GIR is a satire.
It stands for "Gabe Immigration Reform" and it was spawned from an inside joke that some of us have.
In an arena often full of seriousness and melancholy, it is my contribution. An effort to not only bring a light to the ridiculousness that is the current immigration system, but also an effort to bring smiles to people.
Of course some people can't differentiate between humor and reality so here is the disclaimer (in case you missed the satire part above)
Disclaimer: The GIR Video Series is a satire on the current US immigration system, where one of the only legal pathways for a DREAM Act students would be through marriage. The person in the video is trying to seek marriage for legalization purposes in much the same sincerity as he is trying to win the Nobel peace prize by finding the cure for cancer, then win an academy award, and play in the NBA, in which case, would allow him to legalize under the circumstances of extraordinary talent. The person in this video is not interested in marriage but rather raising awareness at the ridiculousness of the broken immigration system.
Hope it makes y'all smile
GIR Campaign launch dec 25th 2009
GIR January 2010 update
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Its 1:26 am and im awake
I wonder how we know when the universe aligns?
Is there a cosmic jolt and boom!
did you just feel it shake?
I believe in signs, strategically placed all around us to give is clues.
"yo dood, over here"
And i think i felt my jolt.
well. let the search begin
a total stranger one black day
knocked living the hell out of me--
who found forgiveness hard because
my(as it happened)self he was
-but now that fiend and i are such
immortal friends the other's each
- EE Cummings.
Tomorrow is another day. Ill figure out then
Is there a cosmic jolt and boom!
did you just feel it shake?
I believe in signs, strategically placed all around us to give is clues.
"yo dood, over here"
And i think i felt my jolt.
well. let the search begin
a total stranger one black day
knocked living the hell out of me--
who found forgiveness hard because
my(as it happened)self he was
-but now that fiend and i are such
immortal friends the other's each
- EE Cummings.
Tomorrow is another day. Ill figure out then
Friday, January 22, 2010
Furries
Sometimes i'm privy to some weird shit....these guys are called Furries:
I bet these doods can relate to finding some one who understands you online :)
I bet these doods can relate to finding some one who understands you online :)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
What Can Brown do for You?
The aftershocks of Tuesday’s special election in Massachusetts are being felt in every corner of the United States’ political spectrum. Republicans are once again foaming at the mouth. Democrats, well, they continue to be Democrats, weak, timid and like an ostrich with its head in the sand.
Word is spreading like the plague. Health Care Reform is dead, Finance Regulation Reform is dead, Energy Reform is dead.
Immigration reform is dead.
It’s spreading to immigrants. From frustrated students, undocumented immigrants working everywhere, to even legal immigrant and citizen family members.
“I’m worried”, text from my 21 year old sister after the election results.
“shit”, IM from a Southern California student activist
“We should start thinking about a plan to move”, my 62 year old father on the phone this morning, on how this will affect the immigration time table.
I feel numb. Like I was punched in the gut. How Americans can choose to forget so quickly what the past 8 years under republican rule brought them is beyond me. How they can fail to see that republicans have stood in the way of every single thing that Obama has tried to do is mind boggling. How they can once again be suckered (yes suckered) by the slogan of “change”, only this time by the very group they where trying to “change” from, is surreal.
Brown says the he is his “own man” and reports to no one. Yet he tauted himself as the 41st vote agaist HCR, and when it comes to immigration he embraces the same Draconian “enforcement only” policies that Republicans have promoted for years. Yep, more change.
In 2008 I promised myself that I was going to give myself until the end of 2010 before I threw in the towel and said goodbye to my country. The United States.
I’ll be damned if I am going to go with out a fight.
So Mr. Brown and fellow republicans. Get ready, because I am not giving up.
And when I finally get to vote as a citizen, I will not so easily forget, like they did in Massachusetts.
Word is spreading like the plague. Health Care Reform is dead, Finance Regulation Reform is dead, Energy Reform is dead.
Immigration reform is dead.
It’s spreading to immigrants. From frustrated students, undocumented immigrants working everywhere, to even legal immigrant and citizen family members.
“I’m worried”, text from my 21 year old sister after the election results.
“shit”, IM from a Southern California student activist
“We should start thinking about a plan to move”, my 62 year old father on the phone this morning, on how this will affect the immigration time table.
I feel numb. Like I was punched in the gut. How Americans can choose to forget so quickly what the past 8 years under republican rule brought them is beyond me. How they can fail to see that republicans have stood in the way of every single thing that Obama has tried to do is mind boggling. How they can once again be suckered (yes suckered) by the slogan of “change”, only this time by the very group they where trying to “change” from, is surreal.
Brown says the he is his “own man” and reports to no one. Yet he tauted himself as the 41st vote agaist HCR, and when it comes to immigration he embraces the same Draconian “enforcement only” policies that Republicans have promoted for years. Yep, more change.
In 2008 I promised myself that I was going to give myself until the end of 2010 before I threw in the towel and said goodbye to my country. The United States.
