An interesting quote about illegal immigration
I had the pleasure of meeting one of the best Spoken Word artists out there today. His name is Kyle and he's running a wonderful Spoken Word performance in Chico, CA. He used to compete in poetry slams around the country and has been a prominent member in some very good teams.
I performed there in Chico many times, doing live what you read in print. It's actually meant to be performed live, because honestly, I'm a performer just as much as a writer. I first started doing it in Houston, with another incredibly talented Spoken Word artist who unfortunately has no webpage to link to.
When I was a musician, the show was just as important as the music. Not taking anything away from the music, but we were completely over the top, dressed up and made up like undead while playing speed metal music. I used to play twenty-one notes per second and stole stage tricks (besides lighting my guitar on fire, I could never do that to a good guitar) from Jimi Hendrix.
Kyle is the same way. He has a stage presence to him and a booming voice. If someone talks during his show, no problem, he talks louder, and they're forced to shut up because his lungs are bigger than theirs. They'll eventually give up. He's also a former heavyweight boxer, so that helps too.
He and I don't agree on everything. He's considerably more Left than I, but it's all good. I have no problem with someone disagreeing with me, as long as they did their research. Nothing more annoying than someone with an opinion who doesn't know what they're talking about.
The following quote is his, although I edited out the profanity. Although I am very much against a borderless world, the part about American Agricultural workers is right on. Farmers used to make this kind of money until corporate farming which relies on illegals destroyed the American family farms (and much of the environment with it).
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: I believe that America draws great strength from the myriad of peoples that make up her populace. I personally despise mono-cultures. However I don't think we are helping anybody by allowing illegal immigration to continue. Wages and benefits are supressed when illegals take jobs. Being an Agricultural worker SHOULD BE one of the highest paying labor jobs there is. It is hard !@#$%^& work, and anybody doing it should be making a minimum of 50k a year, as long as there is an illegal workforce (and criminal employers) willing to do the job for less than it is worth, the proper wage will never be paid. In addition the nations that "Export" illegal workers are losing in the bargin as well. There is no pressure on them to reform their political and economic systems as they can always let off steam by encouraging their extra-hungry mouths to feed to cross the border. I believe that the world SHOULD BE BORDERLESS. That would be a wonderful thing. But until Labor, Safety, and enviromental laws become Universal and accepted by ALL nations, a borderless world is not possible. Still it is something to strive for.
By the way, one word of warning, his site is sometimes R-rated, so if you plan on checking it out, keep that in mind.
posted by The Zombieslayer @ 8:42 AM
34 Comments:
Great quote.
ZL - I've seen Henry Rollins. He did Eric the Pilot, a few obscene ones, how New York turned him into an A******, and a few others. Good show. Also seen Jello Biafra do Spoken Word. Kyle (the spoken word guy) is convinced Henry Rollins is a wannabe Jello Biafra though.
PC - Yet another thing you and I agree on. :)
The nation state is a dying concept. It was invented to promote the ideological, political and economic leanings of its day. As those circumstances change, so will the need for the nation state.
Anyone interested in the philosophy of national identity should check out Benedict Anderson's "Imagined Communities".
Biafra beats Rollins hands down. Though I do love "Adventures of an Asshole"
No Zombie, NOOOOO!! Not an R rating. Arggghhhh. This is unrelated, but the proper phrase is myriad peoples, not myriad of peoples. I know it's a quote, but I heard this on the radio from some wordsmith. I am reading the Self-Editing book you recommended. Very nice. It's taking a creative writing course all over again. Seriously. I love the first section on "Show, don't tell."
Is this the same Kyle with the smoothie shop?
Tshsmom - No, that Kyle is Dave's cousin. This Kyle is a Spoken Word artist. Dave's cousin Kyle now lives in Arizona, and was one of the best soccer players I've ever known.
Scott - Glad you could get something out of that book. That book + Shrunk and White's book are the two that I use for editing my stuff and my wife's writings.
I'll have to bug him about the misuse of myriad peoples. I don't think he reads my blog.
Laura - I think Biafra and Rollins are apples and oranges. Biafra's more political, Rollins is funnier and less serious. Both are charismatic in their own ways.
I'll have to add that book to my queue. I find the concept of nationalism interesting, and would like to see his take on it.
I'll remember this quote when it's time to vote for California Gov. again. Speaking of which--how do you feel about Arnold, Zombie?
That's the second time you've mentioned the Shrunk & White's book. I'll have to check into that for a homeschool reference.
BTW, I like this Kyle's slant on the illegals issue.
Interesting quote and so very true. Kyle sounds like a very dymanic person. **I'm snapping my fingers*** Do they do that a Spoken Word, or do they just clap? ;p
You played 21 notes per sec and you stole stage tricks from Hendrics? Oooooo, that impresses the heck out of me. I consider Hendrics THE best guitar player of all time. Carlos Santana runs a close second.
Moni--
what about Stevie ray? Can't forget Stevie.
