The Candidate

I wrote a media analysis and I somehow believe that Obama is similar to Bill McKay. See my media and tell me what you think. Do you think he is speaking out and will be able to accomplish the goals he says he will? will he outbeat the traditional candidate like McCain. Is he charismatic?Or is he getting all this attention because he is young and attractive, look at Obama girl

By observing the film, The Candidate, we can see how the political advisor Marvin Lucas allowed Bill McKay to express his own political message in any way he pleased. He at first believed that McKay would not get much political attention but he was wrong, McKay began to get followers and was a threat to the former Senator. What made Bill McKay was that he was unlike the other candidates from the past he address issues that were forbidden to address such as issues of abortion or addressing funds in another direction. To some his ideas were fanciful but to him and to those who believed in him it was possible. He did not assure them all the answers but he assured them that he would give his best. Bill McKay spoke to the people with his heart and emotions he was pure believer in his ideas and personally there is nothing wrong with that. I as a political advisor would keep the candidates originality and approach but mold them to suite the ideals of America.

In The Candidate he first was addressing issues that were to his followers concern but in the end he was dried because he was advised how to do thing and his passion was not the same. I hope Obama will not be like the Candidate who won and in the end was confused and nervous. Imagine that occurring?

Government of Mexico

It is almost impossible to believe that less than two hundred years ago we were on Mexican soil. Mexico extended from the border of California to the borders of Texas. Now in 2008 the Mexican people who try to cross the region that once belong to their people are now scrutinized as a “foreigner” aliens to the first world country. America is known as the land of hope several migrated to the United States in hopes of pursuing a better life. Why is does the US magnify the on Mexican immigrants? According to David M. Reimers the author of the Other Immigrants: The Global Origin of American People states of the latest newcomers, Latinos constitute about half. Within half of that Latino population that comes to the United States, Mexicans account 60 percent of the nation’s Hispanics (p101). It is the long- term and short term migration of Mexicans that represent the greatest economic, political and cultural impact of any other group.

The continuous inflow from Mexican migrants to the US has caused a tremendous fear of the altering the US identity. Samuel P. Huntington states that Mexicans above all has divided the United Sates into two people, cultures, and two languages (p. 1). Mexicans and other Latinos do not fully assimilate into the mainstream US culture forming their own political and ethnic enclaves. In the “Hispanic Challenge”

Huntington pointed out six factors that demonstrate that the Mexican migration is different in comparison to others: contiguity, scale, illegality, regional concentration, persistence, and historical presence. These factors are what distinguish the Mexican migrant flow to the US. Alongside this is the American perspective of the immigration but what exactly does Mexico feel when emigration occurs? What are their perspectives of the Mexican impact to the US and how does the Government of Mexico feel towards the new policies aimed towards the Mexican illegal immigration?

Mexico a third world country is a hop and a step to a powerful nation, the United States. In Mexico the Unites States companies and corporation establish maquiladoras along the northern city of Mexico, though this helps the job market, they become more aware of the United States cities across the border and thus cross to find a better living.

Remittances, money being sent back to migrants homeland, helps Mexico highly. Many families would not survive without the fund that they receive form Mexico. The Mexican government knows that money is badly needed in economically depressed communities (Reimer p110). The previous president of Mexico Vincente Fox is are that the transfer amount to Mexico accounts as the third largest source of income (p.110). Mexico thus is highly dependent on the United States migrant inflow.

On May 13, 2005 then current President Fox complimented immigrants working in the Unites States, he praised them for their dignity, great contribution, and willingness and ability to work jobs that not even “Blacks were willing to do”( Schartzman 2007). Although the Presidents comments were on a more racist level he and the Government of Mexico feel that Mexican are the only ones that are willing to do the jobs that no other one is willing to do. In 2006 HR4437 immigration reform bill was a grand controversy of what the United States felt was a just and effect method of controlling the United States illegal inflow. HR4437 consisted of a 700 mile fence between the US and Mexican border, incorporation of satellite communication, increase of penalties and etc. The Mexican government felt that Hr4437 was shameful and was xenophobic politics by creating a fence, locking up illegal immigrant as prisoners and deportation to be sent back from where they came from. It was December 16, 2005 when the bill was actually passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 239 to 182 meaning that 92 percent of the Republicans supported it and 82 percent of the Democrats opposed it. The public reaction was set up several protest in 2006 millions gather along major cities to demonstrate that HR4437 was not just. When the bill arrived at the Senate it did not pass. Several feel that it was the major cryout of the people that could have influenced the Senate to not approve it.

