Feeling sad and depressed as I read the latest news and ponder these words:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
MOTHER OF EXILES. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Showing posts with label immigration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immigration. Show all posts
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Monday, January 30, 2017
zemlin speaks out
Posted at Foss Force (http://fossforce.com/2017/01/linux-foundations-jim-zemlin-speaks-immigration-ban/):
Linux Foundation Executive Director’s Statement on Immigration Ban
The Linux operating system underlies nearly every piece of technology in modern life, from phones to satellites to web searches to your car. For the Linux Foundation, openness is both a part of our core principles and also a matter of practicality. Linux, the largest cooperatively developed software project in history, is created by thousands of people from around the world and made available to anyone to use for free. The Linux Foundation also hosts dozens of other open source projects covering security, networking, cloud, automotive, blockchain and other areas. Last year, the Linux Foundation hosted over 20,000 people from 85 countries at more than 150 events. Open source is a fundamentally global activity but America has always served as the hub for innovation and collaboration. Linux’s creator, Linux Foundation Fellow Linus Torvalds, immigrated to America from Finland and became a citizen. The Administration’s policy on immigration restrictions is antithetical to the values of openness and community that have enabled open source to succeed. I oppose the immigration ban.
Jim Zemlin, Executive Director, The Linux Foundation
Linux Foundation Executive Director’s Statement on Immigration Ban
The Linux operating system underlies nearly every piece of technology in modern life, from phones to satellites to web searches to your car. For the Linux Foundation, openness is both a part of our core principles and also a matter of practicality. Linux, the largest cooperatively developed software project in history, is created by thousands of people from around the world and made available to anyone to use for free. The Linux Foundation also hosts dozens of other open source projects covering security, networking, cloud, automotive, blockchain and other areas. Last year, the Linux Foundation hosted over 20,000 people from 85 countries at more than 150 events. Open source is a fundamentally global activity but America has always served as the hub for innovation and collaboration. Linux’s creator, Linux Foundation Fellow Linus Torvalds, immigrated to America from Finland and became a citizen. The Administration’s policy on immigration restrictions is antithetical to the values of openness and community that have enabled open source to succeed. I oppose the immigration ban.
Jim Zemlin, Executive Director, The Linux Foundation
Saturday, October 10, 2015
lines in the sand
In "The Case for Getting Rid of Borders—Completely" at The Atlantic, Alex Tabarrok writes:
What moral theory justifies using wire, wall, and weapon to prevent people from moving to opportunity? ...No standard moral framework, be it utilitarian, libertarian, egalitarian, Rawlsian, Christian, or any other well-developed perspective, regards people from foreign lands as less entitled to exercise their rights—or as inherently possessing less moral worth—than people lucky to have been born in the right place at the right time.
Just imagine: no borders. Isn't that what John Lennon did, years ago?
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace
What moral theory justifies using wire, wall, and weapon to prevent people from moving to opportunity? ...No standard moral framework, be it utilitarian, libertarian, egalitarian, Rawlsian, Christian, or any other well-developed perspective, regards people from foreign lands as less entitled to exercise their rights—or as inherently possessing less moral worth—than people lucky to have been born in the right place at the right time.
Just imagine: no borders. Isn't that what John Lennon did, years ago?
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
KJ on the Arizona immigration law
Kevin Johnson, the former Phoenix Suns point guard and current mayor of Sacramento, CA:
Mayor of Sacramento
I’ve never said much about this, but there was deep personal sadness when I was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Phoenix Suns in February 1988.
The trouble had no connection with basketball. I was ashamed of my new state for another reason: A year before the trade, Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham rescinded the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Suddenly, I was expected to play my heart out for audiences proud to denigrate the civil rights victories won by Dr. King.
Arizona needed five years and the loss of an estimated $300 million in tourism dollars – including the removal of the 1993 Super Bowl – before voters finally gave Dr. King his day.
Today memories of those sorry days have returned.
Arizona is back at it, passing a law that allows police to demand ID from anyone who “looks” like an undocumented immigrant.
Don’t get me wrong. Our country must protect its borders. We are a nation of immigrants, and immigration must be managed with thoughtful, fair and productive protocols.
Government agencies must work diligently to respond to immigration issues. But our response must be appropriate and consistent with the fundamentals of our nation.
The Arizona law contradicts the foundation of American justice on multiple levels. Beyond the law’s discretionary bigotry, it stands as a hypocritical application of presumptive guilt, a violation of our essential Constitutional rights. Ultimately, it requires the most color-blind police officer to judge people based on their skin color.
I spoke with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon on Wednesday afternoon (April 28). He asked me not to call for economic sanctions and boycotts against Arizona.
