Obama v. Clinton

So I watched the final democratic primary debate between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. I am ashamed to admit that this is the first (and apparently the last) debate I watched this election season... and it was boring. Nothing like the previous spars I had unfortunately missed.

But I am very pleased to announce that watching tonight's debates affirmed my decision to VOTE FOR OBAMA. He impressed me with his response to the immigration issue. The question was:

How do you propose to address the high unemployment rates and the declining wages in the African-American community that are related to the flood of immigrant labor?"

And Obama's answer was:

Well, let me first of all say that I have worked on the streets of Chicago as an organizer with people who have been laid off from steel plants, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, and, you know, all of them are feeling economically insecure right now, and they have been for many years. Before the latest round of immigrants showed up, you had huge unemployment rates among African-American youth.

And, so, I think to suggest somehow that the problem that we're seeing in inner-city unemployment, for example, is attributable to immigrants, I think, is a case of scapegoating that I do not believe in, I do not subscribe to.

Word up, brother.

I believe Barack will be the agent of change. A radical change, I hope. Hilary brings with her the same old shit and I'm over it.

What's wong with my Engrish?

This ad haunted me throughout my travels in NYC.

Minutemen need to die

...or at least be spitted on.

Here's another Call to Action... Minutemen are intending to protest in Maywood, CA, the first and only Sanctuary city in the US for undocumented immigrants, on November 11th, 2006 @ 9am in front of Maywood City Hall - 4319 E. Slauson Ave, Maywood CA 90270. E-mail Sisepuedeamnistia@ yahoo.com or call 626-375-2873.

Apparently, the Minutemen/SOS came to Maywood before, on August 26, 2006, to protest against the city's policies, including Maywood's decision to disband it's traffic division because traffic checkpoints were used to tow away cars of undocumented residents. However, hundreds of counter protesters (up to 1000) confronted them. This included seasoned anti-minutemen activist, community members, and Maywood organizers. The community and activists stood united and peacefully in spite of countless Minutemen/SOS who tried to pass forcefully through the crowd.

Now the Minutemen are returning for another ass-whooping. Is it me or have you noticed that xenophobes never stop? Although I hate their guts, I must say I admire their endurance.

What I've been listening to on my ipod

That's right, bitches, I have been listening to Stevie-fucken-B! He brings me back, way back. I'm talking junior high, folks. Oh yeah.

I think he is best known among my peers from immigrant communities... especially from Chinese, Filipino and Latino populations. We all love him. Some may deny their love, but deep down, there is true love.

Here's a his bio:
A native of South Florida, he worked a variety of dead-end jobs ranging from car-wash attendant to fast-food server before scoring his debut hit with 1987's "Party Your Body," which grew from a regional success to national club smash; it was also the title track of his 1988 debut LP, which went gold. With 1989's In My Eyes, Stevie B. launched his first Top 40 hit, "I Wanna Be the One"; its follow-up, "Love Me for Life," soon cracked the Top 40 as well.

With 1990's "Because I Love You," he reached the pinnacle of his success, with the single's accompanying album Love & Emotion also generating a pair of Top 20 hits, "I'll Be by Your Side" and the title cut. However, with the subsequent rise of alternative rock, Stevie B.'s light dance-pop sound lost much of its mainstream appeal, and he never again recaptured his previous success, with records including 1992's Healing and 1996's Waiting for Your Love appearing to little notice. The Best of Stevie B. followed in 1998.

Here's his picture.
Yummy, huh?

English-only bullshit

English would be declared the "national language" of the United States under a measure the Senate approved Thursday, a move that supporters said would promote unity and encourage assimilation by immigrants. The measure would establish that people have no right or entitlement to ask government officials to provide services or materials in other languages, unless authorized by law.

I don't understand why so many White Americans are threatened by other cultures and languages. It's not like limited-English speaking individuals have tons of power. They are not a threat. Immigrants are not de-unifying America.

My father, Yip Yee, can hardly speak, read or understand English, but he is a good citizen. He pays his taxes. He votes. He raised his children to be law-abiding (well, some of them...) and morally responsible. His kids speak perfect English, even better than Chinese. He taught us to value our education and opportunities, because there would be no chance in hell we would have received the same opportunities if my family didn't immigrate to America.

Yip Yee was able to do all this by leaving his beloved home country, away from all his friends and family and his culture, to come a foreign and intimidating country with little money and resources. He worked nearly everyday for the past 40 years, from morning to night, as a chef with no benefits and on wages that "real" Americans would never work for. He never received any public benefits, and never asked for hand-outs. At 70 years old, he continues to work even though he should clearly be retired.

