No One Is Illegal: Fighting Racism and State Violence on the U.S.-Mexico Border | Comments
mike davis is boring.
Having spent some time near border areas, I can assure you that at some point it becomes practically impossible to not speak passionately about your point of view on this very hot topic. Though, I do hope those who have facts to support their opinions about this discussion make sure to impress that upon those they are trying to inform!
I don't know that Chacon's style of writing really matters, though. Does persuasion even exist anymore? When I watch these tea party protesters, (like the woman on the Daily Show who had a crucifix in a gun holster) I seriously doubt that eloquent reason OR impassioned rhetoric can persuade them to change their minds. In the same vein, I'm not likely to read a book by Ann Coulter or Glenn Beck, and if I did, it would probably only piss me off and cement my political opinions. (Plus, that Limbaugh-ian style of political speech has gained a huge following, and I'm doubtful that anyone would call that dreck scholarly, eloquent, or balanced.) So, while the content sounds interesting to me, I'm pretty sure that I'm the type of person that would quickly subscribe to the idea of "un pueblo mundial sin fronteras" anyway.
Interesting piece on this book -- I may just pick up and read Davis' portion. It's unique to take a historical look back at the issues surrounding this border which we all associate more now with recent migratory patterns.
It sounds like Chacon's portion is especially ineffective as its impassioned rhetoric is unlikely to convert any unbelievers. Reading this review made me think of a conversation I had with my very red-state Hank Hill type uncle a few weeks ago who is a fundamentally compassionate person, but has a hard time sympathyzing with individuals who enter the country illegally. I cringe to think how he would react to this "regurgitated propaganda."
These sorts of issues always get personal with certain people, but it's too bad that Chacon's section seems to be more of a rant motivated by his own beliefs as opposed to a more academic study. I always get turned off by this method of debate, and it sounds like Davis' section, despite being more objective, makes a more persuasive argument for "a world without borders." By laying out the facts and allowing us to come to our own conclusions, we are engaging with the issue, as opposed to being told what to think, which it sounds like Chacon is essentially doing. Seems like Davis would be better off on his own...
No One Is Illegal: Fighting Racism and State Violence on the U.S.-Mexico Border
These sorts of issues always get personal with certain people, but it's too bad that Chacon's section seems to be more of a rant motivated by his own beliefs as opposed to a more academic study. I always get turned off by this method of debate, and it sounds like Davis' section, despite being more objective, makes a more persuasive argument for "a world without borders." By laying out the facts and allowing us to come to our own conclusions, we are engaging with the issue, as opposed to being told what to think, which it sounds like Chacon is essentially doing. Seems like Davis would be better off on his own...
It sounds like Chacon's portion is especially ineffective as its impassioned rhetoric is unlikely to convert any unbelievers. Reading this review made me think of a conversation I had with my very red-state Hank Hill type uncle a few weeks ago who is a fundamentally compassionate person, but has a hard time sympathyzing with individuals who enter the country illegally. I cringe to think how he would react to this "regurgitated propaganda."
Interesting piece on this book -- I may just pick up and read Davis' portion. It's unique to take a historical look back at the issues surrounding this border which we all associate more now with recent migratory patterns.
I don't know that Chacon's style of writing really matters, though. Does persuasion even exist anymore? When I watch these tea party protesters, (like the woman on the Daily Show who had a crucifix in a gun holster) I seriously doubt that eloquent reason OR impassioned rhetoric can persuade them to change their minds. In the same vein, I'm not likely to read a book by Ann Coulter or Glenn Beck, and if I did, it would probably only piss me off and cement my political opinions. (Plus, that Limbaugh-ian style of political speech has gained a huge following, and I'm doubtful that anyone would call that dreck scholarly, eloquent, or balanced.) So, while the content sounds interesting to me, I'm pretty sure that I'm the type of person that would quickly subscribe to the idea of "un pueblo mundial sin fronteras" anyway.
Having spent some time near border areas, I can assure you that at some point it becomes practically impossible to not speak passionately about your point of view on this very hot topic. Though, I do hope those who have facts to support their opinions about this discussion make sure to impress that upon those they are trying to inform!
mike davis is boring.