This article interested me because, having just read Frederick Douglass’ narrative, it seems as if Maryland has an evil twin sister locked in the closet – and someone finally threw away the key. Maryland was adamant about its slave-state status back in the day, and the fact that it is now one of the most progressive states in the union should send a message to other states about the idea of tolerance. Further, Maryland has it spot on with respect to the Dream Act. I feel that our country is so opposed to the idea of letting in “brown people” that we forget how we got here. What happened to land of the free – ‘watch-your-step-getting-off-the-boat-what-is-your-name-and-welcome-to-America’? Maryland, thank you for showing us that the popular vote – the will of a state’s citizens – can prevail in positive ways instead of leading to oppression.
Succinct Insanity: A glimpse into the mind of a madwoman [UNDER CONSTRUCTION (but feel free to look around)]
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Maryland & the DREAM Act
In a surprising turn from what was once one of American history’s slave states, Maryland adopted the Dream Act, offering in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants. Opponents of the Dream Act believed that it would never pass, citing that “native-born and legal residents would never give undocumented students the same leg up as their classmates enjoy.” Further, Maryland voters approved a measure, allowing same-sex marriage within its borders. Maryland voters also approved a proposal that lifted certain bans on gambling. The article states that, although all the ballot measures are significant, Maryland’s Gov. Martin O’Malley believes the Dream Act and same-sex marriage are the most significant: “[O’Malley] argued that they were both about the value of inclusion.”
This article interested me because, having just read Frederick Douglass’ narrative, it seems as if Maryland has an evil twin sister locked in the closet – and someone finally threw away the key. Maryland was adamant about its slave-state status back in the day, and the fact that it is now one of the most progressive states in the union should send a message to other states about the idea of tolerance. Further, Maryland has it spot on with respect to the Dream Act. I feel that our country is so opposed to the idea of letting in “brown people” that we forget how we got here. What happened to land of the free – ‘watch-your-step-getting-off-the-boat-what-is-your-name-and-welcome-to-America’? Maryland, thank you for showing us that the popular vote – the will of a state’s citizens – can prevail in positive ways instead of leading to oppression.
This article interested me because, having just read Frederick Douglass’ narrative, it seems as if Maryland has an evil twin sister locked in the closet – and someone finally threw away the key. Maryland was adamant about its slave-state status back in the day, and the fact that it is now one of the most progressive states in the union should send a message to other states about the idea of tolerance. Further, Maryland has it spot on with respect to the Dream Act. I feel that our country is so opposed to the idea of letting in “brown people” that we forget how we got here. What happened to land of the free – ‘watch-your-step-getting-off-the-boat-what-is-your-name-and-welcome-to-America’? Maryland, thank you for showing us that the popular vote – the will of a state’s citizens – can prevail in positive ways instead of leading to oppression.
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