....about petitions etc.
Then you need a strategy as someone else pointed out. It's easy to Rah Rah Rah someones comment on these message boards, it's something completely different to get off your duff and do something. And it's another level completely to put your name on a letter and send something to BCIS, as you may fear that somehow your application may get affected.
Now for those who want to put their "chicken nuggets" on the line and do something other than lip service, here is a strategy that I am proposing and I welcome constructive criticism as well as someone to play "devils advocate" to look for the flaws.
Strategy:
We need an all out assault. (Period)
A letter here, a message there amount to nothing more than half hearted attempts and wishful thinking. You can be certain if and when the US attacks Iraq, it will be an all out assault. Why? Because it's the only thing that will be affective, you don't know which line of attack will weaken the enemy the quickest and the complete barrage puts them in a defensive mode and ultimately capitulation.
The way to assault BCIS is going to be through communication.
1) Media.
It is the greatest vehicle to put pressure on BCIS. There is the press and tv, specifically I think the LA Times is probably the best vehicle to do this. The reason I believe this is the size and reputation of the newspaper, the proximity to CSC - it's in their constituency, and the large immigrant support base in the region. Now, instead of looking at it from our selfish perspective, we need to see it from the media's perspective, i.e. what's in it for them. Our perspective makes it a good news story, i.e. the unjust and undue process, but it needs more......from their perspective.....a reason why they will take it on.....and not just take it on....but make this a large story. Any suggestions?
2) BCIS Ombudsman
Now that it is BCIS, I thought they were to set up an office of the Ombudsman - basically our mediator for such things. We need to craft communication that is non-emotional, factual with statistical evidence and build the case for how unjust this process is. We need to compel this person to cut through the beauacracy and get action (an ombudsman's job). We should also find the contact addresses of the senior managers at CSC. And flood them with the same type of correspondence.
3)AILA
We are their bread and butter. To date they have done some feeble questioning but they have not exerted the power of their lobby. Anyone have any ideas how to push their hot button to get them to "really lobby" on our behalf?
4)BCIS Fax number
We should continuously bombard their fax with messages, we could do this through anonymous ip addresses with fax messaging. I am not suggesting anything elicit here but I think we need to communicate to them at a grass roots level of their lack of progress/service via messages
5) Political Route
Inundate all pertinent elected officials with carefully crafted letters with everyone signature and details. We need to show the history of BCIS/INS's activities which are well documented in the press. We have to somehow make this a "big issue" so they notice us amongst the hundreds of other people who send them crap - again, any ideas?
these are just some of my thoughts.....look forward to others "pragmatic" input
but i think we need to get beyond wishful thinking and bemoaning our plight and be organized and be prepared to act.
Then you need a strategy as someone else pointed out. It's easy to Rah Rah Rah someones comment on these message boards, it's something completely different to get off your duff and do something. And it's another level completely to put your name on a letter and send something to BCIS, as you may fear that somehow your application may get affected.
Now for those who want to put their "chicken nuggets" on the line and do something other than lip service, here is a strategy that I am proposing and I welcome constructive criticism as well as someone to play "devils advocate" to look for the flaws.
Strategy:
We need an all out assault. (Period)
A letter here, a message there amount to nothing more than half hearted attempts and wishful thinking. You can be certain if and when the US attacks Iraq, it will be an all out assault. Why? Because it's the only thing that will be affective, you don't know which line of attack will weaken the enemy the quickest and the complete barrage puts them in a defensive mode and ultimately capitulation.
The way to assault BCIS is going to be through communication.
1) Media.
It is the greatest vehicle to put pressure on BCIS. There is the press and tv, specifically I think the LA Times is probably the best vehicle to do this. The reason I believe this is the size and reputation of the newspaper, the proximity to CSC - it's in their constituency, and the large immigrant support base in the region. Now, instead of looking at it from our selfish perspective, we need to see it from the media's perspective, i.e. what's in it for them. Our perspective makes it a good news story, i.e. the unjust and undue process, but it needs more......from their perspective.....a reason why they will take it on.....and not just take it on....but make this a large story. Any suggestions?
2) BCIS Ombudsman
Now that it is BCIS, I thought they were to set up an office of the Ombudsman - basically our mediator for such things. We need to craft communication that is non-emotional, factual with statistical evidence and build the case for how unjust this process is. We need to compel this person to cut through the beauacracy and get action (an ombudsman's job). We should also find the contact addresses of the senior managers at CSC. And flood them with the same type of correspondence.
3)AILA
We are their bread and butter. To date they have done some feeble questioning but they have not exerted the power of their lobby. Anyone have any ideas how to push their hot button to get them to "really lobby" on our behalf?
4)BCIS Fax number
We should continuously bombard their fax with messages, we could do this through anonymous ip addresses with fax messaging. I am not suggesting anything elicit here but I think we need to communicate to them at a grass roots level of their lack of progress/service via messages
5) Political Route
Inundate all pertinent elected officials with carefully crafted letters with everyone signature and details. We need to show the history of BCIS/INS's activities which are well documented in the press. We have to somehow make this a "big issue" so they notice us amongst the hundreds of other people who send them crap - again, any ideas?
these are just some of my thoughts.....look forward to others "pragmatic" input
but i think we need to get beyond wishful thinking and bemoaning our plight and be organized and be prepared to act.