I think ALL immigration laws are based on racism. What other reason could it possibly be? Any law that favors people from one country over another is looking at who lives in those countries. It’s judging by ethnicity. Everything else is a dog whistle. Strong borders. Job protections. Just excuses. The proponents only object when it’s people different from them (in ethnicity or religion) coming in.
You’re preaching to the choir, Steve. The data shows that when as a nation you close off lawful pathways to enter a country, unlawful entries spike. Want to stop the shady stuff? Create more legitimate pathways. But they don’t actually want to reduce unlawful entries. Detention is big business.
They don’t want to create lawful entry because … at some level immigrants are slaves. Little opportunity, low pay, no worker protections, coercive situations (do or I’ll report you and family to “authorities”), and violence against them if they don’t assimilate “fast enough.”
I’m reading 📖 a book and came across this quote from Republican Senator William Frisbee Hoar (Mass) in 1882:
Hoar said that immigration restrictions should be based on only “an inquiry into the character of the individual applicant, and not be looking at the color of his skin.”
I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately we’re nowhere close to that ever happening.
I also think engaging these characters to this kind of round robin debate is counterproductive. Even if frat boy got owned, he's not leaving there anymore enlightened than before the debate clock started ticking. You noted it yourself with his doubling down on embracing white supremacy, yelling to Mehdi that he has to go as he walked away. All that happened is that racists got a chance to beat off to seeing other racists platformed to brazenly utter their favorite slogans.
The palefaced descendant of immigrants who desperately craved admission to America, then sought welcome after arrival, tells a Brown immigrant he's unwelcome and he's gotta go. This same guy will take a trip to Punta Cana and complain, claiming that the locals didn't really welcome Americans if they don't fawn all over him like some divine gift.
It's that egotistical hypocrisy that maybe drives me nuts the most. That guy thinks his useless, punk ass arriving in a Black or Brown country is some kind of godsend. He looks at an accomplished Brown man gaining citizenship in his home country as some kind of devaluation. Foolishness all day.
I agree that these goons are not coming out of there any more enlightened, but there may be some social utility to exposing these assholes. I'm conflicted, as is Mehdi Hasan himself, who said as much in a few post-mortem interviews following the Jubilee debate. I think there are pros and cons. It's worth listening to his take on it (he did a debrief on The Bulwark that's worth watching).
The US will realize that there are a lot of other countries out there. Those who can leave are leaving. Those that stay will resist the fascists, and the fascists will lose for the third time.
This country was built on slavery and stealing land.
Good for Mr. Hasan taking on these white nationalists. It works the opposite too, when the magas get beat down the Overton window reverses.
The Overton Window phenomenon is tricky to navigate, but I do think Hasan pulled it off, in spite of Jubilee maybe not fully briefing him. The overwhelming majority of people online have mercilessly ridiculed these fascists.
Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences. Lack of accountability/impunity for those in power leads to unwanted behaviour. Why would we want to encourage more of the same for ordinary citizens?
I think ALL immigration laws are based on racism. What other reason could it possibly be? Any law that favors people from one country over another is looking at who lives in those countries. It’s judging by ethnicity. Everything else is a dog whistle. Strong borders. Job protections. Just excuses. The proponents only object when it’s people different from them (in ethnicity or religion) coming in.
You’re preaching to the choir, Steve. The data shows that when as a nation you close off lawful pathways to enter a country, unlawful entries spike. Want to stop the shady stuff? Create more legitimate pathways. But they don’t actually want to reduce unlawful entries. Detention is big business.
They don’t want to create lawful entry because … at some level immigrants are slaves. Little opportunity, low pay, no worker protections, coercive situations (do or I’ll report you and family to “authorities”), and violence against them if they don’t assimilate “fast enough.”
Yep and they demonize and dehumanize to justify all of it.
I’m reading 📖 a book and came across this quote from Republican Senator William Frisbee Hoar (Mass) in 1882:
Hoar said that immigration restrictions should be based on only “an inquiry into the character of the individual applicant, and not be looking at the color of his skin.”
