Blog 7: Anti Immigrant Golden Dawn rises in Greece

Anti-immigrant Golden Dawn rises in Greece

 

At first glance, strolling through the corrupted city of Athens, Greece, you would think that standard issue military were patrolling the streets in the camouflage and fatigues. In reality these rebels are flaunting black shirts emblazoned with modified swastika. This symbol is the mark of the very ultra conservative Golden Dawn party, who has won their first seat in Greek parliament this summer. They proudly flaunt the slogan “Get the Stench out of Greece”, proposing Greek purification of non-Grecian natives. These people are getting major support from local businesses and also the police. Now that they have political power there is sure to be a stir in Greece’s society. The party and its supporters have been accused of unleashing harsh violence against immigrants, burning and smashing their living quarters, merchant’s stands, and businesses. The violence doesn’t stop there as one of their legislators recently slapped a liberal female politician on national television. If Greek society is forced out of the euro then there is fear of an erupting civil war.

 

Greece is facing some terrible social conflict; Not only politically but in ethnic division and gender roles. I don’t understand why people would elect officials who condone violence against their own people and others, and that would terrorize a people who want nothing more than to help establish and build their economy. Maybe they shouldn’t worry about who is coming into their country, but what they are going to do about their currency and economy is they get kicked out of the euro. I found it funny that Elias Panagiotaros, one of the new legislators of the party denied that the party is engaging in these attacks on the immigrants, yet, he added, “that ethnic Greeks have the right to protect themselves and their property from all these illegal savages”. How do you call the non-violent group savages?

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/anti-immigrant-golden-dawn-rises-in-greece/2012/10/20/e7128296-17a6-11e2-a346-f24efc680b8d_story.html

Blog 11: Its China, Stupid

Its China, Stupid.

 

China is a country that is divided among its people; similar to the United States. Politically it is separated as it is always the most wealthy and liberal city dwellers against the poor, conservative agricultural workforce. There is growing resentment and tension between the country’s ninety nine percent and its “one-percenters”. China is struggling to resolve problems such as budget deficits, over reliance on imported oil and resources, finding a social safety net for their growing elderly population, ethnic division and corruption. Facing the threat of a rival super power, which is not the United States but is The People’s Republic of China, the people of china are beginning to question their leadership and its next moves to fix the economy and lives of its citizens. Two thousand representatives along with the wealthy elite are going to gather in Bejing to slowly reveil Chinese leadership under Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang. Hopefully Xi and team can find effective tactics to tackle china’s problems. In The United States, President Obama is also facing some challenges in figuring out his approach to his relationship with China and their economy. While China’s situation is a headliner, it has been pushed off the front pages of many major newspapers due to the rising conflict in the Middle East. The Chinese say that there will not be effective partnership among America and its nation unless its communist party allows citizen critique and take into consideration the needs and rights of its people.

 

While Obama is focused on helping china’s economy and society, I can’t help but be a bit angry. Foreign affairs are definitely a priority but so is our nation’s economy. We have a large percentage of poor and needy. I don’t think we can help another country if we cannot get our together first. I feel as though once we find an effective solution to our problems, we can properly present them to others. As far as China, I question if they are going to be able to stabilize their communist economy with such heavy burdens upon them and such a large population. I question why it is that their leaders are trying so desperately to avoid reform. Is it because they want to keep a grasp on power among the elite?

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-jannuzi/its-china-stupid_b_2093380.html

Blog 6: Roma Discrimination In France

Tensions rise in France after residents torch Roma camp advocates for minority seek support

 

In France, there has been international call on protest to defend the Roma people, who are more often called Gypsies. Gypsies, or Roma, have been subject to cruel treatment and discrimination all over the continent of Europe. Many of the Roma camps have been terrorized but it rare that a horrendous act, one such as the eviction of the gypsies from Marseille, would happen. The ethnic minority is blamed for many of the crimes taking place in which they reside. French government is debating over the treatment of the Roma, for they too have dismantled many of the camps which gypsies call home. The Roma do not feel they have a voice and have many advocacy groups backing them up. A government official of France feels the declaration for a need of troops to stop all of the crime and violence in the alleged areas. She said that the people should not be taking matters into their own hands.

Reading this article reminded me of a television show I watched one time called “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding”. The Roma people in this show definitely experienced some harsh prejudices in Europe as they were push off the land and threatened. They protested in big congregations and demonstrated peaceful resistance.  Roma people are nomads and live very traditional lifestyles. I don’t understand why all of a sudden people want to get super violent when I’m sure they had crime and robbery before the Roma people located near them. I think it may be because they are different. The government needs not to enforce military power but to put a stop to the oppression of every group as well as enforcing police for protection of people and laws.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/tensions-rising-in-france-after-residents-torch-roma-camp-advocates-for-minority-seek-protest/2012/09/29/92d28bb4-0a49-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_story.html

Blog 4: Racial Profiling Law Approved and Enforced!

Civil rights groups rally after judge says Ariz. police can enforce ‘show me your papers’ law

Rebellion against a newly passed law, stating that it is legal for the authorities to ask persons to "show them your papers", in Phoenix, Arizona, is growing steadily. Civil rights groups have been congregating in front of the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement building chanting repeatedly "No papers, no fear....”  Efforts, such as the Puente Movement, have been encouraging people not to cooperate with the enforcement of this law. Some illegal immigrants, like Leticia Ramirez, have been trying to educate the Latino immigrant community to help them fight this oppression, encouraging them that it is best to remain as quiet as possible when pulled over by the police, only distributing their name and birth date if absolutely necessary. As well as warning them not to keep any documents on their person or in the possessions documenting their birthplace or legal status. There are also a number of hotlines from civil rights advocacy groups that are available for people to call to get information on how they would defend themselves in a situation. The advocates are asking the authorities not to continue to enforce the law, but not enforcing the bill could leave the agencies vulnerable to lawsuit against people stating that they aren’t complying with the law. The law has even been taken to the Supreme Court to challenge the accusations of unconstitutionality, but the US Supreme Court states that is completely constitutional. The battle doesn’t end there as the Latino community is waiting upon a response from the District court of appeals.

