hello everybody. this is obadiah from arizona. i have a serious mental illness and work with others like myself. i am starting to get more involved in trying to make a difference in our community. i am starting to become outspoken about serious mental illness and speak out against stigma while also promoting hope for others like myself. i do public speaking and also write to make a difference. i'm new at activism, but i must make a difference. i can't be silent anymore. arizona has taken away many services away from individuals with serious mental illness and the general public is not aware of it because the media is saying almost nothing. punk music changed my life back in the eighties. it taught me to think outside the mainstream and inspired me to make a difference in the world. i am a social worker and am greatly concerned about social justice issues. i don't know what i am politically. i know i don't believe in capitalism because i see its evil effects on those who have mental illness, disabilities, who are poor, who are homeless etc... i also struggle with the blatant racism in my state. in the eighties, arizona got rid of the martin luther king jr day and the citizens voted to keep it away. when the nfl took away our scheduled superbowl, the voters voted for the holiday, not because of martin luther king jr, but so we could get the superbowl back. now my state just passsed a law where all who are suspected of being illegal can be asked for their proof of citizenship. if they don't have proof, they can be arrested on the spot. my wife, a mexican american, carries her birth certificate every where she goes. my sister-in-law, who was born in cambodia, is also scared. arizona is prett messed up right now.
Hello and welcome. Yeah, I've heard Arizona is in a mess, with all the racist and anti-racist protests over there and the likes. Good luck.
Welcome Obidiah, I find your activism and concern inspiring and I also find that someone with your disability that thinks and knows what is right from wrong to be a slap in the face of the racist and bigoted citizenry of Arizona. The degree of callousness, selfishness, and greed from well to do caucasians in that state has fueled the fire of hatred that is getting people murdered. You are among friends here....
Punkmar77, This is Obadiah from AZ. Thanks for the encouragement. I find the hate here so frustrating. I keep hearing people say, "I'm not a racist" but if I bring up the word "Mexico" or even "Martin Luther King Jr Day", I hear so much hatred and bitterness. I'm not a basketball fan, but even the Phoenix Suns putting the Spanish word "Los" on their uniforms has received a public outcry. Our stupid Sherriff has called for a boycott on Mexico. Is it just me or have you ever noticed people who always defend themselves by saying "I'm not a racist" are so blind to their own hatred? Arizona is becoming a powder keg ready to explode. just curious, what is San Diego/Tijuana saying about my embarassment of a state. also, has the national guard shown up at your border yet. What's going on over there? - obadiah_m Lunadimae - Thank you for the responce as well. - obadiah_m What bands do you recommend that I check out on this web-site?
"I'm not racist" usually means that "I'm racist, but know its wrong/taboo" so I'll say I'm not. Either way, I'm new here too. So hi.
Well we all know that Mexico is a mess right now, but what people don't understand is that the incredible demand for cheap Marijuana, and Cocaine, and Heroin and Methamphetamines in this country has propelled a 'perfect storm' of disdain for human life and greed for profits there. That said, the people that are saying to you 'I'm not racist but,.....' have always been racist and are more comfortable with each passing day as their racist neighbors come out of the woodworks as well. It's happening here as well Obidiah, 'Redneckism' is becoming a popular movement because nobody likes to accept responsibility for the things that have happened to the economy, : "its all because of those greasy wetbacks are taking our jobs" and " It's tha ni***r in the White House" not "all my credit cards are maxed out" or "We're living well beyond our means". The Army has been at the border here for several years now because Tijuana is the eye of the storm, it has become the modern Medillin or Cali with billions of dollars at stake in drug money. listen to Death Crisis and Diatribe!!!!! By the way I just lost my job for speaking out about bigoted propaghanda at my workplace......
Punkmar77, I feel for you about your job. Doing the right thing often means taking a more difficult road and often has terrible consequences. I hope in some small way this post will encourage you. 10 years ago, i lost a job speaking out against racsim. I was working with youth in the ozarks. the population was 99% white and because of my skin color, I looked like everybody else. i remember seeing a highway sign stating that some branch of the KKK was responsible for keeping it clean. I remember being told by many that the area I was living in was not racist. Everybody said, 'look at our college, we have black basketball players and the whole town cheered them on at the finals". But bring up the subject of "mixed-marriage" and I heard much hatred. 3 days before I was fired, I wanted to address this attitude with the youth group. I showed a documentary about white racist teenagers to facilitate a converstaion. Afterwards, one teen raised her hand and said, "I'm not racist but people should only marry their own kind". I asked where should my child live. She was confused by the question. I stated that my wife was a Mexican American, should my daughter live with her or live with me. This caused her some discomfort. 3 days later, the board fired me. The girl's mother was on the board and she played a big role in my being fired. Punkmar77 - keep up the fight. Be encouraged. Keep fighting - obadiah_m
Thanks...a lot of people that are close to me seem to be more disapointed than encouraging...so thanks
Obidiah and Metalpunx welcome to the chaos that is AP.net. I find the new laws in Arizona quite distubing. If you don't look American or like you belong you can be asked to prove your citizenship or that you have a legal right to be in the country/state. Dear me, that means carrying some form of identity with you, at all times. A birth certificate would be ideal but somewhat a little impractical. This appears to me to be no different to the ID cards that Britain is currently attempting to introduce (accept you have an ID card rather tha a birth certificate). Congrats on the mental health activism. Keep up the good work.
