FINALLY, immigrants and darker-skinned people are being seen more and more as “us” and less and less as “alien/other/invader.” We now enlist more voices and more strength. Obama’s election is not the instigator of this change, simply one sign among many that our hearts and minds and awarenesses are demonstrating the reasonability and intelligence and empathy that a modern day human ought to have.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING about 2009? I feel good. In terms of making progress on Immigration Policy and fighting back against the wave of ignorant, racist, dumbass sentiment being spewed by too many on the right (like ALIPAC.us, Rush Bimbo, Lou “I’ve lost my frickin bearings and sense of proportion” Dobbs, Tancredo, Buchanan, Stormfront, Malkin, etc etc etc) I think it’s going to be our year. I think as we take this feeling of being a more diverse nation where immigrants and dark-skinned or darker-skinned people are seen more and more as “us” and less and less as “alien/other/invader” we will enlist more voices and more strength. I think Obama being elected is not the precursor or instigator of this change, I feel his election is simply a sign among many (though no small one!) that not only are our demographics being more realistically represented on many levels, but our heart and minds and awareness are finally demonstrating the reasonability and empathy that a modern day human ought to have.
Here is another sign:
IPC Launches New Immigration Policy BlogImmigrationImpact.com aims to re-shape the immigration debate
November 17, 2008
Washington, DC–The current climate of undeterred online, immigrant-bashing is about to be faced with a force to contend with. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is pleased to announce the launching of its new blog, Immigration Impact (www.ImmigrationImpact.com). Immigration Impact was developed to help reshape the immigration debate in a way that will bring us closer to comprehensive immigration reform. The blog will provide thoughtful and rapid-response commentaries and insights on the latest news and events so that you can be up-to-date with what’s going on with the immigration debate.
“The misleading messages coming from an increasingly large number of anti-immigrant blogs demand an honest and informative response from their counterparts in the blogosphere,” says IPC director and Immigration Impact contributor, Angela Kelley. “We’re joining the blogosphere to tell the other side of the story and counter these attacks with arguments based in fact, research, and in-depth analysis.”
Writers currently include Dr. Michele Waslin and Dr. Walter Ewing-two leading researchers and policy analysts in the immigration field. Notable and longstanding immigration advocates Benjamin Johnson and Angela Kelley will also serve as regular contributors. The Immigration Policy Center welcomes guest-contributions from reputable writers, bloggers, and advocates in the field.
# # #For more information contact Andrea Nill, 202-507-7520 or email anill@ailf.org
Now of course it’s fantastic that IPC “aims to re-shape the immigration debate” and we all benefit from each person or site that aims to do this in a positive fashion, as IPC can’t do it all by themselves. As so many of us have been “aiming” to do this and working daily to accomplish this for years now (and have certainly had a measurable effect as it is) I want to point to this part: The Immigration Policy Center welcomes guest-contributions from reputable writers, bloggers, and advocates in the field. So, if you have a passion for this and feel a need to lean your shoulder into the wheel, this might be a good way. If you’ve been doing this type of activism for a while, maybe check it out and see if they can boost your volume or reach.
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yup. crossroad as kevin said. danger, but much hope. i’m feeling the same. i may get sad and angry and whatever, but as far as i’m concerned, we’re dealing with paroxysms of futility, fear, and desperation.
and yeah i scanned the names on that site and said similiar things to myself. asked questions about why certain faces/names are always getting themselves out in front every issue and all by themselves as if they are the best ones to lead the way…but…we know those answers. i didnt hit it this time, but i’m glad you mentioned it. its also why i put that paragraph at the end, hoping to, well, recruit some groove. 
I wish I could see what you are seeing. I spend too much time arguing with idiots in the “comments” sections of the Arizona Daily Star who think its some kind of JUSTICE when Mexicans die trying to get over the border. I’ve been back East for a few years now and have been anxious to get back to Tucson, but these animals who call themselves “citizens” scare the hell out of me.
Hi.
I would definitely avoid arguing with those closeminded sickos. I mean what is the point? They are not reasonable, they are diseased in the mind.
I agree. It is scary. But the reason they are freaking so much lately (and will be for a number of years) is because they sense the changes happening all around them. In culture, in census, in power, in appearance. I’m sure it will get a bit worse before it gets better. But it is getting better. And we’ll stick together and see it through.
And yes, there are moments I have to look pretty hard to “see what I am seeing.” But the alternative is what? Giving up? Getting depressed? Giving way? No, not acceptable. People who scream that loud and spit bile that far are scraping out their own cowardly guts to do so. We have a bigger truth.
It’s less for argument than to have at least one voice in that sphere speaking reason and trying to remind that these are HUMAN BEINGS about whom they are so blithely saying “hah, served ‘em right,” etc.
I want to put it out there WHERE THE YAHOOS LIVE AND CHAT that THEY are being manipulated into thinking that brown people are “other” and the cause of all of their problems. I try to be as plain as possible, considering the “audience.” Maybe one person will pause and think. Maybe.
I want to believe what you are saying - that this venom is a last sputtering coughing up of the bile of a terrible disease that is on its way to cure.
I’ll hope for that. But I confess skepticism.
well, all it really takes is looking over the arc of history. things are changing here. one doesnt need look too far to see that. again, obama is a part of that,reflects that. as do the demographics. as does the census. as does the rise in latin@s in office, speaking in media, organizing behind the scenes. as does the fact that Rove is advising even the GOP that they need to tone down their anti-migrant rhetoric or be dead. etc. have hope, keep on!
and i’m glad you make effort out there to speak against the vile tide. i wish you good energy and sustained strength.
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Then again, I’ve remained hopeful throughout these dark years of Bush and ICE. You know I’m weird that way, with my mystical Asian ways: I don’t always believe my own eyes because I have a feeling in my heart that there’s more to the story than eyes can see. And I’ve felt this whole time that this wave of hate — in politics, mass media, online, and of course “enforcement” — has been a paroxysm of desperation in the face of the unstoppable ascendancy of The Brown in the 21st century. So I’ve never agreed with the frustrated cries that “we’re getting our asses kicked”. In fact it is white supremacism that is gradually having its ass kicked — not only by people of color but by all who believe in justice, equality, freedom — and is putting on a big show of bravado to compensate for the undeniable reality of what’s happening. And it is happening. Day by day.
Immigration Impact looks like a worthy effort. Hopefully they can shed that typical Beltway advocacy vibe, though. Know what I mean? Get a bit more swing in the step? Dig out a deeper groove? And it might help to get a lot more Latin@, Asian, Middle Eastern, sub-Saharan African names on the roster. Just sayin.
Anyway, thanks for the post, ‘mano. For the read, the uplift and the headsup. Always a good time for these things.
Peace.