The ugly side of not speaking English? Indiana’s SB 590 Attacks Immigrants and their Languages

This posting was inspired based on an article I read   dated January 14, 2011  from Hispanically Speaking News titled: “Indiana’s SB 590 Attacks Immigrants and their Languages” - this  is the link 

These words reflect my opinions and are sardonic in tone. They do not intended to insult anyone living or dead. Hopefully you will find this entertaining and and at best humorous.  

Remember though: 

"A joke is a very serious thing". 

                                  Winston Churchill

Being allowed to act on “reasonably suspicious” premises may totally eclipse prejudice; it reminds me of the fascist practices imposed by the Nazis during WWII. 

Please let me know about your thoughts on being questioned to proof your identity on the basis of your looks, that is, on the grounds of being "reasonable suspicious". 

Visible minorities, who are residents of Indiana, should not be afraid these days, you live in the “developed” world and this is the year 2011.  The probability of being questioned because the pimple on your nose is ugly, or because your accent is foreign, or because you prefer to speak in a foreign language is absolutely zero!  Believe me; all officers in Indiana are reasonable except when suspicious.    

If the color of your skin you wear is not within the “norm” it should not be a problem to you either; however, it may be a little controversial (if not illegal) if on top of your color your moves betray you as suspiciously gay!   But now seriously speaking, never mind if your loose apparel reveals you ethnicity or religious believes (touchy subject, mind me writing so small). Don’t worry for any of these totally insignificant stereotypes my dear friendly; minority looking resident of Indiana.  I am absolutely sure that it is still safe to J-walk there! 

One should only be fearful of “reasonable suspiciousness” if you are an innocent white Polish immigrant going through the control gates at the Vancouver international airport… There, the authorities mercilessly greet those of that kind with powerful Taser stun guns! (Robert Dziekanski – RIP Nov. 2007) But then, Indiana is not in Canada and thus one more reason not to be fearful. 

The truth is that legislators in the State of Indiana are reasonable persons and wish to protect your civil rights – they are only after illegal humans and not you. What???? Did I say that right?… illegal humans? – How can it be illegal to be a human? … Trust me there are illegal humans amongst us. There is nothing to hide about it any more. This was on the Wiki leaks cables, but even Mr JA (the big mouth!) had his reservations about going public with this one, but I will not!  

Legislators are mainly concerned about persecuting mutant aliens coming from outer space that look suspiciously human; these are the culprits of all things that go wrong in Indiana, they are dangerous to society, and the world is being invaded as we speak… watch out for them as they are lurking in your neighborhood, and we know for a fact that Indiana is a preferred destination! 

Now you have the real picture and an explanation of the truth,  Please tell the world that you read it in my blog!  If you still want to play it safe, my other best advice for you to evade being singled out in public, is to mind flatulence that smells too spicy – that will certainly get you in trouble, unless of course, you can blame it on someone else! 

Cheers. 

Cesar Macher

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Here is a copy of the article:

"Indiana State Sen. Mike Delph, R- Carmel not only wants to implement a Arizona style bill but wants to bar the use of any language but English in most government transactions.

“We’re taking the handcuffs off of law enforcement. We’re holding employers who are thumbing their noses at the law accountable. And we’re lifting up the English language,” Delph said Friday.

Opposition groups fear the bill will lead to profiling and hurting businesses in the state.

“I’m worried that the unintended consequences of what he’s doing is to put a sign on our state saying we don’t want immigrants,” said John Livengood, co-chairman of the Alliance for Immigration Reform in Indiana, a coalition of groups that want to see immigration reforms left to the feds.

Senate Bill 590 is a thirty page proposal and includes:

-requires state and local law enforcement officers who stop anyone for violating a law or ordinance to ask for proof that the person is here legally if the officers have “reasonable suspicion” that the person is not a citizen or legal visitor

- Businesses that hire illegal immigrants can be shut down.

- Most government transactions, documents and meetings would be in English. The state would shut down their Spanish language portal and printing forms, ballots in other languages

-The state will bill to Congress for reimbursement of all costs for undocumented residents in Indiana.

-No financial aid, scholarships or grants for education at U of I and would have to pay out of state tuition.

- Cities and counties would be barred from limiting the enforcement of federal immigration laws.( No Sanctuary Cities)

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, Indiana was estimated to have 120,000 illegal immigrants in 2009, up from 10,000 in 1990.

“This is going to lead to profiling almost surely,” Livengood , Alliance for Immigration Reform in Indiana co-chair, said. “Our biggest fear—my biggest fear—is that Indiana becomes known as a state where immigrants aren’t welcome.”

Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, a Hammond Democrat who is one of two Hispanics in the legislature, agreed.

“While I don’t condone illegal activity, it’s pretty foolhardy to pass a bill modeled after a bill being litigated in federal court,” she said.

