It's My Style

I've been in a kind of a reverse nirvana here. Have so many things that I would like to write or blog about. Just get lazy. I know. . . others usually refer to it as "writer's block." Call it what you will; guess I got it for now. I usually don't like writing off the cuff or just "throwing" something out there just to get something out there. I'm usually thinking quality, not quantity. When I do write, I like to present my thoughts in a well thought-out manner. Usually like to have a certain topic as my goal. Don't like to ramble. Avoiding redundancy to the best of my ability.

I like and virtually insist on using good grammar. Correct spelling is a must. I just learned that in all my training during my school years. I do my best to use the correct phrasing and punctuation. I'm sure I don't always get everything correct (particularly in my syntax and diction), mainly because I never really took the time to memorize all those complicated grammar rules (only one I can really recall for now is "i" before "e" except after "c" and maybe some other minor ones); but I'm still learning. . . constantly learning. Proofread. Proofread is always the word before I publish. Checking facts when I can. It's tedious for a fact, but I just respect my reader too much not to.

Slang can often be a sore subject. I can see its use when trying to get across a humorous point, and its particular use in a spoof or a lampoon. As one can see I don't mind injecting the occasional colloquialism. Probably use it more than I think; but I can't understand it being overused. I believe that's just a lazy mind at work. I certainly cannot understand vulgarity, particularly when one feels it is needed to make a topic humorous or to shock the reader. That's far worse than being dull of mind. An occasional curse word interjected from time to time doesn't bother me, but vulgarity. . . bawdiness. . . Won't find them at my door.

In elaboration of that point, why do comedians or so-called comedians find it necessary to employ so much vulgarity just to get an audience to laugh at their jokes, particularly the "f" word. I remember awhile back watching George Lopez doing one of his routines on television. Every other word he uttered had to be bleeped out. Every other word. Safe to say, I didn't listen very long. Of course, Mr. Lopez is not the only one using such coarse lingo. Why do these people feel they have to shock their audience with that junk? For some reason they feel they have to drag us down to the type of world or life that they grew up in. That because they grew up in a barrio or ghetto that they feel that we the audience need to hear the gutter language that they used hear and speak. "Oh, but that's what makes it so real or relevant. It's the culture." Still does't make sense to me.

Such language takes away from other sorts of entertainment. For instance, my favorite type of movie is the one based on real life events. Recount starring Kevin Spacey, for an example, which is the story of the 2000 presidential election between Gore and Bush, used so much of the "f" word and other vulgar words that it was mind-numbing. I'm sure that's the way the actual people spoke or communicated; but, man, the constant use of such language particularly in a rapid-fire motion simply takes away from the drama. In my view, it simply diminishes the story line. My finger gets calloused from having to push the mute button so many times when having to watch movies employing such language.

Well, going back to slang and recollecting back to my younger years, particularly my senior year in high school. I recall when some fellow students in my English class would come up to me before turning in their writing assignments to the teacher, so I could check their work for errors. For some reason, they trusted my writing or proofreading skills fairly enough so that they could turn in their own work with enough confidence that their corrected efforts would afford them a passing grade. (Wish I could say I got a lot of dates that way from meeting a lot of girls, but that didn't happen).

In one assignment, the class was supposed to write about some sort of travel or adventure that they would be interested in doing. This one girl came up to me with her paper, and I proceeded to check it. Now, she had written about going to some far off land where could meet new people from a different culture. Among her various errors in spelling and syntax, I still remember a specific phrase she used. In meeting people of another culture in another land, she stated that she would really like to "check them out;" meaning, I suppose, that she would've been very interested in finding out more about them and what they do.

In actuality, I knew what she meant because that was the type of slang that was being used back then in referring to searching out just about any type of matter. "Hey. . . check it out," was the prevalent jargon in that day. That's just the way this particular girl and others like her were used to talking. Wasn't anything really wrong with that except it probably wasn't proper to use in a English assignment for a grade. I don't think I told her that because I was just mainly looking for misspellings and basic syntax errors. I didn't have time to get intricate and rewrite the whole paper for her. So whatever grade she received, I don't remember. I just wanted to take the time to let you know the style of writing I usually like to employ.

Comments on the News: Part 2

This is in continuation of my last blog in which I was discussing the case of Miss Benita Veliz, the young Mexican woman who had been in this country illegally since eight years of age. Now being twenty three and having earned a degree from a local university, she had finally gotten caught (for being here illegally) and had been in danger of being deported. At this writing, she has received a three-month continuance from an immigration judge. So she is allowed to stay for now.

Now I had been wondering if her story was national and not just local. I googled her name and indeed her story had been covered by the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/) or at least there was an article or editorial in the Opinion section back in March of this year under the title "Don't Deport Benita Veliz" by Lawrence Downes. I may refer to some info from the article, although reluctantly because of the liberal nature of that periodical because. . .

Because first of all, I am strongly for any immigrant from any country entering this country legally if their purpose for coming or wanting to come is to contribute in a positive way to the culture of America. That's magnificent in my view. Otherwise, no; and if it takes a wall to protect our borders and to keep illegal immigrants out, then that's what needs to be done. I don't want to hear that it's like the Berlin wall, which by the way was for keeping people from escaping from a despotic country or government. That despotic country, East Germany--aka Soviet Union's puppet--was trying to enslave their citizenry.

