I'm setting up a link to this page from Galleons. I will start the process of writing to the teacher and schools.

I had felt uncomfortable about the video of the kids and didn't know why, now I do know. As a parent, having my children's images on the internet, along with the location of their school, in this age of those who hurt children...I would be very upset with the school at this point, that's all I can say. Especially with the hatefulness of the other side. I hope other schools take heed of this and move to protect children from being videotaped or photographed without their parents' permission.

Here is my letter:

Dear Sir or Madam:

I applaud the effort of the students exercising their right to freedom of speech during their "recreational" time. I do not find what they did to be mob oriented. It is my belief that the children were up against mob like individuals who use their grassroots as a way to spread fear and racism.

Many of our children have been silent far too long and have endured extreme mental trauma about their ethnicities. If you silent them now, you will be responsible for their crushed Spirit.

After all we are talking about the children's time. They expressed themselves in a non-violent manner and did not use any obscenities.

It is my sincere hope that you do not buy into what Mr.. Chris Wilcox is selling; which is discriminatory. Mr.. Wilcox and the Minuteman fight for their freedom of speech yet they are silencing the children and obstructing their rights.

I for one applaud them and say God Bless for they too are American.

Before this gets carried away I will be sending information to ACLU and ACIO. These organizations have no problem protecting the rights of the children. I hope you don't either.

Pat, I hear you. We have to be concerned with this. I lived in Miami when they found Adam Walsh's son's head floating in a neighborhood canal, looooong before he made America's Most Wanted as a result. But Adam Walsh was not on TV or YouTUbe. Just a kid in a shopping mall with his dad.

It was not just the video shooter, there were multiple cameras at the site, and some of them walked across the street to photograph the kids. Do we not let our kids into parks where they can be seen? It is legal, after all, to shoot public places. And nobody posted a recognizable closeup shot. So do we keep our kids indoors? Or do we confront the hate that brought the press and the negativity and threat there in the first place, the Minutemen?

Was that your only source of discomfort? The kids being taped? I'm curious. You sure none of it came from hearing the Minutemen talking about "paying for the kids," and shouting back at them? That did not bother you?

You are worried about people knowing the address of the school, but anyone at that Minuteman protest knew it, too. These days "in this age" people are beating, threatening, killing people because their FACES ARE BROWN and they just may be ALIENZ so where does one go to hide that?

Ultiamtely, I think you bring up a valid point for some discussions and situations, Pat. But it's not the one I'm concerned with here. You write:

in this age of those who hurt children...I would be very upset with the school at this point,

Really? It's the school that gets the focus? Is it schools that exacerbate "this age of those who hurt children"? Or is it ignorant and sick bastards like those who jail them? Or those who ignore those jailed children? Who is getting upset over that????

There are huge wrongs in this nation. Peopple who would hurt children are one. But lets not spin off into a symptom. Lets keep our eyes on the prize. The rising hate and harm being done to these children's parents, and them, too. It is not a stretch. It is not a joke. Our own government is incarcerating children to MAKE MONEY off of their imprisonment and won't even let inspectors in to see it!!! How does THAT make you feel?

Come on now! Let's see some of that outrage. Point it not at educators. Point it at fascist government programs and apathetic citizens too comfy to be bothered with hungry, sad, scared, jailed kids.

I love your letter, LaVerdad! Thanks for your efforts.

Pat, I can feel your sincerity, but the truth is, video or not, the Minutemensos and others of this realm, already had thier views regardless.
In fact as a child growing in East L.A. my parents would involve me in marches openly, unabashedly, regardless of what media or protesters lie in wait. They understood that la causa trumped all that.
In fact had it not been for this video, I and I'm sure many would have been unaware of what occured. Now we know and now we stand with them united.

Lord, that was pathetic. a bunch of grown men and women trying to shout down a bunch of five year-olds. Then they add insult to injury by demanding the teacher be fired.

A shameful act by shameless souls.

As you can see, our group is wholeheartedly behind these kids and their joyous response to the forces of nit-wittery, and we'll do everything within our power to support and defend these little Defenders of the Defenseless.

Tony Cheek,
Chair, Board of Directors,
The Galleons Organization

They are incredibly brave children. Their parents must be very proud.

