5.10.2005
Week's South
Since my last log entry, south swell has been the norm. As I write tonight, the south swell continues at 2.4 feet from 190 at 14 seconds. Surfed sharks all week - some days relatively uncrowded. In fact, on the day I least expected to get empty sharks - saturday - I surfed the evening session with cable gary and a few ornaments. It was epic - head high to overhead sets from a building south, perfect tide, glassy, and no one on the bowl but a bro. I didn't go out sunday, but I saw great waves in the morning - and then the storm wind came up. Today's waves were a mix of south and wind swell. I watched penguin surf sharks by himself. Junot was thinking about it and I was too spoiled from the previous week to surf the mix - decided to wait. On the down side for the week, I borrowed a friend's twin and on the third wave popped the future fin box out. I know I should never barrow a board! Heck - I could have even left it in the lot. Now for my latest rant. I understand many in our country are blaming Mexicans for their poor economic plight. Yes- as I have said before, it's the American way to blame someone or something else. The consensus in Arkansas, as well as many other red states, is that most Mexicans are illegal, that these illegals are taking jobs red-blooded Americans could have, they are driving down wages, they don't speak English, and they're using public services without paying for them. Over the next few log entries, I am going to discuss these issues in an attempt to understand the positions held by these freedom-loving patriots. Of course I'm biased - I still believe California is occupied Mexico. But I've got to try and reach out. First - what is an illegal Mexican and are most Mexicans in this country illegal? I suppose after the grand land grab that made this country what it is today, the haves decided to throttle down the influx of newcomers. Resources needed to be conserved for those already here. Laws were passed that set up standards and requirements under which newcomers would be welcome. These standards and requirements have changed over time (selectively modified?). When we needed brain power, those strong in science were allowed in (for example, builders of the first nuclear weapons). When labor was needed, various ethnic groups were allowed in - Chinese, Irish, Italians (my grandfather). Those with wealth or power have little trouble gaining entry (Arnie). Many Mexicans were already here - artifacts of pre-land grab history. But now, because of the opportunity afforded them by American business, those stranded on the other side of the line want in - legally or illegally. It's likely that many would not be allowed into this country legally given current politics (whatever the current standard and requirement is). So - they don't enter according to the law and wind up in the general Latin population - as the saying goes - if one's illegal, they all are - simple. I mean, how can you tell? So, an illegal Mexican is any Latino or Latina and their children, all of whom crossed the line in the sand without meeting the current standards and requirements. It doesn't matter if they're really citizens whose families where here before the land grab - they're still from over the line. - Wow! Now that I understand what an illegal is - how about some surf.