According to the above definition (as provided by Wikipedia and other sources) I am an anchor baby. Yes, it’s true; when my parents first came to America they did so without resident papers. So, before I can share how it is I became an 'anchor baby', I have to tell their story first.
When I was born, my dad was 21 years old and my mother, believe it or not, was 34 years old. As you can see, that's a 13 year age-gap between my parents. Yeah, my mom was a cougar even before cougars existed.
I see my mom as someone who is a go-getter, and a trendsetter too. So, being the go-getter she is, my mom had a great job as the secretary for a highly respected CEO in her country. Due to that job, her income was solid. Thus, she was the main breadwinner for her family. Picture that, a woman providing for her whole family - and I mean she provided for her parents too!
But when her boss found out she was pregnant with me, he made it clear to her that he didn’t like the idea of a pregnant woman working in his office, it didn’t lend itself to a ‘professional’ setting. I assume he liked his women young and lean. You know, this guy was a man's man. So, he kindly ‘let her go’.
Unfortunately, the idea of feminism barely existed in the United States back then, and it existed much less in her country. What I mean is, there were not a lot of those terrible pesky, liberal laws that tend to protect workers. As you can imagine, there were even less laws to protect women. But my mom was not going to let any of that stop her and, since she felt my father’s sole income would be too insufficient to provide for them, she came up with the idea to come to America and look for work.
Her plan was as follows: My dad would keep working at his job and save money, and my mom would travel to the US alone. Once she was settled in, had found a job and had saved up money, she'd send for my father to join her in America. Whether my dad liked it or not, my mom called shots and. But first, she needed to find a way to get into America -- you know, any method. So, pregnant with me, my mom went to the capital city of her country to apply for a what is known as a tourist visa. Why a tourist visa?
Working and Resident Visas are hard to get and constantly denied - it's like winning the loterry, literally. The U.S. Government denies Resident and Working visa applications so much that many people apply for the next best thing, tourists visas. That's how many people come here. Except, a tourist is not supposed to legally live and work in the country. They are just here to visit and go home. You know, the movies you see of "illegal aliens" crossing the border with coyotes. That number is small compared to the ones who arrive here on tourist visas... and the media will never tell you this because it would CRASH the economy if you stopped tourist visas. I mean, CRASH it!
So, knowing that little thing... supposedly, my mom was only traveling to the U.S.A. for vacation. She was not coming here to stay and live.. and find work. Nope, she was here to take in the pretty, friendly U.S. sights and then "quickly" go back and tell everyone how great America is. And STAY in her country. Easy plan, right? Well, not really. She she was pregnant with me.
While my mom traveled to the capital city, my dad called his brother (my uncle). My dad told him that my mom was in the capital city getting a tourist visa to leave for the US -- and she was going alone. So, my uncle did not like this and he called my mom. The day that my mom arrived in the capital city she got a call from my uncle who he said the following to her: “Me dice mi hermanito que quieres irte sola para los E.U. a buscar trabajo. Bueno, los dos cortaron el palo y los dos lo tienen que echarselo al hombro. Si Ud. se va para los Estados Unidos, no se va sola. No se preocupe, yo le ayudo a los dos adquirir las visas de tourista.”
Translation: ‘My little brother tells me you want to go alone to the US to look for work. Well, you both made your bed so you both have to sleep in it together. If you’re going to the US, you can’t leave alone. Don’t worry, I’ll help both of you get tourist visas.”
My mom, knowing my uncle was connected with politicians in the capital, instantly took him up his offer. Since my uncle was a Colonel in the Air Force he knew people in the government. In a two month time frame, my uncle helped both my parents acquire tourist visas. As soon as those tourist visas were in their hands, my dad put in his resignation at work, borrowed some cash and bought plane tickets for NYC.
When my parents arrived in NYC it was a cold December day, and they just had thin jackets on. See, my parents are from Antioquia, Colombia whose main city is Medellín. My parents are 'paisas' from Medellín, so they had zero clue what real cold weather was like since their city is known as the city of 'eternal spring'. Yes, they had visited Bogotá (the capital city of Colombia) which is a chilly city. But cold in Bogotá is warm in NYC. So, when they got off of that plane at JFK, their idea of America took a turn they didn't expect, REAL COLD WEATHER. They did not own coats.. they did not speak any English, they barely had money.. and they had no legal resident status. This was a true cold winter's day reception into the American Dream. Welcome to America.
Anyway, soon as they found a pay phone, they called a friend who they knew they could stay with for a little while, Rubiella.
Rubiella had been given a heads up about my parent's coming to America... she and her husband lovingly welcomed my parents into their home. When Rubiella saw my mom was pregnant, she insisted my parents take the bedroom. It was a one bedroom apartment. My parents accepted. Still, they knew not to overstay their welcome so my dad moved fast to get a job. The next day, Rubiella introduced my dad to Angel, a Puerto Rican man, who helped my dad get a social security number. Back then (before a lot of "illegals" stated coming in) it was easier for people to get social security numbers. Since then, the law was changed and it's virtually impossible for "illegal' aliens to get a real social security number. You can get your hands on counterfeit social security numbers but not bonafide ones anymore.
So, with that social security number, my dad applied for jobs. By the end of the week... my dad had a job and, with that job, started saving money.
After 3 months... just before I was born, my parents were able to rent an apartment from Doña Amelia, a Cuban woman in Brooklyn. This happened in March and I was born in April.
After several months, their tourist visas had expired. So my mom went to the Colombian Embassy (she made sure to leave me at home that day) and said they LOVE America... and they want to see it more. Could they get their tourist visa extended? See, my mom knew she was violating the law... giving birth to me here and all... and my dad working and all. But she wanted to fly low on the radar.. so this is one trick on how you fly low on the radar. These are the tricks of surviving as an "illegal" alien in the U.S.A.
Well, my parents were granted another 6 month extension. But is the first and the LAST extension! You don't get another. So, when that extension expired... when that occurred six months later, by that point my parent's were fully "illegal"
This meant they had three full (not half, but full) counts against them 1) they were on U.S. soil withoutANY legal permission and 2) they were working on U.S. soil without permission and 3) they were residing here (not touring, residing). The second count had already been violated within the first week they had arrived. The third count was violated the 3rd month of their arrival, renting an apartment with the intent to stay. But, when that tourist visa expired.. at that point they were undoubtedly, fully and unequivocally, breaking U.S. law. In the eyes of U.S. law they were defying authority, wreckless and illegal immigrants - and had I been born. :)
You should've seen me, I was a real cute Anchorbaby too.
To this day, my mom tells me stories of how their friends were chased by U.S. immigration officers, and once they were caught they would be beaten by these officers who 'represent' the law. Some law!! One of those friends was chased so violently, that he jumped out of a window to escape and broke his legs. I've heard of people who have died, unarmed people who were just trying to make a living... and they died while trying to get away simply because the 'law' treats them worse than animals. I see so many Americans demand that the law protect domesticated and wild animals... yet undocumented immigrants are not given the same right.
