Mommy Amronh's Political Views

Border fence is a dividing line in immigration debate

2009-02-15T07:46:00.000-08:00

CNN - Border fence is a dividing line in immigration debate

Border fence is a dividing line in immigration debate

The Yuma desert is below: San Luis, Arizona, to one side and San Luis, Mexico, to the other. On this clear day, the Colorado River is glistening, birds playfully circling over what any map defines as the U.S.-Mexico border in this area.

But from a helicopter above, the border is a steel barrier that stands out along the riverbank and against the desert sands, and is the dividing line that gets the most attention from those crying to cross illegally and those who believe recent efforts to bolster U.S. border security have been riddled with wrong choices.

Just this past week, eight Democrats in Congress wrote President Obama urging him to halt any further construction of the fence, one of the many border- and immigration-related political debates that have carried over from the Bush administration.

To the Border Patrol agents stationed in Yuma Sector, there is no debate. To them, the fence is a success story. From a Vietnam War-vintage Huey helicopter, pilot Chad Smith points across the border to Mexico's Highway 2 and then to the barriers that help stop illegal immigrants from making a sprint into southern Arizona.

"You can see the triple-layer fencing," Smith tells us as he lowers the helicopter and hovers over what was once a major crossing point for illegal immigrants and drug smugglers. "Steel fence right on the border, the pedestrian fence about 90 feet north of that, and then the chain-link fence with the barbed wire."

The fence has three layers in areas where there is an urban neighborhood on the Mexican side. Smith is among those who say their flights are less hectic now because while you can still clearly see the trails in the sand and in some hilly areas below, there is considerably less traffic.

"I've flown before and come back and had 70-plus [illegal immigrants logged in a tracking book]," Smith said. " I know guys who have gone on a flight and come back with 100-plus illegals in their logbook. Now it is in single digits, typically."

It is a fascinating view from above: Old trails in some places, and the remnants of newly placed white sandbags in others.

"It forms a pretty good bridge for them to drive across." Smith says of the sandbags. When they are spotted from above, Border Patrol agents on the ground are called in to destroy the makeshift crossings.

Congress in 2006 -- with then-Sen. Barack Obama's support -- authorized nearly $3 billion for 670 miles of fencing stretching from California to Texas. There are more lights, sensors and cameras, and there are also more agents like Mike Lowrie driving patrols and chasing tips called in from colleagues monitoring the camera feeds at the Yuma Sector headquarters.

Standing alongside the steel barrier at a point in which there is just one layer of fencing, Lowrie shakes his head when told that some in Washington want to stop additional construction in other areas.

"This used to be a very high-trafficked area, and now it is not," Lowrie told us.

Asked to define "high traffic," Lowrie says, "In the Yuma Sector, we would get about 800 a day. Now, 25 maybe, or 10."

Nodding toward the barrier, he continued: "Numbers don't lie. We didn't have it three years ago, and we were getting massive numbers of illegal entries. We have it now, and we don't."

But there are voices on both extremes of the immigration debate that say the role of the fence is exaggerated, or that say the barrier's benefit in slowing illegal traffic is offset by other costs.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose tough stance against illegal immigrants has earned him global media coverage, says the fence is fine, but: "We just arrested 150 in the past 14 days. They're still coming."

And Father John Herman, a Roman Catholic priest whose Spanish language Masses are packed with illegal immigrants, blames the fence for more risky crossings in less-populated desert areas.

"We know that the way enforcement has gone has driven many people into the desert and caused more deaths. Needless deaths. If we could only get together and work for comprehensive immigration reform."

Please note that this is a reprint from the CNN.COM political news section, is a hot topic of dissent among many, in my opinion this fence is a needless expense to the economy and not only that, it is racial profiling an ethnic minority and only one, the Mexican people, the brown skinned people that live in this country and of course next door. They are not the only ones here that are deemed 'illegal' there are tens of thousands of other nationals from other countries that have entered illegaly and/or over-stayed their visas, it is human nature to want to obtain a better way of life for not only yourself but your family, the typical "american Dream" everyone has it, even the natural born citizens of this country we call home, the United States.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

2009-01-27T06:37:00.000-08:00

(PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REPRINT IN PART IT IS A Copyright © 2008, ARAnet, Inc

I found this article interesting as I am seriously thinking of returning to 'college' since my college age child is now graduating and going onto graduate school, and my dream has always been to return to being a 'nerd' and accomplishing what I wanted & could only dream of all those years ago, first it was my family holding me back, not willing to help me financially, or even with emotional support to continue my education...yeah I always dreamed of becoming a lawyer of some type, but now my dream is get into college and work at learning more about social justice..we shall see ...then came the baby & baby was a child in no time, so her private school education became more important, and well, like all parents, LIFE just sort of took control and I never finished what I started, there was never enough time or money...but now maybe,just maybe I can accomplish MY DREAM.

