Aberforth

2020 Census Citizenship Question

Today the Supreme Court begins hearing arguments about reintroducing a question pertaining to individual citizenship on the 2020 Census—and it’s a smooth political move. It sounds okay, the administration is just trying to get better information about the residents of different areas, but its outcomes are more than that. Similar to this same administrations’ rhetoric about sending the recent immigrants legally applying for refugee and asylum status to ‘sanctuary cities’ this citizenship question could lead to an overall inaccurate population count that would lower those areas with higher immigrant population and with the census would lower their federal funding received and their political representation. Sound familiar? Both outcomes that would fall in favor with the administration that is pushing and put this change into action.

The obvious argument is, don’t answer (illegal) or lie (more illegal). While both of these options shouldn’t be preferred by the government and aren’t preferred by the immigrants themselves, it’s important to also understand the specific type of immigrant. Along with the rest of my family my Aunt has lived in the US for close to sixty years but retains her original citizenship and has not obtained US citizenship. Chances are, this Supreme Court case won’t impact her as her age, appearance, location and other demographic factors don’t match the politicized “immigrant image” but there are those who do fit into that image. There are those who are citizens and whose families have resided in the US for generations but are believed to be “illegals” the same as those who are here recently but legally and will become frightened about answering this question wrong. As immigrants continue to be in the headlines, here are 5 things about US immigrants and international relationships that people should consider.

Taxes

While certain requirements and programs block immigrants and other recent newcomers from services[i] current legal residents and undocumented immigrants both pay taxes even if they may never be entitled to benefits such as social security, Medicaid, or other tax credits. [ii],[iii] In fact, according to Forbes, an estimated 11.64 billion is paid by just undocumented immigrants every year in state and local taxes.[iv]

Hard Workers

NYC and other cities have been under some heat from the current administration for being ‘Sanctuary Cities’ and allowing undocumented immigrants to be there. This annoyance has led to ‘threats’ of dropping all refugee and asylum seekers into sanctuary cities, related to the upcoming Supreme Court case about the 2020 Census Citizenship question and is full of misinformation as it is believed all immigrants (as the current administration confuses just not liking immigrants with illegal actions by those trying to migrate) are just stealing jobs or not working. In addition to this being false with the earlier facts about taxation (and now possible without representation), immigrants are already a large, hard-working part of the US workforce with foreign-born workers making up 25% of the construction industry, 23.1% of the agricultural industry, 20.1% of arts and entertainment, 19.7% of the Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative and waste-management and 19.4% of educational services, healthcare and social assistance.[v] 

For more understanding of the work ethic of all immigrants, please see this video by clicking the link or going to the end of this post:[vi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7q3ofdJRKc

Leaders and Influencers

As a great reminder, Time Magazine’s 100 came out earlier last week. With many political leaders, tech entrepreneurs, advocates and other females and immigrants both to the US and around the world were highly recognized with some US examples with Sandra Oh (who recently became a US citizen),[vii] Luchita Hurtado and Leana Wen as a pioneer, an artist and a leader.[viii]

Fellow Human-beings

With the treatment of incoming immigrants who are either coming to improve their lives, the lives of their children, or just trying to survive; the treatment in the US has a few looking back at their home countries reevaluating why they came. Fleeing poverty, famine, gang violence and more, some would say “fine”, “go back”, leave this place”; but is that really where we want the bar to be. As reflecting upon immigrant heritage, strength, work ethic, we should also focus on our own. Many values based on religion and the moral compass highlight how you should always look at what you can give and how you can help, similar as many sayings express the ideas that those who suffer most are always the first to give.

NAFTA and food

A big part of countries’ heritage and culture is connected to food, while NY is known as the melting pot, great food and a lot comes from its great diversity, the importing of food impacts all of the US and not just with avocados. While Apples and Oranges are the top fruits overall, that’s mostly from juice. The top actual fruit is Bananas that mostly come from Equador.[ix] 5% of US apples consumed are imported,[x] mostly during non-peak growing season while the rest of apples are grown in 32 different states and exported to Mexico, Canada and other countries.[xi] However, potatoes are also a big staple in the US and while a big production for agriculture, the US is only able to produce 40% of the demand with the balance coming from Mexico and Canada.x Overall, over 25% of US coffee, spices, fish, fresh fruits and juices, sugar, wine and vegetable oils are imported from outside the US[xii] and this is only some of what is imported.