I know, it's easy to defend cute little furry animals... but to love another human being - specially an illegal one, is hard!
All animals deserve proper love and care.. they deserve rights too - they are part of this planet as much as you and I are part of it. But this is where I will get extremely controversial and blunt, and forgive me for doing so. Undocumented citizens.. the people that many Americans call 'illegal'.. guess what? Surprise, they are humans too. This is a controversial concept for many Americans today. Yes, whether Americans like it or not... illegal immigrants are human too. Therefore, since they are human, of flesh and blood, illegals have unalienable rights too. This word 'unalienable' appears in many places - more prominently in the American Declaration of Independence. Except, it seems most Americans can not grasp.. or care to understand.. the full meaning of 'unalienable rights'.
Unalienable... also similar to Inalienable... means something that belongs by the very nature of the thing itself, it is intrinsic and of the very essence of the thing. In other words, what some would call as 'God given rights', others just call 'natural law'... beyond human created. A rose by any other name.. is still a rose. The Declaration of Independence of the United States speaks of Unalienable rights.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Birth given rights that the current human law does not wish to acknowledge. The United States, the same country that speaks so much of unalienable rights... and has even ignored those unalienable rights even during the foundation of the country and that attitude continues even today. First there were the African slaves whose unalienable rights to Liberty were denied. Then, there were the Chinese slaves whose Unalienable rights to freedom were also denied. Then, during the Jim Crow and segregation era... the children of former slaves were also denied Life and Liberty... unalienable rights. Even all women were not allowed to vote during the foundation of the U.S. so their unalienable right, to decide their course of Happiness and Life, was denied. Homosexuals are not allowed to marry today so their unalienable right to Happiness is denied. The same country, the same people, who speak so much aboutuUnalienable rights, who purport to embody a natural and divine law... the things our Creator intrinsically endows us with... we are the last ones to live by that Truth because ndocumented citizens, who just want a better opportunity, are treated worse than animals under American law and their unalienable rights are ignored.
Luckily for my parents, they were never caught by this human American law. Somehow, something always protected them during the immigration raids. Thank God, is all I can say. But, still, my parents knew they were not fully welcomed in America… the land of the free, home of the brave.After years of living in the U.S. as illegal immigrants - criminals breaking the 'law'.
After a few years of living in the U.S., my mom started to long for the comfort of her family and the warmth of her homeland. So my parents packed up and returned to Colombia. But they did not leave without first starting the application process for legal U.S. resident status. They thought, if they ever did return to the U.S,. they didn't want to be treated as 'illegals' and that's when they met a Colombian lawyer, Tony. Tony was an openly gay man who had moved to the U.S., and he helped my parents with processing their resident paperwork. Ohh, those homosexuals are evil. The application process took three years, but since I was born in America they eventually received their legal resident status. At that point, I became a fully bona-fide anchor baby.
I was about 4 years old at the time, so I guess an anchorKid might be more appropriate? I'll contact the U.S. government and ask them to update their derogatory terminology to include anchor-children of ALL ages.
Anyway, once my parents got permission to legally reside and work in the US, a lot of questions started to come up for my family. My parents wondered, should they come back to the US or should they stay in Colombia? For his part, my dad thought hard about what this meant because, by then, we were living back in Colombia and our lives were great. Since my dad had worked in the US, it made his resume sparkle. Due to that wonderful 'experience of working abroad', he had landed a great paying job as a technician for Medellín’s top phone company. In other words, we were doing well.
Except, with that legal resident visa in his hands, my dad started to recall all the 'illegal' immigrants who died trying to enter the US and who died in the hands of US officials. On the other hand, my mom was clear she did not want to return to the U.S. at all. She still recalled the cold weather and the cold reception she felt immigrants got in America, specially the undocumented ones. Even though she was now legally able to live in the US, she could not shake off the experience of the way undocumented immigrants are treated. So, this time, my father decided to return to the US alone.
For better or worse, he was still young and full of adventure and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity he now had – an opportunity that others had died for. By now, I was five years old and when my mom told me my dad was going to come back to America without us.. and he would send for us later on... that’s when I got depressed. Boy, I was troubled anchor baby.
I cried for weeks wondering when I would see my dad again. I cried so much that at one point my maternal grandmother took my mother aside and told he that if she didn’t want to see me upset all the time that we should reunite the family sooner than later. So, reluctantly, my mom returned to America sooner than later.
When we moved back to America, what jobs did my parents get with their new full legal resident status? My parents realized that with or without legal resident status, America still seems them as 3rd world immigrants - as people of color. Difference is that now they can 'legally' earn a minimum wage. Congrats, you have legal permission to join America's lower class. I have to call it out it out for what it is because many 'real' Americans claim my parents stole the American Dream from them. But, last I recall, the American Dream is not about a minimum wag income. So, with their legal resident status.. they were not earning much more then what they had been earning when they were 'illegals'.
My dad was a gas attendant and my mom a factory worker, both are minimum wage labor. Yes, they stole the American Dream from so many Americans. I remember being a kid, living in the wealthiest nation in the world, and wearing worn out shoes with holes in them because there times we did not have enough money to get a new pair of shoes. I also remember the ceiling in the house we lived in; it had a hole that the landlord would not fix even though we always had to pay the rent on time. When it rained, we had to walk around that hole that was in the middle of our living room.
But one thing is for sure, my parents worked so hard that we never went without food - and my parents loved me. I have to say that my parents know they were considered lower class immigrants in the US, but they wore that badge with pride because they earned every penny they made through hard labor and sweat. This is their story; this is my story. The story of an anchor baby who helped his parents get residency in the US so they could 'legally' be lower class.
So many people actually claim we came to America and stole from REAL Americans. Not only are they wrong about that but also I’d like to ask those people who gave them the sole right to determine my family is not part of the real America? Unless you’re a Native American, everyone in the US is an immigrant, of one form or another, and many people seem to forget that. Additionally, those that call themselves real Americans... they don't want to be lower class... all those people want to be middle class cause you think being lower class is for peasants.
Yes, we are peasants.. and guess what else? A few years ago, my mom became an American Citizen and now she can vote in this country too. So she is a full legal US peasant. Guess what else? She voted for Barack Obama. But here is the best part; today my mom volunteers to help other immigrants make this country their home. Yes, she teaches them English. I mean, my mom's English is very broken, she speaks with a heavy accent... but whatever she can do to help others she will do it.
My dad chose not to become a US citizen though, and I asked him why. He said this: he does not want to be a citizen of a country that hates people like him. So, every day that he lives in the US, he carries his immigrant badge with pride. Although you may not understand his choice, I respect it. I can not tell you enough how many people (specially "real Americans") get angry when they find out my dad chose not to become a U.S. citizen. That pisses off so many 'real' Americans, and some so-called liberals too, that I think it hits at the root of American's self-absorbed narcissism. Better, yet, Americanism, as Malcolm X once called it.
