Whoosh!

So goes the month of January. I've not posted lately because there isn't anything happening on the immigration front and I've been insanely busy with teaching, writing, and prepping for a course overload in Spring. Then there's the matter of 5YO being on the verge of being 6YO. Yes, it's true. I'm not sure how that happened, but six he will be!

The good news is that it looks as though I'm going to get to take a trip to Seattle in April. The even better news is that it's for a consulting gig (read: $$) and I get to visit with a friend I rarely have the opportunity to see. But, wait, it gets even better. If things work out I'll tag on a quick trip to Victoria. So, for those of you who have agreed to talk with me about your immigration plans, experiences, etc., once plans are set I'll be in touch.

Meanwhile, back in MN... yesterday morning it was 0. Right now it's 15 with a wind chill of -1. Yes, those are Fahrenheit. I'll wait until we move to make the switch to C.

That's about it. Just waiting for the next communique from Detroit! As always, you'll be among the first to hear!

Same-Sex Marriage?

Hillary Clinton? No.
John Edwards? "Not there yet."
Tom Vilsack? Nope.
Barack Obama? Nah.
Dennis Kucinich? Yup.

Then there's John McCain playing kissy-face (or was that kiss up?) to James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Oh, this is going to be fun. Not.

My tag line may be:
"Barack Obama - Apparently he thinks Brown v. Board was wrongly decided. Long live Plessy and separate but equal, says Obama."

Democrats? No, thanks!

These two snippets just happened to catch my eye - both appeared within the last 24 hours. Just more evidence of why the Democrats, IMHO, aren't any more appealing to me than the others. Also, see Tom's recent posts at Canadian Hope.

From the Stonewall Dems:
"Former Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. (TN) will soon assume the Chairmanship of the Democratic Leadership Council - the centrist organization which seeks to influence the policy and politics of the Democratic Party. Ford is a strong supporter of amendments to both the Tennessee and U.S. Constitutions that bar domestic partnerships, civil unions and civil marriage for same-sex couples. In Fact, Ford aggressively campaigned on that support during his failed Senate campaign last year (earning the dubious distinction of being the only major Democratic senate candidate in 2006 to wind up a loser). Ford's position puts him at odds with the stated policy of the Democratic Leadership Council, which opposes such amendments. Stonewall has called on the DLC to reaffirm their position and for Congressman Ford to rejoin the majority of Democrats and Americans in supporting the policy of the DLC by opposing the federal anti-marriage amendment."

From The New York Times
January 16, 2007
Democrats Seek the Middle on Social Issues
By Robin Toner
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 — The promise may not outlast their political honeymoon, but Democratic Congressional leaders say they are committed to governing from the center, and not just on bread-and-butter issues like raising the minimum wage or increasing aid for education. They also hope to bring that philosophy to bear on some of the most divisive social issues in politics, like abortion.

In their first days in session, Senate Democratic leaders reintroduced a bill that they said was indicative of their new approach: the Prevention First Act, which seeks to reduce the number of abortions by expanding access to birth control, family planning and sex education.

In the House last week, Democrats showcased a vote on expanding federal financing for embryonic stem cell research, which, despite fierce opposition from many conservatives, has won bipartisan support among lawmakers — and voters — who are otherwise divided on abortion.

The mantra, for many Democrats, is the search for common ground. On gay rights, lawmakers and advocates said the most likely legislation in the new Congress would focus on hate crimes and employment discrimination, issues expected to be much less polarizing than the debate over same-sex marriage that was front and center in the Republican Congress....

In the mail...

Today, just before noon, an envelope containing: FBI cards, police certificate from Germany, proof of funds, proof of medical examinations, and a check for $890 went in the mail. Now we just wait to see what comes next - mystery brown envelope, PPR, or perhaps a request for some additional documentation? You will be among the first to know!

This is great!

You may recall my comments about Michele Bachmann, the incredibly hateful and ignorant GOP conservative who got, incredibly, elected to Congress in the MN Sixth. This editorial appeared in today's Minneapolis paper - it's fabulous!!!!

Bachmann: Our secret weapon for Baghdad
By Nick Coleman, Star Tribune

Praise the Lord and send Bachmann to Iraq. And make it snappy.

