I HAVE to tell you, I am scared.

[yuiyoshida]

I had to scramble to go find my birth certificate today. Since Trump wants to use the Military to deal with immigrants, that means every person of color, Hispanic, Black, Asian will be questioned about whether or not we belong in this country.

(First of all, I am Partially Native Hawaiian, but how the fuck do you prove that? It says I was born in San Francisco on my birth certificate.)

Anyway, I will be damned if I am picked up and than escorted to the border and kicked out. THIS IS THE COUNTRY I was born in.. and fuck those haters


(Trump is using the military: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141710946)

[Jarqui]

1. What does it say about what is going on when

a person like you is having such thoughts?

I'm sorry for your experience. It should not be like this.

[yuiyoshida]

4. My only hope is that CALIFORNIA stays strong and

Goes against the Trump administration. I hope JERRY BROWN can hold off the haters.

[Wounded Bear]

2. I emphasize with your fear...

We're fighting back for Americans like you. It's getting insane out there.

[yuiyoshida]

11. I have been twice attacked on twitter today...

I blocked two of the people who were white supremacist telling me to get my "fat ass back to CHINA"... fuckers think because I am Asian I have to be Chinese.

[heaven05]

35. wow

such ignorance...but they voted for the boy-potus puppet, what can be expected.

[Eyeball_Kid]

102. Trumpy, Bannon, and the GOP leadership are monsters. They're now unchained by opposition restraints.

They're now showing their true colors. And those colors are all white, all hatred of color, all hatred of the non-rich.

Bannon said it well today. The White House, with the co-operation of the GOP, are intent on destroying government. Bannon wants a RACE WAR. He believes that a race war is inevitable and he'll do whatever he can to make it happen.

[yuiyoshida]

110. He should be careful what he wishes for...

because of his position, he could end up being a running target. All his nazi talk will not have a good outcome, and he should know it never will.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Get a passport

if you don't already have one.

White people used to tell black people to "Go back to Africa" without realizing that we were here before most of them were!

[yuiyoshida]

6. I have already been told to "Go the fuck back to China"

Stupid bastards think I am Chinese....

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Yup.

It's just like all Hispanics are "Mexican".

[Foo Fighter]

108. Heh.

From a Spanish class I took (translated to English). The Prof is introducing herself on the first day:

Prof: "I'm from Argentina."
Me: "No you're not."
Prof: Huh? (puzzled look)
Me: "All Americans know that anyone in this country that speaks Spanish as a native language is from Mexico."

Everyone burst out laughing. The Prof loved it. She got that crap ALL the time. People would hear her accent and invariably assume she was from Mexico.

Like you, it pisses me off that all Hispanics are always assumed to be Mexican. Just like all Asians are Chinese.

[MrScorpio]

14. I block motherfuckers on Twitter at the first sign of trouble

No muss, no fuss.

FDT.

[yuiyoshida]

15. I did Mr Scorpio...

believe me, I don't want to argue with them.

[MrScorpio]

16. Sweet!

[bdamomma]

45. this is how ignorant these people are

they still do not realize we are all immigrants. So sorry for you being harassed by these stupid people.

[yuiyoshida]

48. Another said they thought I was Filipina and illegal

and threatened to call ICE on me, I quickly blocked him as well. Let them try, I have my Birth certificate in my purse now.

[redwitch]

76. I am so sorry you are having to deal with this!

Mean people really do suck.

[2naSalit]

107. THta's a good idea...

make sure you have copies of it in a safe place too.

I went through that crap in Idaho on and after 9/11. Nobody can tell my ethnic heritage, I could be anything but pearly white. Sometimes, since I look native American, I tell the real jerks that I am and that they should leave MY country. Most times I just use my New England accent and ask them WTF are they talking about.

[moonscape]

68. After 9/11, a Japanese-American friend was walking down

the street and someone shouted out a Muslim slur to him. And this was in Silicon Valley!

[yuiyoshida]

70. Wow, that is ignorant.

Well, it reminds me of a conversation on line, I had once in a chat room. Guy called me a "Chink". I told him that normally refers to someone of Chinese decent, and I am a Japanese American. He went on to say, "Y'all look a like to me.." how the fuck do you defend against that, its just ignorance..basically. I just blocked him and left the chat room.

