Fortunately, President Obama is becoming the agent of change we believed in back in 2008. Never in my lifetime did I ever believe I would witness the President of the United States announce full support for marriage equality–what a huge boost for civil rights and what amazing integrity from our President.
Yesterday, President Obama sent another strong message about civil rights and social justice when he announced that the many illegal immigrants that came to the United States as children will be allowed to remain in the country without fear of deportation and able to work. Since Congressional Republicans have consistently resisted this important program (known as the DREAM Act), it will be implemented through an executive action by the Obama administration. Well done, Mr. President. I’m sure this really angers all of the homophobes and racists in Alabama and Arizona.
What I find remarkable here and very telling is that President Obama continues to demonstrate his ability to fight for civil rights. He has an established reputation around the world as a strong, intelligent, and admirable leader. In stark contrast, Mitt Romney stands for the 1%, has signed a pledge against the LGBT community, has been suspiciously quiet around suppressing voter’s rights, and surrounds himself with tea bags that are rancid. In typical Mittbot 2012 fashion, he won’t even make a statement regarding the President’s bold and ethical immigration action. The choice for who to vote for in 2012 seems rather obvious to me.
And now it all becomes legal and everyone lives happily ever after!!!!!! 🙂
With good people like you, it just may be possible!
I am curious as to how same sex marriage could not be automatically legalized. In Canada it is legal everywhere, was done so at different times in each province/territory, but maybe that could happen because every province/territory was on board whereas in the USA this is not the case. Just guessing.
We recently amended our Human Rights Code to protect transgender individuals from discrimination. Sexual orientation has been on there for awhile.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Ontario+amends+Human+Rights+Code+extend+protections+transgender+people/6776765/story.html
I suspect the United States is far more divided regarding civil rights, specifically the South. There is a great deal of willful ignorance.
But Obama during most of his Presidency actually deported more people than Bush did.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/18/news/la-pn-deportation-ice-20111018
You are correct. I fear I do not know enough of the details to frame an appropriate reply, but you are making me do some homework, which is a good and valuable thing. I shall prepare a reply with more information.
Unfortunately, immigration reform is very complex. The Obama administration certainly has a mediocre record on this issue and has demonstrably deported more people than any preceding it. The goal of his policy is to deport illegal immigrants with criminal records, which seems reasonable on its surface. (It does beg the question of exactly what the convictions are for and whether they are directly related to immigration status, however.)
Sadly, enforcement agents have not been responsive to changes rolled out by the administration and high-level officials have not pushed hard enough to halt deportations that have minimal cause and that break up families.
There’s plenty of blame to go around, however. As with most issues, the lack of any Republican plan except to boot Obama from office makes any comprehensive reform impossible.
Thank you, Penguinelad. While not great news, this does help to put the picture in a larger context.
Well wuteva, imma juss ignor dat lil detail fo now, cuz Obama tha only black runnin, imma vote him again fo 2012, secund time, he do juss fyne!
Obama get mi pik fo tha preznant lineup, he tha onlyest wun fo gay human rights rite now, if u dont see tha wey I do, it prolly cuz u ether rasist or a homophobe, ether way, tha truth hurt donit!!
Tea bags that are rancid. I love that! Great post, as always.
Thank you. Just speaking truth to power!
I adore that about you and your blog!
Thank you! You are exceedingly kind and I just hope I can continue to live up to the real issues of social justice.