My Thoughts: SB 1070

As many people know, the Arizona governor recently signed the bill SB 1070 into law. This is the law regarding illegal immigration. Everyone has their own thoughts and opinions on this law, though I believe many of them have no clue what it actually says. I have skimmed over the bill, so that puts me a step ahead of the masses. So I guess I'll take a few seconds to share my thoughts on the bill and illegal immigration as a whole.

I like to follow the law and be an upstanding citizen, but there are many times when I think laws don't make too much sense. I understand the need to follow traffic laws, but when it is three in the morning and I can see all ways, is there really a need to wait for a light to change? I know I can't just pick and choose when to follow laws, that is why I sit there and wait at lights no matter how late it is.

My problem with illegal immigration is that we as Americans have no problem having the 'illegals' work for cheap and do the crappy jobs that most people wouldn't want to do and certainly wouldn't want to do for the wages they are getting. For these people, they are coming to America to try to make a better life for themselves and their family. That is exactly what the American is about. The American Dream, that whoever you are, through hard work, you can make a better life for yourself. To tell these people who are coming here for that reason that they should stay out seems a bit strange to me. It almost seems like America is starting to lean away from what it says it is.

I do know and understand the issues that have arisen from illegal immigration. Drugs and violence are big ones. I will not argue with the fact that, with this law, there is a chance that these will lessen. My problem with it is that you are penalizing the many for the crimes of a few. No all illegal immigrants are drug lords, drug runners, thieves, or murders and I would guess that not even most are. I would add that I think those who are will now turn to violence more quickly if confronted by the law because they would fear deportation. The trouble causing illegals, I think, are better at hiding than those who aren't here to cause trouble. I really doubt that this law will scare anyone who is already into that type of trouble.

My biggest issue with the law, after skimming it, is the wording, 'FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE, WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON'. Now, to me, what this says is that, when a police officer confronts anyone that he has a 'reasonable suspicion' is an illegal immigrant, he shall make a 'reasonable attempt' to find out their immigration status. I really doubt I am going to be asked for my immigration status. To me, I think this leads to racial profiling. Yes, politicians will tell you this law is in place for illegal immigrants from all over but I really believe that, since the biggest group in Arizona are illegal Latin American immigrants, these are the people who will be targeted. The wording makes me worried that these will lead to racial profiling, specifically of Latin Americans because that is the biggest worry of most people in Arizona who support this bill.

Of course I think something needs to be done. I don't even think this law is terrible. I just think its a bad first step. There needs to be a way to make the immigration process quicker. After that is in place, we need to give those living here illegally a way to become legal and a reason to do so. This would mean putting a law like this in place, one that would penalize those living here illegally so that they would be 'encouraged' to become legal citizens. I believe the increase in federal tax dollars from these people would help offset the cost of all of this.

Again, I am not a politician or that knowledgeable about the laws but I am not a supporter of this law. Nor do I want a wall to be built. Laws like this really just make me wonder.

My AZ Friends

I know I have said this before, but I am so thankful for the path my life has taken. I have had to deal with a few small annoyances with my jobs and money, but in the end, I have always had enough to get by.

The other night, I realized a certain path life had taken me on where I got to meet two of the most amazing people ever, my friend Brad and his sister Christin. Brad and I met while working for Siren, a decent job that didn't work out in the end. After leaving the job, I went through some pretty unsteady months but I can always look back on my time there as a blessing cause I got to meet Brad, who is probably my best friend I've made since moving out of Buffalo. Since I have been hanging out at his place, I have gotten to meet his wonderful sister, Christin. Both of them have made me feel very welcome whenever we have spent time hanging out. Brad is always inviting me over to eat dinner, go to a party or church, or just to hang. Recently, we were hanging out and I overheard Christin say that she had a blog. Of course I went home and followed her blog. Next time I saw her, I mentioned this and she was really happy to hear it. In my mind, it wasn't a big thing but I am glad she was pleased.

So, thinking back to my time with Siren, yeah, it wasn't cool what happened at the time, but if it didn't happen, I wouldn't be living on this side of town and probably wouldn't have made these friends. In the end, the small annoyance was worth it.

By the way, both Brad and Christin write blogs. You can read Brad's here and Christin's here.

