The Daily Moth 7-16-19
House Dems rebuke Trump’s “racist” tweets; White House Moves to Restrict Asylum Access; Flushing drugs in toilets creates “Meth Gators”; Interview with Deaf pro basketball player: Michael Lizarraga
[Transcript] Hello, welcome to the Daily Moth! It is Tuesday, July 16th.
I’m Christian Young again replacing Alex today. Are you ready for today’s top stories?
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House Dems rebuke Trump’s “racist” tweets
Since Sunday, President Donald Trump has been posting tweets that the Democratic congress people have called racist along with a few Republicans.
This has prompted a House Representative, Rep. Al Green, to announce that he would introduce the articles of impeachment this month. Also, tonight the House of Representatives are planning to vote on a resolution tonight that will condemn Trump’s tweets.
Trump’s tweets were aimed towards the Democratic congresswomen including 4 House Representatives who are known as “the Squad” at Congress: Reps. Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.).
Trump said that the Squad has been “complaining constantly” about the United States and that they are people that hate our country. Trump said several times that if they are not happy here, then they can leave. But of the 4 representatives, only Ilhan Omar is actually an immigrant and she’s from Somalia.
House Speaker responded saying that “our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power”.
Rep. Pressley said she encourages the American people to “not take the bait” because it’s a distraction from other issues.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said that she “wants to tell children across this country that no matter what the president says, this country belongs to you and it belongs to everyone.”
Upon learning of the upcoming House resolution vote, Trump posted more tweets today saying the Democrat Congresswomen have been saying some of the “most vile” things ever said by a politician in the House or Senate, but they seem to get a free pass.
When President Trump was asked if he was worried about his comments being called racist, he said no and that “many people agree with me.”
Al Green’s FB video: https://www.facebook.com/repalgreen/videos/2302754666705828/
Trump’s Tweet:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1150381395078000643
SOURCES
https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-impeachment-racist-tweets-al-green-6ef9b5f6-4240-48bd-b5d0-87e53e7147c3.html
https://www.axios.com/trump-tweets-nativist-attack-on-female-democrats-261a2d48-b040-4a30-90c1-0655b71d73d3.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-calls-on-minority-congresswomen-to-apologize-after-he-said-they-should-go-back-to-their-countries/2019/07/15/897f1dd0-a6ef-11e9-a3a6-ab670962db05_story.html?utm_term=.1e5094e9f434
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/16/trump-attack-progressive-congresswomen-1416579
https://apnews.com/a67df9b560fc416f8326827b36b0de81
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White House moves to restrict asylum access
Today, a new rule issued by the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security will go into effect saying that migrants who pass through another country without seeking their protection first will be ineligible for asylum in the US, but this only applies who entered the US before the effective date.
Mexico doesn’t have an agreement with the US that requires migrants to apply for asylum at their country so this means that any immigrants fleeing countries south of Mexico, like those from Central America, like Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador among others traveling through Mexico arriving at the US border will not be eligible and this applies to children who cross the border alone.
There are some exceptions to the new rule for who have been victims of human trafficking or the asylum-seekers were denied protection from another country.
The secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement that the action today will eliminate loopholes and reduce the overwhelming burdens on our system caused by asylum seekers, including criminals, traffickers and smugglers who try to exploit our system for profit. Another argument used by the White House is that fewer than 20 percent of Central American applicants are ultimately granted asylum by the courts.
The American Civil Liberties Union said they will file an injunction saying it conflicts with US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) which allows foreigners who reach the United States to apply for asylum if they are fearful of persecution in their native countries.
According to the Washington Post, the courts have a backlog of nearly one million cases which can take months or years before the asylum applicants can see a judge.
The link to the released new rule is provided in the transcript: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-15246.pdf?mod=article_inline
Sources:
https://apnews.com/6bef9ed6c48b4c2ea203cbbea3ccacad
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trump-administration-moves-to-restrict-asylum-access-aiming-to-curb-central-american-migration/2019/07/15/f3360576-a704-11e9-9214-246e594de5d5_story.html?utm_term=.9643367f2cd6
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-prepares-new-rule-for-asylum-seekers-at-southern-border-11563195494?mod=hp_lead_pos1
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/15/us/politics/trump-migrants-asylum-.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/15/fast-track-regulation-asylum-seekers-1591034
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/30/asylum-restrictions-trump-central-america-1489012
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Flushing drugs in toilets creates “Meth Gators”
Yesterday, in Tennessee, the Loretto police department is warning people to stop flushing drugs including methamphetamine and prescription medication down the toilet. Doing this would create “meth-gators” and harm the environment.
They posted this warning on Facebook after their officers caught a suspect who tried, but failed, to flush meth and paraphernalia.
He was placed under arrest, but the police say this is becoming a serious issue because there have been more and more instances animals like ducks, geese and alligators eating the drugs that make it through the sewage system and get “methed up”.
The drugs that are flushed can end up in retention ponds for processing before moving to the downstream because our sewage system is not designed to filter out drugs.
Experts say that animals can be affected by drugs in varying degrees and will need time to detox and get the drugs out of their system. Depending on the animal, they could suffer seizures, diarrhea or exhibit erratic behavior.