Now you tell me when would my dad have had a chance to learn English? Do you think he should have gone to English language school after he worked 14 hours a day? Do you think he should have sacrificed the limited time he had to spend with his children so that he could study his English language books? Do you think he should have spent his hard earned dollars on English classes than spend it on diapers for his babies, or tuition for his kids?

These English-only proponents need a wake-up call. This measure would clearly divide America. It's unrealistic and places an extra burden on already struggling immigrants. But I know the truth... these English-only fucks really don't give a shit. I wish they would stop posturing it's about unity. I hate how the right has appropriated good concepts and has used it as a pretext for evil. They make me wanna throw up.

Another dumb presidential move

The White House announced today that they plan to deploy 6000 National Guard troops along the US/Mexico border to deter illegal immigration, even though Bush still claims to support a guest work program and a path of legalization for undocumented immigrants currently residing in the US.

Members of both parties have expressed concern about a National Guard deployment to the border, saying that it might strain military resources already depleted by the Iraq war and that it appears to be politically motivated.

Well, of course.

This reminds me of how WRONG some Bush proponents have been about how Bush may not be bright, but he is a man who stands by his word. Well, explain why Bush purports to support immigrants, yet he makes this move to pander to anti-immigrant Republicans... seems like some flip-flopping to me...

Here is a SNL video of what could have been if Bush was not elected in 2000... (thanks KimCheeFarmer!)

Economic Boycott

I would like to take this opportunity to applaud all the committed individuals who refused to purchase anything on May 1st. Whether or not the boycott truly made a detrimental impact on our economy (I have been hearing differing reports), it made people notice and, I bet, worry just a little bit...

I wholeheartedly disagree with all the critics who felt the boycott would alienate the public. That part of the public hated immigrants or never cared about immigrants to begin with.

Marc Cooper (a columnist from the LA Weekly who I followed and sympathized with when he was harassed for reporting about the UFW scandal) wrote an opinion piece in the LA Times that stated, "Boycotts are powerful and volatile weapons used as a last resort to bust open dams of dogged resistance. You don't use them when the political tide is even vaguely flowing in your direction." As you might have guessed, he doesn't agree with the boycott/walkout.

Yo Marc, wake the fuck up! Immigrants lack power. They don't own media, they don't have much money or resources, and most of them can't vote. The power immigrants have come from their labor, their numbers and their principles. That's why a boycott was necessary. And considering the height of anti-immigrant legislation and sentiment, the time is now to use the most "powerful and volatile weapons" we got!

Marc, perhaps you should apply for a correspondent position at Fox News or CNN? I heard they reported mostly negative portrayals of the rally and boycott. However, I think I get why you wrote what you wrote -- BF informed me that you created a nice little niche for yourself as a progressive who criticizes other progressives. Dude, I guess you gotta do what you gotta do... but you lost a fan. Hey, I'm sure you and Ann Coulter can be best buddies though.

A Day without Immigrants

May Day March at corner of Wilshire and La Brea
Photos by DYY

More than one million immigrants and supporters skipped work today and marched from MacArther Park to Mid-Wilshire in support of immigrant rights, as part of a nationwide boycott that succeeded in slowing or shutting down businesses all across America.

From my own personal experience, it was amazing to see most of the businesses on Wilshire closed. It feels so rewarding to show the nation that immigrants truly contribute to the economic viability of our country.

I cannot even tell you the excitement I felt when I walked toward the enormous group, who were mostly wearing white in solidarity.
It was incredible and powerful.

Besides little man's poster pictured here, my favorite slogans of the afternoon were, "Legalize LA", and "March Today, Vote Tomorrow".

Here we are representin'. We're so fuckin cute, huh?
We received many compliments on our dual sided US/China flags (handmade by Blu-Tooth) and matching United Farmworkers
"Si Se Puede" shirts!

SSB the Re-mix

Nuestro Himno ('Our Anthem')
Amanece, lo veis?, a la luz de la aurora?
lo que tanto aclamamos la noche caer?
sus estrellas sus franjas
flotaban ayer
en el fiero combate
en señal de victoria,
fulgor de lucha, al paso de la libertada.
Por la noche decían:
"Se va defendiendo!"
Oh decid! Despliega aún
Voz a su hermosura estrellada,
sobre tierra de libres,
la bandera sagrada?
Sus estrellas, sus franjas,
la libertad, somos iguales.
Somos hermanos, en nuestro himno.
En el fiero combate en señal de victoria,
Fulgor de lucha, al paso de la libertada.
Mi gente sigue luchando.
Ya es tiempo de romper las cadenas.
Por la noche decían: "!Se va defendiendo!"
Oh decid! Despliega aún su hermosura estrellada
sobre tierra de libres,
la bandera sagrada?
-------------------------------------------------
Our Anthem
By the light of the dawn, do you see arising,
what we proudly hailed at twilight's last fall?
Its stars, its stripes yesterday streamed
above fierce combat a gleaming emblem of victory
and the struggle toward liberty.
Throughout the night, they proclaimed:
"We will defend it!"
Tell me! Does its starry beauty still wave
above the land of the free,
the sacred flag?
Its stars, its stripes,
liberty, we are the same.
We are brothers in our anthem.
In fierce combat, a gleaming emblem of victory
and the struggle toward liberty.
My people fight on.
The time has come to break the chains.
Throughout the night they proclaimed, "We will defend it!"
Tell me! Does its starry beauty still wave
above the land of the free, the sacred flag?

