Deportation By Attrition
Posted by Michelle Moquin on April 23rd, 2010
I know we have only touched the surface of this issue here. A few of my readers have commented on Arizona’s Immigration Bill, and I posted a video the other day, but I feel more needs to be said. I found this article, written by Jim Wallis. I may not necessarily agree with his point of view from a religious stance, but I like what he has to say in terms of getting to the heart of it….and not surprising, considering the backbone of this bill, at the helm sits “Racism”.
I don’t see how anybody can view Arizona’s Immigration Bill as anything less. I think it is a bunch of bull, and yes I am speaking to you Mr. Kobach (an attorney and law-school professor who helped craft the bill), who claims that, “The law wouldn’t provide police an avenue to violate a person’s rights against unreasonable search and seizure.” In my opinion this gives police permission and the right to do just that, and more.
How easily it will be for officers to racially profile a person while enforcing this new law. Racial profiling already exists…it is already happening now, regardless of the fact that it is illegal. And while an officer might not intend to racially profile while enforcing the law, that’s what will happen. We know this.
And if you’re a racist officer, lucky you. You now have your dream job of being a bad ass with a badge who gets to express his racist thoughts. And the icing on the cake: You will now have a law to support your racist actions and protect you from being accused of racial profiling, and probably more. You can now mask your racism by hiding behind the statement: “Hey, I was just doing my job.”
And who’s going to be targeted the most, not to mention probably 100 percent of the time? Let me put it bluntly: We all know, no one white is going to be pulled over by an officer in suspect of his or her immigration status requesting their ‘papers’. It just isn’t going to happen.
This law if passed, will simply take officers away from focusing on real crimes, violent crimes, such as rape and murder, and basically give them free will to target and harass individuals based on the color of their skin. If this isn’t a racist bill, I don’t know what is. This bill really should be called, “How to legally get away with racism”.
Arizona’s Immigration Bill Is A Social And Racial Sin
I got up at 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning to fly to Phoenix, Arizona, to speak at a press conference and rally at the State Capitol at the invitation of the state’s clergy and other leaders in the immigration reform movement. The harshest enforcement bill in the country against undocumented immigrants just passed the Arizona state House and Senate, and is only awaiting the signature of Governor Janet Brewer to become law.
Senate Bill 1070 would require law enforcement officials in the state of Arizona to investigate someone’s immigration status if there is “reasonable suspicion” that the person might be undocumented. I wonder who that would be, and if anybody who doesn’t have brown skin will be investigated. Those without identification papers, even if they are legal, are subject to arrest; so don’t forget your wallet on your way to work if you are Hispanic in Arizona. You can also be arrested if you are stopped and are simply with people who are undocumented — even if they are your family. Parents or children of “mixed-status families” (made up of legal and undocumented, as many immigrant families are out here) could be arrested if they are found together. You can be arrested if you are “transporting or harboring” undocumented people. Some might consider driving immigrant families to and from church to be Christian ministry — but it will now be illegal in Arizona.
For the first time, all law enforcement officers in the state will be enlisted to hunt down undocumented people, which will clearly distract them from going after truly violent criminals, and will focus them on mostly harmless families whose work supports the economy and who contribute to their communities. And do you think undocumented parents will now go to the police if their daughter is raped or their family becomes a victim of violent crime? Maybe that’s why the state association of police chiefs is against SB 1070.
This proposed law is not only mean-spirited — it will be ineffective and will only serve to further divide communities in Arizona, making everyone more fearful and less safe. This radical new measure, which crosses many moral and legal lines, is a clear demonstration of the fundamental mistake of separating enforcement from comprehensive immigration reform. We all want to live in a nation of laws, and the immigration system in the U.S. is so broken that is serving no one well. But enforcement without reform of the system is merely cruel. Enforcement without compassion is immoral. Enforcement that breaks up families is unacceptable. And enforcement of this law would force us to violate our Christian conscience, which we simply will not do. It makes it illegal to love your neighbor in Arizona.
Before the rally and press event, I visited some immigrant families who work at Neighborhood Ministries, an impressive community organization affiliated with Sojourners’ friends at the Christian Community Development Association. I met a group of women who were frightened by the raids that have been occurring, in which armed men invade their homes and neighborhoods with guns and helicopters. When the rumors of massive raids spread, many of these people flee both their homes and their workplaces, and head for The Church at The Neighborhood Center as the only place they feel safe and secure. But will police invade the churches if they are suspected of “harboring” undocumented people, because it is the law? Will the nurse practitioner I met at their medical clinic serving only uninsured people be arrested for being “with” the children of families who are here illegally as she treats them?