I’ll be damned if I am going to go with out a fight.
So Mr. Brown and fellow republicans. Get ready, because I am not giving up.
And when I finally get to vote as a citizen, I will not so easily forget, like they did in Massachusetts.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Odd (job) Man
Jobs
Pre Bachelors:
Taco Bell - Dishwasher, Cashier, Cook, Window Cleaner.
Sheet metal shop- Graveyard Shop helper, Reg Schedule Accounting Clerk
McDonalds- Cashier, Janitor, Truck Unloader,
Warehouse #1 - Pallet loader, Warehouse Monkey, Warehouse monkey lead, Dispatcher
Burger King- Cashier
Post Bachelors:
Contract Technical Writer- Wrote manuals, translated white papers, ect
Warehouse #2 - truck unloader, Boxer ( i made boxes)
Foreign Contract manufacturer #1- assistant "engineer", oversaw line employees, translated SOPs,ect.
Foreign Contract manufacturer #2 - Warehouse monkey, laptop repair tech, Customer service, all around fireman
Pre Bachelors:
Taco Bell - Dishwasher, Cashier, Cook, Window Cleaner.
Sheet metal shop- Graveyard Shop helper, Reg Schedule Accounting Clerk
McDonalds- Cashier, Janitor, Truck Unloader,
Warehouse #1 - Pallet loader, Warehouse Monkey, Warehouse monkey lead, Dispatcher
Burger King- Cashier
Post Bachelors:
Contract Technical Writer- Wrote manuals, translated white papers, ect
Warehouse #2 - truck unloader, Boxer ( i made boxes)
Foreign Contract manufacturer #1- assistant "engineer", oversaw line employees, translated SOPs,ect.
Foreign Contract manufacturer #2 - Warehouse monkey, laptop repair tech, Customer service, all around fireman
Will work for Papers
Monday, January 18, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Fear Tactics
The following texts were among the many i received Thursday afternoon:
" Wei ay redadas de emigracion"
" Just received news that ICE is doing a sweep in Bay area be careful"
" ICE check points in san jose"
Memories of 2006 came back. Hearing about an immigration raid next door to where i worked. Hiding in the back of the warehouse through my lunch. the fear.
The word was spreading, even while i was at work. Immigration Check points in multiple streets. Immigration checking people's status at bus stops. The streets and the bus stops all where in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. profiling.
It makes me angry.
Angry to feel so impotent to the fact that at any given moment i could be driving down the wrong street, at the wrong time. With a flash of a light, a criminalizing procedure and one question, my whole life, my whole foundation is uprooted.
Angry at the impotence i feel because i want so bad to change this system, where a father is torn from his family because he was taking the bus home from work. Where a mother driving her kid to karate practice is now in a detention center, because she took a wrong turn. Where a student is afraid to drive to class, because there is a check point.
"papers please" = Fuck you. you second class citizen, you're a criminal in our eyes and you will be hunted like one. Who cares if you have a family. Who cares if your son is a US citizen, or your case is pending.
What? you have a degree, well use it in your country. What you pay taxes? go pay them in Mexico. Huh? your wife is a US Citizen, well she will need to go with you.
Sorry.
My father was here in 1978. He told me of how Immigration would stop a man on the street if he looked "illegal". Looked "illegal".
It's 2010. Obama administration. Change. progress. yet the persecution. the fear mongering. the separation of families still occurs.
I want that Change Mr. Obama. Because so far i don't believe in what ever "this" is.
" Wei ay redadas de emigracion"
" Just received news that ICE is doing a sweep in Bay area be careful"
" ICE check points in san jose"
Memories of 2006 came back. Hearing about an immigration raid next door to where i worked. Hiding in the back of the warehouse through my lunch. the fear.
The word was spreading, even while i was at work. Immigration Check points in multiple streets. Immigration checking people's status at bus stops. The streets and the bus stops all where in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. profiling.
It makes me angry.
Angry to feel so impotent to the fact that at any given moment i could be driving down the wrong street, at the wrong time. With a flash of a light, a criminalizing procedure and one question, my whole life, my whole foundation is uprooted.
Angry at the impotence i feel because i want so bad to change this system, where a father is torn from his family because he was taking the bus home from work. Where a mother driving her kid to karate practice is now in a detention center, because she took a wrong turn. Where a student is afraid to drive to class, because there is a check point.
"papers please" = Fuck you. you second class citizen, you're a criminal in our eyes and you will be hunted like one. Who cares if you have a family. Who cares if your son is a US citizen, or your case is pending.
What? you have a degree, well use it in your country. What you pay taxes? go pay them in Mexico. Huh? your wife is a US Citizen, well she will need to go with you.
Sorry.
My father was here in 1978. He told me of how Immigration would stop a man on the street if he looked "illegal". Looked "illegal".
It's 2010. Obama administration. Change. progress. yet the persecution. the fear mongering. the separation of families still occurs.
I want that Change Mr. Obama. Because so far i don't believe in what ever "this" is.
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