I’ve become quite fascinated by the political activism pages that are cropping up daily on Facebook. Since Facebook is the largest social networking site in the world, I suppose it’s hardly surprising that it is being used as an instrument for social change.   When I became active in opposing Arizona’s new immigration law I quickly found myself helplessly sucked into a vortex of Facebook anti-SB1070 pages.  Here I could spend a great deal of time discussing and hotly arguing with people all over the world about the different aspects of the law and its perceived impacts on both Arizona and the entire nation.  I called all those wasted hours “research”, when in reality it was fun as hell and I was enjoying myself enormously.

Recently I did a search to see how many Facebook pages were devoted to the subject of Arizona’s SB1070.  An astonishing 464 results popped up, fairly evenly divided both for and against the law.  The largest site opposing the law has over 1.6 million members while the law’s supporter’s largest page boasts about 300,000. 

Then I started reading the titles of these pages and saw that starting a Facebook page about a cause you believe in can be a form of expression that quite honestly hasn’t been given much play.  So I’ve assembled a few of the most noteworthy here:

1 MILLION Strong THAT RECOGNIZE SB1070 has both good and bad points.

Members: 1

(I’m glad to see this person has taken a stance on this issue… sort of)

People who will steal from those protesting against the AZ Immigration law

Members: 1

The purpose of this page: “Clearly the Arizona Immigration Law SB1070 is creating a lot of protest since it was signed into law on April 23rd, 2010. We believe soon there will be millions of citizens, or not, out protesting against this bill. And we're the people who will be stealing their stuff why (sic) they're out of their homes.”

If It Looks Like A Duck, Quacks LIke A Duck, It Must Be... (SB1070)

Members: 77

(This turned out to be a Pro SB1070 site that was selling tee shirts… which I can only imagine depict undocumented immigrants’ distinguishing characteristics as feathers, bills and large webbed feet.)

Pull the Plug on LA

Members: 2

(This site came about because LA decided to boycott Arizona after SB1070 was signed into law.  25% of LA’s power is generated by plants located in Arizona and it was suggested by Arizona’s corporation commissioner, Gary Pearce, that AZ should pull the plug on LA.  The only problem with that idea is the fact that the power plants are actually partially owned by LA and Arizona has no authority to pull any plugs whatsoever...) 

Defund The US Justice Department NOW

Members: 14

(Yeah!  We don’t need no stinkin’ Department of Justice! )

1,000,000 who know the real reason that Obama is against Arizona SB1070

Members: 4

In case you’re wondering, this site claims: “We know the real reason that Obama is against Arizona SB1070 is because he's afraid the next time he goes to Arizona, he will have to prove that he was born here and when he can't, he'll be deported back to Kenya.”

(I just KNEW it!)

Eagerly Awaiting Tea Party Rallies Against AZ's Unconstitutional SB1070

Members: 147

(This site shows a picture of a forlorn woman gazing out the window awaiting her beloved Tea Party’s arrival.  It literally brought tears to my eyes. )

CAUCASIANS with no ID should be DEPORTED to back to EUROPE!

Members: 404

(But the question remains, will the Europeans want them?)

Arizona boycotts US and other local Governments

Members: 3

According to this site, “The US and local Governments around the United States are boycotting Arizona because of the immigration bill SB1070. Show yur support for SB1070 and Arizona”

(Funny, I don’t remember the US government announcing a boycott of Arizona.  And how exactly does Arizona boycott the US?  Not sure how that works… Do we have to refuse the border patrol, stimulus monies and all that other stuff?) 

GO Ahead and Boycott Arizona! We don't need your stinking business!

Members: 5

(Yeah, right.  I suppose you were saying this about $15,000,000 in lost tourism revenue ago…)

1 Million Strong for boycotting Arizona Ice tea! Boycott everything Arizona

Members: 6

(Obviously didn’t get the memo that Arizona Ice Tea is made in New York…)

I want to be a cop in Arizona so I can arrest white people.

Members: 2

(I hear they’re taking applications.  You might not want to mention your aspirations though…Sheriff Joe probably will provide you with some pretty hideous underwear if he catches on)

Boycotting people who are boycotting Arizona

Members: 4

(So if I boycott you, does this mean I’m boycotting people who are boycotting people who are boycotting Arizona?  And what happens if someone boycotts ME? Yikes! )

Let's make "Arizona" a curse word.

Members: 1

(I kinda think Massachusetts has more possibilities, but I’m open to change)

FIRE ERIC HOLDER IMMEDIATELY!!!

Members: 836

(I’m sure Obama will get right on that) 

We love SB1070!!.... LOL j/k. That shit is racist!

Members: 2

(Filed under “too cute to ignore”)

If You Oppose SB1070, You Can't READ!!!/Boycott Mexican Businesses

Members: 13

(I think this one is directed at the illiterate Mexican business owners.  Or perhaps there’s something written in SB1070 about Mexicans?  Damn, if only I could read I would know this.)

I think the gulf oil spill is more important than SB1070.

Members: 26

(Well if we have to pick and choose…  um, do we have to pick and choose? )

Chinguen a su madre los gringos y su ley arizona sb1070

15 members

(See Google Translate for more information.) 

184 MILLION strong in Support of Arizona Immigration Law SB1070.

Members: 2

(Not sure what significance this lofty number of desired supporters represents.  I only could find 184 million as an estimate of the number of gallons of oil spilled in the gulf.  Not sure how equating a law’s supporters with spilled oil is a good thing…)

 Steve Montenegro the Dark Brown- White Supremacist supports SB1070

Members: 29

(I’m having trouble visualizing this one.) 

Let's See Arizona Police Detain White People And Demand Their Papers

Members: 72

(To be filed under “dream on” category). 

Unless you live in Arizona, STFU about AZ Immigration Law SB1070

Members: 15

(I am so relieved to know that by simply living in Arizona I am one of the privileged few who are allowed freedom of speech.  Hurray!)

1 Strong FOR the Arizona Immigration Law SB1070

Members: 1

(Finally a group that accurately estimates its membership!)

1 BILLION Strong AGAINST the Arizona Immigration Law SB1070

Members: 42

(We’ll need quite a few non-Americans to make up these numbers.  Any takers in China or India? )

FuKc ARIZONA and FuKc everyone else who supports Immigration Law SB1070

Members: 84

(How to get around the language censors on Facebook 101). 

1 QUADRILLION Strong AGAINST the Arizona Immigration Law SB1070.

Members: 10

(1 Quadrillion = 1,000,000,000,000,000.  We’re going to need to reach some other inhabited planets to come up with this many)

ARIZONA TAKE YOUR LAW AND SHOVE IT UP UR ASS!!

Members: 190

(Again, visualization is everything here)

Real Americans SUPPORT the Arizona Immigration Law SB1070

Members: 185

(I always love the pages that declare Palin-esque ideals of what “Real Americans” do.)

Arizona Citizens of ANY LEGAL RACE for AZ SB1070

Members: 101

(“Legal race”?  I’m puzzling over what an illegal race might be.  Last I heard we legalized black people quite a while back… did we forget someone?)

Yes, Facebook-- the site that many think of as a place where people mindlessly accumulate friends, post boring status reports and play endless time-wasting games like “Farmville” and “Fishville”-- is also proving to be a hotbed of social activism.  So I urge you to get out there and start your own incredibly important earth-shattering instrument-of-change Facebook page today.

And send me an invite so I can join.