Financial Aid Available for Adults Returning to School

(ARA) - The financial crisis has brought about new kinds of challenges for many Americans. High gas prices, foreclosures and low wages are some well-known symptoms. One of the biggest obstacles, however, has been the feeling of uncertainty we encounter on a daily basis, whether it be our job stability, our family budgets, or even our ability to save for retirement. With layoffs expected across a multitude of industries, many adults are taking action against this cloud of uncertainty by going back to school.

............"Wow, that was devastating," she says. "Twenty-two years with a company, my accumulated years of knowledge, my excellent rapport with the reporting staff, my willingness to do the job, to be told 'you're not qualified' -- ouch!"

Many people mistakenly believe that in this tough economy, it may be difficult to find financial aid programs; this is simply not the case. Online Student Financial Aid is an example of an extremely helpful site that guides potential students to schools that offer financial assistance. With resources like this, people are still highly equipped to acquire a new degree, and data shows that it pays off.

Visit www.onlinestudentfinancialaid.com today and find the financial assistance you need to advance your career with a new online degree.

Copyright © 2008, ARAnet, Inc.

LETTER TO OBAMA FROM ELVIRA

2009-01-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

MEXICO CITY -- A deported Mexican immigrant who holed up in a Chicago church to fight for immigrants' rights is asking President Barack Obama to stop raids and deportations of illegal immigrants in the United States.

Elvira Arellano says she is hopeful that Obama will help pass immigration reform that stops dividing families.

Arellano told reporters Wednesday outside the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City that she gave American officials a letter asking Obama to sign an executive order to stop the deportation of illegal immigrants.

Arellano sought sanctuary for a year before she was deported to Mexico in 2007. She lives in a small town in western Mexico with her U.S. citizen son and writes columns for U.S. newspapers.

AND A NEW ERA OF POWER BEGINS

2009-01-21T11:50:00.000-08:00

Mr. Obama took the oath of office of the President of the United State on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.....so a new era of power in the White House commences.

He ran on the premise of hope and change....but is there really going to be change? The change I see for the moment is that there are many new faces on the news, new appointments to the cabinet, just normal everyday changes I would presume. I am sure everyone out there at some point in time watched the ceremonies either during the day or @ night. Yes, everyone kept saying hope ... change ... I for one am all for change specifically on immigration.

This is of course a hot topic with many folks out there...there are thousands upon thousands of people living in this country that are deemed 'illegal', and for the most part this involves racial profiling on the part of our government, yes, I have seen it with my own eyes. On a recent trip I encountered our government hard @ work, that is the I.C.E. side of the government.

I was taking a trip to visit friends and new allies in New York, I am sitting on the train reading, it was @ a scheduled stop: all of a suddent I look up & over and see a bunch of men dressed in battle fatigues, with guns strapped to their sides, radios, the whole bit, I should know, my ex spouse was in the military, so I know the outfits..anyway, they ask the passengers that look 'different' are you a citizen of the United States? if you answer yes, they go on, if you answer no, the passenger then had to show proof...now of course this was in middle America that it took place. I never in my life thought that big brother would be in middle America boarding a train and selecting certain people by the way they look to ask this question.

So yes Immigration Reform is a hot topic...I always thought this country was created with freedom and justice for all...not with big brother looking down & checking on all the inhabitants of this land. We should be able to come and go as we please without the probablity of being stopped and asked if we belong or not, merely by how we look...the color of our skin.

So yes, I have a dream, that I hope for change to come soon...and that the immigration issues which plague our government be resolved for the better of all people involved...so that families can remain together, that childrens rights are not trampled on by the government, and most importantly that we exercise our right to voice our opinion without fear of retribution.