Here's the text of my letter to the school:

I just want to say I saw nothing wrong with the children at recess counter-protesting the Minutemen across the street. The Minutemen are a hate group who claim they are just against illegal immigration, but under a thin veneer are anti-any immigrant and many are white supremacists as well.

A good indication is their campaign of harassment against immigrant day laborers. They don’t know the status of the laborers they harass, but solely from the appearance of the day laborers assume all are illegal immigrants, though some are citizens or legal immigrants and over 80% of Hispanics in the U.S. are citizens or legal immigrants. They “know an illegal immigrant when they see one”, without seeing any documentation.

In my personal opinion, it is better that children express themselves than be discouraged. That’s democracy in action.

Please do not discipline whoever was in charge of the children during their recess.

Another of our members wrote-in the following:

I just want to say I saw nothing wrong with the children at recess counter-protesting the Minutemen across the street. The Minutemen are a hate group who claim they are just against illegal immigration, but under a thin veneer are anti-any immigrant and many are white supremacists as well.

A good indication is their campaign of harassment against immigrant day laborers. They don’t know the status of the laborers they harass, but solely from the appearance of the day laborers assume all are illegal immigrants, though some are citizens or legal immigrants and over 80% of Hispanics in the U.S. are citizens or legal immigrants. They “know an illegal immigrant when they see one”, without seeing any documentation.

In my personal opinion, it is better that children express themselves than be discouraged. That’s democracy in action.

Please do not discipline whoever was in charge of the children during their recess.

Obviously I hit a nerve.

There were a lot of things wrong with what went on there. Your original reference to this today was about the school. Their response was to protect the children, which I applaud.

No, I don't like all that other stuff, but I was responding to that particular point. The Minutemen or whatever were being angry ignorant racists, but they were across the street and probably couldn't see the kids well. I don't feel good that now those children are on the internet now. You CAN see faces. I just hope they stay safe.

Now if you want me to spend the rest of the day in an angry rant about all the evil in the world (BTDT, almost killed me to live that way), I'll just have to say I do what I can do. Today that's taking care of my family, and coming back tomorrow to see if I can learn more. I'm sorry if that's not good enough for you.

I know what you responded to, Pat. Your comment was clear, I felt.

And again, as far as their faces being "on the internet," did you hear me? Did you ponder my words as I have pondered yours? Or did you dismiss my anger as a "reaction to a touched nerve" or something like that? Being "sensitive," maybe?

I say again People are being hunted because of their skin color, and that is what this is about. We cannot hide skin color or a "latino" appearance, which these days in "this age" in many parts is enough to bring violence on you. Do you get me? Do you see the yards and yards of exposed "nerves" now? Do you see how that is a more important focus? I worry that you do not, sadly.

I understand your comment, Pat. In response, I say let's focus on Hutto. That's a better start, if we care about kids. Not the idea that kids might get hurt—a safe concern to voice, sure. But the reality that kids are RIGHT NOW being hurt. And the powerlords at the top of these corporate heaps are cashing in on it to the tune of millions. about $183 a day a person. Getting paid. Right now. Not a maybe.

Teachers at the center are not required to be licensed in Texas, and the state’s family welfare agency exempted Hutto from child care licensing requirements. Along with one other, less prison-like facility in Pennsylvania, Hutto is operated without official regulations.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the arm of Homeland Security that runs the two centers, relies on custody rules designed for inmates

Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), a for profit company running the majority of privatized prisons in the US, is paid 2.8 million dollars a month (7k per child per month or 84k per child per year) to keep these children behind bars.
It would cost less to put them up at the Austin Hilton with room service.

In contrast, putting a monitoring bracelet/anklet on a parent costs $660 per month.

In past years CCA has made political contributions to key Texas politicians, 100k to Tom Delay and 10k to Governor Perry. Overall, for profit prison companies contributed roughly 519k to state level political campaigns in one year alone. Lt Governor Dewhurt's cut was 53k, while House Speaker Craddick received 34.9k.

I say let's focus on treating humanely these ALIENZ in our midst who are sewing our clothes, packing our meat, harvesting our very DINNERS and LUNCHES and BREAKFAST FRUITS and yet getting treated like a threat, getting exploited and squeezed from both ends!!! Let's not focus on the school boards, when the threat is groups like the Minutemen, and those who overlook their harm and presence.

That's all I'm saying. I'm sure you agree, Pat.

Thanks, tony. That's great to hear.

