to think that if someone could come up with a practical way of altering the immigration system, then enough people might listen to bring about change. Emotional appeals by both sides are unlikely to take us anywhere.
Now I am a new reader of your blog, so you may have addressed the following question before: How specifically would you change the system?
Thank you for your question Paul. I enjoy getting feedback from readers and I am especially challenged by questions and even respectful disagreements because they can lead to insights, surprising solutions and critical evaluations.
Although I have written extensively on many of the precipitors that have contributed to anti-immigration fervor in my blog, I have not yet dealt with offering solutions. This is due to what I perceive as the complicated interconnections of various contributing factors.
In other words,I don't believe there are easy solutions to the problem of immigration. Dealing with immigration means simultaneously confronting racism, political policies, globalization, public apathy, the excesses and unregulated nature of late stage capitalism, American exceptionalism, gender disparities and imperialism. And although there are numerous political solutions I could offer-- based on the current stagnant nature of immigration reform I have little faith that our American politicians or the general public would be willing to implement the necessary changes.
So, I have decided the best course of action is educating the public through my blog, speeches, performance pieces and artwork. Simultaneously-- I hope to network with individuals who are sympathetic to the cause and form a grassroots organization that will eventually put pressure on politicians to change the system.
These ideas will not result in a quick solution. My husband and I may never live long enough to see any meaningful change occur. But I'm willing to take that chance. Hopefully, these efforts will keep someone, sometime in the future--from having to endure being seperated from a loved one.
However, despite my reservations about implimenting simple "practical" solutions, I am sufficiently intrigued enough to attempt to outline what I feel are some useful approaches to the immigration problems we face in America today.
Give me a few days and I will offer some humble attempts to fix a complicated problem.
All the best,
Beth
Beth, I've been feeling the same way lately about activism. Reading the blogs of so many others effected by immigration angers me at the injustice and I would love to take part in some sort of project to allow our voices to be heard more loudly. The quilt idea is a good one. I also think it might be interesting to somehow compile a book where we could each tell our stories of how immigration has effected us as US citizens. We could sell the book and use the proceeds for something immigration related. I'm not sure exactly how we would go about that, but that's my 2 cents :-)
As a side note, wouldn't it be cool if a bunch of us could get together in person one day?
@ the Planner
I get the impression that you feel like I do--that I have to do something productive in order to fight off the feeling of being helpless. Helplessness and hopelessness are both nasty enemies.
I also like the idea of compiling a book of our experiences. That has been in the back of my mind as well. I know Giselle has expressed interest in creating a book.
We need to network with as many people with similar stories as possible. I've friended some people on FB...but I know there are more out there. Should we set up a group somewhere so we can easily converse? Do you know of any other individuals we need to connect with?
Blessings and hugs,
Beth
Hi Y'all! I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents.
My Dear Husband and I talk about this all the time. I think it depends on your idea of “practical”, some people think a complete overhaul is necessary, others that the system only needs a few tweaks. The problems are so complex that I’m sure my ideas are of little help, but personally I think a few things need to happen:
1) We need to look at why demand for residency in the US is so high. With our economy slowing down, we do not offer as many jobs as we used to so I think it’s less of a “USA is so great I want to live there” kind of thing. The United States has always had its hands in shaping other countries policies, sometimes in ways that drives people out. History shows us this has happened all over, such as in the former USSR and Central America. Another example is our demand for drugs that creates an atmosphere of extreme corruption and violence in Latin America. I don’t like the idea of drug legalization, but I don’t see too many options for reduced drug demand here in the states short of free rehab programs with incentive to stay clean. I bring this up because it used to be that Mexicans, in particular, would come here to work (my next point) and go back home at the end of the work season. Families stayed together, the US got good workers, and Mexicans were able to improve their economic situations. Now people don’t want to return for fear of violence which is a very legitimate concern.
2)The US should implement another work program. We have to realistically evaluate what jobs are being filled and which aren’t. There are still opportunities for low skilled migrant workers as well as highly skilled workers (especially when we look at our public school success rates. We are at a math and science deficit in this country).
3)The visa system has to be reflective of demand and our need for immigrants here. Currently, immigrant visas granted to any single nation can only be 7% of the total visas granted. For example, my husband is from Bulgaria which does not have a very high number of visa applicants to the US, but they get the same number of visas for immigrants of countries with high demand such as Mexico and India. The US has a need for immigrants of all skill levels from multiple countries and our visa system should reflect those needs.
Again, some might say these ideas are too simplistic but I say to them that it is a start. We need all brains on deck : )
@tellthejourney,
Many thanks to you for inputing your 2 cents. As you stated, it is necessary to have as many minds as possible formulating possible solutions.
I do not think that any idea is too simplistic. The problem with immigration is it is complex, but it will probably take a lot of simplistic solutions to make significant changes.
I really like your ideas about the drug problem. I have never pondered the issue of drugs as being linked to the immigration problem. But it makes sense. I will ponder futher.
Thanks for your ideas!
Thank You Elizabeth. I saw this article today and thought of our conversation. I focus heavily on Mexico because a large number of our immigrants are from there, I am Mexican-American, and I live in Arizona. This is what people are escaping. There is no government in Mexico, it is anarchy "run" by the cartels. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/28/rodolfo-torre-cantu-dead-_n_628335.html
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