If you have any time today, please write your representatives and let them know how effed up you think this is. Or maybe Timothy Geithner can get this straightened out?
Crittenden on the uses of torture. DrewM. blenches with sorrow.
From Jammie Wearing Fool comes news of Stan Lee’s Thom Creed, the “first gay superhero.” Holy hidden identity, Batman! (The “h” in Thom is a clue, wot?). I wonder whether he flies around outing closeted conservatives.
Meanwhile, the brilliant bureaucrats at ICE are smiling as they wave in Mohammed Atta, months after he and his 18 pals served up a flaming order of Jihad Surprise.
Yeah, let’s give these guys dominion over health care.
I kinda figured Creed was gay.
And ICE, pull your heads out, people! I wonder if there being a new citizen relative might make things easier once they’re here.
It’s only a matter of time before the first pedophilic superhero will appear in comics.
Is it “fly,” Dan, or more of a float?
Looks like our Jules still hasn’t learned the difference between rape and consensual sex yet.
Ten bucks says he never goes “down unda,” either.
Right. Those battlefield detainees ought just to report to GTMO.
My heart goes out to Mrs. Ferschke and Michsel III; ICE should concentrate on deporting lawbreakers, gang-bangers, and drug runners. Not only was her dearly departed husband a citizen and a member of the US Marine Corps, but her newborn son is also a US citizen. Why is the “anchor baby” concept valid in western states for guys named Kaspah or little Papi, but not for a fallen soldiers widow and orphan! Indeed, everybody needs to write their congressional types on this subject; it can be done on the internet…
And as far as Crittenden’s piece; I can’t advocate some of his proposed methods…
I’m positive that exposing prisoners to the code pinko’s old bags would be cruel and unusual and most certainly a war crime…
Also, I like Stan Lee, but he’s either going senile or is in desperate need of sales!
Not to be a geek but no this will not be the first gay superhero. Marvel had one forever ago. I think he was Canadian too. Gay and Canadian. And this one has two of them and is probably one the more original books of recent years. This one is my favorite though. I don’t remember if anyone is particularly gay but they’re awfully British.
oh. Right. I forgot one of the Invisibles was a transgendered gay prostitute. It’s a really neat book. Sort of the kind why I try to keep up with that medium. I’ve fallen off a lot though. Maybe this year I can do a survey of what’s new.
oh. one *of* the more original books of recent years…
Yeah, because folks who watch superhero shows and read X-Men are really into it for the character introspection and social commentary. Screw that kicking bad-gay ass and blowing shit up stuff. I WANT ANGST!!!!
Being born on US soil is essential to being an anchor baby. That didn’t happen here, though as you note the kid is a citizen anyway. Having an anchor baby doesn’t guarantee you residency.
hf,
That sounds like an excellent idea. I haven’t read any comics in years; I mean since the 80’s! With the occasional exception of Heavy Metal magazine…
I know these days they are muuuuuuuch edgier…
Pablo,
I was presuming that the child was born on a military installation. I always understood that to be the equivalent of US soil; just like embassies…
In any case it’s still a shame
Darn, Feets! You beat me to it:
There have been many gay supers over the years. Why this is considered ‘groundbreaking’ is beyond me. The Canadian you mention was/is Northstar, from Marvel’s Alpha Flight. DC’s Legion of Super Heroes had a gay/transgendered love affair with 2 characters 15, maybe 20 years ago! One of the members of DC’s Secret Six is a lesbian. I am sure there are tons of independent comics that have gay characters.
This is really cutting edge stuff, Stan Lee! Except that it’s not.
I think I’ll try later this year Bob. I was caught not knowing that that Jolie film Wanted had come from some comic book I hadn’t heard of. When things like that happen I feel like maybe I’ve slacked off. This is because I have slacked off.
The new gay superhero is the secret Atavar of favorite “conservative soul” blogger Andrew Sullivan, creator of the Daily Dish, the best damn blog in the whole damn world. His nemesis is, of course, Sarah Palin, who can tempt men with her flawless body, lack of facial hair, and working uetrerus.
Oh, and by the way, the woman in the story you provided, Elvira Arellano, shouldn’t have been deported either. Saul is a citizen and he needs his mom to raise him, but now he is forced to live with a foster parent…
That pretty much sums it up. One would think that someone with a smidgen of common sense at ICE would realize the potential PR disaster and fast track that application. Sadly the bureaucracy plows forward with very little sense of perspective, wrapped up in mindless regulation.
DC is sort of ahead of the game I think LC. I remember how they liked to make Lad counterparts for all their for real superheroe people. Like Aqua Lad. There’s something about being a Lad of any sort what wear’s tights that’s sort of unavoidably implicational I think. Maybe that’s wrong of me.
oh. *superhero* …
No, he’s perfectly free to go with his mother and he now lives with her in Mexico. An interesting note is that Elvira had already been deported before she returned illegally, again, and became pregnant with Saul. If he’s got a predicament, his mother created it.
I can tell you what a fucked up ICE system we have. One of my good friends married his long time Icelandic fiance, and then had to spend over a year and about $20k in lawyers fees to get her a spousal visa.
Now, she was just a college educated photographer, totally not as desirable as some of the gentler souls that are currently in jail on felonies and simultaneously fighting their deportments.
Sadly the bureaucracy plows forward with very little sense of perspective, wrapped up in mindless regulation.
That’s just one example of the many ways US institutions work against the interests of the government and people they supposedly serve.
One is reminded of the latter days of the Roman Empire.
Also I remember this W Post story awhile back about how a gay writer had taken over the Wonder Woman book and it seemed really a lot appropriate. He was very enthusiastic about her.
