What is the Definition of Illegal? It Depends on what Color you are?

 

PHOENIX (Jon Garrido, Hispanic News) April 29, 2006 — On September 4, 2005, I wrote an article: The Two Americas: One White and One Black.

 

The article was brought about by my observations of the havoc Katrina caused in New Orleans. Most Americans were forced to see disparity between two Americas as they saw thousands of people on rooftops waiting to be rescued.

 

I felt compelled to write the article after seeing the plight of African Americans.

 

Unless forced to see with your own eyes, hate and disparity don’t exist in America; but they do. No reasonable person in America could deny disparity spelled "Rescue Us" on hand held signs of people in despair.

 

The September 4, 2005 article is worth taking a second look at as I begin to write the next chapter dealing not only with disparity between the two Americas but now the time has come to write about the Third America: American Hispanics, both native born and undocumented.

 

This past week, in Texas, two Anglo teenagers sodomized a 16 year old Hispanic boy for kissing an Anglo girl. Will they be tried and convicted for the egregious act? If this had happen in Arizona, the answer is: No.

 

It did happen in Arizona.

 

The son of Arizona's Senate president confessed he and another counselor shoved broomsticks and flashlights into the rectums of 18 boys in at least 40 incidents at a youth camp in June.

 

Now Yavapai County prosecutors say they will drop all but one assault charge and likely recommend little or no jail time if 18-year-old Clifton Bennett agrees to plead guilty.

 

Prosecuting attorney James Landis explained the plea agreement in court, saying the ''broom sticking'' was a hazing ritual and a punishment, not sexual assault but legal experts, sex-crimes prosecutors and victims'-rights lawyers say the acts clearly fit the definition of sexual assault.

 

The pleas, which describe the assault charge as ''a non-dangerous, non-repetitive offense,'' have outraged parents who say their sons were victims of violent sexual attacks. The boys, who were 11 to 14 years old at the time, have had trouble going to the bathroom, sleep with clothes on, are afraid at night, and have undergone sexual-assault counseling.

 

Victims are victims: Bennett and Wheeler were arrested in January and charged with 18 counts of aggravated assault and 18 counts of kidnapping because the victims were held down.

 

Experts who specialize in sex crimes say sexual intent is rarely a factor in charging sexual assault; and sexual orientation has nothing to do with it.

 

Bennett's father, Senate President Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, sat behind his son in court. A Prescott native and influential businessman, he has said little publicly about the case.

 

Lawyers described Bennett as an honor student and active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints planning to go on a mission in September. ''A felony conviction for assault will make his desire to complete his mission impossible,'' they wrote.

 

Under the plea agreements Bennett and Wheeler could face a maximum two years in prison. But the court could reduce the charges to a misdemeanor and no jail time.

 

At the Arizona State Legislature, Arizona Senate president Bennett is a major advocate in promoting legislation making felons of the undocumented by conspiring to enter the USA. The Maricopa County Jail is over flowing with undocumented Hispanics for “conspiring” to enter the USA without proper documentation.

 

Are these undocumented “illegal?” “Absolutely,” says the Maricopa County Attorney sheriff without hesitation.

 

White America is fast to label the undocumented “illegal.”

 

White America has another standard for themselves.

 

Illegal? White America shuns the word: Illegal is a definition that does not exist when applied to them.

 

This past week, firebrand radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh was charged Friday with fraudulently concealing information to obtain prescription drugs, but prosecutors will drop the charge after 18 months if Limbaugh remains in treatment for drug addiction, his lawyer said.

 

Limbaugh also agreed to pay the state of Florida $30,000 to help cover the cost of the investigation into the conservative radio personality's alleged "doctor shopping," a felony in Florida.

 

Did Limbaugh do something illegal? According to his attorney, “Absolutely not, because Limbaugh turned himself in; therefore, there was no arrest.” Thus because Limbaugh was not arrested there was nothing illegal that occurred. Do I have to mention Limbaugh is White?

 

I receive hundreds of hate emails each day. We have stopped answering the phones because of the hate calls from those of the same mentality and values Lou Dobbs, the Minutemen, Limbaugh and the rest of white America rant each day who demand “illegals” (the undocumented immigrants) need to be jailed and sent back to Mexico after they serve jail time as felons.

 

This coming week, will there be “hate emails” forthcoming from the Lou Dobbs and Rush Limbaugh fans who think these men are national heroes.

 

I can bet the bank, the hate emails and phone will come this week for all will be quick to judge this is a Communist or Mexican conspiracy. To hate bashers, there is no difference.