Tlokenawake is a precept in Nahuatl that guides and inspires Daniel, a Los Angeles-based activist and all-around humanist. "It means loving others unconditionally. We have an obligation to take care of each other," he told me on a Tuesday afternoon while I sipped coffee and he tamed dragons with his words. "For the world to be balanced, for a human being not to be less than human in the eyes of another, we must struggle with pride, dignity, and love, and take risks for the well being of all."
Daniel knows what he's talking about. The oldest of four, he is familiar with responsibility and risk-taking. Just a few days back he was arrested in front of the ICE detention center by LAPD officers during a civil disobedience action against continued enforcement of immigration laws, among them 287g agreements, "Secure Communities," and the criminalization of immigrant communities. He was one of fourteen who, arms interlocked, blocked several streets, including the entrance to the 101 freeway in downtown Los Angeles during the morning rush hour.
I met Daniel recently on our way to Arizona. He was one of 56 CHIRLA bus riders making the personal decision to go as "undocumented" citizens to lend their support to thousands of young people demonstrating in front of the capitol in Phoenix. The day after our arrival, Governor Brewer signed the bill into law unleashing a titanic response from anti- and pro- immigrant activists alike. Daniel's closest relatives, 15 members in all, have called Arizona their home for more than a decade. As is the case with most other immigrant families living in the United States, Daniel's uncles, aunts and cousins are "honest, hard workers, with many friends in the neighborhood, and activists by nature."
"The day SB1070 was signed, I was frightened," he recalls. "Not for me, but for my family. My little niece, who is used to walking to school, was so afraid of the new law she would not even come out of the house for a whole week." Daniel remembers that when he was younger, his teachers admonished him for speaking Spanish. "I thought we had struggled past those days to live in a different world, but now you need papers to even be considered a person worthy of any respect," he says, referring to the new law's requirement that anyone stopped by police must show proof of being in the country legally.
Daniel recalls that at one point in our nation's history, men and women of a certain color were considered only 3/5 of a full person. He also recalls that in 1942 thousands and thousands of U.S. citizens were rounded up in concentration camps simply because they were Japanese and suspect. "And only until recently, women and blacks were not allowed to vote. Those laws were in the books too, but they were unjust laws."
This Aztec warrior's quiet demeanor is no match to his roar on why social justice is worth fighting for: "There are those who are okay with being comfortable. People I know, my own family, is struggling to survive right now within a racist environment in Arizona and the moment we lose sight of our ideals and don't do something to change what is unjust, we fail to honor our own destiny, which is to live with dignity and respect."
As to the issue of immigrant integration: "The American Dream often excludes anyone who is different," he says. "For example, our ancestors used to treat gays and lesbians with respect. They were welcomed and regarded as specially gifted and powerful. The western concept of family does not welcome us as gays and lesbians and that's how I see undocumented immigrants being treated by the rest of society - if you don't have a green card, if you speak English with an accent, if you look 'foreign,' you are not worthy of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You are nothing."
I caught up with Daniel during the May Day rally downtown Los Angeles. He was brandishing a large rainbow flag and a poster that read "We Are All Arizona." Why march when things are getting so much worst for immigrants, I asked. "I think we are moving forward, even if one step at a time. Our community cannot lose hope and we will not give up. I for one, am committed to continuing to march, rally, protest, pray, whatever we need to do to one day be free. Isn't that worth fighting for?"
Follow Jorge-Mario Cabrera on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jmquidam
Sadly, this exchange says more about the current state of the immigration debate than the remarks of the President today. The little girl wants her mother to have papers, but hears that the President is sending people away if they don't.
If he claims to be an Aztec, it will only add to his hot air blowing that fills this article. The term is a European characterization used to group many of the indigenous people of Mexico together under one name. No one is "Aztec".
I firmly believe in the notion that immigrants are welcome to America, and that they contribute to our history in unimaginable ways. Arizona will welcome immigrants from all nations, but they will continue to arrest and deport those who break our laws, and show zero respect for what America stands for and has been built on - the rule of law.
Every time....these so called reforms are enacted...illegal entry goes up.
And every time no one enforces the law.
How about just enforcing the current policy? We have limits on the numbers we can allow into this country. We have procedure. What is wrong...tell me....what is wrong with just enforcing and following our current policy? Was it that bad in 1986? If that policy was so lousy....why did we bother then?