Michele Bachmann is the freshman congresswoman who raised eyebrows last fall when she claimed God had "called" her to run for Congress. I know the Lord moves in mysterious ways, and I am open to the possibility that divine intervention helped Republican Bachmann move up from the state Senate to Washington so that she might stop smiting Minnesota's gays and lesbians and start solving some real problems.

Anything is possible.

So I am glad that Bachmann apparently believes she will know what we should do about that pesky Iraq thing when she can get there and take a look-see.

This is fabulous news. After almost four years of a war that has cost thousands of lives and seems to be getting worse by the moment, we have overlooked the obvious solution:

Drop Bachmann on Baghdad!

I pray she won't waste another minute booking a flight.

"I don't believe we have all of the information in front of us," she recently said. "As a member of Congress, that's why I want to go to Iraq as quickly as I can. I want to get the best information in front of me."

The thanks of a grateful nation to Michele Bachmann!

All that nonsense about the Iraq Study Group was a waste of time, as was the 2006 election, in which Americans thought they were expressing disapproval of the war.

As it turns out, all we needed was to get Baghdad Bachmann into the fray to find out what to do. I don't know why we didn't think of it long ago: Michele goes to Mesopotamia and we get a solution! She is very sweet to offer, and she should be deployed as soon as possible, so we can get this thing wrapped up.

Or perhaps Bachmann should just give fellow Republican Norm Coleman a call.

Sen. Coleman already has been to Iraq, twice (he made his second visit last month). He may not know what to do about Iraq, yet. But he knows what not to do: He says the answer is not to send 20,000 more troops and extend the tour of 2,600 Minnesota Guard soldiers who thought they were coming home in March.

In this, he is ably representing the thousands of Minnesotans whose lives have been disrupted by an ill-conceived and unnecessary war that has gone off the tracks. Norm voted to authorize that war, like many Republicans and Democrats in Congress. But unlike Newbie Bachmann, who believes she might know the solution once she sees Baghdad, Norm says we have seen enough already.

On the day we learned that another Minnesota soldier had died in Iraq, the troops heard from a cable TV channel that their tours had been extended.

Sen. Coleman didn't have to go to Iraq to find out what he should do about that disgrace.

He wrote an angry letter to the secretary of defense, saying that announcing extended war tours on cable TV was an "unacceptable way to treat our nation's citizen soldiers." He also opposed the president's face-saving plans to gamble more lives on a failed policy in Iraq.

A "troop surge" in Iraq, Norm said in a Senate speech, will "put more American troops at risk" trying to fix a problem -- sectarian violence -- that is Iraq's, not America's.

Give Norm credit. Sure, he's running for reelection in 2008, but Bachmann will be, too. At least Norm is smart enough to start backing away from the Kool-Aid vat. And by abandoning the president's line, he is speaking up for the troops and their families, who are expected to remain silent.

More politicians should listen to the people (61 percent disapproved of a troop surge in a poll taken after President Bush proposed it). And more, like Gov. Tim Pawlenty, should serve their constituents before their ambitions. Although our governor spoke up on behalf of the Minnesota Guard members Thursday, he has spent months playing buddy-buddy with presidential prospect and surge proponent John McCain.

Still, if Michele Bachmann or others think they can enlighten us by going to Baghdad, I say, by all means. Go. Get a move on.

Nick Coleman • ncoleman@startribune.com

WTF?

20,000 more troops to Iraq?

I asked my students to watch tonight so I was taking notes.
Just a sampling...

“The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people…and it is unacceptable to me.”
“Failure in Iraq would be disastrous for the United States.”
“…advancing liberty across a troubled region.”
“Increase the active Army and Marine Corps…”
‘Mobilize civilians overseas…”
“Advance of freedom is the calling of our time...”

Every time I hear him utter words like liberty, freedom, and democracy I wonder when everyone in the United States will truly have liberty and freedom.

I absolutely loathe the man.

Catching Up

I didn't have time to include this in Friday's post...

We went to one of the two places in the Cities where you can get a CIC medical exam. It's in one of the suburbs (the aforementioned Apple Valley) and is staffed by a physician of Latino origin. The support staff are primarily Latina. The nurse practicioner was listed as "Sr." That's as in sister, as in nun. It's fair (and honest) to say that - as two moms coming in with a child - I was a bit apprehensive.

