By: Michelle J Martinez

Michelle J Martinez — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:45:50 +0000

Not a day goes by where it doesn’t comes up. I want to do my share to make my objections public and point out the fallacies and legal weaknesses (as well as the blatant racism), I am also fighting bouts of fatigue. While most of my friends and family and colleagues see the injustice in the law, there are still those I love who support it. I think that is what gets the most tiring. When I am with them, there is no discussing it. It either begins with a silent agreement to not discuss it or it turns into a situation where I don my shell and throw up reflective shields of fallacy spotting from some long ago class in logic and critical thinking or have to quote snipits of history. I have been “defriended” by a few on Facebook because of my view. Other friends (and these are usually people I have know for decades through past lives) will post near hateful responses to my posts. I often let my other anti-SB1070 FB friends handle them, and they do a good job. What is the most tiring, I think, is the self-check I seem to be constantly performing. Unlike many supporters of the law, I refuse to get hateful in my responses. I work hard to bring up facts and examples and context. I think the trickiest part, though, is to not employ education snobbery. So often I am tempted to use my degrees to “one up” my opponent and dazzle them into shutting up with my extensive knowledge of Mexican-American, American, and World history, but then I feel the fingers of fatigue gripping me again. While I can stay awake enough to watch the road, I have learned to choose my battles or rely on my readied FB friends to handle various scrimmages that happen there, so I am energetically available for the face to face ones. This fight is not nearly over and while keeping eyes open is crucial, so is conserving energy in order to endure what may lie ahead.

Comments on: SB 1070 and a Wake Up Call

By: Michelle J Martinez