Sterling Yee

Recent Activity

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  Sterling signed the petition | 7 months ago

  Tell Chase Bank: Don't Foreclose on Soldier's Father
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  Sterling signed the petition | about 1 year ago

  Ask Gov. Schwarzenegger to Release Human Trafficking Victim Sara Kruzan with Time Served
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  Sterling commented on the article | almost 2 years ago

  My Name Is Andrea, and I am Undocumented

  Cherry, lots of people have family members who died for the US flag. The US had no problem letting people die for the US flag, and then not grant them civil rights. Also, the Army allows non-citizens to enlist: http://www.2k.army.mil/faqs.htm#citizens . So yes, sometimes even non-citizens can die for that flag.

  
  

  And while it's not exactly the same situation, think about people who are brought here for slave labor and sex work. They're brought here - most of the time against their will - and forced to do dirty work from making knock-off handbags to sexually serving dozens of people a day. Do you think they should be treated as criminals because they're here illegally?

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  Sterling commented on the article | almost 2 years ago

  My Name Is Andrea, and I am Undocumented

  i know the UDHR isn't a code of law that countries have to follow, and i know the US chooses not to ratify most UN conventions. and i get the taxpayer arguement. it's one i wholeheartedly argued for a long time, and i still believe is a valid concern.

  
  

  but if the argument is that illegal deserve their human rights and no other rights, then i'd like to hear what the difference is. that's what i was responding to. i most definitely don't have a solution or an answer to the money question.

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  Sterling commented on the article | almost 2 years ago

  My Name Is Andrea, and I am Undocumented

  that's exactly how i used to feel, cherry. but you say that "People in this country that are here illegally don't have rights (except human rights)..."

  
  

  so do people not have the right to health care? or to education? how about article 9 of the UDHR: "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile"? or article 2: "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without any distinction of any kind, such as...national or social origin, property, birth, or other status"? (health care is article 21, 22, 25; education is article 26.)

  
  

  i used to think that being illegal was black and white when it came to human rights, but when it comes down to it, it just isn't.

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  Sterling commented on the article | almost 2 years ago

  My Name Is Andrea, and I am Undocumented

  to some extent, i agree with Angie K. i support the DREAM act, and it's unfortunate that so many youth can't get jobs or go to school because they don't have the paperwork. it's also unfortunate that our country's, states', and counties' budgets may be strained because of people who can't or don't pay taxes.

  
  

  but like andrea says in her story, her mom worked three jobs. you think either of them have the time or resources to go through the paperwork? is it easy to get a social security number? i think this short youth film does a really great job of illustrating struggles with getting paperwork. and i know that this story is from Haiti, and i know that the situation is a little different, but i believe it highlights similar issues that may exist here as well:

  
  

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc6ow3ijUK

  
  

  as americans, we're born with our nationality. we're given a right to exist here, even though we didn't choose to be born here. at five years old, andrea most likely didn't choose to come here and grow up without a social security number.

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  Sterling commented on the article | about 2 years ago

  Sally Kern Wants to Make Divorce Illegal

  i like these points that have been brought up by wendy and michael. i have never really thought about making it harder to get married.

  
  

  this article also makes me think about other contemporary issues in marriage and divorce, such as a woman trying to leave her husband. i can't remember when the article was written, but i believe my local newspaper (the san jose mercury) had an article about juries who listen to divorce cases. usually the juries are all men. why? because when asked if you would send a woman back to a man she doesn't want to be with, women always say no, and men say yes.

  
  

  marriage and family rights really need to be reconsidered in this country, as WE all seem to realize...

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  Sterling commented on the article | about 2 years ago

  How You Can Help Trafficking Victims Free Themselves

  do you have any suggestions as to what NGOs, NPOs, and programs are most successful at this?

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  Sterling commented on the article | about 2 years ago

  10 Things You Can Do to Fight Human Trafficking

  thank you so much for this. i read DISPOSABLE PEOPLE in my international studies in human rights class, and now i'm writing a curriculum around contemporary slavery for my final. these resources are great. spread the word!