As mayors, we share a common understanding of negative economic impacts. Damaging the good work of Mayor Gordon and the many honorable people in his city in retribution for the immigration law can become the equivalent of trying to make two wrongs equal one right.
But I strongly feel we must seek a positive resolution to Arizona’s injustice, hopefully with dialogue. I will go to Arizona and meet with leaders there if that will help. And at Sacramento City Hall, I will begin the process of seeking collaboration on this issue with my colleagues at City Hall.
As a resident of Arizona during the time of the struggle to honor Dr. King, I understand how collective pressures can bring our Southwestern neighbors to their collective senses.
I still have many friends in Arizona, and know the state is not a land filled with hatred. But sometimes Arizonans need a reminder of their foolishness.
If we open a dialogue with Arizonians and remind them of the consequences from the Dr. King holiday embarrassment, maybe they will get it.
from:
http://www.teamkj.org/tabid/
Arizona Immigration Law Violates Our Fundamental Rights
By Kevin JohnsonMayor of Sacramento
I’ve never said much about this, but there was deep personal sadness when I was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Phoenix Suns in February 1988.
The trouble had no connection with basketball. I was ashamed of my new state for another reason: A year before the trade, Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham rescinded the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Suddenly, I was expected to play my heart out for audiences proud to denigrate the civil rights victories won by Dr. King.
Arizona needed five years and the loss of an estimated $300 million in tourism dollars – including the removal of the 1993 Super Bowl – before voters finally gave Dr. King his day.
Today memories of those sorry days have returned.
Arizona is back at it, passing a law that allows police to demand ID from anyone who “looks” like an undocumented immigrant.
Don’t get me wrong. Our country must protect its borders. We are a nation of immigrants, and immigration must be managed with thoughtful, fair and productive protocols.
Government agencies must work diligently to respond to immigration issues. But our response must be appropriate and consistent with the fundamentals of our nation.
The Arizona law contradicts the foundation of American justice on multiple levels. Beyond the law’s discretionary bigotry, it stands as a hypocritical application of presumptive guilt, a violation of our essential Constitutional rights. Ultimately, it requires the most color-blind police officer to judge people based on their skin color.
I spoke with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon on Wednesday afternoon (April 28). He asked me not to call for economic sanctions and boycotts against Arizona.
As mayors, we share a common understanding of negative economic impacts. Damaging the good work of Mayor Gordon and the many honorable people in his city in retribution for the immigration law can become the equivalent of trying to make two wrongs equal one right.
But I strongly feel we must seek a positive resolution to Arizona’s injustice, hopefully with dialogue. I will go to Arizona and meet with leaders there if that will help. And at Sacramento City Hall, I will begin the process of seeking collaboration on this issue with my colleagues at City Hall.
As a resident of Arizona during the time of the struggle to honor Dr. King, I understand how collective pressures can bring our Southwestern neighbors to their collective senses.
I still have many friends in Arizona, and know the state is not a land filled with hatred. But sometimes Arizonans need a reminder of their foolishness.
If we open a dialogue with Arizonians and remind them of the consequences from the Dr. King holiday embarrassment, maybe they will get it.
from:
http://www.teamkj.org/tabid/
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Los Suns
The Phoenix Suns, sporting their road "Los Suns" jerseys (in part to protest Arizona's new anti-immigration law), beat the San Antonio Spurs, 110-102, to take a 2-0 series lead.
San Antonio has certainly been the Suns' nemesis over the years. And, with the series shifting to the Spurs' home court for the next two games, I'm certainly not counting any chickens before they've hatched. This is San Antonio we're talking about. We know too well what Ginobili, Parker, and Duncan can do. Richard Jefferson is still going to bring his solid game, and George Hill has yet to really bring it in this series.
But the Suns did what they needed to do. They protected their home court advantage. They're in a great position -- two wins away from reaching the Conference Finals!
Back to the subject of the jerseys. Johnny Ludden of Yahoo! Sports wrote:
In a Cinco de Mayo tribute to the city’s Latino community and a symbolic protest of Arizona’s controversial immigration-enforcement bill, the players wore their “Los Suns” jerseys. Sarver, Kerr and Nash all denounced the bill, and while the Suns have received national praise for the move, they’ve also been, in the words of one staffer, “absolutely crushed” at home. Polls suggest nearly 70 percent of residents support the bill, spurring angry callers to jam the Suns’ switchboard all day. Kerr admitted the team will lose some level of season-ticket holders.
