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Permalink Reply by John McBeth on August 5, 2010 at 12:29pm

There simply is no comparison. The violence and unrest of the 60's can be attributed to the general feeling of people against blacks during that time. This feeling, translated into mistreatment by everyone. businesses, and governments mistreated blacks, in some cases, by law. Blacks at the time were already being preyed upon for no reason, so it was only logical that we should stand up for what is written in the Constitution-and demand our rights.

The unrest we see in Port Richmond, specifically, has no underlying cause short of ignorance, lack of parental supervision, and a violently thwarted, thrill seeking, criminal element. Immigants are perceived to be easy targets. The programs being offered by politicians are nice, and will do well for the greater community...but they will not even touch a single participant of these "hate" crimes. The people doing this have already lost hope... new jobs for the community? not for them...they either already have records, or are simply not interested in working....longer library hours?...nah, no time to read.....school-based education initiatives?...if they aren't going to school now, those programs wont make them go....pamphlets at the ferry?....I don't think so. I don't pretend to have the real answers, but I remain hopeful that at some point....someone will wake up to wanting a better life for themselves and their community.

As far as the unspoken and unspotlighted bigotry that takes place on Staten Island's south shore...it is the result of bigotted thinking passed down from generation to generation. As long as families continue to "teach" their children hate, it will never change. Take note, neither of these situations is representative of every resident of either area....but it is certainly TOO MUCH.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Rand on August 5, 2010 at 12:45pm

I think what is being reported in the news is purposely being overhyped and being called "hate crimes" to generate sympathy for illegal immigration. It's the appeal to pity, with a repeating narrative: "Good person who just happens to be undocumented viciously attacked by ignorance and fear." Therefore, we should just grant amnesty to every Mexican and have every citizen of Mexico be de jure citizens of the United States.

The report is 11 attacks since April. I would be curious to have the data of Hispanics as victims on Staten Island as reported from say 2003 -- 2010. The statistics would put things into perspective.

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Permalink Reply by John McBeth on August 6, 2010 at 9:07am

I agree that the media has blown this issue out of porportion, but I have to say that I don't think that amnesty is on anyone's mind. For those that are seeking to solve the problem of illegal immigration with amnesty, highlighting that their presence causes more crime may not help their case. Likewise, I sincerely doubt that any of the attackers ever asked for immigration status or their position on amnesty. If it were not illegals, these same thugs would choose some other "class" of people to violate. FYI, The very first recorded attack (with no apparent reason) was in 2003.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Rand on August 8, 2010 at 5:05pm

The issue of amnesty has been on everyone's mind for a while now, especially since the Arizona laws. They're not highlighting that their presence causes more crime, they are highlighting that there is "hate", which is the sledgehammer of those who want amnesty. It's the appeal to pity, the ongoing narrative of the "hardworking undocumented alien just trying to do good." These attacks fit the bill quite nicely.

Consider these 11 assaults since April with the total number of assualts on Staten Island since April. You may be able to find 11 assaults committed against blacks, for example. And you may be able to find 11 assaults committed against blacks where the perpetrator didn't know the victim. To me, if someone violently assualted me, it really wouldn't make it less of a crime because they didn't use racial epithets.

But because of the alleged epithets in these cases, the media has focused on these "hate crimes".

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