As an Irish Mexican-American, I have family members here who are not legal and the topic of immigration is one I contain the most passion for. I am so excited about an upcoming debate on immigration and I can't wait. I hope I am on the side that is for immigration because I really don't like debating on the side that I don't believe in. It would be like betraying my own race. So, I hope I can argue for the side that I agree with. For the past couple of years, this whole thing about immigration reform has been a very hot topic, and has caused a lot of main events that contributed to its support and supporters. For example, the walkouts from colleges and high schools around Southern California in supporting immigration reform. Although most students mainly participated just to get out of class, there were still a lot of high school and college students who really were there with passion and purpose. So what else do I know about immigration? I know that the stupid legislature (or some form of government) rejected the immigration reform bill. I just don't understand what the big deal is about letting people come here legally that migrate to this country. I know that there are the pros and cons about it, but overall we can accept these people and take them in instead of rejecting them. A lot of people who are against it, are against it because they want to "protect" American wages and jobs, basically our homeland security. They say that immigrants are taking all of the good jobs and the good wages. First of all, most of these people are just being racist because they know we, Mexicans, are the hardest working people on the planet. We work more for less because we have been raised with a strong work ethic. We take anything. Secondly, I really would love to know what "good jobs" these people are talking about because immigrants cannot get good jobs that support their needy families. What is their definition of a "good job"? Employers that have good positions will not hire immigrants because they are not legal in this country. You need a social security number, be a citizen of the U.S.. Immigrants do not have these basic requirements. Unfortunately as much as they try to apply for these good jobs, they won't get them until they are at least a guest worker or have a green card. I am all for letting immigrants become legal in this country no matter where they come from. To say more, it is not only Mexicans migrating to this country. Armenians, Italians, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Brazilians, Indians, Russians, Europeans and etc are migrating to this country as well as Mexicans. But why is it in California, which has the most diversity out of all the states, we concentrate on Mexicans only. A lot of people think Mexicans when they hear the term immigration. We also have other people on California ya know? The following song is about immigration and it is from a band called "Calle 13". The song is called "Pal Norte". The album is called "Residente or Visitante". The following are the lyrics. Look for the song and listen to it. I would love to bring it into my english class for people to listen to it because it relates exactly to this immigration unit.
CALLE 13 - Pal Norte lyrics
(feat. Orishas)
"Unas piernas que respiran... veneno de serpiente... por el camino del viento... voy soplando agua ardiente
El día a día ha comenzado entusiasmado y alegre
[ROLDAN:]dice... Pasaporte
[Estribillo:]Tengo tu antídoto... Pal' que no tiene identidadSomos idénticos... Pal' que llegó sin avisarTengo tu antílico... Para los que ya no est'n para los que est's y los que vienen (x2)
Un nómada sin rumbo la energía negativa yo la derrumboCon mis pezuñas de cordero me propuse recorrer el continente enteroSin brújula, sin tiempo, sin agenda...¿?
Por las leyendasCon historias empaquetadas en lata, con los cuentos que la luna relata aprendí a caminar sin mapa...
A irme de caminata sin comodidades, sin lujo...
protegido por los santos y los brujos...
Aprendí a escribir carbonerías en mi libreta y con un mismo idioma sacudir todo el planeta...
Aprendí que mi pueblo todavía reza porque las “fucking” autoridades y la puta realeza...
todavía se mueven por debajo' e la mesa...
aprendí a tragarme la depresión con cerveza...
Mis patronos yo lo escupo desde las montañas y con mi propia saliva enveneno su champaña...
Enveneno su champaña...
[ROLDAN:]Sigo tomando ron...
[Estribillo:]Rn tu sonrisa yo veo una guerrilla, una aventura un movimiento...
Tu lenguaje, tu acento...
Yo quiero descubrir lo que ya estaba descubierto...
Ser un emigrante ese es mi deporte...
Hoy me voy pal' norte sin pasaporte, sin transporte...
a pie, con las patas...
pero no importa este hombre se hidrata con lo que retratan mis pupilas...
Cargo con un par de paisajes en mi mochila, cargo con vitamina de clorofila, cargo con un rosario que me vigila...
suelo con cruzar el meridiano, resbalando por las cuerdas del cuatro de Aureliano...
Y llegarle tempranito temprano a la orilla...
por el desierto con los pies a la parrilla...
Por debajo de la tierra como las ardillas, yo vo'a cruzar la muralla...
yo soy un intruso con identidad de recluso...
y por eso me convierto en buzo...
y buceo por debajo de la tierra...
Pa' que no me vean los guardias y los perros no me huelan...
abuela no se preocupe que en mi cuello cuelga la virgen de la Guadalupe...
[ROLDAN:]Oye para todos los emigrantes del mundo entero... all' va eso... Calle 13
[Estribillo x2:]
(OFF) Esta producción artístico-cultural hecha con cariño y con esfuerzo sea como un llamado de voluntad y esperanza para todos, todos..."
This song is the bomb! I love it. If you don't speak or read Spanish, you can take these lyrics (copy and paste) to babelfish.altavista.com. You can take these lyrics and translate them. Also what you can do if that doesn't work, go to google.com and type in "Calle 13-Pal Norte Lyrics" and when the results come up for the websites, click on "Translate This Page" and it will translate them for you. Look it up and you will love it too for those of you who are for immigration reform.
'Til next time,
Katie
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3 comments:
Katie, Congratulations on your blog and I hope you continue to post your views frequently. We need more people like us blogging on the internet and posting our perspectives.
There are so many angry people on the other side.
My perspective is, we do need border security, especially since 9-11. We also need employer sanctions, particularly for those employers who exploit illegal workers. (like the employer in New Bedford who refused to let his workers take bathroom breaks and would not pay them overtime.)
I would like to see the 12M illegal immigrants here put on a path to citizenship. Most have been here working, contributing for 5 - 20 years.
That is why we need Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
I write about this on my Blog. I hope you visit me sometime.
Katie, Here is my blog if you want to visit.
http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/
What a great comment, Katie. Dee is a terrific connection. I hope you communicate with her.
In your blog you write, "I am so excited about an upcoming debate on immigration and I can't wait." Since our debate on the hijab was last week, I'm interested in hearing your recap. What are you thinking now?
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