So, Monday is going to be "A Day Without a Mexican".

[Jara sang]

For real this time. Interesting, if this turns into an effective "shutdown" then anti-war activists should do the same thing.

[ananda]

1. Wow. If..

.. all my Mexican students stayed home, I'd be a very lonely teacher.

In fact, if all the Mexicans in HISD stayed home, that might really
make the district and the state sit up and take notice... because
funding is based on attendance.

Sue

[Jim Warren]

6. Not sure exactly what you mean here

But it has occurred to me that kids staying out of school is probably a bad idea. The protest is about labor and mixing in students, at least primary and secondary age kids, might be something some school officials will be monitoring eagarly.

[MadHound]

9. Why is a practical, hands on lesson in civics a bad idea?

I was fortunate enough to have a number of these during my school days, and I think that they were invaluable. Missing one day of school will not cause any harm, since the lessons their learning outside the classroom that day will benefit them for the rest of their life.

And the protest isn't just about labor, it is also about standing up and refusing to be treated as second class citizens. What would have happened if the students who started the civil rights movement had instead not done a thing? We might be still dealing with apartheid in America.

[TahitiNut]

10. "refusing to be treated as second class citizens"???

Well, mission accomplished. After all, non-citizens cetainly don't get so-treated. :shrug:

[Jim Warren]

12. Not missing the one day out of school

I'm talking about.

It's hostile school administrators who might relish immigrant kids gone.

[Divernan]

11. Think of it as a day long civics field trip

I never hesitated to keep my kids out of school for an educational experience - and participating in a massive civil rights demo is something that will shake up a young person's worldview as few other experiences might. Of course, I would keep small kids out of large, loud crowds, but even watching from the sidelines, or out a window, or TV coverage would have an educational impact. The overall lessons would include, "My parents are taking action to protect my best interests and the best interests of my friends." & "You have to get involved and stand up for your own best interests and rights, and not just sit home complaining and worrying."

We took our 10 & 8 year olds, & one of their friends also, to a political rally; left the 5 year old with a babysitter. They enjoyed the experience.

[rawtribe]

2. Read filmmakers statement on site....

http://www.adaywithoutamexican.com/

[Liberal Veteran]

3. Can we have a "Century Without a Republican"????

Now that would rock!

[NaturalHigh]

4. Somehow, I think we'll probably get by.

I doubt that it will affect my day one way or the other.

[pinto]

5. U.S. prepares for 'A Day Without an Immigrant'

Here's CNN's "overview"...

U.S. prepares for 'A Day Without an Immigrant'
Organizers plan massive boycott on Monday to stop business as usual
By Brad Lendon
CNN.com



Friday, April 28, 2006; Posted: 8:39 p.m. EDT (00:39 GMT)


(CNN) -- Meatpacking plants will shut down. Markets won't open. Trucks won't roll. Students will walk out of school. Millions of people will take to America's streets in possibly unprecedented numbers.

If all goes as organizers plan, major American cities will be disrupted Monday by what's being called "The Great May 1st Boycott," or "A Day Without an Immigrant."

"Millions of workers, men and women without documents and their supporters who are, in fact, legal United States citizens will heed the call to not go to work," said Juan Jose Gutierrez, national coordinator of Latino Movement USA and one of the lead organizers of Monday's planned boycott. (Watch why organizers say the boycott is needed -- 1:40)

"Many hundreds of thousands of students, perhaps millions, will stay away from school and people will not shop and will not sell anything," Gutierrez said. (Immigration by the numbers)

<more>

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/28/boycott/

[madrchsod]

7. if that happens i`ll be working overtime

wait-i`m working overtime monday anyway. i`m sure everyone where i work will show up. we cannot afford to take anytime off cause our wages are so fuck`n low and the working conditions are shit

[Warpy]

8. HAHA!

I hope this strike will be as successful as their marches were, tens of thousands of neatly dressed and quietly dignified people marching everywhere.

It's spreading, by the way, to include Hispanics in general. Hate radio is causing it to spread by 24/7 hate preached at any Hispanic in this country, legal or illegal, here 400+ years or just over the border.

My Great Great Granny was a Spaniard who married an Irishman, so hate radio hates me twice. I'll be honoring this strike. I'll be staying home and planting my own damn flowers and not spending a penny.

[acmejack]

15. See this is where this is ridiculous.

it is conflated with hating Hispanics if you don't love people violating immigration laws and adversely affecting the labor market. The argument can be made any way you care to make it but those facts cannot be changed.

[tyedyeto]

13. Down here in Southern AZ, many businesses are planning on ...

closing their doors Monday. There will be an impact here.

[Suich]

14. I loved that video!

They should show it on primetime TV but they won't.