on illegal immigrants has critics calling it a racist incitement to violence.
Sound familiar?
Posted on 02/20/2005 2:54:22 PM PST by occutegirl
CHULA VISTA – A college newspaper opinion piece calling for a crackdown on illegal immigrants has critics calling it a racist incitement to violence.
Campus journalists, many of whom disagree with the piece politically, say they stand by First Amendment rights to publish unpopular opinions.
Reaction to the commentary has been strident.
Protesters posted abusive fliers on the door of the newspaper's office. The writer of the opinion piece and the newspaper's faculty adviser said they have been threatened or harassed.
-------------- Student Nathaniel Pownell's opinion piece in The Southwestern College Sun on illegal immigration states, "It is time to burn the leaches (sic) off our society and crack down on the people who flagrantly take advantage of America's wealth and prosperity."
------------- Students For Community Action, a campus socialist group, and MEChA, a campus Chicano group, have called for a retraction and apology from the Sun for publishing the commentary.
"We feel he crossed the line," said MEChA co-chairwoman Gaby Arenivas. "He's attacking a group of people that can't come and tell him, 'No, don't do this.' "
Pownell said he has already told his detractors, "I'd like to apologize if I hurt your feelings, but I'm not going to apologize for what I wrote."
-----------
on illegal immigrants has critics calling it a racist incitement to violence.
Sound familiar?
Hey, it's not like Mexico is throwing billions in crude oil to us for free in exchange for the massive expense of their people.
I want them out also. Let them make legal applications.
I'd rather have skilled people immigrating here, not a nation of grape pickers from the south.
I'd like to read what he said. He may have crossed the line and he may not have. I doubt he did, because you can be certain if he truly called for violence, he'd have been castrated by now. The truth is that he probably addressed the impropriety of illegal immigration, and obtained the same reaction those of us who agree with him, do here.
Surreal. To call for enforcement of the law is now equated with racisim. The vast majority of this country, including many hispanics, are opposed to this invasion. Press on good men, keep up the good work.
Socialist chicano group wants an apology.
I'd like a copy of the whole piece.
I L-O-V-E the "leaches" - as in the ILLEGALS drawing off of our wealth... REGARDLESS, REGARDLESS of race, color, creed, etcetera.
And the "can't come out and say this" crowd just proves my point: They're ILLEGAL ALIENS who need to be punished.
Hmmmm... Sounds like something some of the more vocal FROBL's would say.
"
Let them go home and protest.
So9
FYI - BIG WHOPPING TIME!!!
Me, too.
This to me is no different than the Mexican military invading this country...
This crap makes me burn red...
Leaches = leeches
You have to love college students who can write but can't spell.
They're ILLEGAL ALIENS who need to be punished.
They are CRIMINAL INVADERS and need to be treated as such!
---"We feel he crossed the line," said MEChA co-chairwoman Gaby Arenivas. "He's attacking a group of people that can't come and tell him, 'No, don't do this.' "----
Using that logic, we should never critcize the left...they're not capable of [intellectually] defending themselves.
When they play the race card, it's because they have nothing else.
From "El Plan de Aztlan
": In the spirit of a new people that is conscious not only of its proud historical heritage but also of the brutal "gringo" invasion of our territories, we, the Chicano inhabitants and civilizers of the northern land of Aztlan from whence came our forefathers, reclaiming the land of their birth and consecrating the determination of our people of the sun, declare that the call of our blood is our power, our responsibility, and our inevitable destiny.
Why can't he do that?
Do Mexicans know anything about free speech?
That article is so infuriating. The totalitarian and racist left must be purged from the body politic. Socialists and racial supremacists are calling the article racist and an incitement to violence. If that ain't the pot calling the kettle black then I don't know what is. And then you've got the idiotic student body president considering taking half of the newspaper budget from the liberal school paper to use it for publication of a far left newspaper. The totalitarian nature of the far left is clearly demonstrated by the ousting of Mecha's faculty adviser when she sided with free speech.
We feel he crossed the line," said MEChA co-chairwoman Gaby Arenivas."
Actually, Gabby,it was the illegals who crossed the line.
An editorial suggesting that the law be enforced is "racist incitement to violence"?
"He's attacking a group of people that can't come and tell him, 'No, don't do this.' "
Why can't they? Oh, yeah. Because they're breaking the law!
Any story about illegals is going to stir up the universities.
Thousands of her supporters used to cross a line (the border) with impunity every day, not anymore.. get used to it, Gaby
"
Thousands still cross our borders each day.
Good point. Thanks.
I concur.
Let's see. Illegal aliens are ... well...illegal. Burglars are...hmmm...illegal!
