Arizona Uses Race Card to Trump Race Card

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, in a never-ending quest to make the citizens of Arizona as white as her bleach-blonde dyed hair, has signed yet another controversial bill into law. Earlier this month Governor Brewer inked a law that gave Arizona police officers sweeping powers in dealing with the illegal immigration problem plaguing the state. The law made carrying documentation proving citizenship a requirement, and the breaking of this requirement a crime. As Saturday Night Live joked recently, it would be the first time since Nazi Germany where law enforcement agents could legally demand individuals of a certain race "show their papers." Secondly, it would allow police officers the right to "detain anyone suspected of living in the country illegally."

I found it ironic Senator John McCain supported this bill, but he should be given a lot of credit. McCain isn't the only self-hating Hispanic that I know. A dear friend of mine from Los Angeles is of Mexican ancestry and routinely slams his own ethnicity. I can remember having breakfast with him one morning when news broke on television that a car chase had begun in Los Angeles, to which my Mexican friend responded, "The car was probably stolen by a Mexican," as he calmly ate his breakfast burrito. McCain may despise his own race but at least he backs up his own hateful rhetoric. You see, John McCain was born in Panama, and by supporting this bill he's exposing himself to potential harassment by Arizona law enforcement for his Hispanic heritage. Let's hope he can remember his papers better than he can remember how many houses he owns.

How could Governor Brewer possibly top a law that could deport her own Senator in John "el torro" McCain? I've seen some major acts in my day, but nobody is that good. However, it appears I've underestimated the Republican governor. Jan Brewer signed yet another bill into law that targets ethic studies. Tucson, Arizona, is a city with a large Hispanic population and has been offering a Mexican-American studies program at several of its high schools. This program, according to Yahoo! News, teaches "an American history course [that] explores the role of Hispanics in the Vietnam War, and a literature course [that] emphasizes Latino authors." This, of course, is totally unacceptable to Republicans within Arizona. Tom Horne, Arizona's State schools chief and a Republican who is also running for Arizona's attorney general, said the program encourages "ethnic chauvinism." That's right -- take that Mexican-Americans! How dare you learn about your involvement in Vietnam (which didn't go well, and we totally blame you for that) and learn about Latino authors when we all know Hispanics can't read or write. It's just mean to give Hispanics in Tucson false hope, which is exactly why the Arizona legislature, led by Brewer, has attempted to ban the program.

The newly signed bill "prohibits classes that advocate ethnic solidarity, that are designed primarily for students of a particular race or that promote resentment toward a certain ethnic group." Who cares that six UN human rights experts have denounced the bill, stating "all people have the right to learn about their own cultural and linguistic heritage"? The message from Governor Brewer and Arizona Republicans is clear: stop creating programs that are designed to teach Hispanics about their heritage and go back to teaching how history truly happened, written by the victors of history. If the victors just happen to be white, so what? Those Hispanics in Tucson need to learn how history actually played out, and read that very history off the crisp, white pages of our history books. We only use black ink on those white history pages because the technology to make white ink appear on white paper isn't quite feasible yet, though we have our best scientists in white lab coats working on it.

Sure, the bill may be tough but Hispanics should stop whining. Arizona may be getting legislatively physical but it's not like Hispanics are without hope. How should they handle the newly controversial bills? They should take a page out of Hispanic hero and former steroid slugger Sammy Sosa's book. How has Sosa handled the adversity? He's been using a face cream that makes him white, the same face cream that has made John McCain appear white and of Irish-American ancestry for decades:

Scott Janssen es un estudiante graduado, blogger, y todos alrededor de drenaje en la sociedad.