At the rally, I started with the words of Jesus (which drew cheers from the crowd gathered at the State Capitol), who instructed his disciples to “welcome the stranger,” and said that whatever we do to “the least of these, who are members of my family” we do to him. I think that means that to obey Jesus and his gospel will mean to disobey SB 1070 in Arizona. I looked at the governor’s Executive Tower and promised that many Christians in Arizona won’t comply with this law because the people they will target will be members of our “family” in the body of Christ. And any attack against them is an attack against us, and the One we follow.
Catholic Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles just called this Arizona measure “the country’s most retrogressive, mean-spirited, and useless immigration law” in the land. On CNN, I defended the Cardinal’s comments, which likened the requirement of people always carrying their “papers” to the most oppressive regimes of Nazism and Communism. I wonder whether the tea party movement that rails against government intrusion will rail against this law, or whether those who resist the forced government registration of their guns will resist the forced government requirement that immigrants must always carry their documentation. Will the true conservatives please stand up here? We are all waiting.
Arizona’s SB 1070 must be named as a social and racial sin, and should be denounced as such by people of faith and conscience across the nation. This is not just about Arizona, but about all of us, and about what kind of country we want to be. It’s time to stand up to this new strategy of “deportation by attrition,” which I heard for the first time today in Arizona. It is a policy of deliberate political cruelty, and it should be remembered that “attrition” is a term of war. Arizona is deciding whether to wage war on the body of Christ. We should say that if you come after one part of the body, you come after all of us.
Readers: Thoughts? Comments? You know what to do – blog me.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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April 23rd, 2010 at 9:55 am
THINK TWICE BEFORE ORGAN REMOVAL
Just because we can survive without an organ doesn’t mean that we couldn’t survive better with it… or that we should give it up without a fight.
That was the response of Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, when I asked him about the frequency with which surgeons remove seemingly extraneous organs, such as the tonsils or gallbladder (usually in elective surgery) or the spleen or appendix (almost always emergencies).
All organs in your body have specific functions, and even those that at first glance appear expendable have their own subtle — though important — roles to play. In other words, never underestimate the power of a supposedly “useless” organ.
IN AN EMERGENCY…
Your spleen. Widely studied since ancient Greek and Roman times, this massive but ostensibly nonessential organ in the upper left abdomen has baffled many generations of scientists.
Recently, however, a team of Harvard Medical School doctors led by Matthias Nahrendorf, MD, PhD, Filip Swirski, PhD, and Mikael J. Pittet, PhD, gained new insights into its function.
In their work with mice, they found that the spleen reacts to a heart attack by instantly firing out immune cells known as monocytes to expedite recovery, and they believe that it operates similarly in humans.
In addition, Dr. Rubman told me that the spleen serves as a vast blood reserve for the body — replenishing and recycling red blood cells and providing immune support to foster healing from illness or trauma… while at the same time improving underlying health and resiliency and fending off infection.
Spleen removal: Spleens are removed only when it is medically necessary due to failure or trauma, so there’s no reason to second-guess one that’s been taken out — but it does mean that the immune system has lost a key player.
If your spleen has been removed, you’ll need to be more careful when you get sick, since even a minor illness such as a sore throat or sinus infection can quickly mushroom into a larger health concern. Dr. Rubman’s recommendation:
Ask your doctor whether you should take immune enhancers, such as omega-3 fatty acids or probiotics, and whether you should get pneumonia and flu vaccinations.
Your appendix. This fingerlike pouch, which is attached to the large intestine, has long been considered a vestigial organ that played a much more important role in the digestive systems of our prehistoric ancestors.
Yet scientists at Duke University Medical School in North Carolina have learned that the appendix also breeds healthful gut flora and is therefore valuable to immune strength.
Appendix removal: Appendicitis accounts for more emergency abdominal surgeries than any other cause. While acknowledging that an infected appendix in danger of rupture should always be removed, Dr. Rubman questions the wisdom of removing it under other circumstances.
He says that natural techniques such as medicinal fasting, drinking fruit and vegetable juices, hot compresses, a daily enema, use of a sitz bath and other protocols may help avoid unnecessary surgery if an infected appendix is not in danger of rupture.
But, he notes, these treatments should be attempted only as a collaborative effort between medical doctors and trained practitioners of natural medicine.
ARE ELECTIVE REMOVALS A GOOD IDEA?
Your gallbladder. This pear-shaped organ, tucked under the liver on the right side of the abdomen, aids digestion by processing bile, a greenish-brown fluid manufactured by the liver to help break down fats in the small intestine.