Charlie Wilson's War

During the 1980’s East Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson led a successful covert operation in history. With his two ally friends Gust Avrokotos an ex CIA agent and a beautiful wealthy Joanne Herring were able to make an unlikely war occur and achieve their goals. The Soviet began to occupy Afghanistan and crimes and injustice acts were committed to the Afghani people, unfortunately people throughout the nations were not taking this in consideration but rather Joanne Herring a female non-politician kept an eye. She approached Charlie Wilson and arranged for him to visit the president of Afghanistan, when he went his blindfolds were removed and began to see the reality. His heart felt the pain and his humanitarian instinct kicked in. He was able to defeat the odds. The Afghani were able to get rid if the reign of the Soviet Union with the surprising help of Israeli providing arms. When analyzing the film Charlie Wilson’s war we are able to interpret certain occurrences with our political sociology knowledge. Two features that I discovered was the removal of direct barrier and encouragement. By apply these aspects we are able to interpret the film with more facility.

Wars are a very costly therefore Charlie had to encourage several political leaders and capitalist that this war was positive and that their funding was essential for the war to continue. Encouragement includes government and non-government that target parts of the population and provide incentives to facilitate their participation in the polity (Nueman 2005, 147). Thus Charlie Wilson, Gust, and Joanne were not a government organization and were in quest to persuade certain region of the population, the elites. With the help of the elites Charlie Wilson’s war is all possible. One particular character was influenced by Joanne she is a religious person therefore she used her religious beliefs to persuade him that it is a religious war and fortunately it worked.

The second aspects is the removal of direct barrier. The removal of direct barrier is an inclusion mechanism that ends blockage to a groups entrance to the polity and expand access for the group that is not fully included in the polity(Nueman 2005,150). The direct barrier for the Afghani was the Soviet Union. The Soviet had control of Afghanistan for it continuously bombed and attacked its people. An example that was a shock to me was the tactic of confusing the children. They would place ‘shiny toys’ along the ground but in reality it was a bomb, the explosion of the bomb mutilated and scarred the bodies of these infants. Therefore with the removal of the direct barrier Afghanistan had hope of becoming a protected and free nation.

Charlie Wilson’s War was a collection of actual events that occurred. I felt compassion for the film and felt that all is possible but it raised a question in my mind. What occurred to that relationship we had with Afghanistan? If Charlie Wilson were to go in 2008 would he be respected or be terrorized?

The Sixties

Throughout human history people nearly at the bottom of society have engaged in urban riots, peasant uprising, slave revolts, mutinies, mass strikes and insurrections to express grievance, acquire power and or advance their political views (Neuman 2005, 231). Until the 1960’s to early 1970’s political sociologist saw social disruption as a serious social and political unrest. The sixties would mark history forever and create the footstep for today’s revolutionaries. The film The Sixties: The Years that Shaped a Generation demonstrated the occurrences and the social upheaval. With a clear mind on a set goal whether it was to end the War in Vietnam or the fight for civil rights it was all shaped and express through music.

During the 1950’s to early 1960’s it was a period of mass apathy, to be apathetic was positive and necessary for a stable democracy. The future of American democracy depended on the wisdom, responsibility and resourcefulness of nation’s elite (Neuman 2005, 7). It is stated that political sociologist during this classical era distrusted the mass uneducated, low income, marginal, members of society who did not embrace established norms. Social change, political unrest changed direction in the late 1960’s African Americans tried to exercise their democratic right to vote. Summer after summer US soldiers patrolled large US cities after massive riots (Neuman 2005, 9). Images in the film consisted of the Black Panthers, the Columbia students protest, the Chicano Movement, and the African American civil rights movement. The enlightened group believed in an egalitarian society, where everybody was finally going to be treated equally. To some extent these leaders were dreamers but their dreams did set a mark in human history.