Victorious Republic Windows Workers Speak at UIC

2009-01-21T11:35:00.000-08:00

Victorious Republic Windows Workers Speak at UIC

Jane Addams Hull House
800 S. Halsted
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009
Time: 6-8pm (Reception to follow.)

Chicago Jobs with Justice is proud to join the UIC Graduate Employees Organization in sponsoring this forum, telling the story of the successful occupation at Republic Windows and Doors, and the coalition support that helped win a settlement and led to a plan to reopen the plant. Other coalition sponsors include: UE, SEIU local 73, UIC Center for Urban Economic Development, UIUC Chicago Labor Education Program, Jane Addams Hull House Museum.

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Also,

Save the Dates:
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WAR'S REAL IMPACT: OUR VOICES
Testimony from veterans, workers, military families, and students
1:00 p.m. Saturday Jan 31
Teamster City Auditorium, 300 S. Ashland (at Van Buren) The Workers' Rights Board is a project of Jobs with Justice and the Chicago Federation of Labor, and is made up of community leaders, clergy & educators. For more info, 312-738-6161
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Rally for Employee Free Choice

February 17

To sign the petition, go to: http://www.freechoiceact.org/page/s/jwj?source=w

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National Week of Action: March 27 - April 4

Mobilize to fix our economy.
* Pass Employee Free Choice Act
* Create good, green, union jobs
* Health Care for All
* Put Main Street Before Wall Street

2009 A NEW YEAR SAME STRUGGLES

2009-01-04T23:35:00.000-08:00

An so it goes, a new year is here, but the issues remain the same, Immigration Reform is at the forefront of many struggles, which goes hand-in-hand with the struggles of the CIW/SFA, the right to a living wage, no more slavery in the fields and to be treated with dignity and respect not only in the fields but in any and all jobs that we perform.

Is it really true that it's time for change? With the new President soon to be in office time can only tell, one thing I do see as in the change, is when you turn on the television to any station, you are seeing more African-American (am I politically correct?) people / faces relating the news...clearly some of these young people that have been thrust into the spotlight for 'xyz' that you may happen to view are there only (as far as I can see) due to the fact that we now have the first African-American (Black) President ever in our history soon to be seated at the highest level of office in this country. I had always thought that it was based on your knowledge of a field ie job specification, plain English, are you qualified for the job and most importantly can you do the job? But lately it seems to me many are thrust into the spotlight only because of the color of their skin so that noone says that this particular station is behind the times. I know predominantly it has been a 'white' world wherever we look, so it is with this that I say, if there is to be change, it should involve not only the Black populace, but the entire color of the rainbow population, black, brown, yellow, etc....change means just that, that everyone that lives in this country needs to be involved in this change!

I know there are many brown skinned (Latin) people very well qualified for many jobs, but we do not see them out in the forefront of this change, and the rare few are hidden somewhere that I fail to see...yes I know they are on Spanish Speaking stations, but what about other mainstream stations or other types of jobs, offices, you dont see them in high levels of government to help implement the change that this President's office is touting...let's wait and see what happens in the next several months, after all he just got elected, not even sworn into office yet and you see some major changes...but where are the other changes, ie, color of people, we are here too...brown, yellow, etc....we want our voices heard too.

21 days to make it count

2008-10-08T00:35:00.000-07:00

Immigrant Rights Movement

2008-10-08T00:20:00.000-07:00

On October 15th, over 100 people will begin one of the largest hunger strikes in American history to call on Latinos, immigrants, and people of conscience–the Immigrant Rights Movement–to rise out of our fear and vote for change. “The Fast for our Future” will be based in a permanent encampment at La Placita Olvera, the historic heart of Los Angeles, and will continue until at least 1 million people have signed this Pledge. Through our shared sacrifice and commitment we will renew our movement and inspire an historic mobilization of Latino, immigrant, and pro-immigrant rights voters. We must remember the I.C.E. raids, those detained and deported, the families torn apart, the dreams deferred. We must remember the marches, the walkouts, the boycotts, and the promise we made: “Hoy Marchamos, Manana Votamos.” Yesterday we marched for our rights, today we vote.