 

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Comments

[iratior]

08:14 AM on 05/21/2010

In the 2008 Presidential election, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico all went Democratic. Arizona Republicans, many of whom aren't just Republican but Pat-Robertson-Republicans at that, must have been scared out of their wits. It seems to indicate that, if the population of Arizona gets any more Hispanic, the GOP may lose control. Hence the grasping at straws, this repressive, vague thing known as HB 2281, designed to target "ethnic studies". The law seeks to ban any advocacy of "overthrowing the government." The legislators seem never to have read the Declaration of Independence. The abstract belief, in overthrow of a government, is as old as that document -- actually older, since it goes back to the philosophy of John Locke. As for the prohibition against promoting "ethnic solidarity" -- how many cubic inches of "promoting" are we talking about? And what is "ethnic solidarity"? The mere coincidence that some ethnic studies teachers may have used these words does not cure the law of its vagueness. Hispanic students ought to wear T-shirts with "This sentence promotes ethnic solidarity" on them, just to tease the Arizona legislature.

[Scott Janssen]

01:17 PM on 05/21/2010

iratior: Very, very good points. If the numbers keep going the way they are now, I believe Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona could eventually become solidly blue states. And in some places like Texas, even though it will stay red, the races might become a bit closer.

Thanks for the comment!

[Lady Doodlebug]

12:40 PM on 05/19/2010

Well, they could always wear blonde wigs and blue contacts and go about their business.

This whole situation is ludicrous.

[Scott Janssen]

12:58 PM on 05/19/2010

Lady Doodlebug: I agree, the situation has just become laughable. You should email the governor's office with your suggestion. Thanks for the comment!

[Scott Janssen]

04:02 PM on 05/18/2010

Zonie: Our conversation ran out of room so I've had to start a new comment. You argue that a police officer cannot ask for papers unless he first has lawful contact. The main point of debate has been whether the motivation to ask for papers will supersede that lawful contact. It happens all the time. I have been pulled over because I was driving late at night in an older car. I was coming back from a friend's apartment, and I fit the bill (you can call it profiling, if you'd like) for potential trouble: young, late at night, older car, and nobody else was around. I was pulled over for "not yielding long enough" at a yield sign, though I came to a complete stop because I was aware the police officer was behind me. I was never given a ticket, though he did ask if I had any drugs in the car (and there wasn't).

You said yourself illegal immigration is one of Arizona's biggest problems, and this gives police officers the power to target Hispanics and ask them for their papers. What's from stopping a police officer from seeing two Hispanic individuals speaking in Spanish and approaching them and asking for their papers because they were "loitering"? You're naive if you believe illegal immigration is Arizona's biggest problem but that there won't be racial profiling.

[Scott Janssen]

04:03 PM on 05/18/2010

Zonie: Also, I take issue with your making reference to Hispanics as driving "jacked up Monte Carlos" or having 21 people in their vehicles. Smacks just a tad of racism.

[bob225]

11:13 AM on 05/17/2010

Not to be picky, but the comparison with Nazi Germany is a just stupid and wrong.
First of all a similar law exists in modern Germany (and also in other countries). At the age of 16 you receive a state ID and are required to have it with you at all times. If you don't have it the police are allowed to hold you until your identity has been confirmed. I guess the big difference is that this law wasn't created to combat illegal immigration (allthough it is very helpful). Most teenagers actually can't wait to get their ID because with it they can finally buy beer and cigarettes.
Americans are just weird. Don't you dare take away their guns or make them carry ID. "Freedom, Freedom. "What he killed somebody when he was 9 years old. He's a monster lock him up for life."
Second of all and far more important in Nazi Germany, the jews had to wear stars on their clothes, Also everybody else had to have an ID proving they weren't jewish. Why? Because you could tell the people apart by just looking.

[bob225]

11:19 AM on 05/17/2010

That's supposed to be "because you couldn't tell the people apart by just looking"

[Scott Janssen]

11:44 AM on 05/17/2010

bob225: Your comment isn't "picky" and you're always welcome to make a point here. You should know, however, that the Nazi reference was merely a joke told by Saturday Night Live, a comedy show. However, I will make this point of my own: there's a difference between government-issued identification and what it's used for. For example, if I get pulled over for speeding, the police officer will ask for my driver's license. When he/she asks for my license, they're merely trying to prove that I have indeed received permission from my state to operate a vehicle - they're not trying to inquire into my citizenship. If you read the law just passed in Arizona, the whole premise is to ask for identification for the purpose of determining whether or not they're a citizen. The intent is completely different.