Then... the NP walked in the door. She was sporting a Wellstone! button. Good sign! As soon as she put her things down she set to work with our materials. She was very cool! That's cool in a good way, not cool as in distant. When I was in her office going over the paperwork she saw my occupation listed as "Professor" and [paraphrasing] sighed, "Brain drain. We're losing all the good people. But, what do we expect when we make policies that force them to leave?" Was I happy or what!

So, all in all, a great experience and a reminder about Catholicism. She happens to be a member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, a very cool order as far as Catholic orders go. You might have heard of Sister Rita. "In 1996 she was arrested for the first time for peaceful protesting, and in 1997 was again arrested and sentenced to a federal penitentiary in Pekin , Illinois . When asked what she got for her 70th birthday, Sister Steinhagen quipped, 'Six months!'"

Anyway, just wanted to add that to the tale. More as it happens!

110/80

Well, all the information you really need to know is in the title of this post. Woo-hoo! But, here's the quick story.

We headed down to Apple Valley (don't you love that name) for our 9 am appointment. 5YO had to pee so as soon as we walked in I asked if he would need to provide a urine sample. The woman who greeted us said that she didn't think so and that he could go ahead and pee. He did, we got settled, and started some paperwork. She came back about 5 minutes later and said that, yes, in fact, he would need to provide a urine sample, and would he like orange juice or water - a bottle in each hand. He opted for the OJ.

Thus began an hour and a half of two middle aged women and a 5YO "round-robining" the examination room, etc. But, the glorious news was that my BP was 110/80. A more accurate statement is probably that that was the reading. I've often had LPNs and such get a low reading, I think, bc it was what they were expecting. Then, the physician does it and, voila, too high. All I know is that the paperwork reads 110/80.

The assistant couldn't find a good vein in my left arm, got the needle in my right and couldn't find a vein, and ended up having the nurse practicioner draw from the back of my hand - nice and veiny. What else? I loved getting weighed in kilograms. Insert grin here! We made it out the door after about two hours and had to go down the road for our chest x-rays.

The only other "blip" in the day was that P had to get some documentation from her primary care provider. At the end of some lost paperwork, misinformation, etc. she was able to have someone print out the info and leave it for her after hours. Now she can hand carry it back to the immigration meds office and, as soon as they get the x-rays, off it all goes to Ottawa.

Then, we just wait to see if we get the mystery brown envelope... But, all I know is that I'm thrilled with the BP. I've been dreading that for about a year and a half!!!

More as it happens. Hopefully I can post some "catch-up" info soon. Cheers!

Back for a moment!

I can't believe I haven't posted since 19 December. That was finals week, then grading, then the holiday and a week away with almost no Internet access. We got back on the 30th and it's been insanity ever since. I started teaching Tuesday morning and teach from 9-12 three days a week until the 25th. Then there's that @#$% book deadline hanging over my head. Thus, not only have I not been posting, I've not been reading.

As some of you may recall, we have our physicals on Friday. This was supposed to be the end of a peaceful retreat, resulting in lower blood pressure. Instead, I'm on the verge of just cracking up, at least momentarily.

But, if I can just get a bit ahead on daily prep and get a bit more written... Anyway, thought I should dash off a quick post to let everyone know that all is well, just not enough hours in the day.

I hope you had a great new year and that 2007 provides you with peace and all things wonderful!

Just In Case!

Somebody completed the project survey midday on Monday, the 18th. The person indicated that s/he was interested in being interviewed, but then provided no contact info. In the event that you, the reader, are the this person - please send me a note at us2canada@gmail.com letting me know how to contact you. Thanks! We now return to our regularly scheduled programming...

Sunday Evening

This is just a quick note of thanks to those of you have have responded to my call for participants. Much as I'd rather put this on the front burner, I don't anticipate doing anything further until well into the new year. I've got to finish grading and then try to wrap up the other manuscript... But, rest assured, you will be hearing from me!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch - okay, the early 20th century four-square. This will be a busy week. P's last final is Tuesday. Yea! 5YO can't believe that after Friday he has two weeks off from school! But, before that it's lunches and parties and baking, oh, my.