I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately we’re nowhere close to that ever happening.
Nope. We've been doing it for so long. It's hard to break patterns.
We definitely should mock them, always mock a Nazi with every opportunity.
No safe spaces for Nazis.
💥💥
New material? Are you still screaming “Lock Her Up!” like a moron 10 years later Nazi? 😆😆
Medhi is fabulous. He can debate the crap out of anyone. Frat Boys prove out to be horrid and obnoxious, as always.
He’s razor-sharp and returns the energy he receives. Notice his tone was very different with the DACA recipient.
I also think engaging these characters to this kind of round robin debate is counterproductive. Even if frat boy got owned, he's not leaving there anymore enlightened than before the debate clock started ticking. You noted it yourself with his doubling down on embracing white supremacy, yelling to Mehdi that he has to go as he walked away. All that happened is that racists got a chance to beat off to seeing other racists platformed to brazenly utter their favorite slogans.
The palefaced descendant of immigrants who desperately craved admission to America, then sought welcome after arrival, tells a Brown immigrant he's unwelcome and he's gotta go. This same guy will take a trip to Punta Cana and complain, claiming that the locals didn't really welcome Americans if they don't fawn all over him like some divine gift.
It's that egotistical hypocrisy that maybe drives me nuts the most. That guy thinks his useless, punk ass arriving in a Black or Brown country is some kind of godsend. He looks at an accomplished Brown man gaining citizenship in his home country as some kind of devaluation. Foolishness all day.
I agree that these goons are not coming out of there any more enlightened, but there may be some social utility to exposing these assholes. I'm conflicted, as is Mehdi Hasan himself, who said as much in a few post-mortem interviews following the Jubilee debate. I think there are pros and cons. It's worth listening to his take on it (he did a debrief on The Bulwark that's worth watching).
Thanks for the Bulwark reference. I'll need to go check that out. Or should I say, merci?
Gesundheit! (I’m screwed.)
😄
The below is the best essay I've read on why it's important to debate intolerant people.
https://www.notesfromthecircus.com/p/mehdi-hassans-masterclass-in-democratic
Thanks for sharing. I'll check it out.
The US will realize that there are a lot of other countries out there. Those who can leave are leaving. Those that stay will resist the fascists, and the fascists will lose for the third time.
This country was built on slavery and stealing land.
Good for Mr. Hasan taking on these white nationalists. It works the opposite too, when the magas get beat down the Overton window reverses.
The Overton Window phenomenon is tricky to navigate, but I do think Hasan pulled it off, in spite of Jubilee maybe not fully briefing him. The overwhelming majority of people online have mercilessly ridiculed these fascists.
Good, and as they are fragile babies ridicule, humor, and satire are great to take them down a few pegs.
Hey, thanks for the shout!
It’s a good piece. I like your writing style.
Frat Boy should be named and shamed, as should the other 19 of his friends. I'm surprised this hasn't been done yet.
Many of their social media profiles were linked to in the original Jubilee video, though I couldn’t find Frat Boy’s at the time.
Shame
This was astounding to watch, same when Sam Seder from The Majority Report did his jubilee, just stunning levels of ignorance.
Good luck dealing with all these deplorables
Sigh yeah
may I punch him please
YES…ahem, sorry was that too loud?
How did I not know we were both born in the same city? What a trip.
Wait, you were born in Hoboken?? You're in Houston, right? Did you spend any time in or around Hoboken growing up?
I did but I was really little. I grew up in Union City until 1990/91 or so.
BRO I went to school in Union City from 86-95 and lived there for a while.
Bro, this is weird. But cool.
Hard to watch.
BTW you tagged the wrong Nicole James in your article. The person you linked to is not an active account.
Thanks. I’ll correct.
Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences. Lack of accountability/impunity for those in power leads to unwanted behaviour. Why would we want to encourage more of the same for ordinary citizens?