The 2020 Census citizenship isn’t a harmful question in itself. But with the current administration's attack on immigrants, especially on those just trying to become legal residents and citizens, one cannot blame them for being too scared to be truthful. Again, do we want to be the dictators they are fleeing from, do we want them to remove themselves from the country because they are better than how they are being treated--is that our goal? To be just cruel enough to get “our” way-- in that case good to know, I’ll try to get represented elsewhere. 

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[i] The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. The US Department of Health and Human Services Website: Administration for Children and Families. Published November 1st, 1996. Last Accessed: April 23rd, 2019.

[ii] Campbell, A. Trump says undocumented immigrants are an economic burden. They pay billions in taxes. Vox Website. https://www.vox.com/2018/4/13/17229018/undocumented-immigrants-pay-taxes. Published: October 25th, 2018. Last Accessed: April 22nd, 2019.

[iii] Martin, M. Do immigrants pay Taxes? Metro New Website. https://www.metro.us/news/politics/do-immigrants-pay-taxes. Published: June 18th, 2018. Last Accessed: April 22nd, 2019.

[iv] McCarthy, N. How Much Tax Do America's Undocumented Immigrants Actually Pay? [Infographic]. Forbes Website. https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2016/10/06/how-much-tax-do-americas-undocumented-immigrants-actually-pay-infographic/#3a9dd3421de0. Published: October 6th, 2016. Last Accessed: April 22nd, 2019.

[v] State Immigration Data Profiles: United States. Migration Policy Institute Website. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/state-profiles/state/workforce/US#. Last Accessed: April 22nd, 2019.

[vi] Few Americans take immigrants' jobs in Alabama. AP Archive Youtube Account. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7q3ofdJRKc. Posted: July 31st, 2015. Last Accessed: April 22nd, 2019.

[vii] Sandra Oh. Monologue. Saturday Night Live Season 44 Episode 16. Aired: March 30th, 2019

[viii] Time 100: The Most Influential People 2019. Time Magazine Website. Accessible at: http://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2019/. Last Accessed: April 22nd, 2019.

[ix] The Most Interesting Fruit in the World (Ep. 375). Freakonomics Radio Archive. http://freakonomics.com/archive/. Posted: April 17th, 2019. Last Accessed: April 22nd, 2019.

[x] United States: Fresh Produce-Imports and Exports. Produce Marketing Association Website. https://www.pma.com/~/media/pma-files/research-and-development/usa.pdf?la=en. Last Accessed: April 23rd, 2019.

[xi] Commodity Apples. Agricultural Marketing Resource Center Website. https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/fruits/apples/commodity-apples. Last Revised: December 2017. Last Accessed: April 22nd, 2019.

Professor Quirrell

Professor Quirrell, Harry Potter’s Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher (the first of many) that turned out to be trying to help Voldemort return to power. There is not much to say about this character; as he played dumb so well, he kind of was very easily forgettable. I don’t even remember much of what they learned from him. (Also thou, it’s upsetting that there is a specific Defense Against the Dark Arts class that children are required to take for 5 years--why aren’t there more prevention for this, why do kids have to be SO prepared).  While definitely not the best person to learn from, unexpectedly he can be a great lesson to all of how (1) book smart is not the same as street smart and (2) to be careful, cautious and not overconfident about who you are

But I will say that while it was unfortunate it was him, I always loved how excited Harry was to meet him. All of these wizards finally get to meet “The Boy Who Lived” and here Harry is just as excited to meet Professor Quirrell because to Harry THIS is someone important, someone, he can and will learn from about magic. I always loved that.  

But, there are a few things that bother me as going back in history, the main two are: 

1. Why didn’t Voldemort mention to Quirrell (he was there) that he could ask Snape for help to get the Sorcerer's Stone? Voldemort always trusted Snape! 

2. Why didn’t Snape share his concerns with Dumbledore? I know that Snape’s concerns with Lupin held more to the story, but I feel like he still would have mentioned it, especially considering how much he pursued Quirrell. Did he not bring it up, or was he ignored?