Thanks for the comment.

[bob225]

08:28 AM on 05/18/2010

Thanks yor your reply, I guess I got a bit sidetracked and my argument came across badly. What I meant to point out is that the SNL sketch basically implies that only in evil Nazi Germany were you required to carry around a government issued ID to prove your citizenship. Yes it's a comedy show, but the comparison is often quoted as an argument against this law.
I was just trying to point out that a lot of democratic countries actually require you the carry a government issued ID including modern Germany. Not to state if you can drive or not but so that somedbody, especially the police can identify you, know your name, your address as well as if your a citizen. People argue this gives the government too much power over you, which they can misuse. This is true but all government power can be misused and there are alot of advantages to a state ID especially when fighting crime, including illegal immigration.
The hyprocripsy of the law, seems to me is that "some white people" still don't want to carry an ID but want to force others to carry it who "look" like illegal immigrants.

"One" of the prices for the freedom that citizens don't have to carry a state ID's to identify themselves, is it's much easier to be an illegal immigrant in the USA, the equation is as simple as that.

[fromdnorth]

12:57 AM on 05/17/2010

Basic Facts of the Berlin Wall

© 2001-2009
Heiko Burkhardt
All rights reserved
Privacy Guidelines

Basic Facts (at the time of July 31, 1989)

Total border lenght around West Berlin: 96 mi / 155 km

Border between East and West Berlin: 27 mi / 43.1 km

Border between West Berlin and East Germany: 69 mi / 111.9 km

Border through residential areas in Berlin: 23 mi / 37 km

Concrete segment wall: 3.6m (11.81 ft.) high, 66 mi / 106 km

Wire mesh fencing: 41 mi / 66.5 km

Anti-vehicle trenches: 65 mi / 105.5 km

Contact or signal fence: 79 mi / 127.5 km

Column track: 6-7 m (7.33 yd) wide, 77 mi / 124.3 km

Number of watch towers: 302

Number of bunkers: 20

Persons killed on the Berlin Wall: 192

www.dailysoft.com/berlinwall/history/facts_01.htm

[fromdnorth]

12:52 AM on 05/17/2010

Apartheid was a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party government in South Africa between 1948 and 1994, under which the rights of the majority non-white inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and minority rule by whites was maintained.

[fromdnorth]

12:52 AM on 05/17/2010

Pass laws in South Africa were designed to segregate the population and limit severely the movements of the non-white populace. This legislation was one of the dominant features of the country's apartheid system.
The Black population were required to carry these pass books with them when outside their compounds or designated areas.
Failure to produce a pass often resulted in the person being arrested.
The first pass laws in South Africa was introduced on 27 June 1797 by the Earl Macartney in an attempt to exclude all natives from the Cape Colony.
Introduced in South Africa in 1923, they were designed to regulate movement of black Africans in urban areas. Outside designated "homelands", black South Africans had to carry passbooks ("dom pas", meaning dumb pass) at all times, documentation proving they were authorized to live or move in "White" South Africa.

The laws also affected other non-white races. Indian people, for example, were barred from the Orange Free State.

These discriminatory regulations sparked outrage from the black population and the ANC began the Defiance Campaign to oppose the pass laws.

This conflict climaxed at the Sharpeville Massacre where the black opposition was violently put down, with 69 people killed and over 180 injured. The system of pass laws was repealed in South Africa in 1986

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pass_laws

[Scott Janssen]

11:40 AM on 05/17/2010

fromdnorth: I don't think it'll quite come to what happened in South Africa, but the United States does need to come up with a plan for illegal immigration that works, and works without violating basic human rights.

Thanks for the comment!

[fromdnorth]

12:23 PM on 05/17/2010

I see two issues: Pass Law which is de facto in force in AZ and Berlin Wall which is also a visible symbol of force and disrespect... under construction on the Mexican border... If Pres. Carter sees shades of Apartheid in Israel, I see shades of GDR and SA in the US...
I also posted it to document the facts in case some are unaware of the parallels...

