East Texas Teenager Attacked Over History Project (hispanic immigrants crimes)

[Michael]

I think I could feel as at home in the US.... 

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8132283&nav=1TjD

Melanie Bowers, 13, and her parents walked into Athens High School Monday afternoon to talk to campus police.  They were hoping to get some answers.

"It never should have happened in the first place.  The whole assignment was a silly assignment and they should have contacted us immediately after it happened," said J.R. Bowers, Melanie's father. 

It was an assignment for history class--to make a protest sign for or against an issue, and Melanie said she chose illegal immigration.  Her sign read, "If you love our nation, stop illegal immigration." Somehow, Melanie said the sign got passed around lunch and angered a group of Latino students. 

"I didn't know any of these people," she said.  One young, she claimed, jumped on her back and he put her in a choke hold.  "We have brick walls in the middle school and he slammed my face on the bricks."

Melanie said a group of boys also threatened to rape and kill her.  Eventually, the boys let her go and when she went for help, she was ordered back to class, and told she could not call her parents, she said.

"They handled this wrong, you know, they put a child back in danger," said J.R. Bowers.  "It was a very racially motivated crime."

 Athens ISD gave KLTV 7 a statement, confirming there was a disturbance in the hallway, Friday between two to three students.  "We have a camera system in the building," said Louis DeRosa.  "We are collecting other information and statements from witnesses and this is all the information we have at this time," he said. 

Melanie and her parents said they just hope the right thing is done...and quickly.

"I won't be happy until the kids that did this are out of school," Bowers said.

[Jeff1857]

I'll bet this won't be the end of this story.

[Michael]

You can find much more there http://cofcc.org/

Michael

[sam]

I'll bet this won't be the end of this story.

You're right. It wasn't the end of the story. The security tapes showed some boys knocking the sign out of her hand and nothing else. Mary fessed up to lying, her parents immediately and profusely apologized, and last I heard, Mary was charged with filing a false police report.
Posted on: May 29, 2008, 04:01:36 PMMary = Melanie

[Michael]

If you´re right Sam it seems, that it´s a bit dangerous to trust the site and the linked news. Sorry for that.

Michael

[nats]

Maybe the teachers should have made it clear what would be, and what would not be appropriate for the assignment.

[sam]

There was nothing inappropriate with how she chose to do her assignment. The boys were wrong for knocking it out of her hand.

[nats]

There was nothing inappropriate with how she chose to do her assignment. The boys were wrong for knocking it out of her hand.

Sam i was guessing it must be a very sensitive subject in some school over there and yeah maybe it was an insensitive and inapropriate sign to make and to take to the school canteen.

[sam]

The assignment was to make a protest sign for or against an issue. That is what she did.  Illegal immigration is against the law.  That others are pro-criminal and are offended, is their problem.

I am repeatedly offended about how illegal immigrants have been allowed to live here illegally, work here illegally, obtain benefits illegally, and commit crimes without being deported.

[gabmat]

Unfortunately, people always find ways to discriminate. In the US, it's the "race card". In several countries in Europe, it's not about skin colour, but country of origin. I guess it's human nature to find some way to justify that your own "group" (and yourself, of course) is somehow "better" than others. And those others, of course, will then feel offended. What exactly decides the question about one group being better than the other? Skin colour? Religion? The number of aircraft carriers? The number of nuclear weapons? The number of people belonging to a group? What? What happened to there being only ONE group, namely the human race?

[nats]

Gab, in the uk it is the same. people discriminate against race, colour, religion, social class, sexual preference i.e gay people, and many other things. as you say everyone is a human being regardlesss of the above

[pizzpoor]

A MEXICAN (for example) is only a MEXICAN in MEXICO. Here he/she is expected to be an AMERICAN. This means (at least to me) conforming to AMERICAN customs, laws, and especially, learning the language.  Those that dont do these things are the problem with immigration. They want to bring MEXICO here with them.  If MEXICO is so great, why the hell are they here?  This is why I can understand how we ALL descriminate in one form or another against those that would try to make the USA Mexico north.  That some states, cities, communities are cracking down hard on this problem is a very good thing IMO. 

[ScoopD (aka: Pam)]

The Illegals are the ones who piss me off...   Which is why I absolutely adore and praise:

[gabmat]

A MEXICAN (for example) is only a MEXICAN in MEXICO. Here he/she is expected to be an AMERICAN. This means (at least to me) conforming to AMERICAN customs, laws, and especially, learning the language. Those that dont do these things are the problem with immigration. They want to bring MEXICO here with them.  If MEXICO is so great, why the hell are they here?  This is why I can understand how we ALL descriminate in one form or another against those that would try to make the USA Mexico north.  That some states, cities, communities are cracking down hard on this problem is a very good thing IMO. 

I very much agree with you on that if you go to a country, you have to conform to their laws. And, yes, even learn the language (yes, I'll even grant the language thing to you (which I am sure you think is English... but, get this... there is NO OFFICIAL LANGUAGE FOR THE US)). But, come on. You are talking about an ENTIRE COUNTRY versus ANOTHER ENTIRE COUNTRY. You are talking about CULTURE. And there are LOTS of different cultures JUST within the US. ALL of them US citizens. What about North vs. South? Rednecks? What about New England? What about the surfers in California? There are LOTS of different cultures in the US. Let's not even get into the matter of "Native Americans". What about all the Asian-Americans, African-Americans, and so on? The US is a nation of so many different cultures. A LOT of US citizens would say they're "Italian", for instance. What you call "AMERICANS" (and I wouldn't) is NOT a SINGLE culture. Every one of the CULTURES here in the US retains some of its roots. To say that a Mexican in the US should act like an "AMERICAN" is ridiculous. Because there is NO "AMERICAN".

And, please, don't try the argument of "if <some country> is so great, why not stay there?". If your grandparents had done the same, they probably never would have ended up in the US. And if they had FELT the same as you, they certainly would not have fought the Indians (Native Americans).

Also, don't use the term "American". You are referring to the US, and a LOT more people think of themselves as "American" than ones who are "US citizens". I know from personal experience that a lot of South Americans also consider themselves Americans, though definitely NOT (as they like to call them) "Yankees".

There are LOTS of reasons why someone might decide to move to the US, even if they love their native country more. Speaking from personal experience: I met a US girl and I fell in love with her. And she fell in love with me. By your reasoning, I should have stayed in Europe and she should have stayed in the US. I can think of lots more reasons, but I've said enough already.

[Michael]

Unfortunately, people always find ways to discriminate. In the US, it's the "race card". In several countries in Europe, it's not about skin colour, but country of origin. I guess it's human nature to find some way to justify that your own "group" (and yourself, of course) is somehow "better" than others. And those others, of course, will then feel offended. What exactly decides the question about one group being better than the other? Skin colour? Religion? The number of aircraft carriers? The number of nuclear weapons? The number of people belonging to a group? What? What happened to there being only ONE group, namely the human race?

You don´t need to threw tha "racist" card if we´re talking about immigration. 

Michael