Visit the site & sign the pledge:

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5586/t/3455/signUp.jsp?key=422

This affects everyone that has a conscience, it not only affects the people targeted by I.C.E., but the entire country that we live in as a whole. After all if not for the numerous people that take on the jobs of raising your children, cleaning your homes, offices, lawn maintenance, janitorial, farmworkers...all these jobs are performed mainly by undocumented people, these are jobs that many people by virtue of having been born here in this country we call home, the United States of America refuse to do as it is deemed 'menial' labor @ a poverty wage, but never-the-less it is honest work which many people perform on a daily basis.

In an effort to legalize and get hundreds of thousands of people out of the shadows, and to have them stop living in fear, always looking over their shoulder, sign the petition & let your voice be heard. If this does not happen today, make it happen for the future of the children we have, and the future of all the others having the 'ganas' willingess to work, but not only work, but work with dignity and pride, and above all, work & live in peace without the fear of I.C.E. crashing into their homes or place of work & then leaving their families behind, separated, the children not knowing what happened to mom & dad,SIGN THE PETITION..

YAYA SUMMIT 2008

2008-09-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

Check it out this group also works much like the CIW/SFA:

The 2008 Florida YAYA Summit is a convening of Florida YAYA members who are fighting to bring justice to the fields and to those who put food in our tables.
The summit's purpose is to bring together these young adults so that they can meet with farm workers and farm worker advocates, share their experiences, stories and resources to further their work for farm worker justice individually and as a community.

This year's summit will include panels and workshops about pesticides, immigration, human trafficking, farmworker campaigns and more.
For a draft schedule of this event please click here.

The summit will take place at the Hope Community Center in Apopka, Florida.

Located at :

1016 N Park Ave
Apopka, FL 32712

A $20.00 registration fee is required for all participants.
It includes 6 meals, access to all the workshops and activities and floor space to sleep.
To register click here.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.

Requirements:

- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a strong commitment to farm worker justice
- $20.
00 Registration Fee

What to bring:

- A sleeping bag

- Utensils, a dish and a cup

- Thermos

- Instruments

- A towel and personal items

- Sun block, long sleeve t-shirt and a hat to go gleaning

OLMECA @ UIC CHICAGO

2008-09-25T05:34:00.000-07:00

Fresh from the 2008 Encuentro, in Immokalee, Florida, not only did he spend time with the CIW he then headed to our town, the windy city, Chicago and took the stage @ UIC, Latino Cultural Center to once again, inspire and relate to his people, with his music and lyrics, he is an awe inspiring MC, articulate and expressive in all he says and how he relates with the audience.

The Latino Cultural Center was full of energized people, relating to the struggles we all face, whether they be in the growing fields, the streets of of LA clear across to Chicago, on political marches or the struggle of the CIW against, Chipotle, Olmeca inspires all to continue ahead and work together to make this world of ours a better place for if not us, today, then a change will take place in our future, for our children!

FROM L.A. TO IMMOKALEE, FL & NOW CHICAGO

2008-09-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

IN CHICAGO ONE NIGHT ONLY - OLMECA PERFORMS @ UIC, CHICAGO, START TIME 7:00PM - 11:00PM

Coming from the 2008 Encuentro in Immokalee, Florida, Olmeca will perform one night only @ UIC....FREE ADMISSION

IT'S THAT THAT OF YEAR AGAIN...MINI-TOUR 2008

2008-09-23T18:16:00.000-07:00

If it's fall, it must be time for a "mini-tour" in the tradition of the CIW this fall starts the "Chipocrisy Tour".

Bringing word to Chipotle Headquarters, that the CIW along with allies across the country will not stand for the hipocrsy that Chipotle has been showing...it is not food with integrity, so therefore the CIW along with its allies is set to roll at the end of this month, and ending in early October...educating the country on sustainble agriculture, and lets not forget the all powerful actions of solidarity along the way to the corporate headquarters of Chipotle in Denver, CO.

Keep reading for more exciting highlights as the tour gets ready to head out west...for more information visit www.ciw-online.org

reprint from ciw

2008-09-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

Whole Foods signs deal to pay up for Florida tomatoes
Natural foods giant agrees to penny-per-pound raise for farmworkers
Posted by Tom Philpott at 12:41 PM on 10 Sep 2008
Read more about: food | agriculture | business | environmental justice
Tools: print | email | + digg | + del.icio.us | + reddit | + stumbleupon
I reported a few days ago that a deal was imminent; now it's official: Whole Foods has signed an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to pay an extra penny-per-pound for Florida tomatoes. The raise will go directly into the pockets of some of the lowest-paid workers in the United States.

