The Usual Suspects
One of my readers, named Cook, asked me yesterday to explain who Santa Ana’s Usual Suspects are. He wondered if the term was meant to be racist.
No, it isn’t – it is however a convenient way to describe a group of folks who have been causing trouble here in Santa Ana for many years.
After the Civil War, a number of Confederate soldiers and their families came here to Orange County. Some of them went on to become the first Usual Suspects. They brought their white hoods with them.
Some years later they brought cheap Chinese labor to Santa Ana, and then when they got tired of them they burned down their Chinatown.
Usual Suspects kept kids segregated, back in the day, so that Mexicans did not go to the same schools as white kids, until the Mendez family won their famous lawsuit.
And it was the Usual Suspects who years later moved to get rid of bilingual education – only to fail to do much in its absence, leading to even more horrific dropout rates and failure.
The Usual Suspects recalled Nativo Lopez from the SAUSD School Board – and even threatened the job of a young man who was teaching at the SAUSD – and who had sided with Lopez. But they replaced Lopez with Rob Richardson, and things got worse at the SAUSD, not better.
And it turned out that the Lopez recall had nothing much to do with him, but rather was part of an attempt to keep a new neighborhood school out of north Santa Ana, in order to, of course, keep the Mexicans out.
When Floral Park residents hold Halloween early, on a different night, then turn out the lights on Halloween, they’re Usual Suspects.
When French Park residents erected traffic barriers to keep the Mexicans out, only to lose to the ACLU in court and have to tear down those barricades, they were Usual Suspects.
When certain Wilshire Square residents requested locks, designed to keep bears out of trash cans, for their own trash cans, to keep poor people from taking empty soda cans, they were Usual Suspects.
When the bouncers at the old Santa Ana Red Onion used to say there were too many Norwegians in the joint, they were really referring to Mexicans and African Americans – and they were acting just like Usual Suspects.
When so-called neighborhood leaders complained about “those people” at his Swap Meet, they were Usual Suspects.
When Charles Hart, a Republican running for Mayor of Santa Ana this year, says he hearkens for the good old days, what he really means is that he thinks life was better when there were less Mexicans around. And he is talking just like a Usual Suspect.
When Councilman David Benavides says we need Lupe Moreno and her Minutemen to hold an Independence Day event here in town because local kids don’t know what the 4th of July is, he is reading from the Usual Suspect talking points.
When Benavides appointed Usual Suspects who don’t live in his ward to various City Commissions, he was doing what they asked of him.
When Supervisor Janet Nguyen got caught this week trying to remove Latino voters from her district, she was serving the Usual Suspects.
When the Rancho Santiago Community College District took our money to fund a bond, then spent the money on a Sheriff’s Academy we didn’t need, instead of spending it at Santa Ana College, they were in the service of the Usual Suspects.
When the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce PAC declined to endorse two Latino candidates for the RSCCD Board of Trustees, in 2008, they were only doing what the Usual Suspects expected of them.
When a part-time resident of our city somehow ended up on graffiti commissions both here and in Denver, Colorado, and then passed a useless graffiti ordinance that, predictably, has done nothing he was doing the Usual Suspect’s bidding.
When self-appointed neighborhood leaders take public money so they can run their poorly-attended neighborhood meetings in public facilities, instead of in their homes, they are Usual Suspects.
When these so-called leaders call Code Enforcement hundreds of times to report their Mexican neighbors, they are Usual Suspects.
When they complain about cruisers so much that the SAPD closes streets and brings in a dragnet on Easter Sunday, they are Usual Suspects.
When they complain about businesses that have signs in Spanish or Vietnamese, they are Usual Suspects.
When they had a cow because a “Welcome to Little Saigon” sign was erected in western Santa Ana, they were Usual Suspects.
When they hounded Buffalo Wild Wings out of our city for no good reason, damning a food court in the process, they were Usual Suspects.
When they fought for years to prevent the Free Day for residents from falling on a Sunday – and when they host concerts at the Zoo that never include Latin acts, they are Usual Suspects.
When they oppose Ward Specific elections, because of fears that local residents might actually have a say in their governance, they are Usual Suspects.
