Thought I should make a direct link to the Homeland Security Racism report from the CFFSC here. In addition, there is a working paper by Dylan Rodriguez on the Bagong Diwa Prison Massacre -- more information on the Collective website.
I was going to write snarky comments like these:
I also wanted to draw my readers' attention to the comment left here and how it succinctly, if perhaps unwittingly, summarizes "imperialist" logic. The report linked above makes the argument, among others, that the American empire's military and mercantilist practices overseas are mirrored in its domestic surveillance methods -- at least, as manifested in the PATRIOT Act, control over subjects perceived as threats, particularly in the form of incarceration and deportation.The majority of the people who signed the letter are American citizens, and so "going home" to the Philippines isn't literally correct -- but I, not an "America-hater," felt personally stung, since I am one of those people that is a "mere" immigrant to this country and could indeed, all practicalities aside (but there are many), return to the Philippines.The blog comments -- which I'll reductively rephrase as "If you don't like it here, leave" -- exemplify the Bush administration's increasingly invidious attempts to stifle dissent and criticism. Unfortunately, sir, Filipinos are already being deported in worrying numbers, so your hopes about America-haters just might come true. Lucky you.
(This was the same kind of tactic the Marcos regime used to (arguably) effectively discredit its Filipino opposition -- both its conservative and radical left components -- overseas.)
I'll have to mull this over for a lengthier response.