http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5950375.html So I don't normally get in to these debate threads, but this one bothered me a bit. The story itself is a tragedy, but the reader's reactions are what set me off. First response I saw was something to the effect of "I don't think the guy should be beaten to death, but where is the response when an immigrant kills an American." I'm sorry, but anytime you say "I don't think the guy should have been killed, but......." thats not going to sit well. I love how there is this new approval that racist feelings are ok because of terrorism and immigration. Its f-ing bull$#!+. Let me put out that I am of Mexican descent. I am however an American. Born in Hermann Hospital, Houston Texas. I can also say that I have more right to citizenship than some called "true Americans". I serve my country. Its so awesome to be looked at and hear comments made about my race when I serve this nation everyday in the Navy. It really is a great feeling. Also enjoy the whole speak the language thing, when I have better grammar than the average American not to mention those from the "the South will rise again crowd". I agree that basic English should be learned for citizenship. I also think though that we all should have at least two years of service to the country be it military, government or volunteer to have the privilege of being a "citizen". Thats how the Israelis do it. Being lucky enough to pop out of vagina on US soil should cut it no longer. Those that justify xenophobia or subdued racism due to other concerns, the hell with them. They make me ashamed of being a human being. I understand racism is somewhat in our nature, at least to a certain extent, but damn. I don't agree with the PC movement that runs rampant these days. I just didn't figure that people could be perceived to be happy about a man's death in this fashion. I didn't mean to rant, but this is getting annoying. Feel free to lock this one up.
Is there some sort of get out of jail free card if an immigrant kills someone? People can be so dumb.
Is there some kind of information blackout when immigrants kill people? I remember when we had that Mexican serial killer who was tricked into thinking Texas wouldn't give him the death penalty. That guy made all the papers. How often is it that immigrants are killing people anyway? I suppose since we hardly ever hear about it, it must be the case that there is a huge conspiracy to conceal it and not that it doesn't happen very often.
While I agreed with other portions of your post, you lost me here. If I was born in America, but was unable to gain automatic citizenship, then I would be an alien on every part of the world until I did service? You missed the point when you said "privilege of being a citizen". Look up the word "citizen" in a dictionary. It's someone who is entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or nation. It's an entitlement. It is a right, not a privilege, to be citizen and be protected by its government. That's the point of being a citizen.
No you can be an American, but they should have a different definition of citizen. I would say that it would lead to being able to get benefits from the gov such as help with tuition or maybe some tax benefits. Just an idea. My problem is there are many people out there who feel they have an exclusivity rights to being a citizen and give nothing back. I know what the definition is, I just think we should all give something back. It doesn't have to be military. Could be Peace Corps, volunteering at a public school for so many hours a year or community service. There are more than one ways to serve your country.
If it wasn't for this thread, I would have not heard about this story. Am I watching too much Olympics, is this a big story on the cable news? I do however remember the serial killer and also there was the deadly drunk driving incident. Those were big national stories.
I am not in favor of "hate crimes" because i think the crime is heinous enough in and of itself - the motivation shouldn't matter. I also seriously doubt the kids intent was to kill the victim and 3rd degree murder seems about right, that or the worst case of manslaughter. However, what they did was wrong, and they have ruined their lives because of their hate and prejudice. It's unfortunate and hopefully people can talk about these kinds of things across the country. It always reminds me of the case in which a black man was dragged by a pick-up truck in Jasper - which made my stomach turn at the level of gruesomeness. What goes through these people heads I don't know. But if we're going to talk about evil, I wish racism was put up there with al qaeda.
Why do you presume that it must be a huge conspiracy to conceal immigrants killing Americans than the more obvious answer that it doesn't happen that often?
what about the HPD officer that was brutally gunned down last year? A certain radio station, that moonlights as the astros' home station, made it seem like all immigrants were sadistic animals. Even in a batch of fresh pineapples, there are bound to be a couple of bad ones. That being said, there has to be a way to combat gang members coming in from central america. I love how the right wing of el salvador is taking credit for cleaning up the streets from MS-13 gangs. when in reality, the reason there has been a slight decrease in homicides is because most of them have crossed into the U.S.
It's always sad when something like that happens to anyone. Obviously this was small town crap. Kids like that are treated in "god-like" status because they play a sport. It's just as bad in parts of Ohio. I understand the OP's frustration, but just like the media you shouldn't color everything with the same yellow journalistic brush. The media is going to grasp onto the most sensitive part of a story, in this case his heritage and the heritage of the kids who committed the crime, in order to sell papers/advertising. It also doesn't help when groups who think they are helping, like an immigrant's rights group outside the courthouse, is causing more of a ruckus than they are helping any immigrants retain their rights. Racism is something that won't go away until people stop passing on their bias to their children. I will say this, my parents and grandparents are verbally as racist as they can get, but they aren't the type of people to ever act on that bias. My brother, sister and I were however taught to think for ourselves and make our own decisions. It also helps that we all three have very strong minded personalities and aren't afraid to speak up for ourselves or others. We could have just as easily been brainwashed into thinking like our parents, but thankfully they were better at raising kids then forming their own opinions.