** Bonus moment: Obviously the later fact how Fred and George were hitting Voldemort with snowballs <3<3<3

Luna Lovegood

There are many, many, many reasons to love Luna Lovegood as well as lessons about how we should be:

she’s honest

she’s conscientious, and not the center of the universe

she’s confident in herself

she’s brave for herself and others

she’s supportive and understanding of her friends and others

she's not prejudiced and address’ it in others

this list can go on for pages and pages of a tumblr article. 

Along with all Luna (and Evanna Lynch) taught us, and was a role model for those who didn’t feel like they belonged or were considered less than, she taught us a lot with the unexpected relationships she had with two characters: Hermione and Harry

Hermione, seen as a brilliant, kind and caring Witch, was cruel to Luna at first as she was opposite, but not opposite, of Hermione. Luna showed us with her relationship with Hermione a few flaws of Hermione along with growth and with Luna, what it meant to be truly open and accepting. Both intelligent, heroic and compassionate, their core similarities ended there. While important, Hermione let the values of acceptance and appearance overshadow curiosity and open-mindedness; which are both very important and defining characteristics of any person. It is so, so, so important to not only be open-minded and interested in the world around you, people’s beliefs, but also people in general. Even the villains in Harry Potter weren’t all evil or heroes all good.

Harry, this is one of my biggest umphs, Luna was the best character we knew for Harry romantically, because of how natural they were together. Sure, like all relationships Luna had there was a bit of a warming up period, but once they met and interacted, she just got him. When he wanted to hide after the battle, she could recognize him even when disguised with Polyjoice Potion, how it felt to not know one’s parent(s), she just got him. It’s rare, and doesn’t have to be romantic, but is such a beautiful relationship and connection that some people have. That without words or  

Oooooo THE HORROR

This week is apparently Banned Books Weeks and this year, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (pretty much the point of books in MY opinion) released the top 11 books so far calculated as the most banned in 2018. (1) (2)

George by Alex Gino*

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller*

Captain Underpants series, written and illustrated by Dan Pilkey*

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Drama, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier*

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

Skippyjon Jones series, written and illustrated by Judy Schachner

The Absolutely True diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten*

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan*

It’s important to note that six of the eleven books (asterisked above) were challenged or banned because of LGBTQIA+ content. As books are meant to open your mind and bring you connection, the hateful reasons behind banning books remind us why PRIDE and representation are so important. This is especially true when looking at the statistics from the Trevor Project, that have found that LGB youth contemplate suicide 3x the rate of heterosexual youth and are 5x as likely to attempt. (3)

Going more off the serious side I cannot understand how a same-sex couple was the only reason listed as people’s issue with Captain Underpants. Seriously? I always thought they were stupid so I stopped trying to read them after a few but with everything else I remember finding (now the word I would use) distasteful, it was not any non-heterosexual relationships. What complete horsecrap.

(1)    https://bannedbooksweek.org/11-challenged-and-banned-books/

(2)    https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/22/us/banned-books-week-2019-trnd/index.html

(3)    https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/preventing-suicide/facts-about-suicide/

Born a Crime

Trevor Noah’s (current host of The Daily Show) autobiography Born a Crime about an illegal child born in South Africa during apartheid is not the traditional rags-to-riches story you would expect. He does express breaking out of apartheid and the circle of ‘black payment’ but all before the success of who he is today, actually in only one sentence, as part of background information, does he mention his comedy, his touring and this is all before he came to the states or even left South Africa.  His story of rags-to-riches focuses on the better life he got in South Africa thanks to the willfulness of his mother and some random luck. 

There are a few reasons I love this book so much, for starters, I hear Trevor Noah in every word written, I'm not reading the book, I’m hearing him tell me his story and while watching The Daily Show provides his voice and talking mannerisms the actual art of showing and not telling, portraying his humanness in the story, that’s the beautiful part and it’s not because of The Daily Show. Giving a personal and historical understanding of his experience growing up under apartheid is great for all the obvious reasons: the picture he paints, the life different from ours that he introduces us to, but what he does so seamlessly is showing us our stories within his. 