In addition, the press release states, Whole Foods is working with the CIW to create a "domestic purchasing program to help guarantee transparent, ethical and responsible sourcing and production." The natural foods giant already has such a program in place for products it buys from developing countries.

The Coalition of Immokalee workers first approached Whole Foods on March 14, 2007, when it sent a letter to CEO John Mackey asking the company to agree to the penny-a-pound wage hike, as industrial-food giant Taco Bell already had. Here's an excerpt:

[T]he notion of sustainability in agriculture is widely understood to include three distinct but interdependent dimensions -- economic, environmental, and social. And among those three dimensions, social sustainability -- and specifically the treatment of farm labor -- has seen the least amount of progress in US agriculture. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that farmworker conditions in the fields today, and in particular the tomato fields of Florida where our members work, constitute nothing less than a human rights crisis.

The US Department of Labor (DOL) has described farmworkers as "a labor force in significant economic distress." Tomato pickers earn about 45 cents for every 32-lb bucket of tomatoes they pick, working from dusk to dawn without the right to overtime pay. The 45-cent piece rate hasn't changed in nearly 30 years. As a result, farmworker wages fall beneath the federal poverty level. The DOL reports that farmworkers earn an average of only $7,500-$10,000 per year. Of course, the vast majority of farmworkers receive absolutely no benefits -- no health insurance, no sick leave, no vacation pay -- and have no right to organize to address these conditions on their own.
Whole Foods is now the first grocery store to agree to the raise. May others follow suit.

BOOK READING TEATRO CHICANA

2008-09-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

>*Teatro Chicana*
>
> *A Collective Memoir and Selected Plays*
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>
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>By Laura E. Garcia, Sandra M. Gutierrez, and Felicitas Nuñez
>
>Foreword by Yolanda Broyles-Gonzalez
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>The essence of the book is the empowerment of young girls and
how that
>transformation was made during the Chicana(o) Movement. Topics
covered by
>the writers include: sexual abuse, teen pregnancy, integrating
into the
>educational system as immigrants and more.
>
>
>
>*Who Should Attend?* Open to the public especially for young
girls in their
>early teens and adults.
>
>**
>
>*When?* September 20, 2008
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>*Time?* 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.**
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>* *
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>*Where? *Mujeres Latinas en Acción
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>2124 W. 21st Place, Chicago
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>* *
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>*Cost?* Free
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>* *
>
>*RSVP? *Ana Soto at (773) 890-7699**
>
>
>*Come meet editors, Laura Garcia, Felicitas Nunez, and*
>
>*contributors,Virginia Rodríguez Balanoff, Evelyn Cruz, and
Hilda Rodriguez.
>*
>
>
>
>Enjoy a panel discussion and book signing.
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>
>"These memoirs are the personal, honest, and riveting
testimonials of
>seventeen Chicanas who performed Chicana theater during the
1970s. These
>carnalas empowered themselves and thousands during the
tumultuous years of
>the Movimiento by performing plays for working-class
communities……We need
>their courage today. And we need their stories for a new
generation of
>Chicanas and for working women everywhere." --- R*udolfo
Anaya*, author of
>Bless Me, Ultima and Curse of the ChupaCabra
>
>
>
>"'Órale, ya era tiempo.' Stories of 'the Movement' too often
emphasize men's
>roles, ignoring the vital participation of women or relegating
them to the
>sidelines. In Teatro Chicana, women are central to the ideas,
emotions,
>strategies, writing, art, and music of the 1960s and 1970s
when this
>country—and much of the world—rocked with revolutionary
imagination and
>fervor. The Chicano Movement, like most social movements, also
had many
>women warrior/leaders—this struggle was shaped and ignited by
women, fed and
>nurtured by women, with many men at their sides.......Seeing
it again
>through the voices of the elder-teachers in this book, I'm
reminded—no
>movement is complete without la mujer." — *Luis J. Rodriguez*,
author of
>Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. and Hearts and
Hands: Cre
>ating Community in Violent Times
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>For more information visit:
http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/guttea.html

MySpace.com

2008-07-08T01:49:00.000-07:00

MySpace.com

Once more she sat and gazed out the window...wondering what today would bring? Wondering deep down, is today the day that she would be found?