The petition
To: President George W. Bush and U.S. Congress
We the undersigned, legal and illegal citizens of the United States petition the US Congress to take action on an immigration bill that offers amnesty.
Immigrants and their families pay taxes, work hard and want to become American citizens. However, current immigration policies leave millions of immigrants in the shadows, vulnerable to abuse because they lack legal documentation. Immigration policy prevents immigrants from fully participating in a country they help build. This mismatch between outdated policies and the economic realities of our country has led to millions of immigrants being denied basic rights, as well as to thousands of unnecessary deaths. Immigration is a defining feature of America’s history and of America’s future.
We need an approach to comprehensive reform of our immigration system that makes it safe, efficient, and accountable; and that restores integrity and equity. We support immigration reform that achieves the following principles: the reform must provide a path to citizenship, the reform must be comprehensive, protect workers, reunite families, restore the rule of law and enhance security, promote citizenship, help local communities, and promote civic participation.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
------------------------------------------------
Inserts below will not appear in petition that will be mailed.
"Because Im Brown"
Because I'm a little bit darker
They look at me with a frown
As if I had anything say
When God painted me brown
Im proud of where I come from
I wear my color like a crown
But these gringos got me twisted
When they try to put me down
They think we're less educated
Treating me like I'm dumb
Thinking we're all gang related
But don't even know where I'm from
I was born an American
'United We All Stand'
They tell me, 'Go back to where you came from'
But this was never their land
So before you think you're better
Just remember this is true
Just because I'm chicano
Doesn't make me less than you
-El Poeta
--------------------------------------
As you know, an issue that is near and dear to me, is only becoming more and more complicated. Immigration reform has been waving desperately from the sidelines throughout the entirity of the War on Terrorism, trying to, and sometimes suceeding in getting our attention, but never actually making it into the arena of public action. Well, friends, as the 08 election draws nigh, I feel that this issue may be within the top three-five issues that our candidates make the most promises regarding. Let's make all the difference we can in helping make those promises a reality(as far as a fair reform goes). Let's push steadily through the wall of silence that has been built around public opinion and make our voices heard. This may be our only option:
http://www.ipetitions.com/peti...
Please visit this link and sign the petition. You can even opt to sign it annonymously. This was not my idea, but the idea of a friend of mine whose name is Karla. She is hispanic, but was born here, with all the citizenship rights as the rest of us, and she feels this issue is important as well, regardless to the fact that it does not really affect her OWN status here. But this is MY POINT, people. Please understand this: The severe racism in this country should not dictate the immigration policy. And all of you know what I mean by racism. Even some of you, whom I consider my closest friends, from time to time, have still shown me that narrow-minded, unintelligent side of human nature that refuses to accept what does not look like or speak the same language as yourselves. The fact of the matter is- NONE of us are any more due citizenship in this country than any other hard-working mexicano out there, without papers, who at any time, could be pulled over on his way home from work, arrested for not having an AMERICAN driver's license, and deported back to his homeland, where he only dream of being able to make what most of us make in one hour at work, in a FULL DAY. And I know what the skeptics say- I've heard it all: "Mexicans don't pay taxes, like the rest of us" "Mexico's state of economic despair is not our fault. How can we be expected to take the brunt of it?" "Our population is soaring out of control due to the uncontrolled illegal immigrants" "Most Mexicans are dishonest, stupid, lazy criminals" OK HERE I GO:
1: I would like to see some actual numbers, statistic wise, about how much tax-wise money comes from mexicans and how much comes from blacks. Because, both, being considered minorities should be held to same standard. For some reason, people find it very easy to be incredibly racist towards hispanics, but tip-toe around saying anything about the fact that a huge number of blacks are manipulating the government system for full finacial support around the clock everyday, and all because blacks are technically LEGAL CITIZENS. See- it's like it's ok to be racist if the particular race isn't legally a citizen here, right?
2: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Well, America, that's a good question. We've been half-ass trying to be Iraq's keeper, half-ass trying to be the world's police- but when it comes down to reforming a nation that is on the same continent as us, NOPE. I guess we pick and chose which brothers we "keep." It's just easier to kick them all out right?, then actually deal with the problem of why Mexicans flood the US. It's not because the air is so clean, people. It's because mexico, for the most part, in rural communities and cities, like most of us live in here, are HELL HOLES in Mexico. Yes, there are a few vacation spots, but that's Magazine mexico.
3. Ah, the population. Way back when, Statin Island was overwhelmed for years and years with Italian and Irish Immigrants, trying to escape some of the same conditions. Did we turn them away? "Well sorry yall- we just got too many people in this here country. Recon you'll just have to go on back to where you came from." In fact, what is, for the most part, our common heritage? RACISM- BIGOTRY- BACKASSWARDS CHURCH VALUES- GOOD OLD BOY REGIMES: That's not what is country was founded on. Read up. Consitution-wise- this whole immigration thing going on right now is BULLSHIT.
4. Face it. Everyone fucks up. So your buddy got hit by a bunch of mexicans in a stolen car and then they ran off before the cops got there. SO WHAT? White people do that shit too. So do blacks. ALL THE TIME, this is happening, a cornicopia of colors, races- and if you really want to narrow down some statistic wise racial profiling criminalistic numbers on this whole thing- really get NASTY about this shit- I bet I know who comes out on top, but probably not in a landslide or anything. See # 1. ( I'm not trying to be racist, I'm just stating the facts).
SO, once again I apologize. If you're still reading at this point, I applaud you. You must be half-way intelligent, and have an attention span of longer than about 7.5 seconds. Here are my closing notes, a quote or two, as is probably expected from those who know me best:
"First they came 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 Catholics, and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left
to speak up for me. "
-Unknown
"well, americans:
what, nothin' better to do?
why don't you kick yourself out?
you're an immigrant too.
who's usin' who?
what should we do?
well you can't be a pimp
and a prostitute too
icky thump, handcuffed to a bunk
robbed blind
looked around
and there was nobody else
left alone
i hit myself with a stone
went home
and learned how to clean up after myself "
-The White Stripes
And FINALLY: Please SIgn that DAMN PETITION. It takes 5 seconds. Do it. On small step for you, one huge step for mankind. Let's evolve. Aren't you tired of living in the past? I know I am.
Natalie
Sign the petition
Fields marked * are required.