29 July 2010

Judge Susan R Bolton's Ruling on AZ SB 1070

We can argue if the federal government is or isn't doing enough to stop illegal immigration, (the amnesty of 4 million illegals by Reagan didn't stop the flow) we can argue if the billions of dollars we are giving to the Mexican government to combat narcotraficantes is helping create problems through corruption, or is beneficial...however, Judge Bolton ruled on the constitutionality of SB1070. Article VI, Clause 2..."This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."

The LEOs still ask for identification if someone is stopped for a traffic violation, or picked up for a criminal offense...and Pima/Cochise/Santa Cruz/Yuma county officials can still interdict illegal immigrants crossing into their areas and turn them over to ICE. But fitting the description in Phoenix or Tucson, etc., is not reasonable cause, there are many citizens whose ancestry in the US predates ours who 'fit the description'.

If the problem is drug trafficking...may I ask who are the buyers? We have seen the enemy and he is us. If the problem is low wages in Mexico, perhaps NAFTA actually has something to do with that, contrary to popular beliefs. Many small farms in Mexico have shut down due to our ag policies and subsidies. The last presidential election in Mexico was hotly contested and vote counting stopped, while their Supreme Court selected the winner. There is much angst and anger about the corruption in Mexican politics.

I have no perfect solution, but I can imagine a future where the US intervenes militarily in Mexico...another Afghanistan/VietNam. I don't savor that happening.

21 July 2010

The Rock and The Bear

Every person has prejudices...it is what may make a dark colored rock in a forest look like a bear.  Many of us work to overcome these prejudices and, approaching the rock, see it for what it truly is...others will continue to see a bear and, out of fear, avoid confronting their prejudices by altering their course.  Some will hate the bear forever, blaming it for everything that crosses their path forevermore.

14 July 2010

I'm dismayed, to say the least.

A friend, who is an author and veterans' advocate, just reported to me about a Marine she has met, who served one tour in Afghanistan and three in Iraq and has four purple hearts and TBI.  Five of his unit have already committed suicide and two were KIA in Iraq.


How many have suffered through this mess?  How many lives shattered?  How many illusions created?


How long does the insanity of war need to continue?  We are a nation which produces fiat money and war, and not much else.  The citizenry are called consumers and (for the most part) are satisfied with being entertained.  


Meanwhile, the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico could be a doomsday event.  


Sanity is socially defined, but I know of no 'civilised' societies which are sane.  


My heart is heavy today.


If I was young I believe I'd go feral.

As I sit staring out of the window in the woods, birds flutter by...Veterans' Day 2023

 With wars and conflicts raging in multiple locations, I'm living in relative peace now.   I went to the Wikipedia page to see how many ...