First, a lot of Americans don't want more immigrants here. The ones that are are more than enough, I often here. And if the immigrant is already here, it better be cause they want to be American!! As if being a 'real' American is the only proper way to be, as if wanting to be anything else is wrong. What a limited way of defining one's self and those around you. It's your right if you choose to call yourself a 'real' American.. whatever it is that word "real" means to you.. and it's also his right to stay an immigrant!!
Anyway, like I said... I don't ever expect 'real' Americans to comprehend that, in any way shape or form. As for me, I am a US citizen and, lucky for you 'real' Americans, I am politically active. I campaigned for Obama in a swing state. Yet, in NYC where I live, I voted for Cynthia McKinney for President in 2008.
Why McKinney and not Obama? Well, McKinney lost. But even though she lost, she was the only candidate (in 2008) that I felt was a real liberal.
The Tea Party thinks Obama is a socialist – but he is not. Hello, Obama is a capitalist. Of course, I know many Americans are scared of and hate socialists, and many think socialism is taking over this country. But let me make this clear to you… no matter how much I campaigned for Obama, it will never turn him into a socialist. As a matter of fact, the Tea Party doesn't even know what socialism means, which is why they jump to label Obama one. But they wouldn't know a real socialist if they saw one!
How do I know that the Tea Party does not know who a socialist is? Because I consider myself a socialist would never be scared to call themselves a socialist. It is at the root of being a socialist. Obama, would never call himself a socialist because he knows he is not one. He knows he is a capitalist, and he would proudly call himself a capitalist - any day of the week. He might say he favors regulated capitalism... but that is not socialist, it still capitalism... regulated or not it is still capitalism!!
So if Obama is not a socialist... then why would I campaign him?
I campaigned for Obama simply because McCain/Palin was NOT and is not an option for me. After the debacle that was George W. Bush, I did not want to see that debacle repeated. In 2012, I voted for Obama because this is the problem... we are pitted in a 2 party system... where the 3rd option is not viable. If Mitt Romney would've have won 2012, then things would be even worse than under a Democrat like Obama.
But that does not change the fact that Obama is not a progressive democratic socialist. Instead, Obama is a right to center democratic capitalist. Cynthia McKinney, she was a true democratic progressive socialist. So that’s why, at the end of the day, Cynthia McKinney got my vote. And that is also why, at the end of the day, Cynthia McKinney didn't have a chance in 2008.
I campaigned for Obama... but in the voting booth, I gave McKinney my vote. In 2012, with even less options on the table and Romney running for office... my options were limited to Obama.
Still, for those of you who have no clue why Obama is not a socialist.. and who still insists Obama is a socialist... let me spell out what a real socialist embodies.
1) A real socialist would never have approved of and voted for the Bush bank bailouts that Wall Street received. Instead, a true socialist would have voted in for one of those terrible progressive worker's programs that help build more public transportation and create jobs in the interim. A true socialist would have created something similar to the New Deal that Roosevelt started... building more schools... building more parks... building more arts organizations. How terrible of an idea. Instead, he approved the bank bailouts that Bush wanted for Wall Street and now there is no money left for those terrible social programs.
2) A true socialist would not label the war in Afghanistan the ‘good’ war because a real socialist knows that war is never good. Why do socialists say that war is never good? Because war is not revolution... war is something that is supported by the military industrial complex. In other words... a lot of people get rich off of wars. But a true, genuine revolution (which there are not many examples of in the world - cause eventually the ruling class always tries to co-opt revolutions for their own profit making)... but a true genuine revolution that is lead by all - straight, gay, transgendered, lower class, middle class, Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, Atheist, Agnostic, men, women, literate, illiterate, black, white, red, brown, yellow, multi-ethnic... a movement that is lead by everyone.. is a true revolution. Wars are lead by those up at the top only, and that is why those at the top make a lot of money off war. So, a true socialist would never have labled the war in Afghanistan the 'good' war cause no such thing exists.
3) A true Socialist would not only pull all government military troops out of Iraq but would alsonever allow a private mercenary force to remain there afterward. This one is self-evident to me, if you have mercenaries in Iraq... then corporations are running the Iraq war.
4) A true Socialist would not have abandoned Universal Healthcare by discussing a public option instead. Then, on top of it, allow the removal of that public option and even allowing provisions that greatly limit abortion access for millions of women into the final Health Care Reform Bill. This was the first big real sign that Obama was and is a capitalist. A socialist would have called for a revolution before giving into the demands of the Republican Party.. and Obama did just that. He lost true Universal Health care because, from the beginning, he gave into the Republican's demands and that is why we have what is called 'Obama' care and not Universal Healthcare. Otherwise, it would have been called Universal Healthcare.
5) A true Socialist would not allow states to individually decide the issue of gay marriage and instead would legalize gay marriage on a federal level. Since a true socialist knows that everyone must be treated equally.. everyone is part of the revolution... homophobia is not cool. Sure, you can be homophobic.. that is your right... it is your right to remain ignorant.. but that does not mean it makes it cool. So, a true socialist is cool enough to know that gays should have the right to marry as much as you and me and a true socialist does not even bat an eye at that.
6) A true Socialist would not only talk about defending the middle class but also would always, first and foremost, discuss the needs of the lower class in every speech, and then mention the middle class. This is at the heart fo socialism. Trickle down economics NEVER works. Unfortunately, Obama made us think he is against trickle down economics.. but once he got into power.. he helped shape the Bush Bank Bail Outs (TARP).. in other words, give the money to the banks and let them determine how they best can use it... give it to them because it is too big to fail... yet, we don't need to create a true comprehensive worker's program on a national level. So, he approve money for the rich.. to get them back to work.. but nothing for the poor. The best he does for the poor... it's a little something... is extend unemployment benefits. But it's a little something, because a true socialist knows that you don't want to keep people unemployed. That's why Obama has not been able to tackle the unemployment problem... he doesn't know how to. He is for capital and profit.. which is owned by the rich.. but he is not for social benefits on a mass national scale.
7) A true Socialist would approve a national comprehensive worker’s program before approving more money for the military. I think, after everything I just said, this is self-evident why it does not make him a socialist. Anyway, for those of you who may not have heard: Obama's war budgets, his military budgets, are even bigger than Bush's war budgets. No true socialist would be able to sleep at night if he had done that.
8) A true Socialist would have gone to the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Summit and demanded that all corporations reduce their out put of carbon emissions to the full levels that global warming scientists insists on. Well, as you know... environmentalists are socialists. That's the truth. You can not have a proper functioning civilization... a society.. a community.. if that community does not know how to treat the planet around them. That is it, it's as simple as that. Sustainability of the world is essential to a socialist. Obama, he talks a good talk about the environment but in truth... his laws lag behind what is actually needed to take care of the environment. Heck, a true socialist would never have approved more money for bombs.. BOMBS destroy our planet.. war kills people and war destroys the planet. Obama is not a socialist.. if he was.. he would have said no more money for war.. period. War is a sham, war is not true revolution.. only rich get richer through war and the poor stay poor. Instead, let's put all that money into creating industries for alternative energy.. let's invest in renewable resources.. let's not go into the Middle East for more oil for big American cars. Let's stay in America and create new sectors within alternative energy and let's create new jobs there... if we're gonna invest in war, why not invest in that? A socialist knows that.
