Ken's (Pro)posterous Posts

An aggregator...or not...

Ken Montenegro

I'm a "man" of letters by schooling and inclination, a technologist by profession, and soon, a lawyer by sadism (and diligence).

There's no assurance that the content here has any value added by (re)posting...but you're the only person who can confer external value.

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Only the "Documented" Are People

Some kind folks have launched a campaign to assert the rights of an undocumented student who was denied courtesy, respect, and accurate information from my "progressive" law school.  I am in support of this campaign because if we can't address issues close to home, isn't it the apogee of colonialism to attempt to address issues abroad (or at a distance)?  

The question is, for organizations, what does it take to realize that we've done wrong and right that wrong?

Here is a quick summary done by the folks from the Association of Raza Educators:
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To all undocumented student advocates and supporters,

Please see statement below by an undocumented student who was told she could not attend the Peoples College of Law.  It is perhaps the ONLY law school in California that does NOT accept undocumented students!  Ironically, this is coming from a progressive institution of higher learning that boasts:

"We only admit those students who, regardless of their quite varied political, spiritual, cultural or social backgrounds, have demonstrated a commitment to progressive social change, have an awareness of working class issues and will employ the skills gained at the school to further these goals in their own way. Thus, if you want to be a prosecutor or a corporate attorney, don't waste our time applying; there are plenty of other schools out there for you!"

For more information on the Peoples College of Law, please visit:  http://www.peoplescollegeoflaw.edu/

Miguel Zavala
Co-Chair, ARE Los Angeles

Whose "Peoples" College of Law?

What's next? That's the question I have been asking myself over and over again.  I am an undocumented student and in my senior year at Fresno State. The closer I get to graduation, the more and more I see doors closing due to my residency status. Depression overwhelms my thoughts and feelings. I have lost my motivation to continue working with what society asks of me. Even though I've been committed to community service, have been an active student organizer, have good grades, and have maintained "good moral character" (a requirement of the proposed Dream Act), it seems that in the end, all my efforts do not matter.

The news, people, and society continually portray undocumented students as "illegal", thus justifying our oppression and unequal treatment. We can't receive loans, apply for financial aid, get a job, we have been barred from enrolling in teaching credential programs at some state universities, and we can't receive proper health care.

For college graduating undocumented students like myself, our career paths are completely and heartlessly shut down. We live in the shadows, scared about being deported, overwhelmed with the weight of not knowing what we will-or can-do after college.

I have a dream of becoming a lawyer and advocate for my community.  But this dream has been fading away, ever since I was told by the Peoples College of Law that I could not attend their law school:  "Thank you for your interest in the school.  At the present time, we are only able to take permanent residents, green cards, or social security numbers."  I agree with the progressive mission of the Peoples College of Law, that is why I want to apply there, plus the fact that it's the only affordable law school in the nation!

My options are running out.  I am considering attending law school in Canada. I've wanted to go to Mexico, where my abusive father lives, and try to pursue my career there.  But "returning" to Mexico or studying in Canada?  Why can't I be allowed to pursue my education here?  Why won't the People's College of Law open its admissions policies to undocumented students, like other law schools in California?

Esperanza (Pseudonym)

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Never Trust A Peasant

Lenin said it. Really.

I think he was on to something if we consider that the peasant is desperate to fill an immediate need.  Desperate to kill the hunger pangs and remove the gaunt look from her/his loved ones.  Maybe the days of serfdom are back but we don't know it.

We want any piece of legislation that claims to address our needs and don't really care about the details because we are desperate.  We want to feel good: we want to be happy.

And so, we decide to delude ourselves that the electoral placebo is working...that our belies are full (of hope). But hope is a spirit and a spirit will pass as a noxious gas.

Maybe our poverty is hidden by our epidemic rate of childhood obesity and our shinny cars.  Maybe it's hidden like the sores of a meth addict who knows how to apply some foundation or cover-up...but the wound is still there.  And, because we are hurt and hungry...any leader is good...any leader is a savior...and, because it feeds us, gives good head, and tells us we're smart and lovely, we will obey...like desperate peasants.
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The New Coke: Semi-erotic Thoughts on #cirasap

When Ginsberg wrote, "America, I've given you all and now I'm nothing" I think he captured the sentiment of some of us who live a nice life in the United States but are acutely aware of its imperfections because we see them on a daily basis.