In other news... One of my cyber-pals, C, and his family, landed this weekend. Although already living in Canada, they took a little day trip to land. Congratulations! And, as anyone in our little world of US2CA blogs knows, Emilio was granted asylum. A really huge congratulations to Tom and Emilio!

Well, it's off to bed for me. Still trying to beat this cold before vacation arrives. Have a great week!

Research Assistance

As regular readers might recall, I'm a sociologist by trade. I'm also close to finishing my current book and have been thinking about my next endeavor. I've been wanting to do something "personally meaningful," but that still offers something to the discipline. After seriously weighing the pros and cons, I've decided to do some exploratory work on a project aimed at learning more about US citizens who have decided to move to Canada. If I can garner enough interest, I will do in-depth interviews aimed at learning more about their decisions, what "made the difference," etc.

If you are interested in helping out, please go here. I've also started a separate blog as a means to maintain various resources, comments, etc. I don't know how much it will be used initially, but I want to keep my own comments about my experience separate from the more "project-oriented" writing. Although there's not much there now, it's called Magnetic North.

I would be very appreciative if you would be willing to participate and if you would forward the info to your immigrant or immigrant-to-be friends far and wide.

Thanks!

Oh, noooooo!

So, P is in the midst of final exams. First semester of law school. She gets up this morning, fires up the computer - the one with all her notes, course outlines, practice exams - and... nothing. Well, not exactly nothing, but a screen full of pretty colored vertical lines. No wallpaper, no icons, no screensaver, just lines. Talk about a student's nightmare. And, not only did she need the data, but they take exams on their laptops. Well, one call to Apple Care, one trip to the Apple Store, one trip to CompUSA, and twelve hours later we have one new PC notebook - with the data that we were able to transfer from her PowerBook to mine - and one PowerBook with a questionable future. You see, the estimate to fix it is $350. Given the original cost of the thing or the cost to replace it with a new MacBook, that wouldn't be so bad. But, that only gets her a 90 day warranty on the repair. So, with computers becoming obsolete within days of walking out of the store, we figured she'd get a low-end PC notebook, buy the extended coverage, and have a computer good for the rest of school. By then we'll be several more generations down the road and she can get the one she really wants.

Now, this may sound completely unrelated to immigration and, yeah, it pretty much is. But, here's the connection. As I understand it, when we land, with our Goods to Follow list in our hot little hands, we will list all our property, with serial numbers where applicable. But, if we're then in the US for another couple of years and, say, buy a new computer, we won't have owned that at landing. Technically, as I understand it, we'd have to pay import duty - or whatever they call it - on anything we acquired after landing. Is that correct?

I also hear tell that they don't really check your stuff. That if we have a laptop packed inside, e.g., the boxes and boxes of books, who would ever know? Now, let's be clear - am I paranoid or what? - I'm not saying we'd do this. But, hypothetically speaking...?

Books and Movies for $100, Alex

What I've been doing since deciding not to make myself crazy over work...

Why We Fight
"WHY WE FIGHT, the new film by Eugene Jarecki which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, is an unflinching look at the anatomy of the American war machine, weaving unforgettable personal stories with commentary by a “who’s who” of military and beltway insiders. Featuring John McCain, William Kristol, Chalmers Johnson, Gore Vidal, Richard Perle and others, WHY WE FIGHT launches a bipartisan inquiry into the workings of the military industrial complex and the rise of the American Empire.

Inspired by Dwight Eisenhower’s legendary farewell speech (in which he coined the phrase “military industrial complex”), filmmaker Jarecki (THE TRIALS OF HENRY KISSINGER) surveys the scorched landscape of a half-century’s military adventures, asking how – and telling why – a nation of, by, and for the people has become the savings-and-loan of a system whose survival depends on a state of constant war."

Sir, No Sir!
"In the 1960’s an anti-war movement emerged that altered the course of history. This movement didn’t take place on college campuses, but in barracks and on aircraft carriers. It flourished in army stockades, navy brigs and in the dingy towns that surround military bases. It penetrated elite military colleges like West Point. And it spread throughout the battlefields of Vietnam. It was a movement no one expected, least of all those in it. Hundreds went to prison and thousands into exile. And by 1971 it had, in the words of one colonel, infested the entire armed services. Yet today few people know about the GI movement against the war in Vietnam . . . . The film does four things: 1) Brings to life the history of the GI movement through the stories of those who were part of it; 2) Reveals the explosion of defiance that the movement gave birth to with never-before-seen archival material; 3) Explores the profound impact that movement had on the military and the war itself; and 4) The feature, 90 minute version, also tells the story of how and why the GI Movement has been erased from the public memory."

