|
Author: Douglas Bower Article source: http://www.kabish.com/. Used with author's permission.
I like Bill O'Reilly. I do. I have read two of the man's books, all his columns, and when I lived in the United States, I listened to the "O'Reilly Factor." I agree with him on many issues. I do so not because of his political worldview but because he makes sense, most of the time, and challenges me with the facts—he makes me think.
Nevertheless, I am afraid we have to part company regarding his stance and support of the Minuteman Project.
In O'Reilly's April 8th, Foxnews Talking Points, he says the following,
"And the concept is very simple — bringing attention to the chaotic border situation by launching a media attractive protest. And the Minutemen are getting a lot of attention."
I wish I could say Bill was right here: "The concept is very simple." Perhaps he is referring to the Minuteman's mantra to just "Observe and Report?" I think there is more to it.
A lot more.
I wonder if Mr. O'Reilly was aware that Chris Simcox, co-founder of the Minuteman project, is probably not the best candidate to be leading a group which claims to just "Observe and Report" at the Mexican-American border.
Miroslava Flores, reporting for the La Voz de Aztlan, writes in December 2002,
"Chris Simcox, the vigilante who recently called for an armed militia and an uprising against Mexican immigrants in Arizona, left Los Angeles two years ago because his life here had become intolerable. Ask anyone who knew him about the kind of person he is, including his former wife, and their faces cringe. His neighbors at 3855 Inglewood Boulevard did not like him and avoided him like "the plague." They expressed worry that Simcox could soon "crack" and go on a rampage. His colleagues at Wildwood School, where he worked as a kindergarten teacher, would rather not remember or speak of him."
She goes on to write,
"Simcox's life in Los Angeles started falling apart when he began exhibiting bizarre behavior about 3 year's ago. Apparently, he became a delusional paranoiac at the same time he started to talk loudly about a "Mexican conspiracy" to take over Los Angeles. His wife became concerned when he started taking their 13-year-old son to the shooting range in order to prepare him for an "upcoming race war." His wife eventually divorced him and fought a successful court battle to take custody of her son. At the same time, because of his increasingly irrational racist behavior, his private educational consulting business collapsed."
Simcox seems to be of the ilk, like Glenn Spencer and his gang, who believe,
"…that migrant workers are not coming to America to find a better life for themselves and their families, but rather to reclaim the Southwest for Mexico. Groups who work on behalf of migrant or immigrant workers, such as MECHA, La Raza Unida, and the Coalición de Derechos Humanos of Tucson, Az., he regards as "de facto agents of Mexico."
These men have used 911 as a renewed excuse to persecute Mexican migrant workers. Now let me make this point: Do anyone really think that a highly financed, professionally trained, sophisticated Arab terrorist is going to be sneaking into the U.S. by crossing the dirty and muddy Rio Grande or crawling on his belly through the Canadian woods? I mean, come on!
I wonder if Mr. O'Reilly knows that Chris Simcox, the co-founder of the group he adulates, was arrested in January 2003, by Federal Park rangers for possession of loaded and concealed weapons, disorderly conduct, and interfering with law enforcement on federal land, according to Ernesto Cienfuegos of La Voz de Aztlan.
This is the leader of the group of Mexican-hunters, of which O'Reilly said,
"So three cheers for the Minutemen. Like their ancestors in Concord and Lexington, they're making a statement. And we all should respect that."
I wonder if Mr. O'Reilly knows who he is cheering and asking us to respect a federal lawbreaker?
And should not any thinking individual be asking, "What is a man like Simcox doing leading a band of vigilantes?"
I really think there is more than just "Observe and Report" below the surface of this man. Why, if the Minuteman group is there to just "Observe and Report," has Simcox issued a "call to arms?"
Listen to what Los Angeles Times Magazine writer, Dan Baum, wrote on March 16, 2003:
"Chris Simcox won't stop fooling with his gun. He paces his tiny office, bouncing on the balls of his feet, and every 15 seconds his hands go to the gun on his belt--hiking it up, adjusting its angle, checking its safety. It's a big gun, a two-toned .45 in a hard plastic holster, and whenever he is photographed by the media--which is often these days--Simcox makes sure the pistol is in every frame.
Simcox speaks of sovereignty, the Pledge of Allegiance and the rule of law, but his body language is all about the gun. Sooner or later he's going to use it, he wants everybody to know, in a showdown with the illegal immigrants and Mexican drug dealers he believes are ruining the United States.
"These are enemies who are wrecking our economy," he says, his eyes shiny with emotion. "This is about national security."
If Simcox dies in a blaze of border gunfire, so be it, he says. "Damn them. That's how much I care about my country."
