Archive for March 27th, 2009
Extreme Flooding in North Dakota
8:14 pm By la Macha · Environment|Politics · Comments Off
27 Mar 2009As somebody who has friends who lived through both NOLA flooding and the recent flooding in Iowa, it’s been pretty heartbreaking to see the flooding in North Dakota.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
I pray for the people of North Dakota–and reiterate, now is the time to insist that our government get on board with global warming initiatives.
Single moms=”broken”?
7:54 pm By la Macha · Celebrities|children|Family|society · 3 Comments
27 Mar 2009
No, I’m not the biggest fan in the world of white celebrities adopting brown babies from across the world. I think it’s shady on so many levels–and what the hell is wrong with foster care? They are some of the few people who actually have the resources and time to make it all the way through a foster adoption, it doesn’t make sense to me why they feel they need to go outside of their own countries to adopt.
Having said that, I read about Madonna’s attempts to adopt again with interest. Apparently, her newly single status is causing problems for her:
Madonna’s trying to adopt another baby, a little girl named Mercy, from Malawi, but may have a tougher time without Guy Ritchie at her side. “Our official policy is that we do not encourage our children to be sent into broken homes,” a senior official from Malawi’s Ministry of Women and Child Welfare Development said. “Her relationships may negatively affect the adoption of Mercy.”
And of course the LA Times blurb follows up with a swipe at single mother Nadya Suleman.
What about going after one of Nadya Suleman’s little ones?
It’s interesting how this small blurb juxtaposes so much of U.S. cultures biases against single mothers. Single mothers are always suspect and wrong, but some single mothers invoke sympathy in their “wrongness” and others don’t. It’s interesting how the single mother’s that invoke sympathy are invariably well-off and white.
Obama on Premio Lo Nuestro : Pandering or Props to Latinos?
11:53 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Media|Obama|Politics|TV · 4 Comments
27 Mar 2009I didn’t watch Premio lo Nuestro last night. Really, how much silicone and fajas can a mujer watch? Pero apparently the highlight was President Obama making a video appearance on the show.
Here’s what he said:
Buenas noches (Good evening). I want to thank the millions of you who voted for tonight’s winners, and I also want to thank all of you who voted in that other election back in November – even if it wasn’t for me. With the challenges we face right now, it is absolutely critical that you stay involved and make your voices heard. I want you to know that I will always be listening, and my Administration is working hard so that we can expand opportunity for all Americans and reach that better day. Now I know you tuned in for “Premio Lo Nuestro,” so let me get right to it. I don’t know who’ll get married tonight or who’ll get Video of the Year, but I know you’re in for some great performances that celebrate the rich diversity of Latin music, and that’s good news. So enjoy the show, y para los nominados que se preguntan si esta será su noche, les digo, ¡si se puede! (and for all those nominees wondering if tonight is their night, let me just say, ¡yes you can!)
Yesterday, La Macha and Jen were talking about the causal tone that many official presidential events have taken. Pero when is too casual too casual and perhaps downright offensive? Has he and everyone taken the whole Si Se Puede chant/rallying cry out of context so much rendering it meaningless? No mention of important issues like immigration. It’s as if he wants Latino support using buzzwords and catch phrases.
Maybe I’m just too damn cynical/sensitive.
DREAM Act Reintroduced. How Can We Keep the DREAM Alive?
9:54 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Education|Immigration|youth · 14 Comments
27 Mar 2009
Yesterday the DREAM Act was reintroduced.
Congressmen Howard Berman (D-CA) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), announced the reintroduction today of the DREAM Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation will restore the States’ rights to determine residency requirements for higher education benefits – giving states the option to provide in-state tuition. The American DREAM Act seeks to facilitate access to postsecondary educational opportunities for immigrant students in the United States who currently face barriers in pursuing a college education. It also provides a path to U.S. legal residency for students, and military personnel.
Pero I have also been critical of the legislation for it’s inclusion of a military path to citizenship which encourages young people of color to join the military when already, documented or not, young people of color are targeted as the canon fodder of the U.S. military industrial complex.
Perhaps even more disturbing is how laws such as the DREAM Act promote a narrative of good vs bad immigrants, the deserving vs. the undeserving.
That said I am in a privileged position to even be able to look at it from that perspective. I am a born U.S. citizen and I need to acknowledge how that position colors how I view the DREAM Act and other such legislation.
There are ways that we can support the DREAM Act, so that por lo menos some movement is made on the immigration rights front and who knows, quizas pave the way for even greater changes in the current immigration system.
Kyle over at Citizen Orange tells us Five Ways we can support the DREAM Act and the dreams of many undocumented students.
2. FAX – America’s Voice has a page to help you fax your congressional representatives in support of the DREAM Act.
3. EMAIL – Change.org has a page to help you email your congressional representatives in support of the DREAM Act.
4. PETITION – Dreamactivist.org has the official petition in support of the DREAM Act.
5. TEXT – Text “Justice” (“Justicia” for Spanish) to 69866 to be the first to know when the DREAM Act is introduced. FIRM’s Mobile Action Network is an excellent way to stay connected and have maximum impact at just the right moment.
Via / Citizen Orange
Mainstream Media Finally Talking About Human Rights Violations in Immigration Detention
7:48 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Immigration|Media|TV · 2 Comments
27 Mar 2009Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
It’s been talked about for years. It’s been documented for years pero suddenly when it’s a huge mainstream human rights organization or the mainstream media saying it, it’s real.
I guess we should be happy that the issue of human rights violations in immigrant jails (detention facilities as they say in fancy speak) are getting any play at all. The real important point though is if all the attention leads to some real action on the part of the U.S. government. This means an end to raids that help fill up these jails until the current immigration system is overhauled.
No, I’m not holding my breath.
Via / Citizen Orange
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