When they complain because Santa Ana City Council meetings are translated into Spanish, they are Usual Suspects.
When Tan Nguyen sent a letter to Latino voters telling them not to vote, he was a Usual Suspect. And so was Rosie Avila when she became his alternate on the OC GOP Central Committee.
The Brown Brigade
When a few ridiculous Latino residents join forces with the Usual Suspects, they aren’t really Usual Suspects. They don’t get to join at the top tier. No, instead they are members of the Usual Suspects’ Brown Brigade – an attempt to obscure the fact that the Usual Suspects really don’t like most Mexicans.
Well Cook, I hope you get it now!
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I'm not a big fan since You started being a cheerleader for the council. BUT, this is an excellent post! Keep more like this coming, it'll replenish your street cred...
Hey Mr. Pedroza,
I just wanted to say thank you for the shear entertainment of your article entitled, "The Usual Suspects".
I fall under the catagory of "The Brown Brigade", I guess that's because my grandfather comes from Mexico City and My grandmother was a Spanard, Who both migrated to this great country legally and actually came here to join the american dream not try to change it. They did this by first applying for citizenship and getting it approved with paid fees, then getting jobs and buying a house and making the house a beautiful addition to the neighborhood, through years of upgrades and continued home preservation.
And since they were legal they actually paid taxes, after all dont you need a tax payer ID to do this or a S/S number? Anyway they raised 10 kids and all became successful and productive additions to society. One was a restuarant owner, another one was a CHP officer, and I can go on for ever when it comes to military service.
From these Children who are my aunts and uncles, in turn had children of which I am one. We were all taught some rules, here are some of them.
Respect our neighbors, never touch what did'nt belong to you,obey the laws,and help those who are in need of your help whenever possible. These were just some of our family values. Im just scraping the bare minimum here for this post.
For some reason these values no longer have meaning. I still cant figure that out, Were my grandparents feeding us a bunch lies? Respect your neighbors? Obey the laws? Take pride in home ownership?
No Mr. Pedroza, it's individuals like you who spread the lies. The ones who have figured out that if you lie to the mases and twist the minds of the latino population to believe in terms of "Meccha", in terms of "Razza" That you can further "your" own goals.
I have seen it time and time again, and the ones that people like "you" prey on are always the least educated ones in any given society. With the cry of Racism coupled with the unfair treatment of a sect of people of whom I am one, you cry injustice and try to bend and change the laws to your twisted sense of realism. And now you brag you have a straight in to the powers that reside. Since all the usual suspects have been cleared out?
Well sir that's not the american dream I was taught. Thats not the american dream I was raised under. And when you find out that no you dont speak for all latinos, you then call those of us who know better "The Brown Brigade" How convienant for "you" and "your" adjenda, that has helped with your job and political aspirations.
Well let me just tell you this, when I was young we used to be able to sleep with our doors unlocked here in Santa Ana, we actually knew our neighbors, and we didnt get robbed like we do today, we used to leave our bikes outside and no one touched them or stole them. We used to get corrected by our neighbors and taken by the ear to our parents when we did wrong and guess what?, we got it even worse when they found out. There was a sense of community. A silent neigborhood watch that was built on "American-Mexican" family traditons, love and respect. None of which exist today on the scale they once did.
In our Santa Ana neighborhood, we have kids and grown ups riding bikes on the sidewalks running old people to the side or they get ran over,we would of recieved a ticket back when I was a kid. And all the homeowners got on your case here. We now have vagrants come to our door drunk and ask for beer and cuss us out when you dont give them one and in mexican no less. Also the other day my mother and sister and wife while sitting outside had the pleasure to witness a van full of latins, it that proper enough for you Mr. Pedroza, who spent two hours on the side of the store we live buy with the radio full blast,drinking and cussing, babies crying as they cleaned out their van onto the sidewalk and street and threw empty beer cans all over as they screamed, "Ching_ sue mothre" No me porte. Which was then followed by a projectile vomiting from the passenger and a urination from the driver as the "pierre de resitance" Then they drove away drunk with kids in the van. "The police never came". According to you I guess, I should applaude this kind of behavior. After all, me and my family and its values are now the "Usual Suspects" as you term us.