The bill has already been promised a hearing in the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee. Ten senators have signed on as co-sponsors, and Delph expects more.

He predicted: “This is going to fly.”

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the article also features on our facebook page, this is what a friend of mine had to say about it:

Oswaldo Trigueiros

It seems the republicans have nothing better to do, than blame immigrants for their failures, so instead of working on positive attitudes to generate employment, better working conditions for their states they sit around and waste their time on coming up onlaws based on prejudice. I guess they should have listened to MLK speech.

I agree everybody should speak english, and not only in the US but everywhere, its the language for doing business, plus we dont any more laws regulating our lives, we have to keep the Govt out of our lives.

Send us your opinion!

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Carta a una musa - Por ser viento eres mi alimento

Esta es una carta a una amiga anónima - escrita en Mayo del 2007 cuando vivía en Edmonton, Alberta,  En esa época recién el personaje de Eaglehook comenzaba a moldearse: 

Aprovecho para comentar que admito ser un poco raro - por que a veces me comunico con metáforas, sarcasmos, ironías, eufemismos y demás figuras retóricas.  Es que en realidad tengo una necesidad enorme de expresar mis sentimientos y la palabra escrita me limpia el alma, me tranquiliza y me ayuda a poner mi vida en perspectiva. 


Casi "mato" al pirata-tiburón (cara de hombre y mano peluda) en mi "Farewell del Marinero".  No se si te diste cuenta pero no tuve coraje de ahogarlo; lo deje naufrago pero buscando salvavidas… de ahí que es una historia inconclusa… A mi me gusta ese personaje pero no se encaja dentro de lo que soy en esencia… me gusta que me las mujeres me miren un tanto arrogante – algo que yo no puedo; quizás por la vanidad de sentir que el marinero acumula trofeos contando sus conquistas.  


Una interpretación mas exacta de mi poema vino de una amiga peruana que me escribió diciendo que posiblemente ese corsario debe tener un amor  real, sincero, dejado a un lado por tanto viaje, una mujer ya no tan joven que lo espera fiel y anhelante... aun sintiendo dentro de ella que el no volverá, y a pesar de ser triste la razón, prefiere creer que es la muerte quien lo aleja de ella y no la voluntad del marinero.


Lo que vale en todo esto es como ya dije, es que no tuve coraje de ahogarlo…  Un día de estos me animo y le tiro una soga para sacarlo de su miseria! ¿Qué te parece,  trazo un final feliz  junto a su doncella olvidada?


O lo dejo ahí a la deriva para que lo recoja Santiago, el protagonista de "El Viejo y el Mar" de Hemingway; para que le enseñe de una vez por todas a dejar de ser facineroso y lo adiestre a transformarse en un verdadero hombre del mar.


¿Y adonde estas tu en todo esto? -  Eres el viento que mueve los molinos que ponen en marcha mis sentimientos en palabras. 


Ser musa de un marinero provoco un despertar fugaz, intenso y bello – son pocas las mujeres que me inspiran;  eso lo digo yo y no el marinero.   Que a pesar de imposible siento el calor que me une a ti a tanta distancia. 


Soy feliz por que es inolvidable haberme rendido al subconsciente y darle control de mis riendas, apuntando sus mensajes en palabras, sin significado concreto, inesperado, irracional o lo que salga.  Por eso te digo ¡que por ser viento eres mi alimento! Gracias amiga.


Por eso que no te preocupes que sea un poco raro… no pienses mucho en mi que yo me ocupo de eso… ya te dije me gustas perfumada, sonriente, y dispuesta a soñar libremente…aun que todo se quede en solo palabras.


Cesar

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Este es el original de "Chupentanga en alto mar - Recuerdos del LLaoca" que menciono en la carta a mi musa anónima:

Adios al Marinero,


Me inspire en el Farewell de Neruda, pero no precisamente en el niñito que se aleja al final y que nos hace a todos llorar…. Esta es la historia  del adiós al  marinero de Farewell … ese que caletea de puerto en puerto, y de puerto en farra; ese que no encontró a quien decirle adiós ni nadie que lo despida.
Como nos decía el Maestro Neruda…”En cada puerto una mujer espera…los marineros besan y se van. (Una noche se acuestan con la muerte en el lecho del mar.)”


Léxico:
•"chupentanga" - palabra mía que significa embriagarse.
•"chalacas" son guapas hembras que habitan Callao, 

   puerto principal del Perú 
•"abirrinchado" es olor fuerte a letrina - 

   hedor a orín impregnado en el ambiente.


Farewell al marinero…  (recuerdos de una angioplastia…)
(Cesar Macher)


Tesoro y Chupentanga :
Armado con dientes de tiburón y con brazos de pulpo
Atiborro de cebiches, ron con anticuchos.
Todas las noches el corsario pinta sueños
chalacas desplumadas escondidas en bodega.