[yuiyoshida]

24. I have already been told to "Go the fuck back to China"

Last edited Thu Feb 23, 2017, 07:55 PM - Edit history (1)

I just hope Jerry Brown keeps his word about protecting Californians

[Eyeball_Kid]

103. Brown's been around for a long time, and he's always been intelligent and insightful.

If anyone can tell Trumpy to fuck off, it's him. He's in charge of the largest state economy in the nation, he's popular, and he's moving his state forward, no matter what Washington does.

[Foo Fighter]

109. I remember one of the 2004 presidential Primary debates

where the question was about whether or not NAFTA was a good deal for the US (free trade vs fair trade). Al Sharpton said "You don't need to tell me about bad free trade deals. I'm HERE on a bad free trade deal."

Good gawd, I was

[BumRushDaShow]

111. Bwah!

That's the damn truth!

[MurrayDelph]

113. I'm a white middle-aged

Los-Angeles-born guy of Eastern European Jewish descent, and I carry my passport.

[BumRushDaShow]

114. They have passport cards now

which would be easier if you need "papers".

I actually just got one myself since my state (PA) has a driver's license not compliant with the REAL ID Act and thus not acceptable for use as ID in a federal building or airport (although our governor was able to get one more couple-month extension from Jeh Johnson before he stepped down, to allow our GOP state legislature to change the state law to make our licenses compliant).

[Fantastic Anarchist]

115. What's not compliant about it?

I thought Federal and State IDs are compliant since they are government-issued. Where can I check if mine is compliant (North Carolina)?

[BumRushDaShow]

116. PA is on the naughty list

because the GOP state legislature passed a law refusing to make a compliant card. I am guessing there may be some required features not currently on the licenses.

<...>

The states where residents will need identification other than driver’s licenses to fly on Jan. 22, 2018, are: Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Washington.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2017/01/04/drivers-license-real-id-tsa-compliant/96162418/

Some states have longer extensions like yours per this (you can click on a state on the map to see status) -

https://www.dhs.gov/current-status-states-territories

Edit to add: This is the PA state law against complying (which will have to be modified) - http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2012&sessInd=0&act=38

[Fantastic Anarchist]

117. Wow ...

Never would have thought ...

Thank you for the information.

[BumRushDaShow]

118. Np. They are starting to enforce it now

and you can imagine what will happen under Drumpf's DHS.

When I renewed my passport (it was due this year anyway) I went on and got the card too in case my DL would be invalid as a federal ID (I really don't want to carry my passport around).

[LOL Lib]

5. So sorry, but please do not be fearful!

While it is a sad day when we have to have our "papers" ready to prove to the current government that we are American, trust that arming yourself with knowledge and knowing your rights will see you through this period. Whatever you do, do not be afraid. Fear is the best weapon our enemy has against us.

FU Orange Dicktator!

[yuiyoshida]

8. I have faith in Jerry Brown and the State of California to protect me

He said he would, and I believe in him..

[sarcasmo]

7. Don't forget to make sure the stamped seal is on the birth certificate.

[yuiyoshida]

10. It is, I checked....

Still you know how they fucked with Obama, claiming he was an illegal immigrant. Shit, I am NATIVE FUCKING HAWAIIAN!!!

[Wounded Bear]

12. Well, in their eyes...

I don't think they believe Hawaii is a real state.

[yuiyoshida]

19. Probably not.

indeed.

[sarcasmo]

43. Glad you have the birth certificate on hand.

[yuiyoshida]

44. I Am sure someone will think its faked...

愚かなばか!

[FSogol]

13. He can't use the military. (Posse Commitatus) The courts will stop him or Matthis will have to

explain it to Trumpy and Bannon again.

[yuiyoshida]

17. Well he called a Judge a

"so-called-judge"...so a Presidential order demanding the military to act, ... ? He doesn't seem to think Laws apply to him.

[FSogol]

18. He can bloviate all he wants. He won't be using the military on US soil. n/t

[Wounded Bear]

20. National Guard is a bit different than US military...

Typically the governor of a state would have to call out the guard, and Jerry Brown won't be helping him TBS. Trump could call an emergency, I guess, and nationalize the guard, but then posse comitatus would probably apply, since they would be in national service.

