posted on May 10, 2004 02:35:37 AM new
Your child's nanny, a housekeeper, a police officer, your city council member, the security guard at your bank, your gardener, or your mechanic. Now imagine A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN. Who would teach your children because - who knew? - 20% of the schoolteachers in California are Latino. Gone, too, would be fire department personnel, medical staff, postal workers, chefs, waiters, bank tellers, business owners, people we all depend on.
..........Exactly what would your life be like on A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN? Such is the premise of the bold new movie A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN, the outrageously funny, cautionary tale of the state of California, which one-day discovers that one third of its population has disappeared. As time goes by, the state begins to deteriorate; what was once the fifth largest economy in the world tumbles, leaving economic, political and social despair. The realization that what has disappeared is the very thing that keeps the “California Dream” running – cooks, gardeners, policemen, nannies, teachers, doctors, farm and construction workers, entertainers, athletes, as well as the largest growing market of consumers – has turned Latinos and their return into the number one priority of the state. How do you make the invisible visible? You take it away…
Opens in theaters this week - should be interesting.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on May 10, 2004 02:36 AM ]
posted on May 10, 2004 05:03:19 AM new
Yeah, you forgot about less graffiti, less drive by shootings, less, car thefts, less drug dealing, less gang members...
posted on May 10, 2004 06:10:35 AM new
That very interesting scenario reminds me of the adage, "sometimes you don't appreciate something until you lose it".
A story line carried to the other extreme in which Mexican takeover of California leads to world war.... Welcome to Cosovoe California.
posted on May 10, 2004 08:59:06 AM newYour child's nanny, a housekeeper, a police officer, your city council member, the security guard at your bank, your gardener, or your mechanic. Now imagine A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN. Who would teach your children because - who knew? - 20% of the schoolteachers in California are Latino. Gone, too, would be fire department personnel, medical staff, postal workers, chefs, waiters, bank tellers, business owners, people we all depend on.
I don't understand the premise of the movie.
I have heard no on argue that legal immigrants must leave, only illegal immigrants.
There are no illegals knowingly hired as police officers, fire officials, security guards or teachers, etc..
That is unless they have provided false documents.
Why didn't they make a movie about WASPs disappearing ? It would make as much sense.
posted on May 10, 2004 09:16:43 AM new
Reamond - From the Genesis section of the movies website....
..Arizmendi recalled the origin of the idea for the short film and its title - A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN. “It was 1994 and Pete Wilson was running for re-election in California and was pushing Proposition 187 as ‘the’ solution to the state’s problems. Sergio and I were in New York and there were banners all around New York City stating “A Day Without Art” – it was the day when all art institutions were shut down to commemorate those who died of AIDS and remind us what a void it would be to be ‘Artless.’”
“Sergio and I were discussing Wilson’s policies when I turned to him and said ‘What California needs is a day without a Mexican!’ We couldn’t stop talking about the idea and all the implications – humorous and otherwise.”
By the way - if you believe that the resentment in this state regarding latinos is directed only at illegals, you are niave. Just look at Twelves lovely generalizations found above.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on May 10, 2004 09:34:03 AM newif you believe that the resentment in this state regarding latinos is directed only at illegals, you are niave.
And IF you believe that only whites [etc] resent illegals...you are mistaken. Many reports saying legal immigrants/latinos also resented the illegals coming in that way....rather than legally like they, themselves, did.
posted on May 10, 2004 09:55:10 AM new
You guys crack me up. nowhere in the piece I posted is there single mention of illegal immigrants but the first things you post deal with criminals and illegals.
No question in my mind why this was made into a full length movie.
Tell me something... I mention latinos, and you guys immediately seem to think of what you see as the worst of the group. Why is it again that you think arabs shouldn't do the same thing with americans?
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on May 10, 2004 11:06:04 AM new
While the film's premise is amusing, it is not realistic. Whether it were Mexicans, whites, blacks, asisans, whatever, the state would not deteriorate if a group were to disappear. It might fakter for a short time if the disappearance was sudden, but it would not deteriorate.
There would always be other people to step into the gaps, whether from within the state or from other states. No one is irreplaceable.
____________________
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. -- John F. Kennedy
posted on May 10, 2004 11:16:50 AM new
And I thought Fenix was refering to a Corona....
And for those who don't think American jobs being lost to Mexicans:
---------------
May 9, 2004, 8:44PM
MONEY FOR MOM
Wiring money to family in Mexico is big business, especially on Mother's Day
By JENALIA MORENO
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
Mexican housekeeper Juana Nolasco sends money to her elderly mother every month, but she's sure never to skip a Mother's Day disbursement.