Well, I hope the angry folks can get over it. Of course, I support the move by the Suns to wear the jerseys, and I hope they get a chance to wear them in the NBA Finals. Go Suns!!!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
more on arizona immigration law
(The cartoon at left was drawn by Mike Keefe, The Denver Post.)Eugene Robinson really said it all much better than I could ever say it in his column, Arizona's immigration law is an act of vengeance:
"And how are police supposed to decide whom they "reasonably suspect" of being in the country illegally? Since the great majority of undocumented immigrants in Arizona are from Mexico, aggressive enforcement of the law would seem to require demanding identification from anybody who looks kind of Mexican. Or maybe just hassling those who look kind of Mexican and also kind of poor. Or maybe anyone who dares to visit the Mexican consulate.
"Arizona is dealing with a real problem and is right to demand that Washington provide a solution. But the new immigration law isn't a solution at all. It's more like an act of vengeance. The law makes Latino citizens and legal residents vulnerable to arbitrary harassment -- relegating them to second-class status -- and it is an utter disgrace."
"Utter disgrace." No doubt.I love how so many people keep saying things like "What part of 'illegal' don't they understand?" Yeah, and how many folks who whine about illegal immigrants not "respecting our laws" also drive after drinking, text while driving, cheat on their taxes, go over the posted speed limit, or do illegal drugs?
Oh, but that's different.
Friday, April 23, 2010
arizona, once again
The lovely Grand Canyon State, Arizona, is once again in the news for being perhaps the most racist state in the Union (remember when the MLK holiday was rescinded there?).
Arizona's governor signed what's being called the nation's toughest immigration law today.
This means that if you are in Arizona and you are Hispanic -- or not even Hispanic but simply from outside of the U.S. -- and your skin is not white, and you speak English with a heavy accent because it isn't your first language, and you don't dress the way "normal" white Americans dress, then you'd better carry your social security card or something else proving that you're a U.S. citizen, because according to state law the police can now stop you at any time and arrest you if you can't prove that you're here legally.
This law has all kinds of potential for abuse written into it. Just wait until some legal resident has to spend a night in jail, then hires a lawyer. We'll see how this law stands up then.
I hope that happens soon. Let's test this law's constitutionality, and soon.
Why do people come across the border illegally? Because the United States government can't or won't control its borders. Because a Border Patrol agent can make tons more money by looking the other way every now and then instead of simply doing his or her job. Because the United States has such an insatiable demand for drugs (and cheap labor) that it's impossible to keep the Southwest border sealed off. Because people on the other side are suffering and need to find a better life for themselves and their children. Because employers here offer illegal immigrants low-paying jobs. Because illegal immigrants are willing to take jobs that U.S. citizens wouldn't even consider taking.
This law takes aim at people who are doing what they have to do to survive. It does nothing to solve the problem of illegal immigration, or much less, to solve the problems that create illegal immigration.
But, let's look at the bright side: The law will make a lot of money for people who can forge immigration papers! And it'll make a lot of money for lawyers and law firms! Opportunity knocks, people!
Disgusting, Arizona. Here's another time when I'm embarrassed to have ever lived in that otherwise beautiful state.
Arizona's governor signed what's being called the nation's toughest immigration law today.
This means that if you are in Arizona and you are Hispanic -- or not even Hispanic but simply from outside of the U.S. -- and your skin is not white, and you speak English with a heavy accent because it isn't your first language, and you don't dress the way "normal" white Americans dress, then you'd better carry your social security card or something else proving that you're a U.S. citizen, because according to state law the police can now stop you at any time and arrest you if you can't prove that you're here legally.
This law has all kinds of potential for abuse written into it. Just wait until some legal resident has to spend a night in jail, then hires a lawyer. We'll see how this law stands up then.
I hope that happens soon. Let's test this law's constitutionality, and soon.
Why do people come across the border illegally? Because the United States government can't or won't control its borders. Because a Border Patrol agent can make tons more money by looking the other way every now and then instead of simply doing his or her job. Because the United States has such an insatiable demand for drugs (and cheap labor) that it's impossible to keep the Southwest border sealed off. Because people on the other side are suffering and need to find a better life for themselves and their children. Because employers here offer illegal immigrants low-paying jobs. Because illegal immigrants are willing to take jobs that U.S. citizens wouldn't even consider taking.
This law takes aim at people who are doing what they have to do to survive. It does nothing to solve the problem of illegal immigration, or much less, to solve the problems that create illegal immigration.
But, let's look at the bright side: The law will make a lot of money for people who can forge immigration papers! And it'll make a lot of money for lawyers and law firms! Opportunity knocks, people!
Disgusting, Arizona. Here's another time when I'm embarrassed to have ever lived in that otherwise beautiful state.
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