SGV Tribune LTEs

[SaveOurState]

August 11, 2005


Monument to truth



Re: "Protest around Baldwin Park goes smoothly" (June 25) Save Our State from what and from who? The Baldwin Park Monument Danzas Indigenas had its scripts for 12 years. I don't see why it bothers some outsiders when the people who reside in Baldwin Park don't make a big deal about it.

Are the people from SOS really saving the state by bringing racial discrimination against the Hispanic race by saying that they are terrorists? I don't think so! So far terrorist attacks were not made by Mexicans so why so much hate toward them?

SOS leader Joseph Turner believes that he succeeded by causing the city of Baldwin Park about $20,000. How can a man who wants to save the state be so negligent in thinking that by continuing with his protests and causing great losses of money he will make the city remove the inscriptions from the monument. I don't see why he wants the inscriptions removed if it only speaks the truth.

If we go back to history Christopher Colombus said that when he found America there were Native Americans (Indians) living there already. When Mexico went to war with the United States the United States was able to negotiate with the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in which Mexico ceded the Southwest region and California for $15 million. If I recall Judy Baca said, "It was better before they came" quoted a white man speaking of the Hispanics.

I have lived in Baldwin Park for 13 years and in all this time Asians, whites, African Americans, and Mexicans have gotten along very well. I hope this man (Turner) does not change our friendly ways.

I wonder if Joseph Turner voted for the governor of California.

Paula Vargas

Baldwin Park

[SaveOurState]

SOS no angel



Save Our State protesters have cost the city of Baldwin Park thousands of dollars as noted in a recent front-page Tribune article. This is money that could have been used for programs for children, schools, city improvements, etc. How "patriotic" is Joseph Turner's admitted goal of inflicting economic pain on Baldwin Park, an American city?

Further, I'm baffled by those who use the term "peaceful protesting" while describing Save Our State, and using words such as wild animals, barbaric behavior, coward, and terrorists when referring to counter protesters.

I am equally baffled by those who continue to insist that the monument, Danzas Indigenas, has "racist words" or implications.

It takes simple reading comprehension to conclude that there are no "racist words" on the monument.

For examples of racism, one need look no further than SOS. Visit www.sparcmurals.org to view footage of the Baldwin Park "peaceful protest." There is footage of Dottie Dalton in action before she was allegedly hit by a flying water bottle --an incident, she claims, makes her a victim of a hate crime.

In addition to gleefully modeling her "undocumented boarder patrol agent" shirt while proudly ranting about how she makes and distributes these, you can watch her scream, "You are the problem!" at a peaceful Hispanic counter protester who happens to be an American citizen. Dalton makes her disdain for immigrant workers clear while she speaks of Arizona's Minuteman Project.

With cameras still rolling, a counter protester who tries to engage in peaceful debate is called a "mongrel" by another SOS protester. There is footage of SOS protesters screaming at the crowd of counter protesters, "You go back to Mexico! This is our land! This is not your land!" Surely they must have known that American citizens with darker skin color than their own received this reception.

And their leader Joseph Turner? Newspapers won't print the vulgarities he yelled. If video footage isn't enough, visit Joseph Turner's Web site to experience harsher doses in writing, preferably on an empty stomach.

Veronica Tomas

El Monte

[AyatollahGondola]

I wonder if Joseph Turner voted for the governor of California.

In which election?