 

I feel that this could be interpreted in a few of ways. One as an act of discrimination against the Latino community as they are the main force of immigration in the state of Arizona. There is no doubt that this is racial profiling. It is not fair at all. Why not target all nationalities if that is the case. Pull over a person of black, white, or Asian ethnicity to see if they are an immigrant. They could be from anywhere in the world, learned to speak English as well as Americans and moved here for a number of different reason. But they would be an immigrant; so why not them? Why just target Latinos? Could it be racism? Secondly, this could be an opportunity to push along immigration reform in the United States, making it easier for authorities to catch immigrants. All in all, I think this is an unjust law that needs to be appealed and overturned. Authorities are shadowing people’s lives, leaving them in fear that at any moment they could be deported back to the very thing from which they escaped. It saddens my heart and I can’t help but to wonder, what is that were me, or my race?....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/education-campaign-launched-after-judge-says-ariz-can-enforce-show-me-your-papers-provision/2012/09/19/0594e948-02b7-11e2-9132-f2750cd65f97_story.html

Blog 2: Does Race Fuel Obama Opposition?

The question of whether race fuels the oppostion to the Obama campaign is a highly disputed one among many. While there are many white republicans who simply do not agree with Obama's liberal policy, most conservatist are being labeled racist. Even the democratic party has hardly any reason to dislike Barrack as much as they do. The accusation is impossible to prove. We can't just assume that people are racist because they do not like our president, but with such chaos confronting the political issue, it is hard not to question... Is it because he is black?
It was thought that after the 2008 election when the president was chosen, that this race issue had come to a significant close. Yet we are finding the issue to come to quite a stir during the 2012 presidential race. Experts such as Susan Glisson, the director for the institute of racial reconcilation, have stated that "We are at a tipping point. But I do not know which way we are going to tip." She also says that society has a fear of blacks that is embedded in our culture. Her conclusion suggest that we face something called implicit bias, a predjudice that we do not realize we have. People have concieved some ignorant conceptions of black people and created anti black biases. Some people want to build institutions to help educate people about the bias and inconspicious racism without blaming or offending them. There have been many anti black antics displayed at republican conventions and even things that have been said in interviews but some republicans. Conservative journalist James Toranto stated that "“Every comment from a Republican can be translated, through a process of free association, to: ‘We don’t like black people.’”.

I find this to be absolutely embarrassing and sad. Our national leaders are acting in such childish and ignorant manners. I do not know what they are so scared of. I understand that history has defined our own personal perceptions of the ethnicities around us, but why cant we all put that aside to see a greater picture and work together to preserve the great nation we say we are. How can we be so great if we do not look towards a future bright and diverse. Instead we live in a past of hatred that we seem to no be able to forgive and forget.

The question is still unanswered... Is it because he is black?

Blog 1: Ethnic Division

Settlement alleging racial bias against Pa. day campers includes unusual diversity provision

In recent news, a lawsuit about a racial discrimination case was settled. In Philidelphia, Pennsylvania, a group of african american and hispanic children were discriminated against at a local swim club in the luxurious hillside of a predomanently white neighborhood. The children were members of the Creative Steps camp, who paid for them to go swimming at the Swim Club every monday for the price of $1,950, considering it was about 65, mostly, minority children. The first day the children arrived at the pool, many of the kids had claimed to get funny looks from some of the white Swim Club members who also began to pull their own children from the pool and even heard some comments and remarks that made them feel uncomfortable. The day camp's money was refunded for Swim Club told the children to never return to the pool again. When asked the Swim Club workers came up with excuses to why they told the children to stay away from their property. One was that they didnt have enough lifeguards to supervise the children, and that many of the kids could not swim. When interviewed, the President of the Swim Club, John Duesler stated that so many of the children would "change the complexion" or the enviornment. Later, he apologized saying that he chose a poor choice of words. The incident created protest and condemnation by major olympic figures and actors such as Tyler Perry, who supported the movement for equality and justice. The Swim Club eventually had no choice but to file for bankruptcy and the property was soon bought by a local synagogue for the hefty price of a million dollars. The rest of the settlement, about $1.1 million dollars was granted to the 73 children and camp members who were discriminated against for the use of starting more programs and activities for the children.

This entire situation, in my opinion, was completely unfortunate. For those children to be subject to such cruel discrimination was very hurtful to me as I could put my feet in their shoes and walk in their footsteps. It surprises me how people just cant seem to stop living in the past. Why cant they see that we are all human beings and our skin color isnt a disease, or it isnt uncleanly. It is apart of us and we all have it. That's some questioning for another discussion but reading this article mad me realize two things. That yes, there is still some relevent occurances of ethnic division. And secondly, Im not saying bad things happen to bad people, but i guess im saying you reap what you sew, if you do bad upon others, there will be consequences and because of the horrible racial offenses inflicted upon the children and camp members, the Swim Club was protested against, it soon filed for bankruptcy and was auctioned off. All because they didnt want minority children in their pool.

August 23,2012
11:34pm
490 Words



http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/suburban-philly-swim-club-settles-complaint-alleging-bias-against-black-hispanic-day-campers/2012/08/16/76ad2eda-e802-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html