Since these twits seem to think illegal aliens can do what they want, I suggest we allow burglars to do what they want.
OK folks?
That happens on FR from time to time.
http://www.americanpatrol.com/MECHA/MEChAindex.html - Scorge of MEChA
FYI
http://tinypic.com/1sf7r7 - right HTML code stuff...
The sound my cat makes coughing-up a hairball.
And the INS could show up and do a great BIIIIGGGG raid. "La Migra"
Southwestern College Sun Statement Regarding the Opinion Piece Entitled
“Illegal immigrants are taxing on American Citizens”
The editorial board and faculty advisor of the Southwestern College Sun would like to express our appreciation to the student and faculty representatives of the SWC MEChA and Students For Community Action for the opportunity to engage in a direct and honest dialogue Thursday afternoon. We believe the meeting was constructive, informative and enlightening. We appreciate the candor and commitment of all who participated. We are pleased that we are able to agree on most of the concerns that were voiced. We acknowledge that there are points on which we do not seem to agree. We understand and respect the points of view of people who have positions that differ from ours.
The editorial board and almost the entire staff of the Sun disagree with the premises and conclusions of the writer of the Viewpoints section article titled “Illegal immigrants are taxing on American Citizens.” The Sun is comprised primarily of progressive-minded individuals whose personal beliefs are incongruent with the views expressed in that opinion piece. The Sun strives to represent and cover all segments of the Southwestern College Community with professionalism, fairness, accuracy and respect. Sun staff members overwhelmingly share the values of MEChA and SFCA members with respect to human rights, civil rights and the sanctity of all people.
The meeting and the campus-wide conversation about the article have been useful and informative to the members of the Sun. We have learned that we need to clarify the role of the Viewpoints section of the newspaper. We have learned that we need to do a better job clarifying what is staff-generated news reporting and what is individual opinion. We acknowledge that the current graphic style that places by-lines and staff titles a top opinion pieces written by individuals implies the staff’s complicity with the individual’s opinion in some readers’ minds. We have learned we need to do a better job teaching about the power of language and metaphor, and their connotative and emotive powers.
As a First Amendment Forum newspaper the Sun is ethically and morally obligated to serve its community by providing a forum for free expression representing all segments of our great and diverse society. Persons of all political, philosophical and religious persuasions in the Southwestern College community are entitled to exercise their rights of free expression in the Sun by submitting letters to the editor or opinion/editorial pieces. The Sun places high priority on providing space for members of the community who write to the paper. We pledge, in this case, to add pages to the paper if that is what is required to publish a wide array of letters.
The Sun is obligated to run letters and op/ed pieces its staff as a whole may not agree with. It is obligated to run letters critical of its coverage or its presentation. The staff believes that freedom of expression must include opportunities for a range of viewpoints to find voice, including unpopular opinions.
The Sun acknowledges that the “Illegal immigrants” article is offensive to some persons in our community, including most members of the staff. The staff acknowledges, in hindsight, that some of the language and verbal imagery may seem harsh and demeaning. The Sun staff regrets that the article caused hurt feelings, anger and/or resentment. That is contrary to what the staff tries to do in its work. The writer of the article has also expressed his regrets over some of the word choices, metaphors and the uncomfortable emotions the article engendered in some members of our campus community.
As students sworn to honor and uphold the tenants of the First Amendment and freedom of expression that guides sound professional journalism in the United States, members of the Sun acknowledge and unwaveringly support the Constitutional rights of the writer to express his point of view on the controversial topic of immigration. We support the rights of individuals on both the left and right ends of the political spectrum to express their views – including those we may personally find abhorrent.
The Sun staff and its advisor will continue to follow the tenants of American Constitutional law and serve its community as a First Amendment Forum newspaper. The Sun invites all individuals and groups who take issue with articles, opinion pieces and other work published in the Sun to express their points of view by submitting letters to the editor or requesting the opportunity to publish an opinion/editorial piece.
The Sun editorial board will print letters critical of the immigrant article, the newspaper’s position on the First Amendment and related issues. Deadline for letters for the first issue of the spring semester is 5 p.m. February 17. As our policy states in the newspaper’s masthead on page two, the Sun reserves the right to edit letters for libel and length and will not consider letters that arrive unsigned. All e-mailed letters must have a current and working phone number to allow verification of the author.
The staff wishes to extend its support and respect to MEChA, SFCA and all campus organizations. We hope to have a meaningful and productive working relationship with members of campus clubs and organizations in 2005 and look forward to hearing about your events and activities. Please let us know if we can be of service publicizing and covering campus activities this semester.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to hear your points of view and to share ours.