It's possible that Ginsberg wasn't writing as a "gay" person.  It's possible Ginsberg was writing as a Jew...or as the descendant of immigrants...or, plainly, as an outsider.  I'm writing this as an outsider who owns a home, has sufficient creature comforts, and reaps the benefits of being an "intelligent" and hard working straight man.  If anything, I think my outsider status comes from always being concerned with other outsiders such as injection drug users, undocumented immigrants, and sex workers.

NEW COKE
Today "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" nee-CIR was introduced into the lower house of the federal legislature.  As most laws in this country which are painted as reform, it giveth whilst it taketh away.  In exchange for reductions in backlogs, increased enforcement.  In exchange for a pathway to legalization, increased border security which promised to further militarize our southern border.  In exchange for increased employer sanctions, there's now an incentive to use employee verification.  Finally, in exchange for family unification, there's a furthering of heteronomative standard in immigration law as to what a family is.

This is the new coke because it's the old coke in a new bottle with a better advertising campaign.

DO WE DESERVE THIS
I don't know if we get what we deserve...it sounds so fatalistic...maybe we get what we asked for.  Our elected leaders started negotiating from a very safe space which ensured political viability even if that viability means mortality and morbidity for the people directly impacted by this legislation.

Yet these are the leaders that we continue to keep in office in spite of always, think of "health care reform" or torture, them voting in a manner contrary to progressive political beliefs.  To those who offer the defense of "it's practical" or "it's politics" I offer them a gentle "fuck you" and a reminder that politics cease to be "politics" when we are talking about oppression and death.  Politics is the art of letting oppression continue because you expect to get something out of your complicity.

NPIC
As ACORN found out, being complicit in helping the Democrats getting elected isn't going to ensure they have your back when repression rears its head.

In the immigrant rights tip, I know many folks in these organizations have hearts of gold but, like myself, need to get paid.  The tragedy is that many of them have to stiffle how they feel about this so called "reform" because they need a paycheck...and, ultimately, we are quite easy to replace (OK, maybe I'm a little more difficult to replace).

But it is at these times when it is neccessary to issue a clarion call for people to do what's right: immigration reform must happen, but let's make sure that the electeds pay for starting at a low point of negotiation.  Let's see if we are as good as the reactionary forces in moving legislation in our direction because if we can't improve the bill, then we have to admit that the reactionaries and racists are better organized, more effective, and politically powerful that "progressive" circles.  Really, there are too many "liberals" who think they're better than Sarah Pallin or Joe Arpaio but fail to note that they get their opinions aired and turn people out (in favor) with better success that most progressive organizations.

MIEDO
And that's the frightening aspect: We can do it, we are the ones that we're waiting for.  All we need to do is unite outside of political frameworks and dogmas.  Once we're united and open to a variety of tactics, there's no stopping the train of justice.

The question is, which one of us are brave enough to be the pathfinders.  Maybe it's a journey that, As Tatiana de la Tierra entitled one of her books, is Solo Para Las Duras (only for the hard ones). http://www.delatierra.net/index.php?For-the-Hard-Ones (Tati is a friend and a sweet soul...buy her book for your favorite lesbian!)

FIN
Back to seeing how my son's homework is coming along and a glass of wine....it's pretty fucked up and hetero-patriarchal to say, but my son makes me believe that a better world where many worlds fit is possible.
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Bar Review Night 1

My take-aways from tonight's bar review is that I probably have latent psychological issues around failure and that working with a group of people, something I don't get to do too often professionally, excites me...

At the same time, I'm worried about my lack of substantive knowledge.   Fortunately, I can do something about that between now and Febrauary.

Finally, and something I'm still sitting with, I'm amazed at how many people of color are in our group.  Not only does that speak to who is not passing the bar exam but it also speaks to the important legacy of Judge Takasugi.  Most of our initial instructors are asian or pacific islanders...that's sort of interesting because where are my people (and no, I don't mean Guatemalan Ecudorian United Statian)?

I'm looking forward to passing February and dedicating my tech swan song project to the Takasugi review with their web-site and probably an on-line application.

Anyhow, time to figure out what I'm going to do about MBEs (the multiple choice bar questions).
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Posterous theme by Cory Watilo.