[lisakaz2]

12:35 AM on 05/17/2010

Don't forget the law about teachers with "accents" too. Nothing like the three of these laws to show the intent and fears of the GOPee, as if that could stamp about other people's histories. And of course the history these people want to teach instead is probably that garbage that says America was a "Christian Nation" built on the ideas of John Calvin, right?

[fromdnorth]

12:42 AM on 05/17/2010

Intent and fears.... No... Malice and megalomania...

[Scott Janssen]

11:38 AM on 05/17/2010

fromdnorth: I think the GOP has engaged in all four.

[Scott Janssen]

11:38 AM on 05/17/2010

lisakaz2: I haven't heard about the law regarding accents. I'll have to look into that one. Thanks for the comment and the tip!

[Scott Janssen]

01:20 PM on 05/16/2010

Truth In Voting: I ran out of room to respond to some of your comments so I'm just starting a new comment here. Thank you very much for your generous offer to show me and my girlfriend (she wants to see Arizona, too) around Mesa, Arizona. We might seriously take you up on your offer should we ever get a chance to go out that way. I have managed to visit Nevada and, being from Michigan, I was in awe of how beautiful the desert can be. I definitely want to explore it more.

As to your comment about disliking the Yankees, I have to confess: Derek Jeter is from my hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

[frankg3400]

12:38 AM on 05/16/2010

I just came across a 2 part video, showing the Border Patrol Tucson Sector from an Atlanta TV news report. The report focuses on the terrorists coming across the border from Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Yeman etc. and how they come up from South America learn Spanish and cross the American border with the mass of Central America and Mexican illegal's. I've heard about this a few years back, but never hear anything about it when the border issue comes up. Another reason why Arizona has passed SB1070'

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/23438021/index.html Part 1

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/23438021/index.html Part 2

[Scott Janssen]

01:15 PM on 05/16/2010

frankg3400: I agree completely that illegal immigration is a huge problem, one that needs solving very quickly. However, your mentioning terrorists when debating the constitutionality of Arizona's new law smells too much of Bush's scare tactics to me. I would love to have just one debate about something without someone mentioning terrorists.

Thanks for the comment.

[BareheadedWoman]

09:54 PM on 05/15/2010

I'm tired of Azers talking about how outsiders do not understand what they are going through with the illegals and how it's going to ruin their state. There are five other states with a larger estimated illegal population than Az. Personally, living in another of the country's immigration hubs, I cannot understand the language of my neighbors or the signs in the local shops but I know for sure the gimmick is a vacation visa then disappearing into the city and not going home when agreed. Exploitation, undergrounds into the mainland, black market economy are alive and well. But then again, the aliens in my neck of the city are very white. You never see immigration officers here.

Geez, even Texas hasn't gone the AZ route (although I don't want AZ givin' 'em any ideas that they can get away with it either...)

[Scott Janssen]

01:12 PM on 05/16/2010

Bareheaded Woman: All good points. Illegal immigration is indeed a big problem that needs solving. I just feel that the Arizona law is completely unacceptable.

Thanks for the comment!

[frankg3400]

02:00 PM on 05/15/2010

Being a Tucson resident and a taxpayer to the TUSD who has been fighting for 3 years against what is being taught in the TUSD Ethnic Studies. This law was specifically written because of this ONE school system. The pro Aztlan reconquista movement is very alive and well in Tucson, with the city and county government bought and paid for by La Raza. I have lived in Tucson for 30 years and loved the multiculturalism here. However, with the onslaught of illegals who show outright resentment to Americans including Mexican Americans who don't speak spanish has become the norm and has ruined what most people moved to Tucson for. Here is a clip from the Atlanta Pro illegal rally which hasn't been on any national TV network. Hopefully this will show what the true intent of the movement is and what we have been dealing with in Arizona, specifically Tucson. Thanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LHRzxgAxRo&feature=player_embedded

[Zonie]

02:47 PM on 05/15/2010

It will be interesting to see how long this post stands.