You're right, Trump doesn't know what he's doing, he just likes to bark orders and expects people to jump.

[mobeau69]

40. The president can federalize them. JFK and LBJ did.

[Tiggeroshii]

74. Title 10 orders cannot be used for purposes like that

Which is why the memo states that governors have the final say on the use of the guard.

[unblock]

46. congress could easily repeal posse commitatus

in the name of anti-terrorism.

particularly after a much-hyped terrorist attack, it would not be difficult.

[yuiyoshida]

95. kami sama...

That's right, freaking Congress can do what they want, and its mostly Republicans!

[LiberalArkie]

52. He can't use the U.S. ARMY or the others, however the militias (state National Guards) can be called

if the governor agrees.

I do not think we will go down that road. Once the fresh vegetables are gone because no one to pick them.


Remember how it seemed once a week that the republicans were sending s bill to Obama to repeal the ACA. They have not done it since Trump came in. After all the local town halls of the Republicans have been going up in flames, they are scared.

[Coventina]

21. We've been living like this in AZ for some time now.

A friend of mine was caught by the Arpaio posse, walking home from work one night.

He was adopted from Korea as a baby. Didn't have any ID on him at the time, so had to spend the night in jail while his sister frantically searched for his papers. (His adoptive parents are now deceased).

One of the small victories of the last election was the forced retirement of Sheriff Joe. Sadly, it seems now the whole country is Arizona.

[yuiyoshida]

22. KAMI SAMA! Grateful to live in Jerry Brown's California!!

[Coventina]

23. You can say that again!

Hooray for Jerry Brown, not afraid to stand up to racist bullies!!

[yuiyoshida]

25. He said he would protect Californians...

[Coventina]

30. I'm sure he will, to the very best of his ability.

I met him once, when he came to Arizona.

This was YEARS ago, when he was running for president.......in 1992!!

But, he really impressed me then, and I've been a fan ever since.

[yuiyoshida]

31. OH do you know, I met him also...

He was touring the San Francisco Museum of Art, and I ran up to him to get an autograph and the people around him freaked, thinking I was going to be violent or something, and I said "please ..autograph" and he held up his hand to signal its okay, and took my pen and signed it to me.. He was very sweet. For a second, there I thought his Security team was going to shoot me!

lesson learned, don't run up to a politician!

[Coventina]

32. Ha ha! Well, I got clocked pretty soundly in the head by a photographer when I met him.

He had the usual press following that a candidate tends to have, and a photographer yelled, "ROCK 'N' ROLL!" and practically trampled me to get to him, while bashing my head in with a giant camera!

Not his fault, obviously.

[Vinca]

26. I'm sure you'll be fine, but don't mention Hawaii. Trumpers think it's a foreign country.

[yuiyoshida]

28. Yeah I am sure....

Some guy said you look Filipina, maybe you should be sent back to the Philippines, and don't be surprised if an ICE person knocks on your door soon.

I blocked him...right away. The Haters are out in force today.

[world wide wally]

38. Now THIS is terrorism

[yuiyoshida]

42. Yes, I suppose it is....

Gawd....

[atreides1]

27. You think you have problems?

I have my birth certificate, and at the top it says "Territory of Hawaii"!

[yuiyoshida]

29. omg...

[BumRushDaShow]

112. The irony of this regarding Hawai'i is that Alaska became a state in 1959

just a few years before Hawai'i, meaning there are probably a bunch of folks who have similar on their Alaskan birth certificates. Seems the presence of Caribou Barbie (who was from Idaho) kept Alaska off the "foreign country" list.

[niyad]

33. you were born in CA--so not like you are a real citizen or anything. according to voldy-lite

and his death eaters, CA does not count.

[yuiyoshida]

39. Wait till they want to build a WALL around

California!

[niyad]

51. shhhh do not give them any ideas!!

[Charles Bukowski]

34. Any US citizen that's unfairly detained by ICE will come out

Last edited Thu Feb 23, 2017, 05:09 PM - Edit history (1)

of the ordeal SWIMMING in money.

The modern-day Gestapo (ICE) is well aware of this even if Ill Douchey isn't.

