"Vote-for-Me-Biscuit"
Now look what you've done, given them an idea, that's it- the election goes to the candidate with the most delicious free biscuit agenda. At last a policy platform corresponding to the intellect of nativist 'patriots'. Dammit!

all they have left is fear

and what are they gonna do once we figure out like the zapatistas that we're already dead? Or that, like audre lorde says, 'we were never meant to live'? what are they gonna do when they see that we're not afraid any more, because there's nothing left to loose--all of their dullusions have melted from our eyes?

In death, comes life. we'll all get there eventually, and when we do, they better watch out.

did that comment go through? not sure--

so true, bfp. we have to keep talking it out, keep listening, watching, keep waking.

(comments don't show sometimes until you refresh. if in doubt, refresh the page.)

if in doubt, refresh the page

::bows head in shame::

was there some implied mandate for police harrassment at public gatherings today? locally (east texas) there was a cinco de mayo parade for which permission was requested and given/; but then today at the event, police halted the parade for violation of ?excessive noise/public disturbance? luckily, LULAC was there to help the harrassed who might have been cited ain jail right about now... I'll be expecting more and more of these self-propelled anti-mexican crusades (what a disturbing trend)from the police state

thing is... will the 'sleeping giant' go back to sleep this time or finally awaken and reclaim itself

tizoc, i think they are trying to make a point. or a counterpoint, i should say.

i know i am not going back to sleep. for myself i can speak.

Nez, I'm speaking for myself, but I'm not going to sleep for awhile either and it's time our fellow brothers and sisters wake up to what is happening around us.

The recent events should be enough for us to take a moment and ponder, ponder whether the INS raids, the continued passage of laws by local governments solely intended to harm immigrants, the threats of mass deportation or the increased violence and aggressive behavior of the police at marches and demonstrations, mark a shift, a regression if you will that threaten to further erode our civil rights. Some who read this comment will no doubt think that I'm overreacting and privately I'm hoping they are right, but I fear that unless we as Latinos come together to defend the rights of the undocumented immigrant, soon our own futures will be at stake.

As more and more laws are passed which are merely enacted to rid this country of an undesirable (the undocumented immigrant) and immigrants increasingly become the target of persecution, all while Latinos watch and fail to speak up, or rise to their defense. I'm reminded of Martin Neimoller's poem about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.

The poem reads:

They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

I'm not sure if you have heard of the Hutto Prison, a for profit prison - "supposedly residence dwelling" for the immigrants and their families. Homeland is overseeing the prison and is not allowing the U.N. Council access. This is very disturbing because there are little children in that prison who are only allowed 1 hour of recreation time per day. There were allegations of child abuse. ACLU recently, had 6 or 7 children removed who were U.S. citizens. I don't know if I can provide a link but here goes nothing. I will not get offended if you remove it but I feel we all need to work together. http://hutto.galleons.org/

Recently, I received an email from LULAC saying that they support Reid's bill of last year. Does anyone know if it was the same as Sensenbrenner's bill?LULAC claims we change the language later but I believe if you play with fire you will get burned and if it is the same Sensenbrenner bill we all worked so hard against and stronly opposed it should be brought back to the floor. This week the bill will be re-introduced to the House per Reid. He said unless Bush steps in. I don't understand, so I gladly request anyone's input.

It does seem like they are pushing us to lose our identity especially with the children prison camps.

I attended a vigil last Saturday, let me tell you the place is erie. Homeland's little van was following us too!!

Sincerely,
Nena Lopez

sure you can provide a link, Nena. especially about issues that this blog discusses often. i've written a few times on the disgusting enterprise that is Hutto prison, so i'm glad to have your info here.

give mis besos to tha Homeland van
and

does anyone know offhand of what Nena's asking re: Reid's bill?

Hopefully this won't get put in your spam queue, but...

http://reid.senate.gov/issues/immigration.cfm

I supported S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, which the Senate passed with a strong bipartisan vote in the 109th Congress. Unfortunately, the leadership of the House of Representatives refused to work with the Senate to reconcile the differences in our two bills, so we were unable to enact reform last year. As Majority Leader, fixing our broken immigration system is one of my top priorities for the 110th Congress. On January 4th, I introduced S.9, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, a bill to provide for more effective border and employment enforcement, to prevent illegal immigration, and to reform and rationalize avenues for legal immigration.

Here's another link to Thomas about the history of the bill, etc. Here's the Wiki about it. And here's a compilation of resources from the National Immigration Law Center. And here's a Migra Matters analysis of the bill.

I meant Sensenbrenner's bill should not be allowed back on the House floor. In fact, it should have been burned right in front of Congress. I'll check out that link Sylvia, y gracias a todos. Stay strong and persistent. There is an old saying: the only threat to Mexicans are other Mexicans so be good to one another as well. Let us never be divided, only united.