Random Encounter

Two weeks ago, I thought it would be a good idea to start going to church again. I found a Nazarene church in my area and since I had been to one in Buffalo that I somewhat enjoyed, I decided to go. Last Sunday, I woke at about 7am, not on purpose, and got ready and just went to the 9am service. I was quickly greeted by an older gentleman named Will. I found out he is a pastor there and quickly treated me to the welcome speech. I didn't mind cause it was quick and involved a gift bag with a $5.00 gift card to Starbucks. He reminded me of Pastor Dave Hill from EHWC. He tells me about a Sunday school for college-aged people that starts at 9:30am and invites me to go next week. I thank him and enjoy the service. The service was decent, nothing ground breaking to me, but I figure I'll give it another try next week.

Next week come and I am again awake much earlier than I want to be. I decide to go to the Sunday school this week. I get there and there are only 4 other people. We chat for a bit and start talking about Isaiah. More people start coming in and one of the girls introduces herself as Laura, who I think is familiar looking. The name is familiar too. A few minutes later I realize that she is actually from my hometown and the sister of a friend of mine. After Sunday school she says that I look familiar. I respond, 'Yeah, my last name is Debo. Yours is Pasieka.' She actually remembers my brothers and going to the same church my family went to for years.

How random.

Snow!

The other night, I was called by work. They were shorthanded and needed someone to drive to Flagstaff for them. For those of you who aren't familiar with you Arizona geography, Flagstaff is about two and a half north of Phoenix in the mountains. Having nothing better to do, I agreed. I went to pick up the package at 10pm Sunday night. I had been told it was only going to be one box for 40lbs. When I got there and found it was actually 4 packages for 170lbs, I was wondering how to get it up to my car. Luckily, a nice skycab, one of the guys with the carts that help people with their luggage came over and helped me get it to my car.

On the drive to Flagstaff, I was on the look out for snow the whole time. I didn't notice any until I got within an hour of the city, but I could have missed it, being so late at night and so dark. When I got to the location to drop the boxes off, I noticed there was snow there. I realized I haven't seen snow in around 374 days, since I left Buffalo after visiting for Christmas '08. Thinking I don't know when I'd see snow again, I decided to run into it. After taking one step in, I thought that was enough of that. I made a snowball, but didn't have anything to throw it at so I just threw it into the street. Enough snow for me for a bit.

Ont he drive back, I got to see a coyote and tons of stars. It's nice to get away from the lights of the city ever so often to just see the billions of stars. Made for a decent trip.

Back in AZ

I made it! I would be ok to not take a car ride over 2 hours for a while. In the past year, I think I have made way too many road trips. The issue with being back in AZ is that I currently don't have a place to live. I am sleeping on my brothers couch and I haven't unloaded most of my stuff. I hope to have an apartment by the end of the week. Boy, am I going to be glad to get settled soon.

How quickly things change

After being told I was going to San Antonio for the extension office for about a month before being pulled back to the corprate office back in Phoenix AZ, I was just told I have to be back there on Monday. Yeah, that's right, I have a week to move back to AZ and find a place to live before I am expected to be back at work. I still have to work on closing the office here and maybe spend a day of 2 in San Antonio helping set that up. Well at least I can say it isn't boring here.

The worst part is I moved all my stuff into storage and have it paid till October. Well, guess there is no rush to move into my place in AZ.

A Bit of News

Recently I was asked by a few friends if I had thought of moving from the apartment I share with my brother in Glendale, AZ to Tempe, AZ. I had to admit that I really hadn't thought of moving to Tempe yet, but next year, when I hear residency in Arizona and can go to ASU without paying out the nose, I was thinking of moving out there. One of them brought up the idea of moving in together. We started looking at different apartments in the Tempe area when we were approached by another friend who is going to need a place in Tempe, so the three of us started looking at bigger apartments in the area. I was looking at a pretty nice place when I stopped and thought, 'There will be three of us, why don't we find a house instead?' So now the Tempe apartment has changed to a Tempe house search.

The other issue about moving, besides finding a place to live, is I now need to find a place to work in the area. I, along with everyone else I know, hate job searching. I started putting out applications and resumes on Sunday. The earliest time I could start would be the 24th of August, unless the job is so amazing that I would quit the job I am currently and imideatly move back to AZ, but I don't forsee that happening.

All this is pretty exciting. I am hoping that it all works out soon but, really, nothing needs to happen for another month and a half cause I don't think I'll be back in AZ before the 20th of August. I just hate the combination of excitment for these new adventures and patience needed till things get figured out and set up.