Star Spangled Banner in Spanish

The release of ``Nuestro Himno,'' which means ``Our Anthem", features artists such as Wyclef Jean, Carlos Ponce and Olga Tanon. As exciting as this collaboration sounds (not!), the song's release coincides with a planned May 1 national boycott in support of immigration reforms. President Bush said Friday that he doesn't support boycotts and believes the national anthem should be sung in English and not Spanish.

Oh how I cringed when I heard that.

My neck still hurts from that cringe too.

Anyway, Tonkhero and I had a debate about the issue this morning. Although he doesn't have some weird patriotic objection to the song being sung in Spanish, he feels it's un-strategic for the movement, and may turn off or distract potential supporters and allies from the real issues at hand.

I agree that the Spanish version of the Star Spangled Banner may not solve anti-immigrant legislation, but I find the act very symbolic and powerful. The Spanish SSB salutes to a multicultural, multi-lingual America. In fact, when I think of the music video for the Spanish SSB, I see little children from all over the world, in different shapes and colors, linked together holding hands across America (with Wyclef swaying on a cloud). It's all one love.

You know, I would be ecstatic if a group of limited English speakers wanted to translate one of my songs into their respective language, so that millions of them and others could sing it... and to sing it with pride. I would be honored. These English-only Americans are fools.

Also, when did English speakers own the rights to SSB? I would think SSB is public domain by now.

Asians and the immigration debate

Many have wondered and discussed the role of Asians and Asian Americans on issues regarding immigration policy and reform. Unfortunately, the voices of our community have been widely ignored or subordinated, despite that most, if not all, Asians and Asian Americans in the United States are immigrants, come from immigrant backgrounds, or have close ties with an immigrant community. Additionally, it is a fact that decisions ultimately made in Congress as well as whatever happens on the streets by wacko xenophobic vigilante groups, like the Minute Men, shall undoubtedly have an impact on the Asian community. You may not see many of our faces during protests and rallies, but it's a complex issue that affects us and our families everyday.

The LA Times recently published an article that I thought was a pretty good introduction to the dialouge of Asians and the immigration issue. I also just read a really interesting article in the lastest New Yorker regarding "snakeheads" -- individuals in the Chinese community who make a lucrative career out of illegally smuggling undocumented Chinese natives into the United States. Despite the wretched and inhuman conditions of their transport, the enormous debt they owe, and the risks of detainment and deportation and death, it seems that many of the Chinese are not regretful, even the ones who didn't make it. Rather, they are extremely grateful to the snakeheads.

It makes you remember how fortunate we Americans are.

**Long live Sister Peng, the greatest snakehead of all time! (By the way, she's Fukinese, for my two Fukinese friends out there... I think she kicks ass. She can be your role model!)

Funny and poignant

Read this opinion piece by this chick named Rosa Brooks. She writes about how Americans don't protest anymore... yet another job we leave for immigrants...

The Sleeping Giant awakes...

On Saturday, over 1 million protested against federal legistlation that would crack down undocumented immigrants, penalize those who help them and build a security wall along U.S.' southern border. This was the largest demonstration in the history of California. March organizers announced that the crowd was over 1 million. Univision and other Spanish-language television reported that up to 2 million people marched. The Los Angeles Times, reflecting police estimates, gave the march 500,000 - police estimates have been trying to minimize pro-immigrant rights demonstration for the last few weeks.

Ash Wednesday rocks on

Since I'm not Catholic, and would never give up meat or my vices, I struggled with how to celebrate Ash Wednesday. Then I read Cardinal Mahony's statement that he would instruct his priests to defy legislation — if approved by Congress — that would require churches and other social organizations to ask immigrants for legal documentation before providing assistance. This provision was included in the immigration bill recently passed by the House of Representatives; a similar proposal is in the version that the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to begin debating this week.

As a regular critic of the Catholic Church for its homophobic and misogynist views, I find Cardinal Mahony's perspective on immigration to be refreshing. DYY rejoices his words on this first day of Lent. Peace be with you.