Done---
Dear Mr. Waite,
I wish to express my support of your school and it's well thought out and balanced approach to the happenings of May 1st. I think the spontaneous and spirited display by your students was a wonderful sign of a happy and open school environment where the children feel empowered to express themselves politely yet enthusiastically. I do not think you, the school or any of the children have anything to apologise for. That external parties felt their demonstration was ridiculed by chanting children at playtime (in their own playground) perhaps says more about the validity of their position than they intend. Maybe they would do well to take heed of what Abraham Lincoln said,"It is better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and resolve all doubt".
---

Here's what I came up with to send to the administrators; it took me a while to find the right words for both them and Bint's daughter! lol

May 12, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to support the teacher of the young individuals who created their own counterprotest to the Minutemen anti-immigration protest at the Mexican Consulate. I viewed the video, and I could not help but smile at such a brave assembly of students. While I agree that students and parents should decide when political protests are appropriate, I also believe that the Minutemen are complaining about the teacher in order to silence the students. I think that sets a dangerous precedent for young people learning to create and to foster their own voices and their own ways of expressing what they find important. It also suppresses the rights the nation grants to everyone -- including children -- to voice their sentiments and opinions appropriately and respectfully.

Since the students did obey the staff member and returned inside after making their statement, as the OCEAA statement indicates, I do not understand exactly what actions the Minutemen are condemning from the staff except for what the students said. There is no indication that these sentiments were cultivated by the teacher or by any member of the school. The students' chanting did not cause any sign of disobedience. Also, at such a time when young children begin forming their identities, to sit silently as a demonstration unfolds to protest that they are receiving an education or any form of assistance would prove irreparably damaging. I am willing to accept the children's judgment on this situation: they spotted something disagreeable with what was happening across the street, and they used their consciences to determine their course of action. It is likely that if they were encouraging the Minutemen's activities, no complaint would have been filed.

In conclusion, I humbly request that you allow their teacher to remain employed, and I hope you will continue to foster a safe and positive learning environment where young minds may share their voices nonviolently and respecfully without facing restraint.

Sincerely,

[Sylvia the Barbarienne, Goddess of Kittenry]

you all move my heart. of course i hardly can thank you for acting on this, because this is not for me you do this. but let me say that the comments here and emails have brought me hope and belief in the generosity of spirit in some humans. that's a big gift on any day. so for that, i say thank you.

'orale Sylvia, way to go everyone!

I finally sent emails to Mr. Waite and Dr. Dumais. The first one bounced immediately. Maybe it's just a technical problem, but I'm afraid that the prediction about large amounts of hate mail may be accurate.

I watched the video of the children at recess counter-protesting the Minutemen across the street. I saw absolutely nothing wrong taking place at your school. Instead I saw courageous young minds expressing themselves firmly yet courteously under very difficult circumstances.

Since what took place within the schoolyard did not appear to be inappropriate in any way, I hope that no employee's position at the school will be jeopardized as a result.

Well, there's hope that the school board realizes what a vile group the Minutemen are. I love the way they state: "the need to shelter students from .... hostile protesters."

In any event, here's my letter:
_______________________________________________________________
Dear Sir or Madam:
I would like to applaud the teacher who was incharge of the protesting children during recess for not interfering with the learning process of the children. At this day and age, our children need to be aware that they need to speak up in order to make a difference. The minutemen do not realize that their actions might one day interefere with one of your students lives, be it through a friend or a family member. I am only glad that the children, at such a young age, have been able to afront those who seek to interfere with their lives. It is obvious that yours is a fine school, for I have seen displayed before me the strong and vocal leaders of tomorrow. I would only hope that you reward those students and the great teacher who has made them strong. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing our constitutional rights displayed in such a glorious manner - through our children!
________________________________________________________________

I should have added that the children acted more mature than the minutemensos. The MM don't know how to do anything other than complain and whine like babies.

Had a bounce on bwaite but also sent to the board schoolboard@oceaa.org,

great addition.

Especially with the hatefulness of the other side.

Why is it 'hateful', or 'racist', not to want the US to fill up with Mexicans?

BTW, have you noticed that 1) Hispanics in the US are more likely to be criminal, and 2) they seem to have a lot of trouble even graduating from high school.

What does all of that portend for the US as a nation?