North to Canada: Men and Women Against the Vietnam War
"While we may never know the exact number of Americans who chose Canada over Vietnam, an estimated half-million men and women went north as a result of their opposition to the war. Despite President Ford's amnesty and President Carter's pardon, some of these exiles never returned. This book, which focuses upon those who remained in Canada, offers a resister's eye view of the most traumatic war in American history. Dickerson blends resister interviews with an account of the historical events that served as watersheds for these young Americans.

Dickerson answers the question: Whatever happened to the men and women who went to Canada? With contextual information regarding the policies of both the U.S. and Canadian governments towards the war and its resisters, Dickerson offers evidence that a generation of America's "best and brightest" was lost to Canada. His inclusion of female resisters contributes a new perspective to the debate that continues to rage more than 25 years after the withdrawal of the last American troops in Vietnam."

I highly recommend all three of the above. They are all compelling for a variety of reasons.

And again...

December 12, 2006
Pastor Quits After Revealing Same-Sex Relations
By Neela Banerjee

The senior pastor of a suburban Denver evangelical church resigned Sunday after admitting to having had sexual relations with men. The move apparently came after the pastor was confronted by another minister in his church who had been alerted by an anonymous caller, The Denver Post reported.

The resignation of the pastor, the Rev. Paul Barnes, from the pulpit of the 2,100-member Grace Chapel megachurch in Englewood came by way of a tearful, 32-minute videotaped address to his congregation.

His departure occurred a month after the Rev. Ted Haggard quit as president of the National Association of Evangelicals and senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs when a former male prostitute disclosed that Mr. Haggard had had a sexual relationship with him.

Dave Palmer, the associate pastor of Grace Chapel, told The Post that the church received a call last week from a person who had overheard someone speak of “blowing the whistle” on other evangelical ministers in clandestine homosexual relationships, among them Mr. Barnes. Mr. Palmer then spoke with Mr. Barnes.

For the entire article visit The New York Times.

Those Wonderful Exceptions!

This semester I've been teaching a course for students who spent last Spring semester abroad. Most of them whine about the reflective work, don't see why it's required, etc. But, as with most classes, every now and again a bright light, an exceptional student, appears. One of the assignments is a project - the parameters are very, very broad - in which the students must share something of their travels with others. They can present to another class on campus, visit an elementary school, write an article for publication, etc.. This year one student did a terrific slide show, one gave a talk to a Philosophy class, another did some mixed-media paintings. But one really impressed me. AEB spent last Spring in Sevilla, Spain and has created a short, 6-8 minute, audio piece from her experience. It is available here. Check it out!

BTW, I hesitated to post this because I would hate for my students to be able to work their way back to this blog, but I just can't resist sharing this. That being said, if you listen and comment, just don't mention who sent you. Thanks!

26 Years Ago

John Lennon
9 Oct 1940 - 8 Dec 1980

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Rock My World

"The Dixie Chicks' 'Taking the Long Way' was nominated for album of the year while their single 'Not Ready to Make Nice' is up for both song and record of the year."

They have got to be so pumped! Talk about validation!

More on Marriage

See what the group, Canadians for Equal Marriage, says about the vote here. Thanks, Jo, for the heads-up!

Vote in Parliament

Government motion on same-sex marriage is defeated
December 7, 2006 - 3:31 PM ET

A motion to reopen the same-sex marriage debate was easily defeated in Parliament on Thursday, as expected.

MPs voted 175-123 against the controversial motion tabled by the ruling Conservatives.
The motion had asked the government to introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions and while respecting existing same-sex marriages.

The motion never had much hope of passing, as the Bloc Québécois and the NDP were forcing their members to vote against it.

Liberals were allowed to vote freely on the matter, but most members were expected to oppose the motion.

The vote should put an end to parliamentary wrangling about same-sex marriage, at least for now. Prime Minister Stephen Harper had said a vote to defeat the motion would settle the matter.

See the complete article here.