The website “BeMedWise” offers tips saying that most prescription and OTC medicines can be thrown away in the trash, but the following are best practices:
1. Mix the medicine with something you wouldn’t eat like dirt, kitty litter or used coffee grounds to prevent the medicine being stolen.
2. Place this mixture in a sealable plastic bag and throw it into the trash.
3. Remove the label and scratch off all personal information on the label.
4. Flush your prescription medication only if the label or instructions specifically say to do so.
5. Some pharmacies have “take-back” programs that dispose of unused or expired medicines.
Sources:
https://www.winknews.com/2019/07/15/police-warn-flushing-drugs-down-the-toilet-could-create-meth-gators/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tennessee-police-warn-locals-not-flush-drugs-fear-meth-gators-n1030291
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/07/15/meth-gators-tennessee-police-flushing-drugs-toilet/1740780001/
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/453233-tennessee-police-warn-flushing-drugs-could-create-meth-gators
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Interview with Deaf pro basketball player: Michael Lizarraga
(Transcripción en español disponible abajo)
[Transcript] Last week we did a news story on the USA men winning gold at World Deaf Basketball in Poland. We mentioned a USA player, Michael Lizarraga, was selected as one of the Best Five all-tournament team.
Lizarraga, 6’7, generally known as “Big Mike”, but known as “The Great One” in his town in Mexico, is a pro league basketball player. His position is a power forward.
(video montage of Lizarraga playing pro basketball)
(image of Lizarraga featured on a billboard)
Lizarraga, a dual-citizen of the USA and Mexico, is a born and raised Californian who moved to Mexico to play for a pro league under Liga Nacional De Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) 7 years ago. He has played for 9 different pro league teams.
He graduated from California School for the Deaf Fremont and went to California State University Northridge (CSUN) for college. After he graduated, an agent who has followed his journey throughout college recruited him to play for a pro league in Mexico.
(TEXT)
Championships won this year
LNBP in Mexico
North Zone Championship
National Championship
World Deaf Basketball in Poland:
USA Championship
Seems this year is a year of wins for Lizarraga.
The Daily Moth reached out to him for an interview about his journey.
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RENCA: You now are playing for a hearing league. I am curious what is it like for you? You as a Deaf person with a hearing team, a hearing coach, and even hearing fans! Unless you know there are some deaf fans who watch you at your games? I am just generally curious about you being a Deaf person on a hearing team. Could you explain?
MICHAEL: It really started when I was a little kid. My father would encourage me to go out and play with the hearing kids whether it’s my friends or on a team. It didn’t matter where, but just go out and play, you know?
From there, that’s been my mindset growing up, you know. When I went to Fremont, that took some getting used to because they all signed.
Later, I got into CSUN where I would have an interpreter. This was more within my comfort zone, but if I’m on the court during games then I have to focus on my team. We do these simple plays using these gestures. We relied on the shape of our hands, but when I got into pros, uh, there’s a huge difference at the professional level. Because I live with them year around, it’s not like CSUN, a school where there are things to do around campus. In Mexico, all I do is play basketball, you know?
It really comes down to, my life, it’s interesting being the only deaf person in an all-hearing team and I’m completely immersed in the hearing world, you know. It’s a good experience though. I’ve met people who are willing to sign, use body language and gestures. It’s really mostly gestures and it’s easy to communicate that way in Mexico. It’s a nice thing to have.
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RENCA: How do you communicate with your coach? Especially during the game? I know that we can be used to like a deaf person being a coach who would use sign language to tell you plays, but how does your hearing coach tell you the plays?
MICHAEL: Yes, first off, we can use white boards and write on them or I usually communicate with the assistant coach so the head coach can focus on the game itself. I don’t try to mess with that, so I communicate with the assistant coach. The assistant coach would communicate with the head coach then he’ll be able to answer my questions. Body language is important too. If the coach gestures this, it means switch positions with someone. If he does this then we need to play trap defense. This means boxing out a player. These are simple adjustments that ensure clear communication.
The assistant coach does that too and also the team. Whenever we huddle, we can communicate this way, and everyone knows their role.
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Lizarraga mentioned that off the basketball court, he usually enjoys spends time walking around town, signing autographs, going out to eat, and playing video games. We asked him if there is any encouragement he would like to share with us.
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MICHAEL: First of all, I just want to thank a bunch of people, my family, friends, fans and everyone else who have been watching and following me. I just want to give you all I have to offer and show that deaf people can play at a competitive level in sports whether it’s in basketball, volleyball, golf or whatever. If you love a particular sport, go for it!
Also, don’t ever let anyone think that you can’t do these things or allow them to put you down. Don’t do that. Don’t ever let anyone oppress you and say you can’t do these things.
If you want to do art, go for it! Try doing some art or if you want to cook then that’s fine too. Go cook! Learn different things. It could be in sports or something that can be applied to real life. It could be anything you want, but if you really want it, then go for it!
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Thank you, Lizarraga, for your time.
You know there are a lot of sports jerseys of hearing players’ last names on the back for fans to wear. Perhaps we could start wearing our star deaf athletes’ last names on jerseys.