Once I got old enough I knew I was privileged. Not from the specifics of being white or an upper-middle-class background--everyone I knew was like that, but I did understand that growing up in the states that I always had food and I’d go to college. Growing up Trevor shows us that while very different, that he can show us his world of apartheid and our world all at once, the specifics are different, but the stories are the same: racism, fear, fake personas, heartbreak, domestic violence

He brings us into the understanding of how again were just different types of toasted bread (because really, races aren’t even different types of skin, it’s literally just different levels of shading, this is all so ridiculous--but anyway), how some of us were in to level seven and others 4 and others only level one but we’re all still bread. 

Best Parties

1.      Benihana Christmas: Season Three, Episode Ten

2.      Launch Party: Season Four, Episode Three

3.      Email Surveillance: Season Two, Episode Nine

4.      Kelly’s day-late birthday party: Lecture Circuit Part One

5.      Dwight Christmas: Season Nine, Episode Nine

6.      Christmas Party: Season Two, Episode Ten

7.      The Dundies: Season Two, Episode One

8.      Booze Cruise: Season Two, Episode Eleven:

9.      Cocktails: Season Three, Episode Seventeen

10.   Season Five, Episode Nine: Frame Toby (Whatever party got Michael to go back to the annex and see that Toby had returned )

North by Northwest

I think I first saw North by Northwest when I think I was around nine or ten, I loved it instantly. Interestingly on-point with today’s Russian-US spy conspiracies with the added accuracy of the US going “eh”. Similar to soap operas, it’s a comedic-drama (more known now as dramedy) where it’s so ridiculous how things keep going so wrong (the miss-identification, the murder, the blanks). A good film on its own (and according to many) this was also my first introduction to Cary Grant, creating its own place of nostalgia for my film list.

The house at the mountain scene and the train are what I think of when I think of this film.  While I don’t particularly remember what happens where or when, constant nods to its presence in tv and other films reflect its relevance not just for me as it is an instant classic that will always be able to be enjoyed.

PS—Shout out to Rear Window, while actually released prior to North by Northwest I saw after but connect the two more than I do Rear Window’s Remake (Distubria) due to their aesthetic. I like this film as well for its suspense and alloying you to unfold the mystery with “Jeff” as opposed to just watching him

Brick Heck, The Middle

An odd guy, no doubt. But you know....he knew who he was...

...he didn’t play to anyone else...

...and he learned to appreciate what he had when he had it. 

Thank you Brick, for knowing what’s important and how to cherish it and where your home was

Dementors

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them....get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory, will be sucked out of you...you'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life.’

It is with our introduction to Dementors that we really feel inside JK Rowling, even for those who dealt with depression, the aspect of it being temporary and out of ones control made the connection difficult--but is becoming more accepted overtime. While some stories show us new worlds, and other stories draw connections from different worlds to our own, others open our eyes to living a better life and all the different ways stories and books and conversations, sometimes we read to find ourselves as we look for ourselves in others. This is one of the best examples, of how JK connected us and brought us forward within ourselves as those right next to us. Her ability to openly and honestly portray pain, loneliness and loss are some of the most crucial elements that people needed to feel connected with in order to survive.

"You do care" said Dumbledore "You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it"--and we did, we have survived

Holly Flax xoxo

Holly’s Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Nineteen: Garage Sale

Two parts: when following a conversation with her parent’s Holly realizes she has to return to Colorado to be with them before they pass; and two, asking Michael to go with her.

 Holly’s Worst Moment: Season Seven, Episode Four: Sex Ed

When she tells Michael that he romanticizes things, that’s he’s making them out to be more than they were and that they were “a fun fling” and “good memory”.

Holly’s Best Line: Season Seven, Episode Sixteen: The Search

“Two People in Love?”

“I love you”

“Wait, wait, wait. What do you mean you love me? We’ve only been dating for a week. Do you mean you love me like, “oh there’s Holly, I love that girl”, or do you mean you love me like you love me, love me?”

“I love you, love you”

“Wow, you love me, love me. I love you, love you”

Holly’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Five, Episode Three: Business Ethics

When Holly is adamant that what Meredith sleeping with a supplier is inappropriate and against general business ethics.