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THE ROOT OF HATE
Regarding last week's cover story on "hate" [
]: Said article offered a hodge-podge of hate groups, focusing exclusively on whites, with only a token reference to black separatists. The authors apparently assume that readers will know the standard politically correct interpretation of their article: Racism is the exclusive domain of deranged whites, who are victimizing everyone else. For no good reason they have targeted immigrants of color. We must not tolerate such intolerance!
The data quoted by the authors does not substantiate their garish claims of growing animosity, other than perhaps for illegal immigrants, which can only be interpreted as racism. (Note the apparent hearing disorder when it comes to the notion of "ILLEGAL" immigrants. No matter how many times you tell them that it is ILLEGAL immigrants we are talking about, the politically correct hear what they want to hear - you must be a racist because you are "anti-immigrant.") But when we clear away the window dressing of "racism," at the heart of this article is a pro (illegal) immigrant sentiment that can't see the forest for the trees.
If crime against immigrants is rising, it isn't due to some congenital derangement in middle-class white people. It is because we have failed to deal with the problem of ILLEGAL immigrants flowing across the border from Mexico. This is an unsustainable practice that serves no one; bringing more people onto a sinking ship may be "compassionate" but it is also self-destructive. Many Americans who are not racist are concerned about this, and many Americans who have the potential to act out racially are being triggered by this - they are ANGRY! They feel impotent and abandoned by their own government, and angry at liberals who can't hear this.
Publishing such articles obscures the fact that the vast majority of American citizens who demand control of our borders are NOT racist. If the liberals want those truly racially biased to stop demonizing illegal immigrants, then maybe they should stop demonizing racism. If they want the rest of us to work with them on "immigration reform," then maybe they should learn the word "illegal." And maybe they should stop publishing vacuous, sensationalistic articles which accuse others of being vacuous and sensationalistic.
When the liberals dismount from their high horse and get that maybe THEY have darkness in their hearts, just like everyone else, maybe THEN we can make some progress!
JIM LUDWIG
JIMLUDWIG.COM
SANTA FE
NUMBER CRUNCHING
I was pleased to see this article in print because prison spending in New Mexico is out of hand and robbing the people of this state of many other needed services - especially our public education system [
Outtakes, April 9: "Bugging for Reform"
]. As prison spending increases, education spending decreases incrementally. In fact, prison building is based upon projected need which is ascertained in part by third grade reading scores. So, a failing eight-year old is considered "new product"? for the prison-mill in 10 years.
In 2002, the budget for the NM Department of Correction was just under $200 million, and the prison population was about 6,000. Now the budget is topping $300 million and the prison population is 6,500 - only an additional 500 prisoners.
Furthermore, graft and corruption are at the bottom of this spending crisis. With (some important) legislators and the governor taking big campaign contributions from the private prison companies, we will not see any significant changes in appropriations for corrections. They will continue to build prisons and criminalize our youth to fill the beds. It's big business, and the poor and people of color are the commodities in this killing game. Finally, if anyone would like to contact me, my e-mail address is:
.
Thank you for your fine news paper. I've been reading it for almost 30 years and find it is one of the most honest ‘rags' around.
TILDA SOSAYA, DIRECTOR
PRISONERS & FAMILIES UNITED
PECOS
PRISON LESSONS
I am an inmate advocate in Albuquerque. I know Tilda and Alex, and this group will make a huge impact on the lives of inmates and their families. So often, the families of inmates are forgotten and thought of as unworthy. These are people that love, feel and bleed, just like everyone else. Giving them a place to find support is essential in any rehabilitation process. The prison officials, and the elected officials of this state need to be educated on prison reform and rehabilitation. These inmates have families and supporters. Reducing crime seems to be very high on the government of New Mexico's list. Learning to stop, listen and learn, will go along way in that goal.
CHRISTY ARMELL
ALBUQUERQUE
MARKET POLITICS
Zane, you had a few good points in your recent column about the parking at the Railyard [
April 9, Zane's World: "Marketing Market"
]. One was to buy food that is grown locally, not shipped many miles, and to encourage people to bicycle or take a bus to the market. You still have not convinced me and a lot of other people that parking meters are necessary at the Farmers Market.
The whole issue is a political problem not a marketing problem. The financial figures reported in your column are quite a reach. What we are still waiting for are the costs of installation and maintenance of meters, cost to run buses, etc. People will still have to drive to the bus parking areas, so how is this going to help? Sure sounds like politics to me. The Farmers Market has done a great job in marketing through the years. Maybe that's why it is one of the top markets in the country, and that didn't happen by riding a bus.
By the way, where did you get the idea that it is your Farmers Market? The Farmers Market welcomes all, not only people who think the way you do. (Sounds like you were whining a little bit there; it's probably because you had to buy a big basket for your bike.) It is called the Farmers Market, not the Zane Market. And by the way, you could help the "overtaxed" city by suggesting parking meters for bicycles. I am sure you wouldn't mind dropping a few quarters to help.
DICK LEMIEUX
SANTA FE
TURNED OFF
I am reacting to the Dog (gay dog perhaps) who contacted Savage Love because he was besieged with offers of free "pussy" [March 26]. The poor prick reminded me of another poor prick who was so endlessly irritating and penis proud that I informed him that he was supposed to have a prick, not be a prick. He may not have understood but it made me feel better.
And by the way, Editor, is there no limit to the trash you print? I would think anyone who could read would be turned off by this stuff and perhaps take himself in hand (pun intended) and get on with the rest of his life if there is any.
CLAIRE E SIMPSON
SANTA FE
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