Sadie - Mixed feelings about him. He is trying to cut spending, which is a good thing. He vetoed the drivers licenses for illegals thing, which is good. He said he'd welcome the Minutemen, but then told them not to bring guns (which is stupid, I wouldn't go there unarmed). And he's also anti-gun. So I'm mixed on him. I could care less about the gay marriage thing. I'm really sick and tired of gonadal politics and have no opinion one way or another about all that stuff, other than I'm sick of it. Geez, give me real issues, people.
Tshsmom - Yeah, it was a good quote. By the way, that book is standard. Just about every Creative Writing Professor recommends it.
ZL - Exactly.
Moni - Santana's good too. I also like Blackmore, Rhoads, oh no. I better not start listing fav guitarrists or else I'll never shut up.
Sadie - Stevie Ray's up there.
I hope that, for the sake of public workers (such as myself), that Arnold does not get re-elected. I have not been in CA very long, but it's not hard to see the funds that simply aren't there for public schools. Meanwhile, students are needier than ever before and teachers/staff are asked to do more and more each year. Yes, Davis did not do a great job with funding for public education, but anyone who supports a voucher system for education is insane. As if things aren't bad enough now...
What chaps me most is not the illegals who come over looking for better than what they have, but the companies that hire them. They're allowed to continually break the law and get away with a small slap.
What's a small fine (if that) compared to saving $50,000 in wages? It's like putting a stack of $100s on the table and telling people that if they take any, they'll get charged $1 for each one they take.
Instead of spending money patrolling the borders, we should be spending the money to close down businesses - agricultural and otherwise - that hire illegal aliens.
No work...no illegal workers coming over.
I have zero problem with legal aliens.
Shawn - Yeah, I have no problem with legal aliens at all. In fact, I like them lots.
But yes, I'd too put the blame squarely on the employers. That's what Nader was planning had he been elected. Bush and Kerry were both soft on illegal immigration.
The fines are too small to be taken seriously. It's really hurting the American working class and destroying family farms. One result is the huge rise in meth addiction on what used to be a profitable family farm.
Notta - Education is the one thing that shouldn't be cut. Education is one of those investments that pay dividends. The more education someone has, for some strange reason, the more money they make and the more taxes they pay. You'd think gov't would have the foresight to realize that educational expenses therefore shouldn't be cut.
The other thing that bothers me is when I was growing up, community colleges charged about $5/unit. It's gone up like ten times. Community colleges are wonderful for people who either screwed up high school or didn't have the money to go straight to a 4-year school. Funding to community colleges has been cut severely over the past few decades.
I'm much older.. I know something of Jello Biafra and Henry Rollins, but the extent of spoken word for me was Captain Beefheart; "Sam was a showing scalp flat top..." etc... It was good stuff...
Concerning cheap labor... my first job was working in a sweatshop for $1 hr, beer and tortillas. My employer was a Mexican guy from Monterey Park. Absolutely true story. It was a good "entry level" job and I'm much richer for the exploitation. My second job wasn't much better.
Funny, I was just talking about this crush of illegals with a guy yesterday. He's on the left and I'm on the right... we both kinda see it the same way. In the old days, much of the agricultural work was done by families or kids and still is in Maine. When we lived there, I never, ever saw someone "from away" doing any of the hard, menial work. If a kid wanted a car, he/she raked berries every season. Lots of adults wreathed or "brushed," gathering balsam for Christmas wreaths. Many folks worked seasonally and were, therefore, employed the year 'round. Made a decent living, too.
The day I see non-natives raking blueberries in Maine is the day I'll know it's over for the American work ethic.
Bo - Very well said. There's something about hard work that builds character. People who pay others to mow their lawns are missing out. What's really sad is it is true, in high school, I did a lot of physical labor, which now is all done by illegals. High school kids are missing out on this character development.
Well, now I'm showing my youth. I have no idea who Captain Beefheart is.
Bridget - I do too. It's funny, he's a working class kid who went to Oxford and his stories are fabulous. I met him once on a whim. My wife and I decided to drop in on the local spoken word and get some coffee and right away, I knew I liked this guy's style.
Dude, ZS, in my philosophy class on teusday, we had aan excellent half hour discussion on the philosophy of zombies. Wish you coulda been there.
zombie, please don't leave.
I agree we need borders, lets build a wall people!
hmmm don't kow about today but back inthe 80's a good lettuce cutter could make 50K a year. I knew guys that did. Legal and illegal.
but generally speaking, most pickes make pennies and ALWAYS have. There is a reason the jobs alomost alwasy go you teenagers (before they got lazy and refused to work hard) or wandering groups of nomadic pickers.
Exmi - With illegals, employers have no incentive to stick to workers' safety regulations. That's why you see so many of these people die from the heat, etc.
My wife was a migrant farm worker. It should be paid higher than it is, but one reason it's such a crappy job is you have a workforce of illegals to artificially keep the labor costs down. This isn't right.
Ben - I like borders too. I should do a post on why I like borders one of these days.
Dave - Tell you know who to give me $30k more a year and I'll stay. Got to send the Mrs. to finish up her college and I'm not making enough to do it at this job. :(
Lost Artist - Dang, wish I could have been there. Does your Professor have a stockpile of canned food, water, guns, and a generator in his basement? I bet he or she does. Philosophy Professors always seem to be on the ball.