[Scott Janssen]

01:04 PM on 05/16/2010

Zonie: I don't know if you're trying to imply that I delete posts, but I most definitely do not. I welcome everyone's comments here, even people like yourself who feel I'm the kind of person who would delete posts (though I don't). ;)

[Scott Janssen]

01:02 PM on 05/16/2010

frankg3400: If what you say is true, and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that it is, the law passed by Arizona should make you angry. The language they used in the bill was so vague and general that the law could be applied to other situations besides this one school system you speak of, and it could destroy a lot of well-intentioned classes for students.

Thanks for the comment.

[ugly american]

09:42 PM on 05/14/2010

The law SB 1070 (http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf ) doesn't require documentation other than ordinarily required and presented when dealing with law officers. A state ID or DL is proof of citizenship. Green card is proof of legal alien status. None of the above gets a trip downtown.
Please show me where it requires police to stop anyone who is brown?
Legal aliens must carry such papers at all times by federal law. The change this makes is now state and local law can examine these documents and Illegal aliens (breaking the law) can be arrested and remanded to ICE or Border Patrol for deportation.
This law is odious only for people not the US legally wishing to cheat the usual legal immigration to the US.
I am a liberal but I can't understand how we're supposed to feel so much sympathy for the citizens of another nation that is not in chaos (ie: refugees) that we allow ten to twenty percent of their population to simply ignore our laws if they don't happen to agree with them. Then because they snuck into our nation they think they should demand rights exclusive to US citizens and some even we don't have?
It's not about race.
It's about refusing open borders without limits and about American nationalism Vs Mexican nationalism. Those saying it is racism are simply attempting to obscure the point to further thier own ulterior motives.

[patriciacaldwell]

03:08 AM on 05/15/2010

So who will they stop? Teens who use tanning beds? I doubt it. This law will be applied as individual officers or their departments see fit. Reasonable suspicion can cover a lot of ground. Reminds me of when my brothers and I used to be stopped when we drove through Georgia in route to Florid in the '60s. Long curly red hair made us look suspicious to the good ole boy sheriffs sitting in their cars behind billboards. What a miserable mess bigots make.

[Scott Janssen]

12:51 PM on 05/15/2010

Patricia Caldwell: I agree completely. The way things are now, a police officer can't pull somebody over unless he has a reason. For example, they have to commit a traffic violation. They can say, "Hey, your tail light is out. Mind if I check the car for drugs?" But with this Arizona law, there doesn't even have to be reasonable suspicion of a crime - just reasonable suspicion they're not a citizen. Completely unacceptable.

Thanks for the comment!

[Scott Janssen]

12:49 PM on 05/15/2010

Ugly American: So you say the law won't target anyone who is "brown," yet you then go on about illegal immigrants and specifically mention Mexico. You can't have it both ways - you're talking out of both sides of your mouth.

I agree completely that illegal immigration is a serious problem and it needs to be addressed. And I fully admit that I'm not entirely sure how that issue should be addressed, but I do know a bad idea when I see one, and this law passed by Arizona is awful. Even though I'm not a citizen of Arizona, I am an American, and quite frankly Arizona is making us look bad.

[Zonie]

01:49 PM on 05/15/2010

Mexico is specifically mentioned because Mexico is the source of over seventy percent of those entering illegally and their government aids and abetts their unauthorized breach of our sovereignty.

Seventy percent. Now you tell me....when seven out of ten are from Mexico....gee....this is not rocket science.

Nevertheless, the bill does not even come close to what many of you say it is.

Tell me something....honestly....did you even read the bill and all the ARS amendments?

Be honest....

[ugly american]

09:00 PM on 05/14/2010

Excerpt Arizona SB 1070
B. FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY
OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS
STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS
UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE,
WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON. THE PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c).
27 C. IF AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES IS
CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF STATE OR LOCAL LAW, ON DISCHARGE FROM
IMPRISONMENT OR ASSESSMENT OF ANY FINE THAT IS IMPOSED, THE ALIEN SHALL BE
TRANSFERRED IMMEDIATELY TO THE CUSTODY OF THE UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND
CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT OR THE UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION.
32 D. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY
SECURELY TRANSPORT AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES
AND WHO IS IN THE AGENCY'S CUSTODY TO A FEDERAL FACILITY IN THIS STATE OR TO
ANY OTHER POINT OF TRANSFER INTO FEDERAL CUSTODY THAT IS OUTSIDE THE
JURISDICTION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
37 E. A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WITHOUT A WARRANT, MAY ARREST A PERSON
IF THE OFFICER HAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE PERSON HAS COMMITTED
ANY PUBLIC OFFENSE THAT MAKES THE PERSON REMOVABLE FROM THE UNITED STATES.