I dunno Pablo. Saul is a natural born US citizen by virtue of the Constitution. This is one area where there is going to have to be an accommidation, when it comes to immigration law. But, I recognize also that it can be abused, so that accommidation will have to be carefully crafted.
But for those illegals already here who have children that are US citizens, I don’t see how we can avoid letting their parents stay…
It’s a tough nut to crack
So, LC, when I ask the question that never gets answered by our liberal pals, I’ll have to make an addition:
Why should I trust my health care to the very same “management group” responsible for running Medicare, The Veterans Admin AND ICE? Why should I have have any assurance of care and efficiency on that basis?
Still waiting for that answer.
HAHAHAHAHAHA, good one!
Wait, that wasn’t a joke? Government employment and common sense? Together??
Wait, that wasn’t a joke? Government employment and common sense? Together??
Are you trying to hurt Darleen’s feelings, Kelly?
Suck it, parsnippity. The truckers out at the rest stop are looking for you, their favorite cumrag.
Larry Craig called, Kelly, he said to “mmm, mm, mmm, uh, ooo, mmm, mm.”
America already has a gay superhero, at least in my estimation.
Bob Reed–it’s going to be real interesting in 10-15 years is when all those kids born in the U.S. to illegal aliens who took them back to their country of origin when the economy tanked start showing back up again at the border (and some of them with their own children already).
YOu’re right, Heather. But while they’ll be eligible to return by virtue of their citizenship, I’m not so sure about any of their children born on foreign soil…
Wouldn’t the children be citizens of their birth country, at least in most cases..?
I’m not being rhetorical; I don’t know the answer to that question! Unless they’re born on US soil or it’s equivalent, i.e. diplomatic or military campuses, they’re not automatically citizens, right?
Like I said, a tough nut to crack!
Hmmm.
Meh. Another reason to not buy American comic books.
I used to love to watch Johnny Quest, but I always wondered about his old man and Race Bannon.
I don’t get it. The mother is a Japanese citizen living in a fully functioning – dare I say it – modern first-world country. (Yes, that’s meant to be silly) Why is this a hardship? The child is likely to be raised almost exclusively in one part of the world or the other, one would guess, meaning one set of grandparents is likely to miss – some? most? all? – this child’s growing years. Why is it essential that the mother be allowed immigration to the U.S. rather than a visitor’s visa or a permanent resident (i.e., green card) status, assuming even that is necessary. In other words, what exactly is the big deal here? Japan ain’t Myannmar.
Her husband earned her the right to stay here if she wants.
That’s the big deal.
I guess Batman doesn’t count, because Robin was past puberty?
How about Space Ghost?
Maybe professor Xavier; he did like hangin’ around teen mutants!
I forgot one of the Invisibles was a transgendered gay prostitute.
The Invisibles was an awesome book, although I wasn’t surprised to learn that Morrison was taking a lot of drugs while writing it.
the hell you say. (haven’t read The Invisibles, but judging from some of his other work… um, yeah, there’s some substances involved somewhere)
I’m currently reading through Promethea. I guess technically she’s bi.
I’m the author of the original post at Wizbang. Before I get started let me point out I’ve
1 posted on this very topic 4 times
2 Have been and still am in email contact with a member of the Ferschke family
3 Was a member of the military myself and married a non US citizen while serving abroad. My wife Leonita(We’ll celebrate 20 years in May) is from the Philippines. I had to petition INS in 1989 so Leonita could come to this country. So I have some experience with immigration.
Hotaru’s problems stem from her marriage being done by proxy. She and Michael met in 2007, she even paid a visit to the US at Christmas that year. Shortly before Michael was to ship out for Iraq, Hotaru discovered she was pregnant with little Mikey.
On July 10th Michael and Hotaru married by proxy.
On August 10th Michael was killed in action. Hotaru was told of her husband’s death as she worked at Kadena AB. She works in some kind of administrative job at that US air base.
Shortly after that Hotaru journeyed to the US for her husband’s funeral. She was warmly welcomed by the people who knew Michael. As she was going back to Japan, Hota decided she wanted to give birth to Mikey in the US.
The consulate on Okinawa denied the visa application. Wrongly using the ‘2 year rule’ as the grounds for their decision.
In stepped the dead Marine’s family, in particular Michael Febrschke Sr and his wife Robin Mikey’s grandparents. The Marine Corps and three members of Congress went to bat for Hota and got her a temporary visa.
Feeling stressed from everything that happened and feeling a bit frightened, Hota decided to have the baby in the Japan. Michael and Robin Ferschke supported this decision and began making plans to go to Japan after Mikey was born so to prepare him and his mother for the journey to the US.
In the meantime a Immigrant relative petition was filed for Hota. There is such a law as the 2003 Armed Forces Naturalization Act. The surviving spouse of a soldier killed in action can receive immigrant benefits as if her husband or wife was still alive.
Unfortunately the consulate(Not ICE) is now using an older law to deny Hota a immigrant visa. One written in 1952 that requires a immigrant’s marriage be consummated. When Hota and Michael married, he was in Iraq. Basically we’re punishing his widow because he died before he could come back to be back with his wife. Michael did his duty and US consulate officials are now punishing his wife for it.
Mikey is a US citizen and entitled to come to the US anytime. His mother is going to need an act of Congress to get legal status in this country. Hotaru is expected to get a visitor visa, and once here a private bill will be filed in Congress. Robin and Michael Ferschke have a place for Hota, and have made their son Michael’s room into a nursery for Mikey.
This story should make any feeling person both cry and scream.
Meya #46: Yes to all three.