These young people nowadays, aaaaaah! Captain Beefheart is Don van Vliet, artist, poet, musician, performer... I was first exposed to him on Frank Zappa's
Hot Rats. I think I was 14 then... saw him once with Zappa at Claremont College... a memorable show.
I think I would have liked to have seen Black Flag... did you see them the first time around?
Republicans are too in bed with the corporations too much to crack down on the employers of illegals, and Democrats are too caught up trying to cater to "the little guy." We can't win, and unions continually lose power, and jobs for the working class get fewer and pay less while fat cats get richer. Where's Teddy Roosevelt when you need him?
Jason - It's winnable, if people believed it's winnable. There's a group of people who decided to enforce the laws themselves called The Minutemen Project and some of these guys are running for Congress now. But completely agreed on the Republicans and Democrats. Republicans are too greedy and Democrats are too politically correct to do anything about it. We need the common Americans to lead the way.
Bo - Never seen Black Flag. Only seen Rollins do spoken word, but never as a singer. I would have loved to see Zappa. That guy's amazing. The other thing that is amazing is Steve Vai actually transcribed everything Zappa did.
All - I'm swamped this weekend. I'm not ignoring your blogs, I just won't have time to do a new post or see everyone's blogs until Monday. I just moved back to Northern California last night and am on almost no sleep.
Yeah Sadie Lou, Stevie Ray is awesome.
Zombie I didn't know you were moving? Moving is stressful, I hope all went well. You and your family take a long rest. You can always dazzle us with your wonderful blog later. We'll leave the light on for ya.
Bless. :)
I just missed the Zappa/Vai connection, although I got to see Steve Vai later. I saw Zappa's tour with Terry Bozzio on drums and Adrian Belew on guitar... everyone in the band were/was fantastic, but those two stood out. I think Bozzio was only about twenty at the time. Zappa was amazingly good on the guitar playing an old SG... *sniff* I miss Frank.
Sorry to veer off topic, but about 6 weeks ago you mentioned a book called the Rape of Nanking. I just wanted to mention that I had finally ordered it today and look forward to reading it, although I expect it to be gruesome. I enjoy all of the little known historical topics so thanks for the suggestion.
Get some sleep, man!! I haven't been and I'm paying for it now.
Sorry the job didn't pan out for you like you wanted. At least you get to be with your family now. ;)
Tshsmom - thanks. It's all good though, because now we're focused. We learned a lot out of all this. And I finally caught up on my sleep. Got about 15 hours of sleep in the last 24 hours. :)
My buddy's father was telling me that sleep is like a bank. You take some out, you better put it back in later.
Rat - Glad to hear you bought that. I don't know if I mentioned it but the author killed herself. The research made her severely depressed. When you read the book, you'd see why.
Bo - Bozzio's amazing. It's funny too, because I used to have a thing for his sister in junior high. Now, I could care less about her and really want to see him live. He's an incredible drummer.
Always a pleasure to discuss musicians with someone who knows music. Even though I'm a metalhead, I appreciate good musicians, even if they play a style I'm not into.
Moni - Thanks. That was sweet. Finally got a chance to go online and blog today. Then tomorrow will be back to work and paperwork. I'm just glad to be back here though. I like Santa Barbara, but the cost of living is too much compared to the salaries.
Two things, Mr. ZS... I didn't know Mr. Bozzio had a sister... who is she?
Second, Mr. Bozzio must be an excellent drummer, because I can't see a spectrum with drummers. All drummers sound pretty much the same to me, except the very best. I can discern the differences in bass players, guitar players, piano, etc.. But, not drummers. I suppose I could pick out a really bad one, if asked.
You know what I'd like to see? You making noise on bass with average joe, Mr. Sadico Junction and levi of culturezoo on triple guitars and our friend Steve on drums (really good drummer). Perhaps a Blog-Jam Metal Fest in Yuba City? By the way, Steve is the guy who turned me on to Pat Boone's In A Metal Mood.
Bo - My bass playing is for recording purposes only. I'm mediocre at jamming bass. I'm more a guitarrist.
I will fill in though on bass if there's no bassist. I just won't try to pull off anything that fancy unless the beat is very slow. ;)
How far is Yuba City from Chico?
Oh, you ever heard of Missing Persons? They did songs like "Walking in L.A." Dale Bozzio was the singer and Terry was the drummer. They were a run of the mill New Wave band with a cute singer (Dale). That's why it was so surprising that Terry would go on to be one of the world's best drummers.
I am for sure going to check him out! But I would love to see you proform live Zombie ... any chance of this?
No way! I love pop music trivia... I did not know that TB was in Missing Persons! LA band, right?
Bo - Yeah, L.A. New Wave band. Put out a few albums and disappeared. Music wasn't that impressive. It was more Dale was hot. Then the band dispands and Terry goes crazy gobbling up every drum trick in the book and becomes one of the world's best drummers.
LP - Some day. Last time I performed live anywhere was in '94 in Houston. But it doesn't mean those days are over.
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