[Fast Walker 52]

37. I sure hope so... there will be lawsuits galore, for sure

[safeinOhio]

71. I would think you were a victim of slander.

Be ready and get a great lawyer and record this crap.

[Fast Walker 52]

36. you are not alone and you do have a lot of allies

Stay safe and good luck!

[yuiyoshida]

41. Well I am glad to have Governor Jerry Brown on my Side!

He said he would protect Californians!

[bucolic_frolic]

47. Exactly

how do you prove who you are? It really is a papers, no papers policy.

We're close to national ID.

[yuiyoshida]

57. yeah but even if there was a National ID

How would people even know if that was forged or not?

[bucolic_frolic]

78. MicroChipped like Cats and Dogs

from a privatized company, of course

[yuiyoshida]

80. oh yeah!!! for profit Micro chips...

damn its gonna be worse than glass city...

[Kimchijeon]

49. Oh my goodness the stupidity of some people

is astounding... jeez.
Sorry you are encountering 'em too... they are getting bolder everywhere. They assume they have a free pass to be complete assholes now. (And we thought they were bad before, ugh)

[yuiyoshida]

50. Yes

They think they are entitled to be jerks now...

[unblock]

53. hate to say it, but as the son of a holocaust survivor, i can assure you

while that birth certificate may well get you out of a jam today, it could be worthless tomorrow.

regimes like donnie's can redefine certain americans into second-class citizens or effectively non-citizens or even "vermin", almost overnight.

my empathetic instincts are to reassure and comfort you; but sadly, i think being scared is absolutely the correct response right now.

frankly, all of us are at risk simply for posting on this site.

[yuiyoshida]

56. Yeah I am sure that there will be eyes on here

Who may be checking out background stuff that we may be unaware of...especially in this paranoid Trump Administration.

[Warpy]

54. I think all Democrats need to know where their papers are.

Democrats who aren't lily white and living in an upscale suburb will need to be especially careful.

I hate this shit. This is not the country I've known all my life.

[yuiyoshida]

55. I am not sure what country this is anymore...

but you are right, its not the one I was born in. Things have changed.

[MedusaX]

58. Irony

My son (adult) & I both have passports.

We have both been questioned .. more than once.. and required to provide additional proof of "citizenship" by various federal agencies ....
Effectively indicating that the passport was perhaps not authentic....
(Of course no one questions my requirement to pay taxes)
WTF... so, it is not unreasonable to consider that any 2 bit federal agent/ deputized local agent who wants to be a dick can decide your documents are possibly fraudulent and therefore detain you...

[yuiyoshida]

61. Well if you remember there was talk of

Airport security moving also into the Bus Stations as well. I would imagine if they wanted to they could cover all public transportation. Martial Law is not too far away...Its a good thing I work at home, I don't have to venture out if I don't want to, but than again, finding out I work for a Japanese company, might seem suspicious to this government lot.

[Hortensis]

59. Fuck these haters is right. Yui, make a worst-case

plan that includes names of a legal aid/attorneys group you would contact. Research on the web what other basic precautions a person worried about being picked up should take. Write it all down, give a copy of contact instructions to a friend or relative, then forget about it. You are a citizen, and you'd probably do as well to worry about an airplane falling out of the sky on you, but being informed and having a plan will make you feel a lot better.

Our DIL is Danish raised in the U.S. and has applied for dual American citizenship because her son is so worried that she'll be deported that she finds him crying about it despite reassurances. She's about as white as a person can get, a tall, milky-skinned, blue-eyed blonde. But with fascistic xenophobes running the federal government, I felt she was justified in worrying about attending any marches until her citizenship comes through. Oh, and she's also part Jewish.

Bastards. Unbelievable that we should have to worry about these people in America.

[yuiyoshida]

96. Sounds like a plan... I am making notes of this

and those are some great ideas.. thank you!

[Freelancer]

60. There's no other country that you're a citizen of. They wouldn't take you.

Even if Trump tried to deport you, he couldn't. He might try to detain you, though -- more money for the private prison industry.

[yuiyoshida]

63. They could dump me in Canada...

I suppose. But even being Native Hawaiian, what will they do, send me to Tahiti? Hey I will take that, but its likely they could send me to Japan. My ancestors left there three or four Generations ago,..if they do, they best send George Takei with me!