I have cleaned so much graffity off my walls to be able to paint the empire state building three times over, and have indured enought trash, and human waste left in under garments of all kinds, Heres a list for you to savor. Used rubbers,drug needles, drug dealers, broken glass, Dive by shootings, Drug smoking gang members using apples to smoke crack and then throwing the apples in our yard, Hookers having sex in the apartment drive way at night and in general full on disrepect from illegal immigrants because we tend to think you should maintain a well kept yard. People around here now make it a point to specifically bring their dogs by at night to use our yard as the universal pet pooper and even though we have put out a trash bend these same individuals still throw trash all over and laugh about it while their kids use our fence as their monkey bars.
No one follows the laws here anymore, and now I can truely say thanks to people like "you", "So this was what the wild west was actually like in Dodge city. "WOW".. is'nt it special"?
I really like the prositutes at night it really makes it feel like home, can you feel the love Mr. Pedroza? The police dont come when you call anymore, but dont worry, you can always go to those all night parties with blarring music and people screaming drunk threw microphones until 3:00 Am.
Here in our part of Santa Ana we usually have about 4 parties each day happening at a given time, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. And when the barbecues get going you feel right at hope watching the carbon cynders floating in your living room lighly highlighted by the sunlight. And the fresh smeel of burnt everything.
The new latino store owners next door have erected an illegal refrigertation system on their roof and all day and every night we get to hear it roar and groan, it really is sleep conduesive. Sometimes I look out to see if that was thunder or his machine and sometimes I have to think is that my stomach? maybe I missed a meal? They have also extended there current store offerings and have taken over the side walk and now sale all kinds of wonderful fruit and vegetables which block the side walk and inhibit walking, They dont clean up after their clients and when they close up at night they store all these food products outside unprotected so as to enable the rats and roaches to eat and grow in population, so they can enpart this special gift to us, "the neighbors". Because they just really care about us. And dont you worry they wash it off with fresh urin from the illigal workers they hire. So please come on over and buy some for your family. Get it while its fresh. And when you call the city and the powers that be. They dont answer the phone, they are to buisy for us and when you leave a message thats all your doing leaving a message. Thanks Mayor Pulido! And these are the very ones you love so much and spew endlessly about ha!
No Mr. Pedroza they are the "You" The new and improved "MEXICAN population that you seek to coddle and want to watch grow. They come across in mass now and dont care who live here or about their value system. They only care about making money and having some fun maybe even having two families one here and one in mexico. And hey when they end up killing someone or causing damage they cant pay for, they just go back to mexico. How convienant
To wrap this up Mr. Pedroza, May your daughters grow in the society you coddle so dearly and may your teen daughters become teen mothers, and your teen sons become gang members and violators of human rights. May they grow old and further deficate on everyones society and write graffity thank you notes on your house and walls. Then may they become congress men and women, who see things like you do. And when it's stacked so high that you cant even smell the fresh air anymore or taste the clean water. May you all sit down to dinner and relish in what you have helped to create.
P.S. Lets see if you really have the guts to post and respond to this, after all isnt this the society you seek and are working towards. When I hear negitive, stuff from other sects about "My Race", I think of you and the society you profess to grow. Your "Razza" You sir, are the abomination to the mexican people. And do more harm than good.
Your true and loyal fan, Mr. James Summers, Member of the, "Usual Suspects", "Brown Birgade Division.
James,
Let me just say that scapegoating Mexican immigrants is pointless and demeaning and simply untrue. Poor communities of any race have many challenges, but the latest reports indicate that communities rich in immigrants actually have less crime.
Most Mexican Americans and migrants in our city are law-abiding, hard-working people. They take care of their homes and their families. Do some folks get into trouble? Sure, but most of that is due to the drug trade in this country. And guess who is taking those drugs? That's right, your fellow Americans.
Over 28,000 Mexicans have been killed in the drug war, since Calderon took office. Many have died due to American guns that have been smuggled over the border.