During the sixties people were in a political struggle. Political struggle is among groups for power. According to Neuman struggle includes the peaceful and nonpeaceful action by a group or coalition of people to expand or defend their position of power that meets with opposition from others (p.25). Frame conflict is used in a political struggle and can be the site of struggle. To be more specific it was injustice frame for the 1960’s which is part of collective action frame that excites moral indignation or righteous anger towards a concrete target and demands action because a sense of protest can be assign blame, motivates followers and direct action (Neuman 2005, 274). For example African American then referred as negros wanted to be seen and respected as any other American. Rosa Parks became famous for refusing the bus driver’s order to give up her seat for white passenger. She motivated and inspired Martin Luther King who later would be a pivotal pioneer of the civil rights movement. He and his followers had moral indignation that they were not treated equally and fairly thus took action by protesting.

Some political sociologists see the emergence of a social movement society and the new social movement as a culture change and new self identities (Neuman, 2005 228). The sixties were the years that shaped a generation it shaped and open the eyes of many. The sixties was the birth of many movements to come. Women’s Liberation movement a series of campaigns and protest on issues such as reproductive rights (including abortion), domestic violenceequal pay, sexual harassment, and sexual violence. Another minority group that got inspires was LGBT for their gay rights LGBT want social equality and were tired of being sexually oppressed. The fight equality still continues today.

Music idols such as Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones quenched the thirst for spiritual understanding. Black Americans were sustained and healed and nurtured by the translation of their experience into art above all music. My parallel is always music because all of the art out there, All the work that must go into improvisation so that appears that you never touched it music makes you hungry for more (Bradley 2001, 67). With music and the social movement of the people the sixties was a bookmark in history.

Calderon: Current Mexican President

Summary of what the Mexican President Felipe Calderon was seeking to achieve in the 2005-2007 debates •The current president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon is adamantly opposed to the creation of a wall on the US-Mexico border. •Calderon believes strongly that Mexican citizens who cross the border illegally deserve dignified treatment and has created the organization Repatriación Humana to this end •Calderon has lauded the United States Senate for its more enlightened approach toward immigration reform, in contrast with that of the House of Representatives •Calderon has frequently stated that immigration is a “fact of life” and that the US approach towards it is deeply flawed •He has also stated his firm belief that a guest worker program would be economically beneficial and would replace illegal immigration

The positions of President Calderon that are addressed in 2005-2007 US immigration legislation

• H.R. 4437

– Calderon has called the building of a wall along the border a “medieval” approach to immigration control because it completely misses the point in trying to find a solution to the immigration problem

– Calderon expressed anger at the idea of Mexicans being considered criminals just for trying to support their families and denounced the criminalization of those who aid the undocumented workers

• S. 2611

– Calderon strongly supports a plan for legalization for undocumented Mexicans in the United States

– Calderon strongly supports a guest worker program. The six year plan of this bill would have been met with the support of the Mexican president

• S. 1348

– Calderon’s call for legalization and fairness are echoed in S. 1348, with the Z Visa and DREAM Act

– This bill includes a limited guest worker program as well which is also supported by Calderon

Vicente Fox ll

Vicente Fox

The positions of the Vicente Fox that are addressed in 2005-2007 US immigration legislation

H.R. 4437

• At its inception, then president Vicente Fox denounced H.R. 4437 and called it shameful and a disgrace

• In Revolution of Hope, Fox referred to the border fence as a “Berlin Wall.”

He also referred to the criminalization aspect f the bill as a “violation of human rights.”

S. 2611

• Considered a “historic breakthrough” by Fox

The legalization and guest worker policies of this bill are all in line with Fox’s goals

S. 1348

• The Z Visas are a form of legalization that are integral to Fox’s desires for US immigration policy

The very limited guest worker program is not sufficient however

The requirement for the completion of 370 miles of fence is counter to Fox’s position on the issue

Vicente Fox

Summary of what former Mexican President Vicente Fox wanted to achieve in the 2005-2007 debates

• The viewpoint of Vicente Fox on the US illegal immigration issue

– This clip demonstrates the revulsion felt by Fox at the proposal of the border fence, calling it “shameful” and equating it to isolationism on the part of the United States

• Revolution of Hope – 2007 autobiography by Fox

– Written only in English and only released in the United States, this book is intended to open the eyes of the American people

– Fox describes the unfairness and irrationality of the debate on immigration in the United States

– He portrays the immigration debate as permeated with fallacy and “xenophobia

– There is a strong emphases on the benefit that Americans receive from Mexico and Mexican migration