Here is a real good example of how the press can slant stuff.

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/colu...y/14682617.htm

Posted on Sat, May. 27, 2006

Hispanics have proud history of defending U.S.By Bud Kennedy
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
On Memorial Day morning, Texas will bury another young hero.

A crowd in an Edinburg church will gather for Benny Ramirez. At 21, he was killed Sunday by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

The crowd has been there before. Edinburg has given four lives for America in Iraq.

Ramirez is one of 67 Texans of Hispanic descent killed in Iraq, some from immigrant families who came to the U.S. hoping for citizenship.

Yet elsewhere on Memorial Day, some politician will probably demand that America "stop the invasion" and send troops to protect America from people who look like Ramirez.

One veteran isn't afraid.

"The children of Mexican immigrants have a proud history of fighting to defend this country," said Tony Morales of Fort Worth.

He is the national commander of the Colorado-based American GI Forum, the primary national organization for Hispanic veterans and their families.

In a time when some American veterans join border-patrol militias, GI Forum strongly favors legal work permits for immigrants and opposes the U.S. House immigration bill as a "racial discrimination effort by those who fear change."

Complaints about an "invasion" are simply "a rallying cry for people who don't like Hispanics," Morales said. "They don't like Mexicanos, in particular."

If somebody says, "I'm only against illegal immigrants," Morales said, "that's just sugar-coating."

Often, the same complainers call anyone of Hispanic descent "illegals."

"I think deep down, they still have this racist attitude embedded in them," Morales said. "They don't want to accept somebody who might be different."

Morales, 66, served in France and Germany in the 1950s with the Air Force's 417th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
He is serving his second term as commander of the 145,000-member GI Forum, founded by a Corpus Christi doctor in 1948. The organization took up the cause of defending Hispanic veterans' rights in 1949, after a South Texas funeral home turned away the body of a Hispanic soldier.

Soldiers of Hispanic descent not only fought proudly in World War II, they fought heroically, earning 12 Medals of Honor -- more per capita than any other demographic group.

"History shows that we have always been there to fight for freedom," Morales said.

"Veterans should remember who has been fighting alongside them in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Our people die for this country. We are proud of it."

At the height of the immigration protests last month, GI Forum issued a formal statement supporting the public protests against the House version of an immigration overhaul.

The veterans' news release criticized the "dehumanization" of "hardworking immigrants." It applauded the protests, writing that Hispanic veterans fought for freedom of speech and assembly.

The statement also listed America's most important values as family, work ethic and strong religious beliefs: "These are values that Hispanic immigrants have always cherished and practiced. Exactly what values are threatening the opposition?"

Instead of draining tax money for education and healthcare, the GI Forum statement said, the growing immigrant population has an "enormous beneficial impact," driving economic success and development nationwide.

Morales said that he would like to see legal work permits for immigrants. Those who have come illegally should pay a fine, he said. But he does not support offering them all citizenship: "Some of them don't want it. They want to come here, work and go home."

He supports stronger border security to keep out drug dealers and terrorists.

But he opposes building a fence or wall.

"A fence is never going to work as long as there are jobs," he said. "It's stupid to think that everything can be fixed with a fence."

After Morales' Air Force days, he joined in civil rights protests, including a 1973 Dallas protest against the police killing of a Hispanic teenager.

"My long hair and bell-bottom pants days are over," he said with a smile.

"But I am thrilled to see so many young people out there today taking a stand. I am energized about where we are going now as Hispanics in America.

"Did you see all the young people in those marches? They are standing up and taking civic responsibility. They are the future of this country."

Some of the young people who marched in protests last month were the children of illegal immigrants. Yet they will carry on the legacy of Hispanic veterans who have fought proudly for America.

Someday, we will call them heroes.

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Bud Kennedy's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. 817-390-7538 bud @budkennedy.com

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First, only 4 sentences were given to the real Memorial Day story, which was the passing and funeral of a young service man from Texas. This reporter and Vet used this childs death for a political agenda. If I were this kids mother, there would be no end to my discust.

After reading this, I started thinking, why would "Tony" say such racial things, that man does not know me or the people I protested with. Then I remembered, "you criticize others of your own insecurities" and "you point out flaws in others, which you identified as flaws within yourself". Therefore, I didn't let it bother me because I know my own heart and deeds and I don't have to answer to "Tony" only God Almighty.

However, I was a little bothered by this because it was printed in my local paper and the comments were about my protest group. I felt for them because of the ugly things he said. Also, I know it was directed at one of my protest organizers. She knows the author.

So I realized Mr. Tony Morales was used, by the writer to make a stab at someone else. She refused an interview because he would twist it. No other reason why “Tony” would go off into a race issue for a Memorial Day article. So then I questioned the group of GI's Mr. Morales belongs to. Well, there was the answer.

I went and I found the American Gi Fourm on the net.
I looked at a picture of my accuser, Antonio "Tony" Morales. Americanized himself for the article.
http://www.agif.us/news.htm

I found it interesting that they call themselves "American" GI Fourm. It appears to be a pretty exclusive group comprised of Hispanic-Americans.

In the article, "Tony" appears to be a proud American vet and his American buddies that do not approve of the protesters, which are picking on the illegal aliens.

This is just an example of how slanted an article can become when a writer spins it.

Don’t take words from the press to heart and don’t let them disturb you.

Your unashamed mostly white, non-racist and proud American protester for immigration reform. I will not feel guilty for standing up for what is right and I will not be silenced by calling me unjust names.

Guiltless, shameless and unrelenting,

Dixie