Respectfully,
Christopher Wybenga Max Branscomb
Editor in Chief Faculty Advisor
(representing the editorial board)
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"It is time to burn the leaches (sic) off our society
I thought he was talking burning out about Juanita Leach & her family, from Matamoros, who sneaked across the border 5 years ago, then...
Just a simple error of capitalization, and that was why MeCHA was ticked.
FIST fights campus racism
By Ruth Vela
San Diego, Calif.
Published Feb 13, 2005 7:32 PM
The San Diego chapter of Fight Imperialism-Stand Together (FIST) was created and operates out of Southwestern College, the southernmost school in California. A majority of its students are of Mexican descent. Some live in Tijuana, Mexico, and must commute into the United States to attend school every day.
FIST
Many students are not "legal" U.S. citizens. As such, they often pay higher fees, do not qualify for financial aid and cannot apply for scholarships. On top of homework and tests, they have to worry about incarceration and deportation.
Recently the Southwestern College school newspaper, The Sun, ran an editorial by one of its staff writers entitled, "Illegal Immigrants Are Taxing on American Citizens." The piece was a blatant attack on immigrants. It stated, "It is time to burn the leeches off of our society and crack down on the people who flagrantly take advantage of America's wealth and prosperity."
Some students believe the article also included fictitious quotes, like this one from Marjorie De La Cruz: "The government needs to tighten if not close its southern borders to protect its citizens and legal immigrants from the inevitable poverty and diseases these people bring."
In response to this racist attack, members of FIST, MEChA and other campus organizations have formed the ERACISM coalition. The coalition launched a campaign that has collected over 700 signatures from students who feel attacked, harassed and let down by Southwestern College, The Sun newspaper and the school administration.
The administration has responded by sending campus police to harass students in an effort to prevent the distribution of flyers and collection of signatures. It has been trying to sweep the movement under the rug.
Emails mentioning FIST members by name and referring to the group as "just one or two upset students" have circulated among administrators who seem to value their positions more than their students.
On Jan. 27, representatives of the student organizations and their advisors met with the editors and professor in charge of the newspaper in an effort to put the issue to rest.
The following demands were presented to the staff of The Sun: 1) A printed apology from The Sun to the students of Southwestern College; 2) a retraction of the line that begins, "It's time to burn the leeches off of our society ..."; 3) that limitations be set on what the school newspaper can print; 4) that the student coalition's rebuttal be printed without censorship; and 5) that the school newspaper remain free of racist propaganda.
Unfortunately, the meeting ended with Nathaniel Pownell, the writer of the piece, screaming, "I am not a racist. ... I will not apologize for the article, I will never apologize for the article!"
On Jan. 31, The Sun sent a letter to the ERACISM coalition that failed to address any of its demands. Instead it offered free advertising for future events. ERACISM responded with a promise that the struggle is not over.
A campus rally is planned for Feb. 10. ERACISM has received strong support from students and members of the local labor and anti-war community.
FIST stated: "The school administration, the newspaper and the entire city need to understand that this will not be tolerated! Hopefully this action will remind those who need reminding, and teach those who have not learned, that this country was built on the backs of African slave labor and immigrants, that the land was stolen from Indigenous people who inhabited it before the immigrants arrived, and above all that THERE ARE NO BORDERS IN THE WORKERS' STRUGGLE!"
Letters supporting ERACISM's demands to The Sun newspaper and the administration will help in this struggle. Send them to eracismswc@hotmail.net by Feb. 17.
Vela is an organizer of the San Diego FIST chapter.
Seconded.
BTTT, too.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1347306/posts - New gang exploiting our weak border.
Any immigration reform bill will have to have their approval.
America has five major problems: Muslim terrorist immigrants,black urban terrorists(called criminals),Mexican illegal immigrants,leftist anti-American professors and leftist anti-American journalists.It is that simple. All five have the same solution. Interested in details?
Races in Chula Vista:
* Hispanic (49.6%)
* White Non-Hispanic (31.7%)
* Other race (22.1%)
* Filipino (7.3%)
* Two or more races (5.8%)
* Black (4.6%)
* American Indian (1.4%)
* Japanese (1.4%)
* Korean (0.9%)
* Chinese (0.6%)
* Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (0.6%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
So she isn't a chairperson? How utterly sexist! I feel MEChA has crossed the line!
It always puzzles me who these kids who have not worked and payed taxes like the rest of us can make such demands on our society.
A campus rally is planned for Feb. 10.
Feb. 10th ? Gee I missed it.
Please tell me which branch of the government they belong to.
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