SaveOurState
08-01-2005, 01:11 AM
Blame hate, not victims of crimes (http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~11851~2988885,00.html)
What an incredibly bizarre op-ed...I dont even think I understand the title of it.
SOME say Californians ought not be surprised by the rise in assaults on Latinos given the anti-illegal-immigration sentiment in the state.
That's pointing the fingers at the wrong culprit. Hate crimes are the work of bigots and they'll use anything as an excuse.
Sorry, but we refuse to accept justification for such unjustifiable hatred toward Latinos, here legally or not. Yet, according to a report from Attorney General Bill Lockyer, hate crimes against Latinos increased from 103 in 2003 to 138 in 2004.
Happily, Latinos and others were quick to refute such rhetoric when the Save Our State organization used the illegal immigrant card in its attempt to remove a cultural monument in Baldwin Park.
So misguided were SOS' actions that members of the Minuteman Project who seek to stop illegal border crossings steered well clear of the local demonstrations.
Our recent front-page story by Staff Writer Marianne Love notes crimes against African Americans and Asian/Pacific Islanders also increased during the same time period from 463 to 693 and from 66 to 87 respectively. Last we looked, few if any from these ethnic groups were counted among those crossing the Rio Grande into the United States.
Face it, the miscreants who strike out at others based solely on race, ethnicity, creed or sexual orientation do so because they mistakenly believe that the wider society will condone their despicable behavior. Blaming hate crimes against Latinos on anti-illegal-immigrant sentiment perpetuates that lie.
Thankfully, Americans for the most part have moved beyond such misguided thinking. That's precisely why we have a legal "hate' crime designation and why that application carries harsher punishment. Society is sickened by such banal behavior and juries across the nation have rightly handed down long sentences for these crimes.
So let's be careful to accurately identify the source of these crimes pure, old-fashioned, hate. Unless we know the enemy, victory will elude us.
I find it interesting that this op-ed piece was written in the first place. As far as I can tell, they never published my letter to the editor. I will add it here:
Dear Editor:
Marshall Wong of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission mindlessly coughed up the “[rise in] anti-immigrant sentiment evidenced by vigilante groups who have attacked day laborers” as an explanation for increase in hate crimes against Latinos in 2004 (Racial Hate Crimes on the Rise, July 23).
First, our movement openly embraces immigration and has the support of many legal immigrants who are tired of seeing illegal aliens simply walk across the border while they play by the rules.
Until the Border Patrol conducted inland sweeps in the latter half of 2004, the anti-illegal immigration movement was arguably dormant with respect to public protests.Â* It wasnÂ’t until 2005 that we saw a groundswell of “street-level” activism, particularly at day laborer gathering sites.Â* Also, the term “vigilante” did not enter the vernacular of this debate until the Minuteman Project gained national attention in early 2005.
According to Wong, “vigilante groupsÂ…have attacked day laborers.”Â* I would like to know where and when these attacks occurred and what group he is referring to specifically.
Finally, seven of the nine preceding years had more reported anti-Hispanic hate crimes. In actuality, anti-Hispanic hate crimes are at relative lows. (Please see page 42 of the Attorney General's report)
Journalism consists of more than regurgitation of talking points. Mr. Wong purposefully used mischaracterization and the race card to smear organizations such as Save Our State.Â* At best, he lacks the fundamental ability to combine facts with logic.Â* Either way, it is unfortunate that your publication did not challenge his ridiculously idiotic statement.
Sincerely,
Joseph Turner
Executive Director
Save Our State
We are living in a surreal world.
Happily, Latinos and others were quick to refute such rhetoric
Does anyone even know what this person is talking about? What rhetoric did they refute? I know I am baised and all, but I try to be fair and I consider myself to be pretty intelligent.
Does anyone understand anything about this pathetic editorial?
What an incredibly bizarre op-ed...I dont even think I understand the title of it.
SOME say Californians ought not be surprised by the rise in assaults on Latinos given the anti-illegal-immigration sentiment in the state.
That's pointing the fingers at the wrong culprit. Hate crimes are the work of bigots and they'll use anything as an excuse.
Sorry, but we refuse to accept justification for such unjustifiable hatred toward Latinos, here legally or not. Yet, according to a report from Attorney General Bill Lockyer, hate crimes against Latinos increased from 103 in 2003 to 138 in 2004.
Happily, Latinos and others were quick to refute such rhetoric when the Save Our State organization used the illegal immigrant card in its attempt to remove a cultural monument in Baldwin Park.
So misguided were SOS' actions that members of the Minuteman Project who seek to stop illegal border crossings steered well clear of the local demonstrations.
Our recent front-page story by Staff Writer Marianne Love notes crimes against African Americans and Asian/Pacific Islanders also increased during the same time period from 463 to 693 and from 66 to 87 respectively. Last we looked, few if any from these ethnic groups were counted among those crossing the Rio Grande into the United States.
Face it, the miscreants who strike out at others based solely on race, ethnicity, creed or sexual orientation do so because they mistakenly believe that the wider society will condone their despicable behavior. Blaming hate crimes against Latinos on anti-illegal-immigrant sentiment perpetuates that lie.
Thankfully, Americans for the most part have moved beyond such misguided thinking. That's precisely why we have a legal "hate' crime designation and why that application carries harsher punishment. Society is sickened by such banal behavior and juries across the nation have rightly handed down long sentences for these crimes.
So let's be careful to accurately identify the source of these crimes pure, old-fashioned, hate. Unless we know the enemy, victory will elude us.
I find it interesting that this op-ed piece was written in the first place. As far as I can tell, they never published my letter to the editor. I will add it here:
Dear Editor:
Marshall Wong of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission mindlessly coughed up the “[rise in] anti-immigrant sentiment evidenced by vigilante groups who have attacked day laborers” as an explanation for increase in hate crimes against Latinos in 2004 (Racial Hate Crimes on the Rise, July 23).
First, our movement openly embraces immigration and has the support of many legal immigrants who are tired of seeing illegal aliens simply walk across the border while they play by the rules.
Until the Border Patrol conducted inland sweeps in the latter half of 2004, the anti-illegal immigration movement was arguably dormant with respect to public protests.Â* It wasnÂ’t until 2005 that we saw a groundswell of “street-level” activism, particularly at day laborer gathering sites.Â* Also, the term “vigilante” did not enter the vernacular of this debate until the Minuteman Project gained national attention in early 2005.
According to Wong, “vigilante groupsÂ…have attacked day laborers.”Â* I would like to know where and when these attacks occurred and what group he is referring to specifically.
Finally, seven of the nine preceding years had more reported anti-Hispanic hate crimes. In actuality, anti-Hispanic hate crimes are at relative lows. (Please see page 42 of the Attorney General's report)
Journalism consists of more than regurgitation of talking points. Mr. Wong purposefully used mischaracterization and the race card to smear organizations such as Save Our State.Â* At best, he lacks the fundamental ability to combine facts with logic.Â* Either way, it is unfortunate that your publication did not challenge his ridiculously idiotic statement.
Sincerely,
Joseph Turner
Executive Director
Save Our State
We are living in a surreal world.
Happily, Latinos and others were quick to refute such rhetoric
Does anyone even know what this person is talking about? What rhetoric did they refute? I know I am baised and all, but I try to be fair and I consider myself to be pretty intelligent.
Does anyone understand anything about this pathetic editorial?