[miyazaki]

86. Well you mentioned you always wanted to go to Japan

Kidding, obviously.

There's some differences between an official or original copy and a certified copy of birth certificates, especially when applying for passports. Passport is the best id you can get.
Daijobuo!

[yuiyoshida]

88. daijoubu desu...

Well IF they send me to Japan, just make sure its Miyazaki ...I am sure some Yoshida family will take me in, along with my parents. I am the only one that speaks Japanese in my family though and not very good Japanese. Maybe enough to get by until I can get better.

[Freelancer]

81. A friend's mom is 1/4 Cherokee & 1/4 Pottawatomie. She can't get a passport. So ???

She's been denied twice. Her mother was a citizen. Her father was a citizen, but since she was born in a sharecropper shack and not a hospital, she's out of luck. Her aunt even signed an affidavit saying she witnessed her birth -- still no good. So... I wonder what DT might try to do to her.

[yuiyoshida]

93. Yeah what does DT do with Native Americans?

Send them back across the land bridge to Asia? No.. Dump them in Canada? That sounds about right, to "Let the Canadians deal with them.."

As for me, I am part native Hawaiian, but you know he is not sending me to Hawaii... its more like a slow boat to Shanghai.... cause ya know " all Asians look alike.."

[Quayblue]

62. I feel you.

I come from a family of immigrants myself.
Along with making sure we have our "papers" in order, we've been extremely frugal and antisocial.
I think I'm more angry than afraid. And I don't socialize with coworkers at all because I don't trust any of them to not pull any bullshit to try and get us kicked out the country

[yuiyoshida]

65. I am counting on Jerry Brown to keep his word

to protect Californians!

[GentryDixon]

64. Scary times.

My sister of my heart ❤ is full Chinese. Born in San Francisco. Her Dad came to SF before 1910. He went back to China to marry in the 1930's, came back alone, and his wife & son followed later. I tracked them through Ancestry ship records, which was quite detailed. The oldest is now a citizen, and in fact retired from the Postal Service many years ago.

I can't imagine she, or any of her family could be subjected to such discrimination. Who could imagine we would be where we are today? It breaks my heart.

[yuiyoshida]

67. I wouldn't be surprised if the

San Francisco Chronicle reported that Chinatown and Japantown were under the eyes of ICE and that there were people going though there looking for "illegal aliens", however as I said up thread ,Jerry Brown said he would protect Californians, and I am hoping he does just that.

[pangaia]

66. Yui, although I understand your well-placed fear, you will be fine.

Even being as white as can be, I have been fearful ever since Nov 9.
BUT, the last week or so, I have some hope. All the pushback, 'stuff going on behind the scenes.'

For one thing you probably live in the best city in the US of A for someone who 'looks Asian.' ( Tell me if I am wrong.) Do I look Hungarian?? DUH !!....

My ex-wife in Chinese. We lived in 'whitesville' in upstate NY near Rochester. ( I still live there... BOOOORing !!!!!!!!! )

She remarried and lived for a while in the San Gabriel Valley near LA, then in SF for a year and loved it.

THEN, her engineer husband got transferred to.. ready for this.. Huntsville, ALABAAAMA...


Oh, I was in SF a few weeks ago.. didn't see you.. Of course I was hanging around Davies Hall and then ate at Z and Y restaurant in Chinatown....


Hang tuff....

[yuiyoshida]

69. Governor Jerry Brown said he would protect

Californians. I have to hope he will keep to his word. Everyone here, he said will be safe...and that he would personally put protections in place to safe guard every Californian. I will have to take him at his word.

[yuiyoshida]

82. Trying to....

がんばります!

[pansypoo53219]

72. SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS! is this amerika or EAST GERMANY?

[LongTomH]

73. God Damn!!!! I remember when: "Are your papers in order" was something Nazis would ask someone.....

.....in an old movie!!!!

God Dammit!!!! We aren't supposed to be the country that asks people if their papers are in order!!!!!

[NBachers]

75. Jerry Brown is a man of intelligence, strength, and courage. We are lucky to have him.

Yui, you are a person of courage and intelligence too. I won't tell you not to be scared, because it is justified for you to be scared in today's social and political environment.