Every May 10th, Mexicans celebrate their matriarchs with serenades by mariachis, bouquets of flowers and expensive gifts like washing machines.
For immigrants living miles away from their mothers, they must often give the gift of cash.
So many people send cash home to mom in May that the Bank of Mexico usually reports a spike in money transfers that month. Last year, immigrants sent $13.3 billion to Mexico and nearly $2 billion of that was sent in the month of May.
With so much cash flowing south for the holiday, several banks and money transfer services are offering Mother's Day specials.
At Wells Fargo branches, the transaction volume increases by 20 percent and the average amount of money sent to Mexico almost doubles during the weeks leading to Mother's Day. So the bank offered to waive transaction fees to customers who open an account with Wells Fargo by today.(MAY 10)
Another Mother's Day promotion includes a $75,000 prize to help pay for a matriarch's house. Customers automatically qualify for the "House for Mama" drawing when they send money through Minneapolis-based MoneyGram Payment Systems. That offer runs through the end of May for customers who send money outside of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Nolasco, a 51-year-old Houston resident, was intrigued by another special. Last week she visited a small money wiring service to send her mother $300.
"I always have my mother in my heart," said Nolasco, who recently switched from sending money through behemoth Western Union to a smaller operation that offered her free transfers on her birthday and after every 10 transactions. That's how competitive the business has become.
Just a few years ago, Western Union and MoneyGram dominated the market, sharing it with some small shops that dot neighborhoods where immigrants traditionally live.
Few banks, except for those operating in border communities like Laredo-based International Bank of Commerce, offered money wiring services.
"The banks, by absence, they weren't interested in these clients to begin with," said Pedro de Vasconcelos, who studies remittances for the Washington-based Multilateral Investment Fund.
But then banks and credit unions began to pay attention to immigrants because they were sending billions of dollars a year to relatives in their home countries.
Now, Houston-based immigrants can choose from long-standing players in the market or some newer ones such as San Francisco-based Wells Fargo, Charlotte-based Bank of America or the Dallas-based Texas Credit Union League.
Banks and credit unions want this money transfer business because it is growing and they can charge immigrants fees for sending cash to Mexico.
"We're talking about a lot of migrants, and a buck is a buck," de Vasconcelos said.
More importantly for bankers, they can offer banking services such as car loans and savings and checking accounts to an immigrant population that normally doesn't have any relationship with a bank or credit union.
"It's kind of a hook to bring them in," said Linda Webb-Manon, a spokeswoman for the credit union league, which has several credit union members in the Houston area that offer the money transfer service.
"This is an immediate need. If you're able to offer this service, then you're able to introduce them to financial services, to credit unions."
Last year, money wiring services and the acceptance of the Mexican consular ID card at banks convinced immigrants to take their cash out of their wallets and open 400,000 accounts, said Manuel Orozco, a researcher at Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of International Migration.
With more competition in the market, that's bringing down fees immigrants pay to send money home to mom, the bankers and experts said.
"The Secret Service has announced it is doubling its protection for John Kerry. You can understand why — with two positions on every issue, he has twice as many people mad at him." —Jay Leno
posted on May 10, 2004 11:56:07 AM newYou guys crack me up. nowhere in the piece I posted is there single mention of illegal immigrants but the first things you post deal with criminals and illegals.
What "cracks me up" is that the film makers could have made a humorous film about life without illegal Mexicans and it would have made sense for those that wish illegals to gain legal status.
In fact one of the major reasons given for legalizing illegal Mexicans is for all the work they do here.
The movie, whether a comedy or not makes no sense.
They might as well make a comedy about a day without Italians or WASPs, or Canadians.
posted on May 10, 2004 12:12:05 PM new
fenix - Why is it again that you think arabs shouldn't do the same thing with americans?
I've never thought that nor said that. I knew they would...I've said the abuse issues would only make things worse.
-----
As far as jobs go.....there are many who perform these jobs who aren't latino. Then if this group were to suddenly leave the US...the teens and others looking for jobs would fill the gap. Last I read...on our unemployment rate....17% [approx.] of our unemployed are teens.
It's like putting your finger in water....as soon as you pull it out the void is filled.
posted on May 10, 2004 12:41:24 PM new
Because Reamond - if you live in California you would know full well that Go Home Wop, and Filthy Canuck are not frequently heard statements. They also do not represent 1/3 of the states population.
Are you really so blind that you don't understand how much racism and hatred is directed towards Latinos in this state?
Hell your statement embodies it. Nothing in what I posted said illegals - you just heard Mexican and immediately started posting about illegals.