Instead of vilifying Mexicans, why don't you get to know them? In fact you can read my newest post, about Sammy Montoya, a Mexican immigrant who came here and built a business empire, here: http://newsantaana.com/2010/09/06/sixty-years-of-delicious-food-at-la-chiquita-in-santa-anas-logan-barrio/.
I was born here by the way, but my parents came from Mexico. My father was the hardest working man I ever knew. He had a green card, but he just as easily could have been here without documents. He would not have been a lesser man for it.
As for your wrap up, I found it deeply insulting. My daughter is a chaste young lady who just graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. My sons are all honor students. Yet you denigrate them without even knowing them. That says a lot about YOUR lack of character - a common trait amongst Usual Suspects.
The only Americans who can lay claim to being natives are the Native Americans. Seventy five million died because of diseases the Euros brought to this Hemisphere, and because of their guns. It may well be the worst act of genocide in the history of mankind.
Like yourself I have Spanish blood but I also had a great grandmother who was a Comanche. She moved from Texas to Mexico with her son, who became my grandfather, and ended up being a curandera in Pancho Villa's camp. I am proud to have such an ancestor in my lineage.
Stop the hating. This is a country built on immigration. When was the last time you did anything kind for anyone? Or helped a neighbor? If you are a Christian, I will leave you with Jesus Christs's admonition to help the poor. If you need help finding ways to do that just ask and I will be happy to point you in the right direction.
Mr. Pedroza please dont act like a sheep with a wolf's growl. We all can see that it's only a wool coat you are wearing.
But I would like to thank you for your response. I can feel your passion for our people. And it is touching, it reminds me of the way things used to be, or at least the teachings we used to hear from our grand parents. But remember all americans our our people also, not just of mexican decent.
But then again, I have to remember that there is a line in your usual suspect's written speech that talks about that too.
Your writtings: When Charles Hart, a Republican running for Mayor of Santa Ana this year, says he hearkens for the good old days, what he really means is that he thinks life was better when there were less Mexicans around. And he is talking just like a Usual Suspect.
I did'nt know you also possesed mind reading skills.
So basically your just perpratating a fraud of character with your double talk. You have learned the lessons well of divide and conquor. Sun-Tzu would be proud.
But please let me continue with your reply, I'll try to be more constructive this time. But I will do it in facts, not propaganda.
You state: "Scapegoating Mexican immigrants is pointless and demeaning and simply untrue," your words not mine.
My purpose here is to simply state my point of view, which differs from yours. And your right, mexican immigrants are'nt the only ones who can be held solely accountable. It is mayor Miguel Pulido's fault also and every other like minded individual and politican who thinks that low income housing and free susidies is the keys to prosperity.
Low rent houseing has decimated my neighborhood, Crime did'nt go down, who are you kidding? It went up. The quality of life isn't better here now, nor did it get better since Santa Ana first allowed low income housing to be built. It was just the beginning of the big lie. Everyone we knew moved away. It became dirtier and less maintenance was being done by the city as tax dollars had to be diverted to other things. Im all for helping and firmly believe in our system of aid to poor families. it's what a country should do for the under privilaged or hard pressed who are U.S. citizens and need some help to get them back on their feet. But to use the system as a career and a way to intentionally justify how many children you can have is not what the system was meant to be. Have more kids get a raise.
Just think of all the U.S. working mothers that would love to stay home and raise their own kids. But they cant they need to work to support them.
We now have what I see as a nomad population here in Santa Ana that moves around like their playing musical chairs. Every month I see hundreds of new faces go by my house that I have never seen before. And when they do'nt find what they want here they move on to another part of our city, or country. Just foreging off our economy whenever and however they can. And you know what? I still do'nt solely blame them for that, it's called survival.
What I do, blame them for is the fact that they are here illegally and looking for our government to do what their governments would'nt do.
They wont stand up for their rights in their own country, but when they get here, they tell us of their rights and try to change our value systems and our way of life into what they want. That we should teach in the spanish language and so on. And believe me it happens very quickly here with groups who like to prey on these types of individuals who pump this thought process freely in their directions. The only thing that gets left out is to respect those that live here already. Thats when they just play dumb. That is until they are the ones seeking it.