My sister's husband and his family are all Mexican-American, and have been here since the 18 hundreds. They are incensed at the fact that they need to carry their papers everywhere they go, but they definitely feel the change in the atmosphere.

Yui, Jerry Brown is watching out for us, and your Democratic Underground family is here for you too. We will help you get through this.

San Francisco, and the United States, are better because you are here.

[yuiyoshida]

77. Thank you so much...

I was going to thank you in Japanese but, for some reason its just better for me to say it in English.

[NBachers]

87. I would be honored if you considered me worthy of being thanked in Japanese,

but I definitely understand the English better.

[yuiyoshida]

89. Well if they are going to decide whether or not to deport me...

I certainly don't want to be caught speaking Japanese.

[GeoWilliam750]

79. You have my deepest sympathy, Ms Yoshida

Stay strong.

[yuiyoshida]

92. I just hope Jerry Brown stays strong for California....

cause right now we need him to be.

[GeoWilliam750]

97. It sounds like you could use a holiday in the mountains of Japan

Some of the cherry blossoms have already started; it is only a few weeks until they will be in full bloom.

In any case, we must all now stand up to hate and brain-washing.

[Schema Thing]

83. I'm sorry, Friend. I'm scared for all of us, but especially for my friends of color.

[yuiyoshida]

94. I guess we will have to do our best.

がんばりま!

[Raine1967]

84. yuiyoshida -- Posts like yours makes me scared.

Hers' the thing -- for now, I know I'm fine. I'm white. No one for now
is going to ask me for my papers.


That does not make me comfortable or complacent. Actually, it is quite the opposite. Papers please has begun in this nation and we all really, truly need to fight against it.

I am so very sorry about your fear and I wish I could help to make it go away. I am scared as well. Becuase of places like DU and the BLM movement I have come to have a further understanding of my privilege. I want to use it to make things better -- right now I don't know how.

and : I hope this all made sense.

When we talk of equality, I think about raising everyone up. so we are all in it together. Trump wants the VERY OPPOSITE.

[yuiyoshida]

91. oh I know...

His "Make America Great again" was code for "Make America WHITE again" ...I think everyone knows that!

[Blue_true]

85. Hawaii is a state, native Hawaiians are Americans by birth

and heritage. If someone ask for your birth certificate, point that out to them.

[yuiyoshida]

90. I was told about a Native Hawaiian Registry ...

maybe its too late to sign up..than again, if I am registered, they will know exactly where to find me.

[ecstatic]

104. Facts don't matter to armed thugs, in many cases

Any attempt to use logic and common sense doesn't end well with those types.

Pretending to be concerned about a driver's immigration status could easily become a new way to regain the upper hand over citizens during traffic stops, etc. Notice I said pretend. This isn't about honest misunderstandings, this is about giving rogue/bitter cops or out of control ICE officials the tools to harass & terrorize anyone regardless of his/her status. By the time people prove their identity/status, imagine how much can be lost during the time off work, etc.

[Generic Other]

98. I had these very same thought Yuiyoshida.

Anyone asks me for my papers and I plan to calmly tell them to f*ck off.

[dawg]

99. It horrifies me that so many nice sweet people are genuinely frightened.

America isn't a group or a place. It's an idea. A dream, really.

And today's Republicans are trying to kill it.

[ecstatic]

100. This is truly awful. I'm thinking anyone of color with a foreign accent could be targetted

I want to warn my mom to maybe carry her passport in her car but didn't have the heart to mention it.

[samnsara]

101. move to the west coast...

[askyagerz]

105. I am kinda worried because I lost my license

And I'm white...

[nini]

106. I'm 3/4 white mix and 1/4 Portuguese

I am dark and take after the Portuguese side. I am mistaken for being Mexican at times and was told to go back to Tijuana once by 2 white trash fuckers when I was walking through a parking lot. I barked at them that I had never been there. I freaking destroyed them - they were shocked I spoke English and broke down some history facts to shove down their throats.

They took off. I was ready to go to blows with them even if I was female LOL

I will never forget that and know others get that crap all the time. I can't imagine how the fear these days. That was just an insult this is their lives are at risk