About this Arizona immigration law...
My dad, when he lived in Texas, was at times asked for his birth certificate, even when pulled over for speeding, and once was denied a driver's license for several weeks. He was born and raised in the US. At the time he didn't even speak very good Spanish. But he was harassed for, more or less, not being white enough, and having too Spanish of a name.
Now, he doesn't have a chip on his shoulder about this, and I'm not going to carry one for him. But it's sobering to think that there's now a state where all law enforcement is now encouraged to do this sort of thing.
I understand that this is a big concern to people of Arizona, that they are worried about crime, trespassing, and smuggling associated with illegal immigration, as well as the whole economic hullabaloo. But none of that justifies telling police officers to harass everyone who looks too Mexican. There are thousands of people who have done nothing wrong and are now targeted by this law.
Probably most people who might see this won't care about this rant, but... I have something of a protective instinct, and when I'm confronted with something that's harmful or insulting to my friends or family, it's difficult for me not to react.
Now, he doesn't have a chip on his shoulder about this, and I'm not going to carry one for him. But it's sobering to think that there's now a state where all law enforcement is now encouraged to do this sort of thing.
I understand that this is a big concern to people of Arizona, that they are worried about crime, trespassing, and smuggling associated with illegal immigration, as well as the whole economic hullabaloo. But none of that justifies telling police officers to harass everyone who looks too Mexican. There are thousands of people who have done nothing wrong and are now targeted by this law.
Probably most people who might see this won't care about this rant, but... I have something of a protective instinct, and when I'm confronted with something that's harmful or insulting to my friends or family, it's difficult for me not to react.