9) A true Socialist would’ve closed down Guantanamo Base Cuba within a year and lifted the Cuban embargo. Two full years into his Presidency, and counting, and Obama has not even moved a finger to lift the Cuban Embargo. Which means, Cuba is not legally allowed to receive medicine from abroad, receive technology from abroad or do any form of legal trade with anyone who is an ally of the US. Cuba is limited to only a handful of people that they can receive goods from. This is a small island that HAS to depend on other nations, their country is small so trade is essential to them. They are an island.. but legally, they can not do trade with anyone the US steps in to block. Whether or not you like Cuba... the Cuban embargo that the U.S. created... limits Cuba from trading with the world. In other words, we have created, declared and still maintain an economic war, against the government and the people of Cuba. They are still treated as enemies. Which ties into base we keep in Cuba. We have not closed Guantanamo down and we still have our guns trained on them. So, for any of you who think we are hostile towards Cuba.. wake up. What do you Guantanamo Base Cuba is all about? Secondly, Obama promised to shut it down.. he has not shut it down... and it is 2011. We are into the third year of Obama's Presidency... and this base where illegal tortures have occurred is still running.
10) A true Socialist would demand the release of Mumia Abu Jamal and allow all the Black Panthers in exile to return to the United States. Mumia has not even crossed Obama's mind, and if it has... it has been to say... can't and won't go there. But without Mumia's struggle, Obama would not have even been able to be the black man he is able to be. He would not have been able to run for President because people like Mumia, and all the freedom fighters, have made it easier for you and me to have access to our rights more. Something that the powers that be do not want... something that the powers that be will do anything to stop... so much so they will even frame the freedom fighters... these powers that be will even kill one of their own... treat cops like pawns.. and then blame it on a freedom fighter to put him in jail forever. I would be ashamed if I were Obama, comfortably sitting in the White House... in the chair that is considered the most powerful office in the world because he won't even talk about the freedom fighters that helped get him there but who are still rotting in jail. Yeah, he will talk about Martin Luther King, Jr.. and yes, King was a true freedom fighter. But it's easy to talk about King because he is now a memory to us... he is not alive and a real threat anymore to the establishment. May he rest in peace, and that is the point.. he is dead. Mumia is still alive.. paying the price the empire imposes on freedom fighters... which is why he is rotting in jail - and Obama won't even acknowledge him. Mumia, I acknowledge you. You are in my heart, brother. Without you, I would not be half the man I am today. Thank you for showing me your light, thank you for paying the price for us. My heart goes out to Daniel Faulkner, who was used as a pawn in a plan to frame Mumia. I am sorry the empire treated your life as if it had no value.. my love and prayers go out to you and your family. Your death is not a game to me... you too were a working class man, your life as as much value as mine... but you were used in a game that the empire uses to stifle progress. Your role as a police officer, in the line of duty, allows the ruling class to make Mumia look like a demon... it is a convenient ploy for them... but a painful one for those of us who just want all working class people to have a voice. You too, Daniel Faulkner, have a right to life and your life was taken away by the powers that be within this Empire of the United States. My prayers are with you and with Mumia.
11) A true Socialist would not detract criticism from Arizona’s immigration Law (Bill SB 1070) by saying that the modification to that law (House Bill 2162) would not be applied in a discriminatory fashion.
12) A true Socialist would never have allowed corporations to gain the same rights as citizens (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission – [558 U.S. 50] Jan 2010). Yes, Obama criticized the Court’s decision, but what else has he done besides talk? After all, is he not the President? Does he not have the eyes and ears of America plus the political power and ability to do more than just weigh in his opinion? Immigrants, documented or undocumented.. are all equal under the socialist philosophy. Something a capitalist does not support.
13) Finally, a real socialist would have never permitted, after the oil catastrophe, for British Petroleum to deny access to the air and water space around the Gulf of Mexico to reporters and scientists for 2 weeks, thus allowing BP to control all reports coming out of there. The only ones authorized to legally control or deny air and water access is our Federal Government - and the Federal Government - at least in theory - is supposed to be of the people.. by the people and for the people. But, in America.. the Federal Government is of the rich CEO's, for the rich CEO's and by the rich CEO's. The lobbysts of the wealthy run our nation... that is capitalism.. where those who have the capital determine what becomes law. So, even though the area where the BP oil spill occurred in the Gulf is Federal property, meaning, the land of the people, we could not enter our own land because the rich run this country. It is they who actually get to decide what goes in and what goes out.. when you think about it.. this begins to explains why we have the laws we have. Who invented the WTO, who invented the World Bank, who invented the trade pacts we have? Did the working class get the final say in any of these things.. or did the wealthy get the final say? If you can't of the answer to that then I'll simply ask you this, who was it that got the bank bail out, who got YOUR tax dollars? Which Americans are the ones that are unemployed and losing homes... is it the CEO's?
As for the BP oil spill.. the Gulf area is supposed to be American air and water space - not the private property of ANY corporation, and a real socialist knows that. Reporters and scientists had to ask permission to enter public beaches and this went unchecked for weeks by the Federal Government. Again, this happened cause the corporations run our government and in a true socialist government... wealthy CEO's would not determine the rule of the law but, instead, the working class would.
The list as to what defines a socialist goes on and on, making it clear and evident as to why it is that Obama is not a socialist. In closing, I will also say that a true socialist would push for Agrarian Reform, the right to housing, food and education - something a capitalist would NEVER push for.
I know right-wing people, and even some center Democrats, hate people like me. Yes, I am an anchor baby, I am a socialist and I am here to stay.
When I was born, my dad was 21 years old and my mother, believe it or not, was 34 years old. As you can see, that's a 13 year age-gap between my parents. Yeah, my mom was a cougar even before cougars existed.
I see my mom as someone who is a go-getter, and a trendsetter too. So, being the go-getter she is, my mom had a great job as the secretary for a highly respected CEO in her country. Due to that job, her income was solid. Thus, she was the main breadwinner for her family. Picture that, a woman providing for her whole family - and I mean she provided for her parents too!
But when her boss found out she was pregnant with me, he made it clear to her that he didn’t like the idea of a pregnant woman working in his office, it didn’t lend itself to a ‘professional’ setting. I assume he liked his women young and lean. You know, this guy was a man's man. So, he kindly ‘let her go’.
Unfortunately, the idea of feminism barely existed in the United States back then, and it existed much less in her country. What I mean is, there were not a lot of those terrible pesky, liberal laws that tend to protect workers. As you can imagine, there were even less laws to protect women. But my mom was not going to let any of that stop her and, since she felt my father’s sole income would be too insufficient to provide for them, she came up with the idea to come to America and look for work.