If bile flow is interrupted — usually by a gallstone — your gallbladder may become painful and inflamed and your digestion will suffer, most particularly when you eat fats.
If you develop gallstones that block bile flow, investigate less drastic alternatives before you agree to surgical removal of the gallbladder.
For example, a naturopathic physician may prescribe one or more botanical treatments (such as dandelion tea) that can help rectify the problem.
Dr. Rubman said that there are many natural substances that can be helpful in safely dislodging and eliminating stones.
However, Dr. Rubman agreed that a gallbladder that becomes “dysfunctional and structurally compromised” (often caused by unhealthy diet) should be removed, because it is likely that it will soon fail. If that happens, bile can leak into the abdomen — a potentially dangerous situation.
Gallbladder removal: When the gallbladder is removed, your liver must work extra hard to pick up the slack. Since removal compromises the normal function of the digestive system, loss of the gallbladder raises the risk for digestive diseases such as colorectal cancer.
If yours has been taken out, Dr. Rubman recommends eating plenty of fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains and minimizing fatty and greasy foods. For his patients he typically prescribes a digestive-enzyme formula as well.
Your tonsils and adenoids: Where it was once common to yank tonsils and adenoids in children, these surgeries are done far less often today — which is a good thing, said Dr. Rubman, calling these organs “lymphatic guardians of the respiratory tract.”
Nonetheless, they sometimes must be removed to solve persistent infection, sleep apnea and other problems.
Tonsil/Adenoid removal: Removal of these organs eliminates the immune system’s first line of protection against microbial invaders.
Therefore, Dr. Rubman says, it is important to take additional steps to help protect your respiratory tract and strengthen your immune function. Discuss specific options with your doctor to find out what is right for you.
The body is naturally very conservative, observes Dr. Rubman, and the organs that we have are there for particular reasons.
If one must be removed due to disease or trauma, that’s one thing — but don’t say good-bye to any organ lightly.
Instead, consider bidding adieu to any physician who casually suggests you won’t miss it, because that’s not really true.
Source(s):
Andrew L. Rubman, ND, medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut. http://www.naturopath.org.
Matthias Nahrendorf, MD, PhD, assistant professor in radiology (cardiologist), Harvard Medical School, director, Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Mouse Imaging Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts.
April 23rd, 2010 at 10:06 am
It’s good to hear that you are back Howie. I’m praying for a speedy recovery for you.
April 23rd, 2010 at 10:08 am
Despite international demands for free and fair elections, indicted war criminal Omar al-Bashir is preparing to claim victory in what you and I both know was a rigged vote.
If Bashir’s “victory” is recognized by the international community, it will only embolden the regime in Khartoum and deal a serious blow to the peace process.
You raised your voice with 70,000 other activists, and Assistant Secretary of State P.J. Crowley has already declared that “this was not a free and fair election,” adding that, “to the extent that the Government of Sudan was looking for redemption or legitimacy in what happened here, they will get none of it.”
Rejecting the results of this fraudulent vote is an important first step, but now it’s time to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Send a message to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and ask her to stand up to the Sudanese regime and demand they meet their obligations under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
While much of the world is prepared to accept this sham election and just move on, we must not abandon the people of Sudan who have put themselves at great personal risk to stand up for democracy and basic freedoms.
We must continue to raise our voices for all of those who did not have a chance to speak out during this fraudulent election. For the university student who was harassed and murdered after speaking out against the government. For the election observers who were kidnapped and beaten. For the thousands of Darfuris who continue to live in squalid camps and didn’t have the opportunity to participate. For them, we must continue to insist that the international community pressure the government in Khartoum to fulfill its obligation under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to provide for a democratic transformation of the country.
Please, urge Secretary Clinton to support real democracy and human rights by holding the parties in Sudan accountable and ensuring that they live up to their obligations under the CPA.
These elections should have been the first chance in more than two decades for millions of Sudanese to freely choose their leaders. Instead, the Sudanese government ensured that a lack of political freedoms and a continued crisis in Darfur eliminated that opportunity.
If the government of Sudan continues to inhibit basic political rights and freedoms, the stage will be set for widespread violence during the referendum on southern succession. If civil war is to be avoided, both the governments of North and South Sudan must recommit themselves to protecting personal liberty and freedom in order for the referendum to be credible. These are not just lofty ideals – they are obligations that both parties agreed upon in the CPA. As a guarantor of the CPA, it is the responsibility of the United States to hold those who presided over fraudulent elections accountable and take all steps to further democracy in Sudan and protect the integrity of the 2011 referendum.
