A second grader in Maryland called out Michelle Obama about Barack Obama's punitive and destructive approach towards immigration and lack of implemention of just and equitable Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). She asked Michelle Obama, "My mom ... she says that Barack Obama is taking everybody away that doesn't have papers". Basically, this bright second grader pointed out what Obama is really doing instead of figuring out CIR; deporting immigrants who have committed no crime, but are criminalized by the existing immigration system.
The fact that Michelle Obama focused her answer on getting people the "right kind of papers", instead of decriminalizing immigration, did not get past this niña lista, who pointed out, "but my mom doesn't have any [papers]." A Second grader gets it, yet hundreds of politicians and millions of people across the US do not.
Check out the video:
Queremos una Reforma Inmigratoria Ahora!
Children at Immigration Rights March in Washington DC Picture by Dante Strobino
For a long time I resented, well, not Elvis Costello, but his aesthetic; you know the dark rimmed glasses with the hat or the pompadour hair that so many hipsters and rockabilly aficionados strive for. It just always seemed so unoriginal and so limited. Due to my counterculture angst, I had neglected the awesome original artist that is Elvis Costello.
My geek crush on Elvis Costello just blossomed after finding out that he canceled his concert in Israel in protest of Israel's treatment of Palestinians. "It is a matter of instinct and conscience", he wrote on his website, "One lives in hope that music is more than mere noise, filling up idle time, whether intending to elate or lament."
In a time when artist like Madonna and Elton John, and yes, sadly also Mercedes Sosa (que descanse en paz)are flocking to Israel, it is refreshing that Elvis Costello took a stand against occupation.
"There are occasions when merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted as a political act that resonates more than anything that might be sung and it may be assumed that one has no mind for the suffering of the innocent" - from Elvis Costello's website Elvis Costello: Shipbuilding
A really moving song about how war changes a town and how it uses its talents and gifts.
"With all the will in the world Diving for dear life When we could be diving for pearls"
Just got through watching Univisión’s debate about immigration laws. It was mostly a lot of people talking mierda about politicians and politicians talking mierda about each other. Use-less. Bor-ing.
I find much more engaging this little rola by El Tri. On certain topics, no one can say it like Alex Lora.
"'hora sí ya me voy ahí nos vemos / now I am going, see you later ahí les dejo mi reputación / I’m leaving you my reputation para que hagan pedazos con ella / for you all to break into pieces mientras yo les canto esta cancion / as I sing you this song el muro de la vergüenza / the wall of shame por el arco del triunfo / over the arc of triumph me lo voy a pasar / I’ll pass y ya cuando esté en el otro lado / and when I’m on the other side en su muro me voy a orinar / I am going to take a piss on their wall en su muro me voy a surrar / I am going to take a shit on their wall y con su muro me voy a limpiar / and I’m gonna wipe myself on their wall"
I can only imagine what Lora would have to say about Arizona’s latest move towards becoming a police state. The beautiful thing is witnessing all the acts of resistance that have been springing up around the country against SB 1070. The Phoenix Suns got new jerseys to play in. Even city governments have responded to the call to divest from the state. And on May 29, people from all over the nation will be converging on Arizona – just as the Freedom Riders did in the South – to stand in solidarity with the resistance movement there.
The first thing I noticed as I tried to push my way to the front of the beautifully renovated Fox Theater as Julieta Venegas came out to play was that 1. She was not carrying her accordion and 2. She was not carrying her accordion because her midsection was occupied...by a baby!! She played with so much energy and heart, which is expected, but the fact that she played such a show while six months pregnant has put Julieta in my super women list, like GG who had 2 children while working on her PhD and is graduating this May. Or La Cumbiambera, who came out to an Enanitos Verdes concert while Naya was doing somersaults in her belly. Like my mother and my mother's mother, neither of who had the luxury of maternity leave and had to work hard labor through their pregnancies.
Here are some pictures and video from the great show. Enjoy!
She has been featured time and again on this blog, but seriously, it is appropriate for me to give big shout outs to the new mother-to-be Julieta Venegas because it is because of her that I am a mother now. For those who don’t know the story, back when this blog first started I happened to be in New York for Julieta's free concert in Central Park. Standing next to me at the show was a cute boy. He had long-ish hair and was wearing a pair of blue beat-up Converse shoes. During the show he caught Julieta’s attention by shouting silly things at her (“¡Julieta dame trabajo! ¡Quiero trabajar contigo!”) I was hooked. The rest is herstory.
Much love, too, to my little mamas, Nayáhuari, who has been an awesome companion on this journey. May your life be blessed with creativity, wisdom, and lots of fans.
Julieta @ the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA, 5 de mayo 2010 (video courtesy of angram0)
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