What im trying to empart here Mr. Pedroza is that they have broken our laws. And they do it with total disreguard and in our faces, with protests and walk outs in their honor. But I guess thats O.K. to individuals such as yourself. And I guess it's also O.K. when they break other laws like raming my fence and running away from the car they did it in.
It's sort of like this, the individual tells himself well I already broke one law, what would it hurt if I break another one? So they don't register the car they drive, why because they dont have insurance. Which means they should'nt be driving because they dont even have a license to begin with.
Your political types tried to enable a way around this though, by actually wanting to give a license to illegal aliens. I still cant wrap my mind around that one. There not a citizen, they are not intitled to our rights. We can protect them with them, but no Mr. Pedrosa they are not entitled to them. They are not citizens.
Basically, the individuals who hit my fence did'nt care that the vehicle they were driving was'nt registered in their name. That's the plan, they dont want you to know who they are especially if you catch them. And when you try to prosucute them for your insurance replacement costs, that is if you get lucky enough to catch that fast running drunk, as soon as they are released pending the hearing, "sorry they must of fled back to Mexico". My fence and house have been hit 4 times since we lived here. I had to pay the deductable 4 times.
So I can assure you sir, I speak from experience. I agree these migrations are happining for a reason. And here they are in a nut shell. The governments of the countries they come from are essentially impotent and corrupt. Their police forces are less than satifactory, and riddled with crooks and injustice. And even yes the drug cartelss are now making life even more dangerous for these idividuals who can barely scrape a living.
Many are forced into the drug trade, But yet even plantation owners of respected families are being told to pay ransoms or else. We all pay in one way or another for this epidemic. And when these poor people not only see this, but live it. There is a certain probability the next thought in their head is, well if that rich family can be bullied by the cartells and even my own governments police force is corrupt, What chance can I possibly have?
But no Mr. Pedroza the blame doesnt totally lay with the immigrants now does it. The real blame lays with the Mexican Government. The Nicaraguan Govt, The Salvadoran Govt, and all the other southern hemisphere govts who are corrupt and do'nt truely try and provide for the welfare of their own people.
Case in point, In Mexico, Pemex oil and gas was funded by it's very own population what you term "immigrants" when pemex was started. Ive seen the reel tapes and seen dirt poor mexican patriots even giving their wedding rings under the belief that it would better mexico and provide an answer to Mexico's unemployed populace. Thats what they were led to believe. Only to watch as that very same government still misappropriated the funds that were intended to better the lives of these individuals. More lies and propaganda Mr. Pedrosa.
But Mr. Pedroza let me tell you who I blame the most, it's not the drug users or the Mexican cartells. It's our Government The U.S. Government for not sealing our boarders properly. Why are we spending tens of millions on drug actions in foreign countries? Should'nt we provide more jobs for american workers especially now? Our econmy is the worst I personally have ever seen it.
Why not just beef up our boarders and let the drug cartells spend all their money? Let them higher the immigrants, Let them pay the tranportation costs, Let them pay the bribes and let them hang themselves. And with a secure boarder just confiscate the drugs when they hit our boarders in mass. It can be done Mr. Pedroza dont fool yourself.
But still, you say don't use the migrants as a scapegoats, well than sir, please dont use the drug users in our country as scape goats either. Until you are willing to admit that both these situations are destroying our country and it's values. You dont have the valid argument.
Why is America supposd to be the answer to ever counties woes? Because were the leaders of the Democratic world? Please more propaganda. It's just another term, a political ploy of mass control on the rights of any given mass of populace. In this case the American citizen. And when we the people say enough and speak out, still we are silenced. This happens threw lobbyists and back door political deals, It's boldly evidanced in the very system we hold dear, "our democratic voting system", the very same one we use here to elect our very own President and other politically held offices threw districting that is cut up and slapped back together as the political parties see fit.
It should be every vote counts. But that's a lie with the way they handle the electorates now isnt it? Does every vote really count?
But lets get back on track here. And to the response at hand.
You stated: Most Mexican Americans and migrants in our city are law-abiding, hard-working people.