Her plan was as follows: My dad would keep working at his job and save money, and my mom would travel to the US alone. Once she was settled in, had found a job and had saved up money, she'd send for my father to join her in America. Whether my dad liked it or not, my mom called shots and. But first, she needed to find a way to get into America -- you know, any method. So, pregnant with me, my mom went to the capital city of her country to apply for a what is known as a tourist visa. Why a tourist visa?
Working and Resident Visas are hard to get and constantly denied - it's like winning the loterry, literally. The U.S. Government denies Resident and Working visa applications so much that many people apply for the next best thing, tourists visas. That's how many people come here. Except, a tourist is not supposed to legally live and work in the country. They are just here to visit and go home. You know, the movies you see of "illegal aliens" crossing the border with coyotes. That number is small compared to the ones who arrive here on tourist visas... and the media will never tell you this because it would CRASH the economy if you stopped tourist visas. I mean, CRASH it!
So, knowing that little thing... supposedly, my mom was only traveling to the U.S.A. for vacation. She was not coming here to stay and live.. and find work. Nope, she was here to take in the pretty, friendly U.S. sights and then "quickly" go back and tell everyone how great America is. And STAY in her country. Easy plan, right? Well, not really. She she was pregnant with me.
While my mom traveled to the capital city, my dad called his brother (my uncle). My dad told him that my mom was in the capital city getting a tourist visa to leave for the US -- and she was going alone. So, my uncle did not like this and he called my mom. The day that my mom arrived in the capital city she got a call from my uncle who he said the following to her: “Me dice mi hermanito que quieres irte sola para los E.U. a buscar trabajo. Bueno, los dos cortaron el palo y los dos lo tienen que echarselo al hombro. Si Ud. se va para los Estados Unidos, no se va sola. No se preocupe, yo le ayudo a los dos adquirir las visas de tourista.”
Translation: ‘My little brother tells me you want to go alone to the US to look for work. Well, you both made your bed so you both have to sleep in it together. If you’re going to the US, you can’t leave alone. Don’t worry, I’ll help both of you get tourist visas.”
My mom, knowing my uncle was connected with politicians in the capital, instantly took him up his offer. Since my uncle was a Colonel in the Air Force he knew people in the government. In a two month time frame, my uncle helped both my parents acquire tourist visas. As soon as those tourist visas were in their hands, my dad put in his resignation at work, borrowed some cash and bought plane tickets for NYC.
When my parents arrived in NYC it was a cold December day, and they just had thin jackets on. See, my parents are from Antioquia, Colombia whose main city is Medellín. My parents are 'paisas' from Medellín, so they had zero clue what real cold weather was like since their city is known as the city of 'eternal spring'. Yes, they had visited Bogotá (the capital city of Colombia) which is a chilly city. But cold in Bogotá is warm in NYC. So, when they got off of that plane at JFK, their idea of America took a turn they didn't expect, REAL COLD WEATHER. They did not own coats.. they did not speak any English, they barely had money.. and they had no legal resident status. This was a true cold winter's day reception into the American Dream. Welcome to America.
Anyway, soon as they found a pay phone, they called a friend who they knew they could stay with for a little while, Rubiella.
Rubiella had been given a heads up about my parent's coming to America... she and her husband lovingly welcomed my parents into their home. When Rubiella saw my mom was pregnant, she insisted my parents take the bedroom. It was a one bedroom apartment. My parents accepted. Still, they knew not to overstay their welcome so my dad moved fast to get a job. The next day, Rubiella introduced my dad to Angel, a Puerto Rican man, who helped my dad get a social security number. Back then (before a lot of "illegals" stated coming in) it was easier for people to get social security numbers. Since then, the law was changed and it's virtually impossible for "illegal' aliens to get a real social security number. You can get your hands on counterfeit social security numbers but not bonafide ones anymore.
So, with that social security number, my dad applied for jobs. By the end of the week... my dad had a job and, with that job, started saving money.
After 3 months... just before I was born, my parents were able to rent an apartment from Doña Amelia, a Cuban woman in Brooklyn. This happened in March and I was born in April.
After several months, their tourist visas had expired. So my mom went to the Colombian Embassy (she made sure to leave me at home that day) and said they LOVE America... and they want to see it more. Could they get their tourist visa extended? See, my mom knew she was violating the law... giving birth to me here and all... and my dad working and all. But she wanted to fly low on the radar.. so this is one trick on how you fly low on the radar. These are the tricks of surviving as an "illegal" alien in the U.S.A.
Well, my parents were granted another 6 month extension. But is the first and the LAST extension! You don't get another. So, when that extension expired... when that occurred six months later, by that point my parent's were fully "illegal"
This meant they had three full (not half, but full) counts against them 1) they were on U.S. soil withoutANY legal permission and 2) they were working on U.S. soil without permission and 3) they were residing here (not touring, residing). The second count had already been violated within the first week they had arrived. The third count was violated the 3rd month of their arrival, renting an apartment with the intent to stay. But, when that tourist visa expired.. at that point they were undoubtedly, fully and unequivocally, breaking U.S. law. In the eyes of U.S. law they were defying authority, wreckless and illegal immigrants - and had I been born. :)
You should've seen me, I was a real cute Anchorbaby too.
To this day, my mom tells me stories of how their friends were chased by U.S. immigration officers, and once they were caught they would be beaten by these officers who 'represent' the law. Some law!! One of those friends was chased so violently, that he jumped out of a window to escape and broke his legs. I've heard of people who have died, unarmed people who were just trying to make a living... and they died while trying to get away simply because the 'law' treats them worse than animals. I see so many Americans demand that the law protect domesticated and wild animals... yet undocumented immigrants are not given the same right.
I know, it's easy to defend cute little furry animals... but to love another human being - specially an illegal one, is hard!
All animals deserve proper love and care.. they deserve rights too - they are part of this planet as much as you and I are part of it. But this is where I will get extremely controversial and blunt, and forgive me for doing so. Undocumented citizens.. the people that many Americans call 'illegal'.. guess what? Surprise, they are humans too. This is a controversial concept for many Americans today. Yes, whether Americans like it or not... illegal immigrants are human too. Therefore, since they are human, of flesh and blood, illegals have unalienable rights too. This word 'unalienable' appears in many places - more prominently in the American Declaration of Independence. Except, it seems most Americans can not grasp.. or care to understand.. the full meaning of 'unalienable rights'.