Intrépido:
Navega por mares lejanos a donde fuera.
Empuña el timón contra el empuje de corrientes peligrosas
El mástil de palo duro en péndulo resiste al jale de la quilla
Cada cresta amenaza arrancar la proa que él valiente incrusta
Rompe olas.


Sin rumbo:
Confundido por los años ya va tuerto el marinero
Tufo de ron, hedor de colchón abirrinchado duerme 
Orina fuera de borda e infla sus velas
Buscando viento en popa a donde fuera
Con resaca eructa vinagrera


A la deriva :
Su pecho fatigo las tuberías, olvidado sin recuerdos
Excretando pestilente lodo por sus bridas
Atorado flota nauseabundo de asco a la deriva
Dolorido, rajado y buscando salvavidas
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Para despedirme les dejo otro bosquejo mio también de la época de Edmonton

La rueda del olvido (CM)


En circulo desfilan los recuerdos
Giran al compás de un danzar eterno,
En ritmo alegre retumban descargando corriente,
Sinfónica cosquilla que estremece-envuelve


Al cruzar deja un embriagante encanto
Que arranca ansias y nostalgias vivas.
Pero de costumbre castiga a la salida
Dejando siempre vació al punto de partida 


Lentamente se llena una lagrima
Que al resbalar evoca regrese
Se instale centinela dulce melancolía. 
Que sin ti el círculo no completaría.

Change (the only constant)

     I am attempting to be more disciplined but I did not go swimming last night.  Time just slipped past me as I was trying to fix my laptop (my Skype is running too slowly)... but with a few exceptions I am going to the gym and pool almost every day these days... it is part of a self-imposed "discipline" a Spartan revival of sorts in preparation for big challenges that are looming around the corner. “Mens sana in corpore sano”.
     The topic of this blog came up as I reminisced about the day I was having a cup of coffee with a dear friend about two weeks ago.  In the middle of our conversation and without pretensions on my side, the following phrase slipped from my mouth:
    “You know something my dear… change is the only constant in my life”. 
     But as I said that, she interrupted me in the only way she knows how to interrupt, that is, very gracefully.  She repeated my words slowly looked straight at me and smiled.
     “I love what you just said”, her eyes sparkled with admiration “change is the only constant in your life”. 
     At that point she made me reflect and those words echoed with meaning!
   “Yes, so true” I said, “as paradoxical as it sounds, change is the only constant in my life; I feel like a rolling stone for I will never gather moss”. 
Considering the deleterious consequences of my inability to grow mo$$ as the privileged do, I would say that my remark is an accurate assessment of how I have lived my life so far.
    My friend is such a precious gem, those that pirates like Eaglehook would like to retain very dearly at any favorite port!  If I were to describe her most prominent attributes, I would certainly include her enchanting femininity and alluring scent!  Oh my goodness …. Hot, hot  “candela mujer”!   I love the way she makes me feel important and much wiser than I truly am! 
     For those of you who are not familiar with my blog, Eaglehook the pirate is the main character of a spicy fairy tale I have started and that is still on the works.  He is a survivor, and for that he needs to be responsive to change otherwise he will be defeated by the witch of prejudice.  He is committed to save the Queen (of all desires) from this hideous witch, but instead got himself trapped by a platoon of three-headed hounds and grotesque goblins sent by the witch.  Now he lays captured in a dark dungeon, left to rot! 
     Eaglehook not unlike his utmost foe, the witch, is also a master of deception; I am certain that he will get himself out of that hole.  He has the unbending will of a hero and lives his life accordingly. He is resolute to the point that he would be willing to sacrifice his flesh and in turn have his invincible spirit execute his ultimate maneuver to save his loving Queen.
     I admire his high standards and tonight I wish take him out of the dungeon so that we can learn from him in a different way... Let’s recall what I wrote about him back in April last year, on the episode called “The Witch of Prejudice”. 


Fly to burn (cm Apr/09)
For a taste of your black magic
Wicked witch let me succumb;
And be devoured by the rats
That infest in your filthy dungeon.
You have captured me in good time;
Go ahead and let me die
For the flesh that you have caught
Lives a the spirit of a moth
Thwart your plan is my delight
Spin and gyre round your lamp
Wings in smoke I drop my poison
Drink to implode your wicked soul.


     There you go, that was a snapshot of his spirit - cheers, to you Eaglehook. 


A world traveler, he has circumnavigated the oceans countless times. That is why when I think of him I imagine him provisioning the “Black Pearl” in preparation for his next adventure. Of course along with his dozen crew of loyal buccaneers, who as the story goes are half-human and half-ghost for they have been cursed to remain in that amorphous stated by the wicket witch herself!