To this I agree. But the other 40% are fast and reckless. And how much of this can our economy bear. Mr.Pedroza? I have heard the arguments they are doing the jobs americans wont do, and yes there are jobs that these individuals do better and are more accustomed to doing. Valid point. Issue temporary work permits. It's been done and then they can pay taxes like the rest of us and actually receive a fare wage. The problem is that when the work runs out many stay in the U.S. and violate even this attemp that was cast in their favor. Yes many return home and honor the agreement. And no the actions of some do'nt make the whole race bad. But they need to be instilled with the values that what they do effects others. Just like Jackie Robinson when he played baseball for the first time. He knew that simple fact, what I do here will reflect on my race and culture. And this lesson was for sure on the minds of our grandparents when they emparted our family values onto us, and was exibited in the way they worked to adapt to the American culture, not try to change it. "Civil rights is another can of worms Mr. Pedrosa" Im reading your mind now.
And yes even NAFTA has been high jacked by the big land owners in Mexico, more lies and corruption. And this one actually really hurt America more than our government will admit. Remember Ross Perot and that sucking sound he was talking about. We are living it now. How does it feel? This is what bad choices can do over time the fuse was Wall Street again. I really like the European comics who talk about the one Euro being like $1,000.00 of our U.S. dollars now, slap on all american faces. Thank you NAFTA for our trade deficeat which is still uncontrolled and those lobbyests who helped pass it.
But yes Mr. Pedrosa, they are also taking jobs from americans. Jobs americans, "would do". And in a future post I can list some of them for you, But for now I will just give you a name. The big company called Waste Mangement. Im sure you know the name. On a large scale I might add. "Waste Management" is doing this because they dont want to pay american workers 401K's, they dont want all the cost that the unions would require for american workers, So they go to temp agencies and hire the people who are listed with them, many are illegal. And if they should get caught any wrong doing then becomes the temp agencies problem. It's their loop hole. Look into that one why dont you.
You said: I was born here by the way, but my parents came from Mexico. My father was the hardest working man I ever knew. He had a green card, but he just as easily could have been here without documents. He would not have been a lesser man for it.
I agree, a piece of paper does not determine a mans worth. Even though everthing in our society says otherwise. Or you would'nt need a degree now would you?
But circumventing the law or ignoring the law still is what it is. You are breaking the law. What would we be without laws Mr. Pedroza? Or equally a country who does not enforce them? See what im saying here. If it's still not clear just look to the south.
You state: As for your wrap up, I found it deeply insulting. My daughter is a chaste young lady who just graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. My sons are all honor students. Yet you denigrate them without even knowing them. That says a lot about YOUR lack of character – a common trait amongst Usual Suspects. ( Here's that term of yours again. )
I am simply returning the good wishes you empart unto us here in the brown brigade Mr. Pedrosa.
May your daughters and sons enjoy all that you coddle so dear. Because what you coddle is exactly the results that transpire from the policies you love so much. So why are you offended?
I said, "May your daughters and sons". I didnt say "they are" in anything I wrote. You see your own words and thoughts are so vile and poisionous to even yourself that your mind skips a beat. But here is just one site for you to read the following facts from. To justify my teen mother remarks. And we know about gangs here in Santa Ana, dont we.
Website: http://www.ocgrandjury.org/pdfs/teenpreg/teen-preg.pdf
BACKGROUND AND FACTS
While teenage pregnancy numbers decreased between 1996 and 2005, an increase was recorded for 2006.4 This is a warning that something is wrong. Teen pregnancy, childbearing and resulting consequences add enormous social and economic costs to the community, often including a breakdown of family structure.
A study of Orange County teen births in 2005 by ethnic groups showed that Hispanic females under 19 years of age accounted for 85% of the total teen births. Births by age showed that women 18 to 19 had the highest birth rate at 48.7 per 1,000, with girls 15 to 17 at 15 per 1,000.5
Orange County cities with the highest teen births in 2005 were as follows:6
• Santa Ana 968
• Anaheim 622
• Garden Grove 187
• Fullerton 154
• Orange 139
• Costa Mesa 103
• Buena Park 101
But yet you Mr. Pedroza paint with a wide brush yourself now dont you? You can now see the vileness of the words. And with the way they can be used to twist the very minds that read them. But still you lump anyone who does not agree with you as the, "Usual Suspects" going even farther and creating a sub-species for me and saying the very blood that runs threw my vains is traiterous and an abomination? My ideals and family values are propaganda and lies. That I am the true enemy! This "Brown Brigade" as you term it.