Unalienable... also similar to Inalienable... means something that belongs by the very nature of the thing itself, it is intrinsic and of the very essence of the thing. In other words, what some would call as 'God given rights', others just call 'natural law'... beyond human created. A rose by any other name.. is still a rose. The Declaration of Independence of the United States speaks of Unalienable rights.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Birth given rights that the current human law does not wish to acknowledge. The United States, the same country that speaks so much of unalienable rights... and has even ignored those unalienable rights even during the foundation of the country and that attitude continues even today. First there were the African slaves whose unalienable rights to Liberty were denied. Then, there were the Chinese slaves whose Unalienable rights to freedom were also denied. Then, during the Jim Crow and segregation era... the children of former slaves were also denied Life and Liberty... unalienable rights. Even all women were not allowed to vote during the foundation of the U.S. so their unalienable right, to decide their course of Happiness and Life, was denied. Homosexuals are not allowed to marry today so their unalienable right to Happiness is denied. The same country, the same people, who speak so much aboutuUnalienable rights, who purport to embody a natural and divine law... the things our Creator intrinsically endows us with... we are the last ones to live by that Truth because ndocumented citizens, who just want a better opportunity, are treated worse than animals under American law and their unalienable rights are ignored.
Luckily for my parents, they were never caught by this human American law. Somehow, something always protected them during the immigration raids. Thank God, is all I can say. But, still, my parents knew they were not fully welcomed in America… the land of the free, home of the brave.After years of living in the U.S. as illegal immigrants - criminals breaking the 'law'.
After a few years of living in the U.S., my mom started to long for the comfort of her family and the warmth of her homeland. So my parents packed up and returned to Colombia. But they did not leave without first starting the application process for legal U.S. resident status. They thought, if they ever did return to the U.S,. they didn't want to be treated as 'illegals' and that's when they met a Colombian lawyer, Tony. Tony was an openly gay man who had moved to the U.S., and he helped my parents with processing their resident paperwork. Ohh, those homosexuals are evil. The application process took three years, but since I was born in America they eventually received their legal resident status. At that point, I became a fully bona-fide anchor baby.
I was about 4 years old at the time, so I guess an anchorKid might be more appropriate? I'll contact the U.S. government and ask them to update their derogatory terminology to include anchor-children of ALL ages.
Anyway, once my parents got permission to legally reside and work in the US, a lot of questions started to come up for my family. My parents wondered, should they come back to the US or should they stay in Colombia? For his part, my dad thought hard about what this meant because, by then, we were living back in Colombia and our lives were great. Since my dad had worked in the US, it made his resume sparkle. Due to that wonderful 'experience of working abroad', he had landed a great paying job as a technician for Medellín’s top phone company. In other words, we were doing well.
Except, with that legal resident visa in his hands, my dad started to recall all the 'illegal' immigrants who died trying to enter the US and who died in the hands of US officials. On the other hand, my mom was clear she did not want to return to the U.S. at all. She still recalled the cold weather and the cold reception she felt immigrants got in America, specially the undocumented ones. Even though she was now legally able to live in the US, she could not shake off the experience of the way undocumented immigrants are treated. So, this time, my father decided to return to the US alone.
For better or worse, he was still young and full of adventure and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity he now had – an opportunity that others had died for. By now, I was five years old and when my mom told me my dad was going to come back to America without us.. and he would send for us later on... that’s when I got depressed. Boy, I was troubled anchor baby.
I cried for weeks wondering when I would see my dad again. I cried so much that at one point my maternal grandmother took my mother aside and told he that if she didn’t want to see me upset all the time that we should reunite the family sooner than later. So, reluctantly, my mom returned to America sooner than later.
When we moved back to America, what jobs did my parents get with their new full legal resident status? My parents realized that with or without legal resident status, America still seems them as 3rd world immigrants - as people of color. Difference is that now they can 'legally' earn a minimum wage. Congrats, you have legal permission to join America's lower class. I have to call it out it out for what it is because many 'real' Americans claim my parents stole the American Dream from them. But, last I recall, the American Dream is not about a minimum wag income. So, with their legal resident status.. they were not earning much more then what they had been earning when they were 'illegals'.
My dad was a gas attendant and my mom a factory worker, both are minimum wage labor. Yes, they stole the American Dream from so many Americans. I remember being a kid, living in the wealthiest nation in the world, and wearing worn out shoes with holes in them because there times we did not have enough money to get a new pair of shoes. I also remember the ceiling in the house we lived in; it had a hole that the landlord would not fix even though we always had to pay the rent on time. When it rained, we had to walk around that hole that was in the middle of our living room.
But one thing is for sure, my parents worked so hard that we never went without food - and my parents loved me. I have to say that my parents know they were considered lower class immigrants in the US, but they wore that badge with pride because they earned every penny they made through hard labor and sweat. This is their story; this is my story. The story of an anchor baby who helped his parents get residency in the US so they could 'legally' be lower class.
So many people actually claim we came to America and stole from REAL Americans. Not only are they wrong about that but also I’d like to ask those people who gave them the sole right to determine my family is not part of the real America? Unless you’re a Native American, everyone in the US is an immigrant, of one form or another, and many people seem to forget that. Additionally, those that call themselves real Americans... they don't want to be lower class... all those people want to be middle class cause you think being lower class is for peasants.
Yes, we are peasants.. and guess what else? A few years ago, my mom became an American Citizen and now she can vote in this country too. So she is a full legal US peasant. Guess what else? She voted for Barack Obama. But here is the best part; today my mom volunteers to help other immigrants make this country their home. Yes, she teaches them English. I mean, my mom's English is very broken, she speaks with a heavy accent... but whatever she can do to help others she will do it.
My dad chose not to become a US citizen though, and I asked him why. He said this: he does not want to be a citizen of a country that hates people like him. So, every day that he lives in the US, he carries his immigrant badge with pride. Although you may not understand his choice, I respect it. I can not tell you enough how many people (specially "real Americans") get angry when they find out my dad chose not to become a U.S. citizen. That pisses off so many 'real' Americans, and some so-called liberals too, that I think it hits at the root of American's self-absorbed narcissism. Better, yet, Americanism, as Malcolm X once called it.
First, a lot of Americans don't want more immigrants here. The ones that are are more than enough, I often here. And if the immigrant is already here, it better be cause they want to be American!! As if being a 'real' American is the only proper way to be, as if wanting to be anything else is wrong. What a limited way of defining one's self and those around you. It's your right if you choose to call yourself a 'real' American.. whatever it is that word "real" means to you.. and it's also his right to stay an immigrant!!
Anyway, like I said... I don't ever expect 'real' Americans to comprehend that, in any way shape or form. As for me, I am a US citizen and, lucky for you 'real' Americans, I am politically active. I campaigned for Obama in a swing state. Yet, in NYC where I live, I voted for Cynthia McKinney for President in 2008.
Why McKinney and not Obama? Well, McKinney lost. But even though she lost, she was the only candidate (in 2008) that I felt was a real liberal.
The Tea Party thinks Obama is a socialist – but he is not. Hello, Obama is a capitalist. Of course, I know many Americans are scared of and hate socialists, and many think socialism is taking over this country. But let me make this clear to you… no matter how much I campaigned for Obama, it will never turn him into a socialist. As a matter of fact, the Tea Party doesn't even know what socialism means, which is why they jump to label Obama one. But they wouldn't know a real socialist if they saw one!