Full video of Lizarraga playing professional basketball: https://www.facebook.com/lizarraga42life/videos/10157408008154444/
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Entrevista con el jugador de baloncesto profesional de sordos: Michael Lizarraga
La semana pasada compartimos una noticia sobre el equipo masculino de EE. UU. que ganó el oro en el Mundial de Béisbol de Sordos en Polonia. Mencionamos que un jugador de los EE. UU., Michael Lizarraga, fue seleccionado como uno de los mejores jugadores de los cinco equipos del torneo.
Lizarraga, de estatura 6'7”, generalmente conocido como "Big Mike" y como "El Grande" en su ciudad de residencia en México, es un jugador profesional de baloncesto de la liga. Su posición es delantero fuerte.
Lizarraga, que posee doble nacionalidad de los Estados Unidos y México, es un californiano que se mudó a México para jugar en una liga profesional bajo la Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) hace 7 años. Ha jugado en 9 equipos diferentes de la liga profesional.
Se graduó de la Escuela para Sordos de Fremont de California y luego hizo estudios superiores en la Universidad Estatal de California en Northridge (CSUN). Después de graduarse, un agente que siguió su trayectoria a lo largo de la universidad lo reclutó para jugar en una liga profesional en México.
campeonato de la zona norte
campeonato Nacional
Campeonato de estados unidos
Tal parece que este es un año de victorias para Lizarraga.
The Daily Moth le hizo una entrevista sobre su carrera.
Reportera:
Ahora estás jugando para una liga de jugadores oyentes. Tengo curiosidad por saber como lograste todo esto. ¡Eres una persona sorda en un equipo de oyentes, un entrenador oyente, e incluso fanáticos oyentes! ¿Sabes que hay algunos fanáticos sordos que te ven en tus juegos? Me gustaría saber como funciona una persona sorda en un equipo de oyentes ¿Podrías explicarnos?
Miguel: Realmente, esto comenzó cuando yo era un niño. Mi padre siempre me decía que fuera a jugar con personas oyentes, no importaba si fueran amigos u otros equipos. Siempre tuve ese deseo de jugar. Cuando ingresé por primera vez a la escuela de sordos en Fremont, no estaba acostumbrado a que todos se comunicaran en lengua de signos. Después me acostumbré. Cuando tomaba clases en CSUN, era un ambiente de oyentes, pero al menos tenía un intérprete conmigo. En la cancha, me concentraba en el juego y hacia jugadas simples que ya sabía. Jugar en una liga profesional es muy diferente. Vivo en México todo el año. No es como estar en CSUN por un año ocupado con cosas académicas. Todo esto aqui es diferente. Esto es México y estoy jugando baloncesto todo el año. Mi vida es realmente interesante porque soy la única persona sorda en un mundo de oyentes. Hasta ahora, esta ha sido una buena experiencia. He conocido personas que están dispuestas a usar lengua de signos, usar el lenguaje corporal o hacer gestos. Me comunico con ellos a través de los gestos. Es fácil comunicarse con ellos especialmente en México. Los mexicanos son buenos con los gestos, lo que es bueno para mí.
Reportera: ¿Cómo te comunicas con tu entrenador? Especialmente durante el juego? Sé que podemos acostumbrarnos a que una persona sorda sea un entrenador que usaría el lenguaje de señas para contarte jugadas, pero ¿cómo tu entrenador oyente te dice las jugadas?
Miguel: Mi entrenador principal usa una pizarra blanca. Además, me comunico mayormente con el asistente del entrenador. Durante el juego, el entrenador principal se enfoca en el juego, mientras que yo me comunico con el asistente del entrenador. El lenguaje corporal es la clave principal. Pequeños gestos en las jugadas me muestran las diferencias, lo cual me ayuda a entender el juego en su totalidad. El entrenador asistente y el equipo son las claves que completan. Tambien intercambiamos información sobre lo que haremos en cada juego.
Lizarraga mencionó que fuera de la cancha de básquetbol, por lo general, disfruta pasar el tiempo caminando por la ciudad, firmar autógrafos, salir a comer y jugar videojuegos. Le preguntamos si hay algún consejo que le gustaría compartir con nosotros.
Miguel:
En primer lugar, quiero agradecer a las personas, familiares, amigos y seguidores que han estado siguiendo mi carrera. Quiero dar el máximo y demostrar que las personas sordas pueden jugar. Podrían ser los deportes en general, como el baloncesto, el voleibol, o el golf. No importa si te gusta este o aquel deporte, hazlo. Además, no permitas que nadie te diga que no puedes hacerlo o menospreciarte. Si te interesa el arte, ¡adelante! Si quieres cocinar, ¡adelante! En cualquier deporte o algo que te apasione realmente, ¡Hazlo!
Gracias, Lizarraga, por compartir con nostros.
Sabes que hay muchos camisetas deportivas con los apellidos de los jugadores oyentes en la parte de atrás para que los usen los fanáticos. Tal vez podríamos empezar a usar los apellidos de nuestros atletas sordos en las camisetas.
https://www.facebook.com/lizarraga42life/videos/10157408008154444/
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That’s all the stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
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