Shame on you Mr. Pedroza for trying to stomp our right of free speech with moniker and innuendos. And leave us with either adapt to it, or move out scenarios.
No, that is unacceptable.
Which leads to a question I must ask you.
How much Low income housing is needed in one City? 20%,40%,60%,80%? When will your so called usual supect free Santa Ana government realize that it's not working. We are crushing our school systems and creating toxic think tanks that are sealed up like jails with barb wire and metal posts and fenceing that harkens the pictures of Auschwitz. Can you truely say that the school system is better now then it used to be. That it inspires forward moving thought processes. Or does it just stall ideas and encourage backward thinking and new ways to twist reality. Go ahead and say yes Mr. Pedrosa becuase that's what your leaders are saying, your elected officials. This is the true propaganda, the real half truths and lies. Is'nt it a fact that in this country the majority of collage campuses such as Havard and Yale, graduate students who are so far in debt that they actually are dictated to and steered into a career path. Such as Wall Street where they actually do more harm than good. They get jobs in the banking system and start hedge funds that are scams and create complicated math algorithms that the people on wall street can't even understand. Here's the joke on that one Mr. Pedrosa, If your smart enought to understand it, let them know because they will give you a job and pay you nicely. The true enemy is the big boys political club Mr. Pedrosa, Is that why you boast about it and want to be apart of it so bad?. Im not a mind reader so thats why I ask?
You said: The only Americans who can lay claim to being natives are the Native Americans. Seventy five million died because of diseases the Euros brought to this Hemisphere, and because of their guns. It may well be the worst act of genocide in the history of mankind.
Wow, that sounds like racism, but Ill let you tell me. "Meccha maybe". I cant be sure, Im not a mind reader like you.
And yes, I agree again to some extent. But dont blame all of them. were'nt there some law abiding immigrants there also? Not all of them were killers and criminals right? This country is great because of it's diversity. It is the very thing that incites our passions and gives us the zest to move forward. To seek out new things and new ideas. In essence it is the American way. "Our philosophy if you will". It is as much apart of who we are as hot dogs are to baseball. Yes come all, but do'nt start out on a lie. that is not a true foundation to success. It only leads to more lies and more broken laws and empty promises.
And to your last statement: Like yourself I have Spanish blood but I also had a great grandmother who was a Comanche. She moved from Texas to Mexico with her son, who became my grandfather, and ended up being a curandera in Pancho Villa’s camp. I am proud to have such an ancestor in my lineage.
Well sir again we have alot in common. Me being the "Usual Suspect and all. I two had a grandfather who fought in the army of Pancho Villa. He had his horse shot out from under him and was given a life long limp and kane as his reward for service. It is indeed a pleasant thought that our two ancestors paths might of crossed. Maybe she was the one who wraped his wounds? There was a book written on my ancestors.
The book I speak of is called: Federico Villalba's Texas, a Mexican Pioneer in the Big Bend. Published By: John M Hardy publishing.com. It tells the story about my Great Grand father one of the first immigrant large land owners in texas, who was swindled out of his money by politicans and twisted political views. Villalba and Esquivel were the names of my grandmother and grandfather. They are all relatives of mine, My mother is mentioned in the book.
You further state: Instead of vilifying Mexicans, why don’t you get to know them?
So Mr. Pedrosa, to say that I should get to know the immigrants is still another ill statement on your part. It's were we come from, it's who we are. "All of us".
