We are a nation of runaways. We are immigrants. We are opportunists. We are survivors. And now, we are tyrants. The term American holds no true meaning culturally because we refuse to accept our diversity. No longer are we Mexican or Italian or Brazilian. The dream to become American overwhelms us, so that is what we become. Everything else remains part of our heritage — doomed to be lonely and untouched. And now, that dream is dying...
The fear of an American subculture
I have never been more disappointed with Texas than recently. We're not under attack by illegal immigrants. We're simply terrified of being overrun by another culture, another economy. Let me state this now before I get yelled at: I do not believe illegal immigration is correct or acceptable. But I don't like the way we're manipulating our borders. Our American brand of diplomacy is pretty much to invade a country, oust their current government, and replace it — I can't really vouch for this either.
Here in Texas, anti-immigration has become an enormous political issue. This isn't about that. It's about the city choosing English as its official language. An official language? In Texas? Somebody shoot me. 34.6% percent of Texas is Latino
(U.S. Census Bureau - 2004 [this number will definitely have increased by now]). That's very close to half our population, and this little town — which, itself is about 37% Hispanic — decides to choose and official language. Something isn't quite fair here.
The definitive reason for this is probably race oriented — the white majority would probably not want to become a subculture in "their own country". I could very easily call them white supremacists and not be far off base. I'm terrified because this is a very pronounced separation - and to come out of Texas? That borders on blasphemy. Hispanic culture has always thrived in Texas; without it, we wouldn't have had white settlement from the beginning. In less than 30 years, we had been a colony, a republic, and then a state. But we could not have done it without the initial permission for settlement. Now, we're closing our borders to immigrants of the same nation that let us have our land.
This article continues with comments on the Military Commissions Act and the Pentagon's new view on homosexuality. Angry words follow.
A mangled sense of self-righteousness
The day the Military Commissions Act was passed, October 17th, 2006, was termed as the death of habeas corpus. Habeas corpus (L — habeo, habere - to have [habeas is "you (sing.) may have"]; L — corpus, corporis - body) is a legal term that requires a person to be brought before a judge or court before conviction - a protection against illegal imprisonment.
Under this act, however, suspects can be jailed without this legal process. They can appeal to a federal court, but not to a civil court. I think the government is taking too much power for itself again; I'm fed up with this terrorist witchhunt. And I'm not the only one with this sort of sentiment:
"[The act is] a tyrannical law that will be ranked with the low points in American democracy, our generation’s version of the Alien and Sedition Acts."
—The New York Times
One comment on the act stated that in times of war, we are never sure of who the true enemy is; does that therefore make everyone an enemy? Why does this feel like the beginning of George Orwell's 1984 unfolding? Next thing you know, we'll be celebrating Two-Minutes-Hate to pictures of terrorists who might be dead or alive. I don't agree with this at all.
Read more about the Military Commissions Act »
The trial of Saddam Hussain
Guilty, naturally, the dictator stood strong in the face of his conviction — death by hanging. It doesn't feel right, with us cheering a public lynching (it's nothing less), and with anyone who has ever held a grudge against the American influenced government in Iraq who will now turn Saddam into a martyr. He doesn't deserve to be a legend. He isn't worthy of it. To think that America (maybe I should stop saying we) can eliminate its political enemies and replace them makes me quiver. How dare it take that much power? It had become a tyrant alongside the world it so fervently appears to own.
Strike two, chooms
This is a follow-up to June 21st's "Miffed". Homosexuality, no longer a mental disorder, is now a condition... like bed wetting, like a nervous twitch. Can they stop categorizing it as some sort of ailment for god's sake? Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a compromise; that doesn't mean that one's sexual preference should be compromised for their ability to move about in society. The only bonus of this definition is that it's acknowledged that homosexuality might even be natural — lots of people wet the bed, do they not? The Pentagon still fails to recognize it as a choice, however. They feel it is a bodily condition, not a preference.
The death of democracy is nigh.
Read 4 comments (Leave a comment?)
Skye said:
Wow, so much happening in the world!
In Australia just before the last federal election it was a massive issue, “boat people” and detention centres. I don’t necessarily think that it’s an underlying fear of different cultures and sub-cultures, but people getting sick of systems supporting illegal immigration and the issue of it “wasting” tax payer money. Not necessarily a fair view, but the reactions are pretty unsurprising.
I think that “terrorism” has been an excuse for world governments to take more power away from the people - and the people will let them because they’re afraid. Sad huh? I always find it ironic the way that people will praise their freedom and at the same time support laws and acts like that, that will deny others of theirs.
Posted on November 18, 2006 4:31 PM; Permalink
Jasmen said:
I agree with Skye, there is some much stuff going on.
Posted on November 19, 2006 2:21 AM; Permalink
Ranjani said:
@Skye: I agree. We’re spending more on trying to stop illegal immigration than we’re probably losing while it still exists. I mean, what can it to but bring back to the economy? We have more workers now - more workers that earn money and buy things. How is that not helpful to our economy, Washington?
I was watching the Comic Relief 2006 fundraiser the other night and this guy stood up and said “If New Orleans were to get a bunch of nukes, secede from the United States, and stage mass demonstrations, maybe the US Army would get pissed, invade, and start to rebuild - cracked me up because of how true it is (or how sad)!
@Jasmen: Um…, yes, there’s a lot going on, but that wasn’t what the post was about :(
Posted on November 19, 2006 12:35 PM; Permalink
Angelica said:
Oh yeah, I miss my guild too and they pwn the end game instances without me too. :( I’ll return tomorrow I think but I will SUCK compared to them because they’re all packed with good epixx and I’ve been away too long. I’m packed with epixx too but not a full tier2.
Posted on November 19, 2006 3:00 PM; Permalink