Memorial Day

Hey,
What's good everyone? I just really needed to say all that stuff. Anyway, i'm here, just having a grand old time, perousing personal blogs as opposed to my daily feed crawl of political and news blogs. Memorial Weekend, first weekend of summer in the United States. Did a little celebration on friday, but alas no bbq's for me. Working tommorow so off course that leaves the entire day shot because it will mean needin gto be in proximity to my bed in case the urge to get some precious last hours of sleep before resigning myself to exhaustion.

Arabic classes start this week! For only 60 dollars although i'll probably end up dropping out because the guy running it didn't seem to have too much faith in his teaching ability or the general concept of the class. Flat out told me it wouldn't be too indepth and when I told him i could already read and write arabic (via, although i did learn just arabic script first) urdu, he told me that I should go to the first class and decide if I wanted to keep going. I thought I was being pretencious by even mentioning it, but he thought not (is that another sign of doubiousness?).

Review
Kiffe Kiffe Demain by Faïza Guène, read it. And if you can't read French (although trust me, this is not a typical roman français, it's really easy to read and understand), wait for it's English translation to come out this summer. It's the story of this French girl (of Maghreban descent) who lives in a housing project in a suberb of France. It's just an amzing read. it brings you from the verge of crying to laughing out loud with her sharp insights and relatability. That's the sign of good literature, when it can bring people together. And that I found so much in common, that so much of what she said resonated with me, a European American teenager, is a credit to her, an Arab-French girl living on the outside of French society looking in.

Well I'd better get backto Law and Order:Criminal Intent, or I should say, i'd better get back to trying to figure out what this episode is about. Half-way into it, it's not looking likely. Especially me being constantly distracted by his exact and correct pronounciation of Santería and the likeness of one of the suspects to Kalimba.

Libellés : Review

par Borges à 22:23

|

The immigration debate has been heating up. This, aside from the Iraq war is the first time that I have really felt strongly about any domestic policy issues. It's so scary, to know that my coworkers, my friends, are under attack, simply for entering this country without a piece of paper saying that they were "worthy" of it. That they could be made criminals, that our borders could be militarised, and that worst of all the majority of Americans are supporting this. The opposition in the Congress, the Democrats, are more supportive of the President Bush than his own party. The only debates that seem to be happening are not on whether or not illegal immigrants should be criminalised, deported, borders secured, employers punished, but how. For most it is simply a question of semantics. And that is very troubling.

The Latino-American community has been mobilized in support of the 11 milllion mostly Latnio illegal immigrants. Millions have marched, millions have boycotted, millions have called and writen and protested and it makes no difference. In fact, it seems to be turning the wider public opinion against illegal immigrants. And not many politicians seem to be afraid of offending the 17% or so of America that has an immigrant as either a parent, grandparent, or sibling. It's just becoming more and more disheartening.

Jobs
Got an interview at a kiosk in the mall that sells cell phones and plans and such, I thought it went really well, and should be hearing back from the man sometime this week. Only problem is that payement is strictly commision, and I just can't commit myself to that, I don't think. I'd obviously still keep my dishwashing job, but if I do have a second job, i'd want it to be something that i'm sure my hours of work would be for naught.

Salaat
Sometimes I feel like my only solace is in salaat, that the only time i am at peace is when i'm praying. But why is it so hard to commit myself to 5 prayers a day. Why? Whyyyyy?

Libellés : Politique, États-Unis

par Borges à 21:09

|