Faith, Culture and Politics: Illegals in Narnia Winter 06
Andrew, Jan and Grandma Marge saw “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” this past weekend. I guess the movie is a blockbuster.
Something really bothers me about this Narnia mania, though.
Let's face it. The whole thing is nothing but a celebration of illegal immigration.
"Snow-Backs" Crossing Over
Yes, yes, I know that Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edmund ended up making a significant contribution to the economy and well being of their new country.
But that doesn’t change the fact that they crossed the border illegally and broke the law. Narnia’s got to be a country of laws or eventually all hell will break loose.
Something needs to be done and done fast. Let’s stop this nonsense about a guest worker program. We all know that would just affirm lawbreaking and would let those humans who have already illegally crossed into Narnia off the hook.
There's only one reasonable and effective response. We must fortify and electrify the wardrobe. That’ll make ‘em think twice about crossing over.
The Border
But if people won't listen to reason, and if the government won’t do anything about it, we’ve got to take matters into our own hands. In that case I'd support legions of “Minute-Dwarfs” who sit in folding lawn chairs with GPS devices and shot guns and guard the frontier along the wardrobe.
So let’s ignore this sentimental silliness about Edmund improving his life in Narnia, blah, blah, blah. Time to get tough and serious about a real problem. If we don’t, you never know what kind of Narnia we might pass on to our children in the years to come.
Something really bothers me about this Narnia mania, though.
Let's face it. The whole thing is nothing but a celebration of illegal immigration.
"Snow-Backs" Crossing OverYes, yes, I know that Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edmund ended up making a significant contribution to the economy and well being of their new country.
But that doesn’t change the fact that they crossed the border illegally and broke the law. Narnia’s got to be a country of laws or eventually all hell will break loose.
Something needs to be done and done fast. Let’s stop this nonsense about a guest worker program. We all know that would just affirm lawbreaking and would let those humans who have already illegally crossed into Narnia off the hook.
There's only one reasonable and effective response. We must fortify and electrify the wardrobe. That’ll make ‘em think twice about crossing over.
The BorderBut if people won't listen to reason, and if the government won’t do anything about it, we’ve got to take matters into our own hands. In that case I'd support legions of “Minute-Dwarfs” who sit in folding lawn chairs with GPS devices and shot guns and guard the frontier along the wardrobe.
So let’s ignore this sentimental silliness about Edmund improving his life in Narnia, blah, blah, blah. Time to get tough and serious about a real problem. If we don’t, you never know what kind of Narnia we might pass on to our children in the years to come.
posted by Wordcat at 5:30 PM
1 Comments:
I left this on my blog, but I also wanted to leave it here too. I also had a question about India which I'll get to later.
People like me are probably the most conflicted when it comes to hip-hop. I grew up with hip-hop, as I alluded to in the post; in fact hip-hop and I are the same age. However, I have grown increasingly dissatisfied with rap music and hip-hop culture in recent years. There are very few artists I will listen outside of radio: Kanye, Outkast, Dizzee Rascal (from England), the Streets (also from England). I am disappointed because unlike the early days of hip-hop, where you had MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Salt-n-Pepa, Yo Yo, etc. offering a strong, intelligent (for the most part) female perspective, it seems like there is a little or no room for women at the rap table unless we're shaking our salt-shakers, laffy taffy, etc. Missy Elliot is one exception, and Lauryn Hill was until she lost her way. I too share you frustration about the perpetuation of the use of the N word. It is a well known fact that most consumers of rap music are White men. When rappers, who are still mostly Black or of color, use the N word, it sends a signal that it is okay to use. I, as a Black woman, will be the first one to express the loathing for the stereotypes that most modern rap music and the hip hop culture transmits to the nation and the world: excessive violence, misogyny, and materialism. So I agree with you to that end.
That said, I will defend my previous statements. Eminem was the first rapper to win for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself" (from 8 Mile). That sounds is obviously more creative by the Three 6 Mafia song by leaps and bounds. However the Three 6 song obviously was written for the the movie, and in the context of the movie (which I will admit I have yet to see), it encapsulated the protagonist. For the Academy to award a song that is so guttural and so "street" definitely raised my eyebrows and many others. Also, as some who has followed the Three 6 Mafia's career (primarily through magazine articles) since at least '93, I also look at it as Black men who has persevered through their craft (even though a lot of their subject matter is dodgy), has just very recently achieved mainstream success, and just got an award from an organization perceived--often correctly--as being stodgy, out of date, and out of touch. Whether we like or not, hip-hop it's many forms, is here to stay. I can do without the gold teeth and stereotypes, because I know even Africans think it is okay to use nigger. But compared to most forms of music hip-hop is a very young adult. Don't most young adults make mistakes? Hip hop is making a lot of mistakes right now, but it is also doing a lot of positive. Again, Queen Latifah has blossomed into a leading lady, and Ludacris, to quote my friend Bethany, is just going up and up on the acting radar. As much as I am frustrated with hip hop, and as much as I listen to U2 and Coldplay nowadays, I refuse to give up on it.
A movie which I would recommend you watching is "Brown Sugar," starring Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs. I resonated with Lathan's character, as a woman struggling with hip hop, and how it remains intertwined in her life, along with the guy who first introduced her to hip hop. Also, I would recommend you that you sample artists like Common, Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Outkast, etc. You've started a very good dialogue and it would be interesting to continue this.
Now, I wanted to ask you about India, in light of the recent Newsweek cover story. India is being touted as the next the next financial star among global leaders, the media, etc. But doesn't this contract greatly with the slums and poverty that we know all too well. What are your thoughts about the so-called "new India," and what effect will this have on our people in that country?
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