Boycott Arizona and all the other crazy states

We need to boycott crazy states. "Crazy" admittedly is in the eye of the beholder. But since this blog reflects my view of the world, I'm calling the crazy shots:

Arizona, because it just passed a "show me your papers" anti-immigration law that even a Kansas editorial board called unworkable, likely unconstitutional, and clearly inhumane.

Kansas (sorry, editorial board), because the Board of Education tried to introduce intelligent design into the state's curriculum. Plus side: this brought us the Flying Spaghetti Monster theory of creation.

Texas, because its equally wacky Board of Education has rewritten history to suit the political leanings of its members. Goodbye, Thomas Jefferson. Hello, Ayn Rand.

Oklahoma, because the Governor just vetoed a bill that would require women seeking an abortion to be forced to have a ultrasound probe inserted in their vagina (guess these Republicans didn't get the talking point message about not allowing government to come between patients and their doctors).

Mississippi, just because. I included it because I like to spell this state's name, and I'm sure something crazy is going on there that shouldn't be.

The Arizona boycott is well underway. 

Calls grew across the US today for a boycott of Arizona over its new law giving the police the most draconian powers in the country to deal with illegal immigration.

Democratic members of Congress, religious leaders and leftwing activists urged a boycott of hotels, convention centres and other economic targets in the state. At least one nationwide group has responded by cancelling a convention planned for the autumn.

Inspired by the spectacle of refried bean swastikas being smeared on the Arizona state Capitol's windows, I am proudly proclaiming that I will support human rights by not eating refried beans until the anti-immigration law is repealed.

(Humble disclaimer: if anyone chooses to consider me as committed as Gandhi to sacrificing my welfare for the good of humanity -- which you are entirely welcome to do -- I should point out that I hate refried beans.)

In the spirit of retroactive outrage, I also am going to request a refund of my daughter's out-of-state tuition from the University of Arizona, where she spent four expensive years from 1990 to 1994.

I feel somewhat torn about taking this action, because I have the (sort of) fond memory of having her call me midway through her senior year and proudly telling me, "Dad, my sorority has given me an award." I made the mistake of asking what it was and heard, "Biggest partier!"

Yes, Arizona is a fun place to visit. I love northern Arizona. The Sedona area is beautiful. But the crazy actions of the state legislature make me happy that I live in comparatively sane Oregon.

We're normal here.

We're legally required to sit in our cars while someone pumps our gas for us. If we're terminally ill, assisted suicide is an option. Medical marijuana soothes the pain of certain medical conditions. We have a city, Silverton, with a transgendered mayor who favors miniskirts and high heels. Portland has a vegan strip club.

Here's the big difference between right-wing and left-wing weirdness: the former restricts people's freedoms ("thou shalt..."), while the latter expands individual liberty ("do your own thing"). 

I feel for progressives who live in Arizona and have to directly experience the Big Brother actions of the state legislature. Like this blogger:

Things are truly the worst here in Arizona. I was born and raised in this beautiful state. It's been a challenge but it's not been insane - til now.

...So we can use some loud voices in support of the national economic boycott of Arizona called by Raul Grijalva. Already the American Immigration Lawyers Association has dropped plans to hold their convention here.

If you know of any other organizations who are planning events here, if you know people who are planning vacations (the Grand Canyon is fabulous but stay away until it is safe to come), moving a business, buying anything from us (especially citrus and other agricultural items), tell them to stop.

We are fighting against our own apartheid, our own flirtation with ethnic cleansing.

Comments

[Rain]

For heaven's sake. This is not ethnic cleansing. It's a state with a real problem that is trying to deal with it possibly in a bad way. It likely will be declared unconstitutional before it goes into place because Americans like their workers to stay illegal and cheap.

If the federal government refuses to address its Constitutional responsibility (which it has), it's not surprising that states on the border facing the problems will try in possibly bad ways. Obama said as much.

And when people boycott the state, they don't hurt the ones who passed the law. They hurt innocent business people trying to make a living but heck the illogic of ignoring this problem for years goes right along with punishing someone else for what happened even if they had nothing to do with it. Welcome to America-- right and left equally nutty.

