Thread: {SOB}Civil discussion must guide immigration issue

Civil discussion must guide immigration issue

Published: August 04. 2008 6:00AM
The sad case of the beating death of a Mexican man should serve as a caution to those who ramp up the rhetoric on illegal immigrants.

According to the Schuylkill County District Attorney's office, Luis Ramirez, 25, died after three teenagers taunted him about his ethnic background.

Ramirez was walking through a park on July 12, escorting his fiancée's sister to a friend's house, when he and three teens fought after the teens yelled ethnic slurs. A fight ensued and Ramirez was kicked in the head. He underwent surgery, but died about 30 hours after the attack.

Ramirez, a factory worker and farmhand, came to the U.S. about six years ago to find work. He was in the country illegally.

"As a result of this crime, a young man has lost his life, many other lives have been devastated and the borough of Shenandoah has been filled with tensions between many ethnic groups," said James Goodman, Schuylkill County District Attorney.


Two teens have been charged as adults with homicide and ethnic intimidation. Another teen has been charged with aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation.

We cannot judge their guilt or innocence. That will be up the criminal court system. But it's certainly well-known that in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, harsh words and tough stands have been made against illegal immigrants. The teens are alleged to have mimicked some of that language, reportedly telling Ramirez "you should get out of this neighborhood." Crystal Dillman, Ramirez's fiancée, said Ramirez was often called names, including "dirty Mexican," and told to go back home.

There is no doubt that the next president will have to wrestle with the complex moral, social and economic issues surrounding illegal immigration.

But in the interim, we need to exercise a civil tongue in discussions about immigration and immigrants.

News that people in the Shenandoah area came together last week in a candlelight vigil to express sorrow for Ramirez's death may be a sign that we can focus on the issues surrounding immigration in a way that does justice to this country -- and to the people who desperately want to be a part of it.
http://tinyurl.com/55z3p2

But in the interim, we need to exercise a civil tongue in discussions about immigration and immigrants.

I know the pro-illegal side is not capable of exercising a civil tongue. They want to ram it down our throats with threats and violence. That's what they do best.

Holding an honest, civil discourse with them is neigh on impossible, without them breaking into name calling and bullying.

This man would have been alive if he had not gone after the boys after the first confrontation. Let's wait for the whole story to come out. There are holes as big as Texas in this story.

I think that Anybody attempting to spin a web of Deceit should by law have to have the facts correct . This article is way off of themark. Highly Editted . He was No innocent victim . And his GirlFriend now a Fiancee (this move was totally called by a fellow Alipacer, From GF to Fiancee) is way to young with a couple pups already. Lets tell the truth if you going to Whine , There is SO much more

I don't condone violence however I can understand why this occurred… the American people are angry, fearful, hurt, and beyond upset about the complete and brutal massive destruction and third world appearance and mentality that now fills our neighborhoods, communities, states and our entire country directly related to illegals and government corruption .

Our do-nothing traitor politicians (mostly Democrats) not only don’t listen to us….they covertly put bills into effect that benefit illegals and continue to charge us for the “welfare goodies packagesâ€

This is a stupid editorial.

We have civil laws to be enforced not civil discussions to be had.

We have civil Americans with civil children who are entitled to walk their civil communities free of uncivil Illegal Aliens in their landscape.

It's one of the reasons we have these laws, it's one of the reasons we want them enforced, and the only uncivil thing about America is that our uncivil government has abandoned its civil duty and civil oaths to enforce our civil laws and protect the American People from the uncivil ravages of Illegal Immigration.

Watch LaRaza point out that this was a "hate crime", this is the case they have been waiting for.

We should cite "hate" for all illegal alien verses citizen crime...they hate us because we have the right o live here.