Your first question answers itself before it reaches the punctuation. But I will help you: Why is it "hateful" to not want the US to "fill up" with Mexicans? Or, wait...is it Hispanics you fear? Because you mention both...and yet, nowhere in your comment is the word "illegal" or even "undocumented," or even "immigrant."

You just say "Mexican," and that, puto, is why your desires and fears are racist in nature. Anyway, I dropped out of high school. And yet, here I am, makin' a fool of you. So what about that? What the hell does that say about you?

As far as your second question, it "portends" that fearful fools such as yourself will quiver in anxiety, and moan and whine for the rest of your days as you watch the numbers of non-whites rise. that is what it be "portending." It means that people with pretty eyes and pretty skin will begin to surround you.

BTW, have you noticed that the men who originally killed and corralled so many indigenous of this land were White Males? And a bit later, did you notice that the majority of those who have worked to power the early engines of industry in this country (from harvesting the cotton fields to laying the railroads to working the crop fields) are not White Males? And BTW, have you noticed that 99% of corrupt politicians—people entrusted with the lives and money of so many Americans—have been White Males? BTW: Have you noticed that the only presidents in America to start disastrous, failed, wars (that have killed thousands upon thousands of human beings)—have been White Males? And did you notice that most serial killers in this country are (wait for it, here it comes) White Males?

Given all of that, what does this portend for America?

sr. k-jonez, white america perceives POC at a threat not when POC furfill racist fantastical stereotypical roles, but rather whenever POC show strength in numbers by trying to replace the stereotype with enlightenment and success. White america is merely and desperately trying to maintain its status quo, which rests atop a shaky foundation of racist colonial ideals. A great awakening strikes fear into the heart of the privileged. We need to restore the ideal of America as a great 'melting pot' nation? Let us all reclaim this nation as a beacon of hope for humanity.

sr. k-jonez, white america perceives POC at a threat not when POC furfill racist fantastical stereotypical roles, but rather whenever POC show strength in numbers by trying to replace the stereotype with enlightenment and success.

no doubt. i deal with this on the regular in matters as small as internet writing! and we see it a lot lately in the news, que no? together, we can deal with until we change it.

great words, my friend.

Tizoc,

Is it the awakening that strikes fear into the hearts of me and people like me? Or is it that we are trapped in a state of fear that makes us believe the fantastical stereotypes, which sustains the fear? For me, seeing how fragile and absurd the fantastical stereotypes really are is a welcome relief.

Mr. Xolagrafik-Jonez,

I won't respond directly to Mr. Eh, because you don't need my help (and I don't want to help anyone start a flame war on your site). Otherwise I would open a can of wite magik on his ass. But I hope the future of the nation we all share is made by people who agree with you, not people who agree with him.

Thank you, Tom. I think you attempt a rare journey yourself, we are not so different in that way. We begin this "future" you speak of already.

P.S.

I feel uncomfortable having just questioned the experts on a subject that I know so little about. Probably I should only have said that I am trying to learn.

T.

I hope there's room for us to figure out how to speak to each other. We're doing our best, eh? Thanks for remaining conscious.

Yeah, I seem to be attempting a long journey. Obviously there's no reason why you should feel responsible for helping out with that. But I have already seen you kindly nudge people back onto the path several times over the past several days. If you need to do that for me at any point, I will regard it as a favor!

Take care.

hey, you see that text up top right of the page? it says "he's not shy!" :) so don't you worry.

anyway, here i thank you for being mindful and conscientious, as i would thank anyone for doing so.

I'm sorry for being away so long, I needed a breather.

Since 'Eh' replied to me, I will reply to him:

Why is it 'hateful', or 'racist', not to want the US to fill up with Mexicans?

In case you hadn't paid attention in history class, most of the southwest US used to be Mexico.

And as far as hatefulness, you haven't listened to people talk about this issue, have you? Or seen the video? The people across the street weren't reciting poetry or planting flowers. They were being hateful.

BTW, have you noticed that 1) Hispanics in the US are more likely to be criminal, and 2) they seem to have a lot of trouble even graduating from high school.

What studies do you have to back up your claims? I'd be interested to see them.

And more likely to be criminal than who? Hispanics in Mexico? I'm not following you on that.

Nezua, I'm going to post on my blog about this whole immigration thing. I'll post the link when it's done--I'm sure you don't want as much as I have to say cluttering up your blog.