... I am going to duck the fallout from my next comments, but I was just perusing a CNN article (via Drudge) where Att Gen Eric Holder speaks of possible suing the state of Arizona on a federal level because of the state's immigration law. He talks of worrying about it coming to racial profiling....
Well then I would like to complain to someone, and possibly sue, over other forms of racial profiling like the movie White Men Can't Jump (the title is just plain rude to white people, who certainly CAN jump). Or perhaps the general razing that goes on infering that white people can't dance. Or what about 'blonde bimbo' for those poor white girls born with blonde hair- it's not their fault, it's genetic, and they are forever labeled with bimbo, ditz, barbie, and so on. People make jokes, songs, movies, books about all of these things.
I am not an idiot - I know that some people do profile and they are most likely being unfair, rushing to judgement based on the color of one's skin. But it happens to ALL races. I am a woman and therefore have been subject to gender profiling at times - especially when it comes to work around the house (as in fix-it jobs). Recently my partner was shocked that I figured out how to fix the bathroom sink all by my lone self. He commented that I won't be ending up on Canada's Worst Handyman afterall. I just rolled my eyes at him. Perhaps instead I should have castrated him with my feminazi (thanks CS) blow to the left scrotum for such a callous, sexist remark? No, I just thought 'what a dumb man, assuming a chick can't do something that involves a screwdriver and a brain'. There see - I was sexist right back at him in the confines of my mind... is that something evil?
Anyway I digressed there - my point is, I know there is profiling. I have heard people say the dumbest things about other races/cultures, but is it not ALSO profiling to assume that every single time someone other than a white person is questioned, it must be racially motivated? Is it not profiling the officer involved if someone makes an assumption without knowing a single thing that goes on inside the officer's mind? Yes there are people who will walk past a group of white teens without batting an eyelash, but turn the corner to see a group of black teens and cross the street to avoid them. I have met people like that. But they are few and far between, they really are. It's their sad loss to act like that and think like that, but I think it's a major stretch to make the leap to racial profiling.
Did you know there are a lot of white people illegally living in the US as well? From Canada, Europe, Africa, Australia, NZ, Russia, Bulgaria, etc. The cops are aware of this. There is illegal trafficing in Russian girls for prostitution purposes. The cops are aware of this. It's not just a color issue, and this gives them the chance to check out a few more people to make sure they are in the US legally.
How can the Federal Government sue a State for enacting legislation to re-enforce the upholding of a Federal Law that has been in place since FDR?
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about blondes - we smart, natural ones can take care of ourselves juuust fine. We have always known that: the jokes are just "sour grapes"; men most certainly are immune to the stereotype; and we do have a lot of fun getting profiled, as heads turn and we tend to get away with not being treated badly. I have never had any problem getting help to change a tire. Why have hair dyes since the Egyptian era always favoured blonding?
ReplyDeleteI think Arizona is well within their bounds in passing this law (I read it), as they have specifically said that profiling is a no-no. They plan to train officers. I do not see the bill as a problem, as it does not allow any free-for-all round-ups. They have to have a legal reason for stopping the person. As you say, lots of fugitives/illegals are not Mexican, so the law itself is fine.
The devil is in the implementation, but if Arizona is really smart, they could be a great model. Will there be legal actions - yes. Will it put immigration on the fed agenda - yes! Good practical and political move for Arizona. They do not like law breakers and are tired of the cost and pain caused by ignoring problems for decades.
I can not believe that GWB was so wishy washy on this, as Texas has a huge problem. Of course, he was not so interested in financial regulation either.
Can Canada learn any lessons? Do our local cops have easy access to calling in CBS and CIC in a timely way? I do not know.
I am struggling to grasp this new law. It seems a little...impractical.
ReplyDeleteHow does one determine if someone is an illegal immigrant? Are all immigrants now to carry around our immigration papers wherever we go? I myself am from England, and I see no purpose in me carrying around my papers...(not that the law exists here.)
I think the law will be another one of those that simply dies off. The impracticality of it will be a large issue. Many officers will have problems with approaching random looking 'immigrants' to ask them for their papers.
I dont believe there is any way to "train"someone sot pick out an immigrant.
Just my two cents
I think it depends on how you think of 'asking for proof of citizenship' etc. Is it going to be someone saying 'can I zeeee your pappppers?' or is it someone asking for Social Insurance Number card, passport, or other ID?
ReplyDeleteYou might think Canada does not have this law but we do in various forms! The majority of schools now request a photocopy of the child's birth certificate, or if they were not born in Canada, they want copies of all documents showing they are allowed to be in Canada (work visas, temp visas, refugee status papers, etc). That's just for little innocent kids to go into the school system!
For jobs you need a social insurance number or you are classed as working 'under the table' and not contributing to society and can get in big trouble and the company that hires you persona-non-grata will face huge fines or worse...
There are people living in Canada illegally too of course, but if they are caught doing something naughty and end up in court, do you think the court does not ask to see proof the person is allowed to be in Canada?
And I have heard many many times that 42 states already have the same kind of law. I have yet to figure out how to look this up myself, but I have heard it on several different newsbroadcasts/opinion programs/etc. Arizona has just decided to step up the enforement.
If an officer finds some people doing something that they shouldn't be, and he asked to see some ID,,, I don't see anything wrong with that. An officer can ask to see any driver's license and registration at any time because it is a law (here at least) that you are not supposed to drive without those documents. That's just for driving a car - so why is it such a big disaster to have police ask to see 'some ID' and perhaps see a work permit, or social security card number, or something.
In my wallet at all times I have a copy of my birth certificate, my social insurance number, and my health care cards. It's not hard to carry around a photocopy of a piece of paper.
My oldest son was born in England, just so you know, and I need to get him a 'Permanent Resident Card' so it's not like he can be here without documents. He doesn't have to carry them around and flash them to cops, but then again he hasn't been doing anything suspicious or illegal so he wouldn't have anything to worry about anyway.
Ever watch 'Parking Wars'? People get totally irate at the rules for driving a car, they scream curse even get violent sometimes, because they faced a big fine for not paying their registration on time, not having their license there to release the car, etc. They go totally berserk - but most of the time they did something ILLEGAL in the first place, to get their car towed. They blame it on everyone else first.
If everyone had papers, a quick photo copy of their immigration stats or visa papers, folded up in their purse or wallet - AND they avoided illegal activity, things would be grand.
On a side note - I don't feel like everyone should be running around handing their papers out like they are in old-movie-Russia or East Germany or something. However, when it becomes a problem to the point that regions are going broke after paying out millions of dollars in aide to people who are not even legally supposed to be in the country, I can see them getting fed up.
Oh and perhaps I could also add that many govt agencies are letting people slip through the cracks - giving out drivers licenses or other forms of ID without thoroughly checking the applicant's background, plus there are always fake documents to deal with, so the police can't just ask for a driver's license and assume the person is there legally.
ReplyDeleteIf an officer stops someone and asks for proof papers and the person doesn't have them on him, it's not like he gets put on a plane and sent to Timbuktu. I would imagine there is a grace period that are given in order to present your proper papers. What's the point of having any immigration laws at all if there is no way to enforce them? They've tried fining companies who hire illegals and pay them less than they should be, they've tried other ways of tracing down illegals, but it has not really worked. So now they are trying something new...
My question for those who do not agree with the enforcement of this law is "What do you think should be done instead?"