Simcox would be naught but an anonymous zealot with a death wish if, in October, he hadn't flamboyantly demonstrated the dictum that freedom of the press is best enjoyed by those who own one. At 42, he is owner, editor and publisher (and reporter, ad director and circulation manager) of the weekly Tombstone Tumbleweed, circulation 1,200. His Oct. 24 issue bore the headline: "Enough is Enough! A Public Call to Arms!" The paper invited readers to join a "Citizens Border Patrol Militia" whose function, Simcox says, will be to "shame the government into doing its job" of controlling the nation's border with Mexico. "We need some good old-fashioned discipline in this country," Simcox explains as he fitfully circles the one-room Tumbleweed office. "I invite someone to come up with a solution."
So what do we have going here? The co-founder of The Minuteman Project, Chris Simcox, has:
•A Felony Arrest Record
•Seems obsessed with his hand gun
•Wants everyone to know that sooner or later he will use his gun in a showdown with illegal immigrants
•He says that if he dies in a blaze of border gunfire then "so be it."
His Oct. 24 issue of his own newspaper bore the headline: "Enough is Enough! A Public Call to Arms!
Does it take being a rocket scientist to figure out that there is more—A LOT MORE—to this group being on just a "Observe and Report" mission?
Ok, O'Reilly. There you have it. What says you? Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico.
His new book Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241
Police Auctions & Government Auctions Professional Resource Information
Most people do not realize that police agencies, including local police departments, county sheriff departments, as well as state and federal law enforcement ag...
How to Use Pay Per Click Advertising to Increase Web Site Traffic
Do you need to increase web site traffic? This article can help you drive tons of targeted traffic to your web site with Pay Per Click Advertising. It's not r...
Sticky Homepage Copy in 30 Seconds
Writing website copy that will grab your visitors' interest immediately.
Managing Profitability With Right Vision
Visioning requires leadership not management. Visions are also not for the squeamish and the weak. Visions are for the bold and the futuristic. Great visions en...
Want to Build a Pond?
Things to consider before you build your pond.
Miracle Spa In The Palm of Your Hands!
Dermaglow Miracle Spa, is a NEW range of organic and natural home products that wrap your skin in a luxurious spa sensation. Developed by leading pharmacist Cal...
Your Website Could be Letting You Down
One of the biggest flaws with website copy is inconsistency.
Keeping Well When Monsoon Dwells
First showers of monsoon are heartily welcomed by everyone after experiencing the scorching heat of summer. But monsoons reduce the immunity of our body and ma...
Nude Art Photography
The aesthetic value of nude photography and its boundary to erotic photography, pornography and erotica art
Simple and Effective Solutions for Aquarium Algae
Eradication of encrusting algae could be done simply by periodically scraping the sides of the aquarium or scrubbing the rocks...
How to Increase Web Site Visitors For Relevant Terms Using Your Less Relevant Listings
Completely by accident and through no effort of my own, besides the effort to get my site spidered by Yahoo's Slurp Search Engine Spider and Google's Googlebot ...
Still Seeking Network Marketing Success?
Tips on how to achieve network marketing success.
How to Master Low Limit Texas Holdem, Part 2 - The Online Poker Game
I continue my articles about learning to master online poker at low limit stakes. In the last article I wrote about the chance of winning in a casino. So you ca...
A Look at Electronic Air Filters
Many people mistakenly assume that an air conditioning only controls the temperature of a living space. Air conditioning also involves the cleanliness of the ai...
People Buy People So Sell On Relationships
People buy people. If everything else were equal wouldn't you buy from the person that you liked the best? Of course you would and so do your clients. This may ...
Performance-Stress-Motivation: 7 Sanity Saving Business Boundaries
The lack of strong boundaries is one of the chief causes of stress, overwork and overwhelm in the business environment.
Why the Over Regulation on the Franchising Model?
Franchising is the fastest way to build small businesses, provide jobs, create money flows. Currently the Federal Trade Commission wishes to increase the over r...
A 4-Step System for Uncovering Hot Niche Markets
Whether you are an affiliate marketer, a website designer, or you make your living creating and marketing infoproducts such as ebooks, discovering profitable ni...
Conference Calling Can Save Your Sales OrganizationTime and Money!
If you take the first step and try using conference calling, you may just find yourself saving money and making money.
When We Were Kings
An account of hearing and meeting Martin Luther King, Coretta King, and Archbishop Tutu and a dsecription of the impact of their personal presence. Also looks a...
3 Secrets to Developing Superior People Skills
1. If What You Are Doing Is Not Working Change Your Approach When I was in school I always had a small group of close friends but I never found it easy meeting...
Diabetes Awareness: Diabetes on the Job
You have to care for your diabetes while you're at work. Here are 10 tips for merging your diabetes care with your career.
Home Equity Loan – A Reverse Mortgage Could Provide a Comfortable Retirement!
Reverse Mortgages, a form of home equity lending, have other uses besides funding nursing home expenses.
Viral Marketing - Your Key to Gaining New Clients
Provides an overview of how to structure your email newsletter to create viral marketing as a means of capturing new clients.
|
Print this page