I also don't want to hear that these aliens will still find and have found a way to crossover, so its just a waste of money. Also don't want to imbibe the rot that "they are hardworking people just looking for a better way of life." Don't care. Tiiiiired of hearing that. (another thing I was so tired of hearing was when President Bush would continually tell us that "we are a nation of immigrants," which is not true; at least not true in the sense that this nation was started by immigrants; founding fathers were born on this soil).

Last but not least. . . don't want to hear that the terrorists (because the wall was also meant to prevent or at least greatly hinder terrorists from entering) that have or tried to enter, had entered by way of Canada and other parts north. So then build a fence up there as well! Just protect the damn border and us American citizens-- will ya! What is so hard to understand about that! (Oops, do I sound mad? Shoutin' to loud for ya?).

Still, I can understand that deportment cases such as Miss Veliz are not always cut and dry. (I've seen that through the years). Because as she claims, she doesn't know any of her family in Mexico and certainly doesn't know her way around there. So, I suppose it would look bad if she was just dropped somewhere across the border and was told good luck. In the eyes of the world, it would seem that that was just another case of America treating an alien immigrant cruelly.

Still, the young woman was able to get a degree (I think maybe even two) from Saint Mary's University here in San Antonio. So, she should have a certain amount of smarts or savvy about her. Why can't she relocate in Mexico? Give her a chance and some time to contact whatever family members she may have in Mexico and allow them to set up some sort of living situation for her. I myself went to Mexico to live for awhile. Never had been there before to live. Wasn't even fluent in the language. Yet, a living situation had been set up for me beforehand. So, I was able to assimilate into the culture with the proper help. It wasn't all that difficult, and I even had my family there. Just takes a little time.


Well, Miss Veliz and her lawyer have about three months to figure it out. I know the debate concerning her situation will continue quite awhile. So. . . let it be. Let it be.

Comments on the News

Here in San Antonio, Tx. it is a hot one. "Like seven inches from the midday sun," as Rob Thomas lets us know in Smooth. It is going to stay that way for awhile here. No relief in sight. When the Highs are in the 100's and the Lows remain in the high 70's, forget it. My house does not get cool at all even with the ac when the temps are this high. Whew. . . don't know if I can endure another Summer like this.


Anyway, very tragic what had happened at the Holocaust Museum in D.C. The killer has been labeled a "white supremacist" (still can't understand why no one is labeled a "black or brown supremacist," but that's for another time). I've heard that the killer, James von Brunn had a racist website and was anti-Semitic. Had heard (or actually read just now on MSNBC's website) that he had been arrested and convicted in '83 for wanting to kidnap members of the Federal Reserve Board.

Well, that's enough about him. He doesn't deserve anymore pub. His victim's name was Stephen T. Johns who was a security guard there at the museum. In fact, just read in Yahoo news that Mr. Johns actually opened the door for the killer who then started firing and killed Mr. Johns. It's people such as Mr. Johns who help keep us the public safe from the murderers and other types of thugs of this world. I salute this man and others such as him. Unfortunately, many times his type of job is deemed unimportant until--unfortunately--something tragic happens.

His persona is often invisible, but he is there. Yes, everyday, great men such as Mr. Johns are there for us. Unfortunately, men such as him are not known or we don't read about him in the periodicals until--yes, again, unfortunately--something tragic happens. Remember men and women such as Mr. Johns.

Still reading in the Internet headlines (usually Yahoo) that the Swine Flu is still on its rampage; but don't hear much about it on the regular media. Don't know exactly why except just thinking that doing so--as far reporting or publicizing it--could still cast a negative ambiance toward Mexico where all this started. Not quite understandable considering this disease continues to spread throughout the world. In fact, WHO has already announced or categorized it as a pandemic. So, what gives here? Now, I'm not expecting the press to throw all of us into a panic as they are prone to do, but. . .

Basically, speaking of Mexico and the illegal-alien dilemma that is still wrestled with from day to day, locally a young Mexican woman by the name of Benita Veliz was under threat of deportation because she has been in this country illegally. Her parents had brought her over from Mexico on a tourist visa since she was 8 years old. She and her parents apparently stayed under the radar until she was eventually caught.

The way she was caught was by being pulled over by a policemen for rolling past a "Stop" sign. Miss Veliz, who is now 23 and has never had a driver's license, was arrested and eventually turned over to Immigration authorities to be deported. Now before all this happened, Miss Veliz had graduated as valedictorian from her high school and later graduated with a degree from a local university.

So the dilemma or question arises. . . what happens or what should happen to her? Being in this country illegally, does she automatically get deported even though it wasn't her fault--as is claimed-- that she was in the country illegally. Should an exception be made in her case as far as allowing her to remain here, since she apparently has been a model "citizen" by paying taxes, not committing any heinous crimes and, of course, earning a college degree. (To be continued).

The information about Miss Veliz's case was gleaned from the San Antonio Express-News, dated June 11, 2009; article written by Melissa Ludwig.