We must not remain silent. Send Secretary Clinton a message today and speak out for the people of Sudan.
Thank you.
Best,
Martha
Martha Bixby
Save Darfur Coalition
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Subject: Take two aspirin…
Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays.
These excerpts are published each year for their amusement.
Here are last year’s winners…
10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled
with vegetable soup.
April 23rd, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Michelle
This is about the women who make Guam work, it’s matriarch.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Guam still ruled by matriarchs
BY MONICA GUZMAN • APRIL 24, 2010
ancient Chamorro society, land, power and authority was passed down through the women, who were given all the honor and respect.
When I first heard of the matrilineal society in a history of Guam class, I thought, “How cool, women ruled!” How wonderful it was that Chamorro Women had the power and made all the decisions.
However, growing up with seven brothers and many, many uncles, the whole “matrilineal” thing seemed pretty far-fetched, as far as I was concerned. It wasn’t until much later in my life — by simply watching my mother and my aunties work their magic –that I began to understand the true influence and power women have.
As a kid, it always seemed that pop made all the rules. When he gave us that “atan baba” look — Oh boy, we knew we were in trouble!
Then there were the times when we would ask mom for something and she would say, “Faisen tata-mu.” And when we asked pop, he would answer “Faisen nana-mu.” Remember that?
As frustrating as it was, because neither would make the decision, you learned quickly when to stop asking or you would get nothing.
In retrospect, I think lots of that kind of back and forth was mom testing pop and pop not being very sure what mom actually wanted him to do!
As I grew older, I began to realize that pop was generally taking orders from mom, who always had our best interests at heart, even if we rarely looked at it that way.
Mom ruled! She had purview over any decisions that were made in our house. Her style was subtle yet powerful.
When pop brought home the bacon, he would hand it all over to her. She decided what we ate, where we went, how we dressed and with whom we played, no questions asked. That’s just the way it went.
When times were tough, she held it all together with a quiet strength. She worked tirelessly for her husband, children, family and church, making personal sacrifices to ensure we always had the best she could give, managing it all with a smile or a chuckle.
She was always very generous with her time and her unconditional love for all of us.
April 23rd, 2010 at 10:22 pm
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.
The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
‘If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,
‘Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.’
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,
‘ Ryan , you be Jesus !’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 24th, 2010 at 9:04 am
We have not gotten the cooperation that we have asked for. Hence Iceland’s other volcano will be activated within the next 10 days if we are not satisfied that cooperation well materialize to our satisfaction.
The interference by parties unknown on our input the the present volcano is what has prompted us to take this present action.
You know who you are.
April 24th, 2010 at 9:16 am
If you notice that the percent of Arizonians that approve the racist profiling by the lawmakers of Arizona is 70%. Think that is coincidental? Think again. Arizona is 70% white.
I am married to a hispanic. It is a shame that her relatives have canceled their trip to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon because they fear being harassed.
It makes me wonder why some of my fellow whites can accept politicians that pass laws that are so obviously meant to be a disadvantage to its other than white citizens.
I am ashamed to be white.
April 24th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Michelle, the dead are still piling up here. The Chinese government is making more to hiding the true number of deaths than they are to helping those in need.
More are dying because we can not get help from those who control our health needs.
Quin
April 24th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Henry, I too, am married to a beautiful Hispanic lady. I also live in Arizona. We live near the border and it is very dangerous here. My wife and two of our four children have been afraid to go out during certain times of day.
They don’t look white so they get harassed by police and whites who think they have the right to be rude to people who they believe to be illegals.
My wife and two boys are constantly harassed by both police and white citizens. People who believe that this is their country alone, and people who will use any excuse to act out their bigotry are the bane of this country.
The fact that the state of Arizona has made certain to make the police who will be carrying out their Nazi law immune to litigation. The specifically has that the police can not be sued for their behavior.
The legislators knew that they were enacting an illegal law and that they were giving the police the right to abuse the people they encountered at their discretion.
Lance
April 24th, 2010 at 10:39 am
This law in Arizona shows what the white politician is talking about when he argues for states rights over federal ones.
Using the advantage whites have at the poles on a state level, they can vote away the rights and protections that OTWS get at the federal level.
That is why they want states rights to take precedent over federal ones. We need to get registered and go to the polls and let these calculating racists know that we are not going to roll over and allow them to vote away our federal constitutional rights.
Juanita
April 24th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Howie:
How are you doing? Can you write? I hope you are up and around. It has been a noticeable absence with your loss contributions.
Clark