One cannot change the blood that flows through his veins. I grew up in Santa Ana and played ball with the immigrants who were here when I went to grade school. We called it Jungle ball because the rules did'nt matter it was all about having fun. I remember the home made tortillas when I would invite friends to eat at my house and when I was invited to their house for dinner. Both dinners were all made with the same ingredients and had very little difference in flavor. Our value and respect system were one in the same. My wife is even from Nogales,Mexico born there and green carded here, A real Yaqui indian. And yet her family was able to legally do everything. They all had green cards. Has something changed that I dont know about? Cant these immigrants get in line and register the proper way also. And if you are going to say it's the money, most of them pay the coyotes thousands of dollars to get here. Doing things the right way, can't be that much more expensive. Can you tell me how we ended up at this point? how it got broken?
Keep in mind Mr.Pedroza unlike jungle ball, breaking the laws and forgetting traditions is unacceptable on any scale. The scariest thing for me now is these individuals actually think the lies are truth, here is your religious vehicle to armageddon since you included religion in your reply.
You Mr. Pedrosa, must also acknowledge and accept the blame and share and carry the weight of all those that die each year trying to get here. All the maimed individuals who fall asleep on the trains and slip under them in the dark, Those massacured in mass and raped in fields and die in the deserts. Because you are helping to perpatrate the myth of, "It doesnt matter how you get here, just get here, and we will be the answer to all your prayers".
Sorry Mr. Pedrosa, that's not reality.
And America is not the answer to everything. Ones self worth, self respect and the value system that they come from can only be the true answer to ones own heart. It's what defines you and shapes you into adulthood. Which is then passed on to each consecutive generation. It is from this they should start their journey to citizenship not political lies.
The powers that be, want us to believe that It has been lost. And when we try to show them it has'nt, they then try and twist our beliefs in the hope they can make them appear old and antiquated and encourage you to tuck it away, By saying phrases like the end justifies the means. Or they entice you with money and play on your greed. They try to make you feel ignorant for holding on to such values and when that does'nt work they label you a "Usual Suspect", a Brown Brigade.
Remember as parents it is "our job", "not governments job", to teach our kids between right and wrong. And no one has the right to take that away from parents, like government tries to do threw the Social Services agencies of today. But by encouraging this type of behavior thats what their children learn. Do anything to get ahead. It's wrong.
And we as individuals do'nt have the right to give those time tested and proven values ultimatums or twist them to our own individual needs.
And yet this is what the ones you support do for a simple vote. The shame is on us all. I too must burden the guilt.
When I was young my grand mother told me once, after I was referred to as a "Mexican, and I was seeking her knowledge. She said, why are you so upset? I replied: Because they called me a mexican grandmother. I know Im Mexican, but it was the way they said it, that made it sound bad.
Her reply as she grabed my hand and sat next to me was this in her own exact words.
Are you embarrased to be called Mexican? I replied, no. She then said, Well then? That's what you are. You are of Mexican decent, and Spanish decent also from me. Dont ever let another individual define you or your character, you must listen to your heart. You are who you make yourself to be. You must always remember in this life you are what you are, you cannot change the blood that flows in your veins. And to temper your soul you must never forget where you come from. Be proud of yourself always, do your best and strive to become more self aware.
Because when you do you will of learned self-respect and then and only then can you truely show respect towards others because it will come from experience.
You will see. As she hugged me, and grabbed my hand and said lets go make some tortillitas for lunch. As we walked to the kitchen she gave me yet another comment, never bow your head you have nothing to be ashamed about.
As the food hit the table, I asked one last question, well grandmother if Im of Mexican and Spanish decent but was born here? Were should I not forget I from?
Her reply: Quiet, now eat your food before it gets cold and sit up straight in the chair please. As I said O.K. Wellita "Grandmother". She smiled.
For some reason I have thought much about this one instance, through my 46 years here. And I always find new hidden meanings. To the answer that never came. I guess she with a smile was saying that is the life journey you must figure out. But yet again, Im not a mind reader. And sadly I never had the courage to question her about it again. If nothing else she did it right and deserved the right to smile.
Some moments in life stay with you forever Mr. Pedrosa. Life does have its poignant moments.
Thank you Mr. Pedrosa for your opinons and the level of self respect you still have to hear the words of others.
But know when you twist them for political means, and it does concern me. I will not remain silent, Brown Brigade or not.