Too many of us remember that farce....too many remember all the fraud involved. What makes you think that any sort of reform will not bring folks crashing the borders even more so?
I don't care if the folks coming are lilly white....we can't continue this charade and folks are a bit wiser now than they were in '86.
And California?
Paradise lost....
C'mon, you can be for immigration and for keeping it legal and orderly.
http://www.azdps.gov/About/Reports/Crime_In_Arizona/
Overall...yeah....some crimes are down...but that's not painting the entire picture. Anyone knowing a little about statistics can see this.
Violent crime is up comparing available stats from DPS....2002 compared to 2008
Violent crime like rape and murder are up....Robbery and Burglery are up.
A few comparisons....
2002: MURDER 384
2008: Murder 404
2002: Rape 1,586
2008: Rape 1,654
2002: Robbery 7,920
2008: Robbery 9,648
So...it's not entirely honest to state that crime rates are coming down if you don't have the breakdown....most folks are concerned with safety...Property crimes account for 91.3% of the 2002 index. Violent crime accounts for the rest. In 2008, property crime accounts for 90.1% Violent crime accounts for the rest.
Which crime statistics would frighten your wife and children?
Violent crime is increased.
By the way...can tell you and many others don't live here and don't know anything about us one simple little cue gives all of you away....
We are ArizonANS. Not ArizonIANS....
You folks accuse us of racism, have never lived here, many never have been here.....you accuse us....when we have more diversity than most of you....but you can't even get our name right.
At least get that correct.
http://www.bettorschat.com/forums/rants-politics-religion/184113-az-sonoran-desert-outside-tucson-az.html
This is what our parks and lakes will look like after Memorial day too.
Guess who doesn't like to put trash in bins?
Instead of boycotting us and calling us names....why don't you pick up the trash left by these folks that is turning my state into a landfill?
That aside, do you really believe it is fair to reward those who skirted our laws and place many of them ahead of those who are trying to obey our law and do what is asked of them in order to enter this country?
Should the ranchers help clean up the trash? I suppose all Arizonans will be stuck with it....none of you folks are volunteering....
We already have laws that ILLEGAL ALIENS spit on and don't follow - I don't think that will change if you "legalize" them.
The fact is we need to see a larger federal immigrant policy solution as not just a solution to resolve our Southern border issues, because frankly, and I know I'll be flamed for this, I believe the US will NEVER succeed in securing its borders completely... it just won't ever happen! We need a more complete Federal immigrant policy ALSO integrated into America's foreign policy pursuits too! We need to fulfill the Statue of Liberty's request: "Bring me your huddled hungry and poor" or something like that. And include these hungry, ambitiously industrious people who come here grateful to be here, from around the world and add them to the American fabric, this diversity is our greatest strength economically, in our creative innovations, in our defense as a nation, and intercultural wealth, and in our rich intercultural numbers as a growing population. Such immigrant growth, can only serve to make US MORE competitive with nations like India and China each nations with over 1 billion people. If the right winger hawks are really afraid of a world ruled by "pax-sino-Chinese or Indian" then, let us live the way our Statue of Liberty preached us to live, and let us start with the us, los Latinos, now the majority population. It's only democracy right?
Great article Jorge, I connected with you on Twitter too!
Martin de'Campo
Managing Principal
www.Humanatek.com
http://twitter.com/humanatek
What scares me the most is that Americans in general seems content to settle for the lowest common denominator which means that we will not be competitve as a nation and the future looks bleaker by the minute.
They consistently claim the moral high ground yet do little more that posture and make a lot of noise - especially about their rights and the constitution. When citizens actually care enough about the law to ensure that they themselves take them seriously and are prepared to put down their double cheeseburger, get up off the couch and straighten things out, then we have a chance to move forward.
Frankely I feel we should be bringing people from all nations across the world to enrich the culture. That would require a structured system and enforcement, whcih will include provisions like SB1070. Again if you take the hysterics out of the equation - tell me why this bill is racist or wrong?
I think it is arrogance in the extreme and as you mentioned there is no shortage of deserving people throughout the world that would make as good if not better citizens, and add to the strength and diversity of this country rather than a group that is trying to martyr themselves for a problem that they created!