How do I know that the Tea Party does not know who a socialist is? Because I consider myself a socialist would never be scared to call themselves a socialist. It is at the root of being a socialist. Obama, would never call himself a socialist because he knows he is not one. He knows he is a capitalist, and he would proudly call himself a capitalist - any day of the week. He might say he favors regulated capitalism... but that is not socialist, it still capitalism... regulated or not it is still capitalism!!
So if Obama is not a socialist... then why would I campaign him?
I campaigned for Obama simply because McCain/Palin was NOT and is not an option for me. After the debacle that was George W. Bush, I did not want to see that debacle repeated. In 2012, I voted for Obama because this is the problem... we are pitted in a 2 party system... where the 3rd option is not viable. If Mitt Romney would've have won 2012, then things would be even worse than under a Democrat like Obama.
But that does not change the fact that Obama is not a progressive democratic socialist. Instead, Obama is a right to center democratic capitalist. Cynthia McKinney, she was a true democratic progressive socialist. So that’s why, at the end of the day, Cynthia McKinney got my vote. And that is also why, at the end of the day, Cynthia McKinney didn't have a chance in 2008.
I campaigned for Obama... but in the voting booth, I gave McKinney my vote. In 2012, with even less options on the table and Romney running for office... my options were limited to Obama.
Still, for those of you who have no clue why Obama is not a socialist.. and who still insists Obama is a socialist... let me spell out what a real socialist embodies.
1) A real socialist would never have approved of and voted for the Bush bank bailouts that Wall Street received. Instead, a true socialist would have voted in for one of those terrible progressive worker's programs that help build more public transportation and create jobs in the interim. A true socialist would have created something similar to the New Deal that Roosevelt started... building more schools... building more parks... building more arts organizations. How terrible of an idea. Instead, he approved the bank bailouts that Bush wanted for Wall Street and now there is no money left for those terrible social programs.
2) A true socialist would not label the war in Afghanistan the ‘good’ war because a real socialist knows that war is never good. Why do socialists say that war is never good? Because war is not revolution... war is something that is supported by the military industrial complex. In other words... a lot of people get rich off of wars. But a true, genuine revolution (which there are not many examples of in the world - cause eventually the ruling class always tries to co-opt revolutions for their own profit making)... but a true genuine revolution that is lead by all - straight, gay, transgendered, lower class, middle class, Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, Atheist, Agnostic, men, women, literate, illiterate, black, white, red, brown, yellow, multi-ethnic... a movement that is lead by everyone.. is a true revolution. Wars are lead by those up at the top only, and that is why those at the top make a lot of money off war. So, a true socialist would never have labled the war in Afghanistan the 'good' war cause no such thing exists.
3) A true Socialist would not only pull all government military troops out of Iraq but would alsonever allow a private mercenary force to remain there afterward. This one is self-evident to me, if you have mercenaries in Iraq... then corporations are running the Iraq war.
4) A true Socialist would not have abandoned Universal Healthcare by discussing a public option instead. Then, on top of it, allow the removal of that public option and even allowing provisions that greatly limit abortion access for millions of women into the final Health Care Reform Bill. This was the first big real sign that Obama was and is a capitalist. A socialist would have called for a revolution before giving into the demands of the Republican Party.. and Obama did just that. He lost true Universal Health care because, from the beginning, he gave into the Republican's demands and that is why we have what is called 'Obama' care and not Universal Healthcare. Otherwise, it would have been called Universal Healthcare.
5) A true Socialist would not allow states to individually decide the issue of gay marriage and instead would legalize gay marriage on a federal level. Since a true socialist knows that everyone must be treated equally.. everyone is part of the revolution... homophobia is not cool. Sure, you can be homophobic.. that is your right... it is your right to remain ignorant.. but that does not mean it makes it cool. So, a true socialist is cool enough to know that gays should have the right to marry as much as you and me and a true socialist does not even bat an eye at that.
6) A true Socialist would not only talk about defending the middle class but also would always, first and foremost, discuss the needs of the lower class in every speech, and then mention the middle class. This is at the heart fo socialism. Trickle down economics NEVER works. Unfortunately, Obama made us think he is against trickle down economics.. but once he got into power.. he helped shape the Bush Bank Bail Outs (TARP).. in other words, give the money to the banks and let them determine how they best can use it... give it to them because it is too big to fail... yet, we don't need to create a true comprehensive worker's program on a national level. So, he approve money for the rich.. to get them back to work.. but nothing for the poor. The best he does for the poor... it's a little something... is extend unemployment benefits. But it's a little something, because a true socialist knows that you don't want to keep people unemployed. That's why Obama has not been able to tackle the unemployment problem... he doesn't know how to. He is for capital and profit.. which is owned by the rich.. but he is not for social benefits on a mass national scale.
7) A true Socialist would approve a national comprehensive worker’s program before approving more money for the military. I think, after everything I just said, this is self-evident why it does not make him a socialist. Anyway, for those of you who may not have heard: Obama's war budgets, his military budgets, are even bigger than Bush's war budgets. No true socialist would be able to sleep at night if he had done that.
8) A true Socialist would have gone to the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Summit and demanded that all corporations reduce their out put of carbon emissions to the full levels that global warming scientists insists on. Well, as you know... environmentalists are socialists. That's the truth. You can not have a proper functioning civilization... a society.. a community.. if that community does not know how to treat the planet around them. That is it, it's as simple as that. Sustainability of the world is essential to a socialist. Obama, he talks a good talk about the environment but in truth... his laws lag behind what is actually needed to take care of the environment. Heck, a true socialist would never have approved more money for bombs.. BOMBS destroy our planet.. war kills people and war destroys the planet. Obama is not a socialist.. if he was.. he would have said no more money for war.. period. War is a sham, war is not true revolution.. only rich get richer through war and the poor stay poor. Instead, let's put all that money into creating industries for alternative energy.. let's invest in renewable resources.. let's not go into the Middle East for more oil for big American cars. Let's stay in America and create new sectors within alternative energy and let's create new jobs there... if we're gonna invest in war, why not invest in that? A socialist knows that.
9) A true Socialist would’ve closed down Guantanamo Base Cuba within a year and lifted the Cuban embargo. Two full years into his Presidency, and counting, and Obama has not even moved a finger to lift the Cuban Embargo. Which means, Cuba is not legally allowed to receive medicine from abroad, receive technology from abroad or do any form of legal trade with anyone who is an ally of the US. Cuba is limited to only a handful of people that they can receive goods from. This is a small island that HAS to depend on other nations, their country is small so trade is essential to them. They are an island.. but legally, they can not do trade with anyone the US steps in to block. Whether or not you like Cuba... the Cuban embargo that the U.S. created... limits Cuba from trading with the world. In other words, we have created, declared and still maintain an economic war, against the government and the people of Cuba. They are still treated as enemies. Which ties into base we keep in Cuba. We have not closed Guantanamo down and we still have our guns trained on them. So, for any of you who think we are hostile towards Cuba.. wake up. What do you Guantanamo Base Cuba is all about? Secondly, Obama promised to shut it down.. he has not shut it down... and it is 2011. We are into the third year of Obama's Presidency... and this base where illegal tortures have occurred is still running.