[Montana]

Arizona can pass race base laws, pass Birthers laws and the state can continue to boycott Martin Luther King Day, well the rest of the Country can boycott the state of Arizona and spank them where it hurts them the most their pocket book. Their phony patriotism is sickening, they are just racists going by another name. We all know you are just itching to put a sheet on their head? Let’s face it the Republicans had eight years to deal with health care, immigration, climate change and financial oversight and governance and they failed. It appears that the Republican Party is only good at starting wars (two in eight years, with fat contracts to friends of Cheney/Bush) but not at winning wars as seen by the continuing line of body bags that keep coming home. The Republicans party will continue turned inward to their old fashion obstructionist party (and their Confederacy appreciation roots) because they continue to allow a small portions (but very loud portion) of their party of “birthers, baggers and blowhards” to rule their party. I will admit that this fringe is very good at playing “Follow the Leader” by listening to their dullard leaders, Beck, Hedgecock, Hannity, O’Reilly, Rush, Savage, Sarah Bailin, Orly Taitz, Victoria Jackson, Michele Bachmann and the rest of the Blowhards and acting as ill programmed robots (they have already acted against doctors that perform abortions). The Birthers and the Tea party crowd think they can scare, intimidate and force others to go along with them by comments like “This time we came unarmed”, let me tell you something not all ex-military join the fringe militia crazies who don’t pay taxes and run around with face paint in the parks playing commando, the majority are mature and understand that the world is more complicated and grey than the black and white that these simpleton make it out to be and that my friend is the point. The world is complicated and people like Hamilton, Lincoln, and Roosevelt believed that we should use government a little to increase social mobility, now it’s about dancing around the claim of government is the problem. The sainted Reagan passed the biggest tax increase in American history and as a result federal employment increased, but facts are lost when mired in mysticism and superstition. For a party that gave us Abraham Lincoln, it is tragic that the ranks are filled with too many empty suits and the crazy Birthers who have not learned that the way our courts work is that you get a competent lawyer, verifiable facts and present them to a judge, if the facts are real and not half baked internet lies, then, and only then, do you proceed to trial. The Birthers seem to be having a problem with their so called “facts”. Let’s face it no one will take the Birthers seriously until they win a case, but until then, you will continue to appear dumb, crazy or racist, or maybe all three. I heard that Orly Taitz now wants to investigate the “Republican 2009 Summer of Love” list: Assemblyman, Michael D. Duvall (CA), Senator John Ensign (NV), Senator Paul Stanley (TN), Governor Mark Stanford (SC), Board of Ed Chair, and Kristin Maguire AKA Bridget Keeney (SC), she wants to re-establish a family values party, that’s like saying that the Catholic Church cares about the welling being of children in their care, too late for that.

[Brian Hines]

Rain, I agree that the "ethnic cleansing" and "apartheid" references were over the top. When I copied in the quote, I thought about deleting the final sentence. But then I figured that since the Arizona blogger included it, I should also -- if only to stimulate discussion.

[Rain]

This whole thing is leading to near hysteria from the left. As though to counteract the hysteria the right has been showing perhaps? The hyperbole from the left wing commentators has been a match for what the right has spewed out. What a time!

[Wayne White]

Brian,
In the interest of fighting global warming, thank you for Boycotting Refried Beans.

[Brian Hines]

Wayne, thanks for your thanks. Like I said, my commitment to serving humanity knows no bounds. Except, I'd find it really hard to boycott the coffee-producing countries of the world. Or Apple.

[Arizonan]

Yes, please, boycott my state, despite that citizens, business owners, and legal immigrants had NO SAY WHAT SO EVER in the passing of SB1070.

[tucson]

Brian,
As you know, I live in Arizona. The situation has come to a head. You don't hike/camp in the southern section without risk to life and limb (I do it anyway) by desperados and drug runners. I support this law because it will force the feds to do their job of enforcing the border. Crime is up in Tucson and Phoenix and the cost to the state by illegals is unsustainable. The state is broke.

I don't hate latinos. I used to hire them when I had an avocado/citrus distribution business in Fallbrook, Ca. Most of them are good people like muslims, croats, taiwanese and americans. Some have been my friends. I speak spanish even though I am an american anglo originally from wealthy westside L.A. I have spent a lot of time in Mexico and South America.

I know you cringe at the mention of Bill O'Reilly. Well, get brave for a few minutes and listen to this editorial. He gets it:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4177460/talking-points-53?playlist_id=87796