Bear reads an article about Latinos sending money to help support family membeers in Mexico and somehow turns it into them stealing jobs from Americans.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on May 10, 2004 12:42 PM ]
posted on May 10, 2004 01:19:59 PM new
Yeah Reamond - OK - and legal Mexican are never assumed to be ilklegal by the small minded and they are never seen as "stealing Americans jobs" by people who resent that they send money to family in Mexico. How many Latinos do you actually know and talk to about their day to day experiences here and the attitudes they encounter?
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on May 10, 2004 02:19:05 PM new
the guy who mowns my lawn is mexican,good guy.
he is getting all that grass in his face and in his eyes,his eyes are always red,
what will happen someday??
is there somthing i can do,like recommend some kind of eye glasses??
do you know most immigrants do the work americans shun,the dirty work which pay peanuts??
i paid him 15 dollars every 2 week,how many americans are willing to work for 15??
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on May 10, 2004 06:04:01 PM new
CHEAP SHOT!!
Most immigrants do jobs local shun
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on May 11, 2004 09:39:28 AM newHow many Latinos do you actually know and talk to about their day to day experiences here and the attitudes they encounter?
My daughter's prom date is Mexican. His family is here legal and he is a US citizen.
And my neighbors three doors down the husband Dan is a Mexican, here legal too.
posted on May 11, 2004 09:57:48 AM new
Wow - you have status on the brain don't you. I didn't ask you the immigration status of any Latino you may have come into contact with. I asked you how many Latinos do you know and speak with about their day to day experiences. Your answer was quite telling though. The point was to ask, how the hell do you know what it is like to be Latino in th US in general or California specifically.
I had the unique experience of traveling with a group of friends that was all Latino. The resentment and the condescension I saw directed towards us every day was shocking and embarrassing. Even growing up in the south I never witnessed the level of racism I saw while traveling with these people.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on May 11, 2004 10:06:35 AM new
You're assuming I don't interact or socialize with my Mexican neighbors. They don't suffer any discrimination, they do quite well.
But I would imagine that in areas where there is a large contingent of illegals, there is discrimination. That's the reason most legal Mexicans want the illegals out too.
posted on May 11, 2004 10:36:44 AM new
OK Reamond - you go ahead and stay blind. I'm sure it's more comfortable there.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on May 11, 2004 10:50:49 AM new
fenix03,
where did you and your latino friends travel to??
many years ago when i was a student,i was visiting some friends in san fran .When we were in san fran chinatown(we are both chinese),we ran into a group of young japanese tourists,They are office workers with high school education and they joined a tour for a 4 days 3 nite tour of san fran.
Back then the yen was nowhere as strong as it is now and that tour costed them a bundle,1/3 of the money goes to buying a sports jacket with the tour company logo,go figure !
They said they would like won ton soup and asked us to take them to have won ton soup.
Not realising that i should take them to noodle shop ,i took them to different restaurants.
Most do not want our business,and one manager took me aside and explained why-
to serve 10 of us,they grossed 28 dollars,the waiter gets may be 2 dollars tip from us,and what does it involve ??
They have to bring out 3 pots of tea,10 teacups,10 soysauce dish,10 spoons,10 plates and 10 bowls with won ton and 10 pairs of chopsticks and 3 condiment dishes .
Not only will the waiter frown on such business,so would the dishwasher.
Finally there is one restaurant which would accept our business,and boy ,it was insult all the way-plates and chopsticks were slammed on our table,dishes flew out from the kitchen like flying saucer,One would like mustard sauce,and mustard sauce flew across the table and landed on his lap.
But the manager was right,altogether we tipped 2 dollars and we did not get a thank you from our waiter.
Afterwards we strolled thru chinatown and saw the noodle shops,i am sure they would be happey to have our business,12 people strong = 12 won ton soups!!
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on May 11, 2004 11:27:40 AM new
We actually travelled all over the country together. At different times we were in California (San Diego, LA, San Fran), Texas, Ohio, Pensylvania, Up and down the east coast. When in malls we often found we had security shadows, at restaurants we learned to request pitchers of beverages because catching someone for a refill was next to impossible, At hotels and car rentals, desk people would turn and speak to me rather than the person trying to register or rent, immediately asuming that they must not speak english. I can't tell you how many times when they asked a question of someone the reply was "sorry, I don't speak spanish" despite the fact that the question was asked in english. Airports were tons o fun as even though this was pre 9-11, you could count on at least 1 member being put thru additional checks. When driving on the east coast between states at least twice the car I was not driving would get pulled over for some ridiculous reason (my favorite was an air freshener hanging from the rear view window) and everyone checked.
BTW - The air-freshener-pull-over has recently been brought up as a common excuse for a racial profiling inspired stop by police.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on May 11, 2004 11:28 AM ]