http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf

[Scott Janssen]

12:41 PM on 05/15/2010

Ugly American: What bothers me greatly is this part of the law: "WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE, WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON."

Reasonable suspicion, not that someone is in the process of committing a crime, but that they're an unlawful alien. That's giving police officers some of the widest discretion I've heard of. And what's reasonable suspicion? Two guys talking in Spanish? A guy wearing a t-shirt with Spanish phrases? A guy wearing a "Los Suns" jersey? I know one thing for certain: there would be no reasonable suspicion a person was an illegal alien if they're white, and if you claim otherwise you're being dishonest.

Thanks for the comment.

[Michael Allen Powers]

07:52 PM on 05/13/2010

As an old (mostly) white guy from Arizona, it's my hope that people will boycott this state within an inch of it's life. In fact, I hope that so much money is lost, that Brewer, Pearce, and (God willing) Arpaio will be remembered only for the damage they have done.

[Scott Janssen]

12:55 AM on 05/14/2010

Michael Allen Powers: I wouldn't sweat it too much. Having lived through the Bush years with friends who were from Europe, I think people can separate the government from the people. People are unhappy with Arizona's government, not the citizens of Arizona. I have no doubt people in Arizona are quite nice. I'm hoping to find out one day - I'd love to visit. I hear it's absolutely beautiful there.

Thanks for the comment.

[Zonie]

12:21 PM on 05/15/2010

Then it's obvious, since you have never been here, that you have no clue regarding the extent of the problem here with folks entering this country illegally and what they have done....and the problems my state is facing.

It won't be a beautiful place if it continues the way it is now. Did you ever go to Saguaro lake after Memorial day? Go there ON Memorial day and tell me who it is trashing the place. Tell me who trashes pristine desert in that corridor where people are crossing into this country illegally....
And if you can find a rest area open in our broke state....watch who it is that won't flush the toilets, won't flush used paper and instead throw it on the floor.

Ask yourself if there are 8 million illegals who have jobs here....why are there 15 million unemployed Americans instead of 7 million?

Visit sometime in the future? Yeah right....wait until we clean it up.

We are not racists....and frankly, neither is our government....except maybe a couple of them...and they are not white truth told.

[Truth In Voting]

12:25 PM on 05/14/2010

Michael, as a resident of Mesa, Arizona, I also hope for the same. Seeking to morally and financially bankrupt the state will not be forgiven, and these legislators SHOULD be held responsible.

I also hope for leniency in the boycott for Flagstaff and Tucson, both of which have already contested the law and are currently in litigation.

I also hope for leniency for Mesa, as our police chiefs, mayor, and city council have repeatedly rejected "hunting illegals" as a city priority. If you live in the valley metro area, then you already know how Mesa has been labeled a "sanctuary city" simply because it puts fair policing ahead of race-baiting. For the past 4 years, Mesa officers have tried to create community relationships with members from ALL our diverse communities. Due to this, homicide in Mesa fell 50%, burglaries fell 30%, and even petty crimes fell, lowering our overall crime rate by 20% (source: http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2009/06/18/20090618mr-gasconlegacy0619.html). Emphasizing respect and fair treatment has gotten Mesa further ahead than the atrocious hate tactics of Sheriff Arpaio.

Sedona has also rejected SB 1070, and as a city heavily dependent on tourism, I hope Sedona will be spared too.

[Scott Janssen]

02:06 PM on 05/14/2010

Truth In Voting: Thank you for the comment and for all the information. I have to admit, reading all of this potential boycott business has been interesting. I hope a middle-ground can be reached so citizens of Arizona don't have to suffer.