10) A true Socialist would demand the release of Mumia Abu Jamal and allow all the Black Panthers in exile to return to the United States. Mumia has not even crossed Obama's mind, and if it has... it has been to say... can't and won't go there. But without Mumia's struggle, Obama would not have even been able to be the black man he is able to be. He would not have been able to run for President because people like Mumia, and all the freedom fighters, have made it easier for you and me to have access to our rights more. Something that the powers that be do not want... something that the powers that be will do anything to stop... so much so they will even frame the freedom fighters... these powers that be will even kill one of their own... treat cops like pawns.. and then blame it on a freedom fighter to put him in jail forever. I would be ashamed if I were Obama, comfortably sitting in the White House... in the chair that is considered the most powerful office in the world because he won't even talk about the freedom fighters that helped get him there but who are still rotting in jail. Yeah, he will talk about Martin Luther King, Jr.. and yes, King was a true freedom fighter. But it's easy to talk about King because he is now a memory to us... he is not alive and a real threat anymore to the establishment. May he rest in peace, and that is the point.. he is dead. Mumia is still alive.. paying the price the empire imposes on freedom fighters... which is why he is rotting in jail - and Obama won't even acknowledge him. Mumia, I acknowledge you. You are in my heart, brother. Without you, I would not be half the man I am today. Thank you for showing me your light, thank you for paying the price for us. My heart goes out to Daniel Faulkner, who was used as a pawn in a plan to frame Mumia. I am sorry the empire treated your life as if it had no value.. my love and prayers go out to you and your family. Your death is not a game to me... you too were a working class man, your life as as much value as mine... but you were used in a game that the empire uses to stifle progress. Your role as a police officer, in the line of duty, allows the ruling class to make Mumia look like a demon... it is a convenient ploy for them... but a painful one for those of us who just want all working class people to have a voice. You too, Daniel Faulkner, have a right to life and your life was taken away by the powers that be within this Empire of the United States. My prayers are with you and with Mumia.
11) A true Socialist would not detract criticism from Arizona’s immigration Law (Bill SB 1070) by saying that the modification to that law (House Bill 2162) would not be applied in a discriminatory fashion.
12) A true Socialist would never have allowed corporations to gain the same rights as citizens (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission – [558 U.S. 50] Jan 2010). Yes, Obama criticized the Court’s decision, but what else has he done besides talk? After all, is he not the President? Does he not have the eyes and ears of America plus the political power and ability to do more than just weigh in his opinion? Immigrants, documented or undocumented.. are all equal under the socialist philosophy. Something a capitalist does not support.
13) Finally, a real socialist would have never permitted, after the oil catastrophe, for British Petroleum to deny access to the air and water space around the Gulf of Mexico to reporters and scientists for 2 weeks, thus allowing BP to control all reports coming out of there. The only ones authorized to legally control or deny air and water access is our Federal Government - and the Federal Government - at least in theory - is supposed to be of the people.. by the people and for the people. But, in America.. the Federal Government is of the rich CEO's, for the rich CEO's and by the rich CEO's. The lobbysts of the wealthy run our nation... that is capitalism.. where those who have the capital determine what becomes law. So, even though the area where the BP oil spill occurred in the Gulf is Federal property, meaning, the land of the people, we could not enter our own land because the rich run this country. It is they who actually get to decide what goes in and what goes out.. when you think about it.. this begins to explains why we have the laws we have. Who invented the WTO, who invented the World Bank, who invented the trade pacts we have? Did the working class get the final say in any of these things.. or did the wealthy get the final say? If you can't of the answer to that then I'll simply ask you this, who was it that got the bank bail out, who got YOUR tax dollars? Which Americans are the ones that are unemployed and losing homes... is it the CEO's?
As for the BP oil spill.. the Gulf area is supposed to be American air and water space - not the private property of ANY corporation, and a real socialist knows that. Reporters and scientists had to ask permission to enter public beaches and this went unchecked for weeks by the Federal Government. Again, this happened cause the corporations run our government and in a true socialist government... wealthy CEO's would not determine the rule of the law but, instead, the working class would.
The list as to what defines a socialist goes on and on, making it clear and evident as to why it is that Obama is not a socialist. In closing, I will also say that a true socialist would push for Agrarian Reform, the right to housing, food and education - something a capitalist would NEVER push for.
I know right-wing people, and even some center Democrats, hate people like me. Yes, I am an anchor baby, I am a socialist and I am here to stay.
How does Immigration law apply to a child born in the US and to undocumented parents?
Family-based immigration is an extensive process and limited to sections prescribed by provisions within the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Because of this, the term "anchor baby" is a misnomer since it fully implies that by having a baby in the US, temporary or undocumented immigrants can easily "anchor" themselves in the US.
In fact, under the law, a child born in the US and who automatically becomes a citizen cannot file for a US visa for its parents until that child is 21 years of age. As well, upon reaching 21 yrs of age, the child must also be earning at least 125% of the US poverty threshold to even be able to apply. In addition, if the parents are undocumented immigrants, they are occasionally barred from legal immigration status despite having a sponsor. Thus, temporary or undocumented immigrants, with American babies, have no ‘easy’ means of fully ‘anchoring’ themselves legally in the US.
As for the siblings of US citizen children, once the US child turns 18, immigration law allows a US citizen child to sponsor his/her own siblings - with a 15 to 23 year quota delay. The current immigration law does not provide categories for any other relatives.
A related term, "anchor child", referring in this case to very young immigrants who will later sponsor immigration for family members who are still abroad, was used in reference to Vietnamese people who sought refuge in the US during the early 1980’s and 1990’s.
- The Anchor Baby
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Family-based immigration is an extensive process and limited to sections prescribed by provisions within the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Because of this, the term "anchor baby" is a misnomer since it fully implies that by having a baby in the US, temporary or undocumented immigrants can easily "anchor" themselves in the US.
In fact, under the law, a child born in the US and who automatically becomes a citizen cannot file for a US visa for its parents until that child is 21 years of age. As well, upon reaching 21 yrs of age, the child must also be earning at least 125% of the US poverty threshold to even be able to apply. In addition, if the parents are undocumented immigrants, they are occasionally barred from legal immigration status despite having a sponsor. Thus, temporary or undocumented immigrants, with American babies, have no ‘easy’ means of fully ‘anchoring’ themselves legally in the US.
As for the siblings of US citizen children, once the US child turns 18, immigration law allows a US citizen child to sponsor his/her own siblings - with a 15 to 23 year quota delay. The current immigration law does not provide categories for any other relatives.
A related term, "anchor child", referring in this case to very young immigrants who will later sponsor immigration for family members who are still abroad, was used in reference to Vietnamese people who sought refuge in the US during the early 1980’s and 1990’s.
- The Anchor Baby
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