Kos Gets Hatemail
Published June 27, 2009 @ 06:59PM PT
... for writing about immigration reform while Latino (WAIRWL):
FACT: you, sir, are a illegal immigrant. i dont give two sh!ts whether you are an american citizen or not: you came here on taxpayer expense and you continue to drain our limited resources. you should be ashamed and go back to guatemala or whatever fvcking middleeastern @sshole you came from and try to sell yor leftwing bvllsh!t there.
More of the same here. "[I]t is clear that you are a socialist illegal immigrant america hater," etc.
[Swear edits mine. Errors of grammar, geography, and legal analysis his.]
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Comments (29)
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David is an attorney in Philadelphia, PA, where he helps immigrants to the U.S. navigate the complex immigration legal system. Views he expresses at change.org are his alone and don't represent the views or opinions of his employer, Nationalities Service Center. The information contained on this site is intended for educational and advocacy purposes only.
Same old, racist BS we hear about all the time. Why is it all those who are racist have never heard the words spelling and grammer? "you, sir, are a illegal immigrant." YOU SIR SHOULD BE DEPORTED TO GUATAMALA FOR YOUR GRAMMER.. BUT I'M SURE THEY WOULDN'T WANT SOMEONE SO IGNORANT IN THEIR COUNTRY!! WHAT AN IDIOT!
Posted by Jessica Carmona on 06/27/2009 @ 07:55PM PT
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Wow, how does one counter such brilliance?
Posted by Pete Coyotl on 06/27/2009 @ 10:46PM PT
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Honestly, if I was this guy and I recieved this letter, I would be laughing until tears came pouring out of my eyes! Then I would send this response:
"FACT (I must put it in all caps to sound important): you, sir, are an uneducated idiot. I could use other words to describe you, but idiot will suffice. I don't give a rat's @$$ whether you are an American citizen or not: you obviously failed fifth grade geography and you are barely literate and you continue to drain our limited resources. You should be ashamed, hop in the nearest boat to Greenland, find the most desolate spot in the middle of the island and try to sell your ignorant BS to the penguins there... that is, if you can find any penguins dumb enough to stoop to your intellectual level."
Wow. It felt good to write that.
Posted by Robert Bonfante on 06/28/2009 @ 12:33AM PT
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hahahahahaha!
beautiful.
Posted by Xa Lynn on 06/28/2009 @ 01:36AM PT
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(WTF? Xa Lynn, go away.) I hate this issue! I hate, even more so, the way it has been portrayed by Mr. Bennion.
This is why..............
Yesterday, I went to a local taco stand. I was treating myself to a,"good soda." (You know the ones with crushed ice.) This is the only place in my town that has this ice. The lady behind the counter was speaking English, when I walked in. She was talking to a man, I think he was a relative of hers. When I placed my order, which was only 1 Lrg. soda, she began speaking Spanish. She turned to the man and said, "all these wedda's (dirty white-girls) ever order is soda. I'm sick of them coming in here."
(Que?)
No, I didn't need to say anything, as she spoke, the man was watching my eyes get bigger and bigger. I thanked her; paid for my drink. As I was walking out the door, the man stood up and opened it for me.
I'm only half white, but I look full. So, because of my skin color, I must assume the problems of the rest of, "White America."( You know Mr. Bennon, the people you are so quick to point out as being bigots, raciest, and haters.)
Well, I've had a a$$ full of it! Stop pointing your finger at a color, and point it at the people creating the problem.....(ALL COLORS!!!)At least they have a box on an application they can check for their race. No, I've looked, no half-breed box. Why can't there just be a box that says American?
For those Spanish speaking people, (especially in California,) get a clue.Por favor! Even weddas can be bilingual.
Posted by L.S. hope on 06/28/2009 @ 11:17PM PT
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because of my skin color, I must assume the problems of the rest of, "White America."( You know Mr. Bennon, the people you are so quick to point out as being bigots, raciest, and haters.)
Since I'm white myself, I'd be very interested as to where you believe I've labeled "white people" in general as bigots, racists, and haters. That would include myself and a large part of my family, friends, coworkers, fellow bloggers, etc.
Posted by Dave Bennion on 06/29/2009 @ 05:14AM PT
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Careful Robert, there are no penguins in Greenland.
Posted by Charlie Reed on 06/29/2009 @ 12:09PM PT
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First of all, L.S., I personally thought my post was brilliant! If you're hating on Xa Lynn for giving me props, well... I'll have to address that. And my first point is, why did you even post a taco stand story here? This blog is about hate mail. There is no excuse to defending the author of that mail (to get an idea of how insane that dude is, click on the link). Apparently, you have been a victim of racism yourself. So, you should be agreeing with Mr. Bennion... racism from any source, even a Latina taco stand owner, should not be tolerated. You should be condemning the writer of that letter for being racist.
You can find a racist person is every ethnic group, and every ethnic group has certainly been victimized in one way or the other. You bring up a good point with your story... I just think that this particular blog wasn't the forum for it.
As for you Charlie, hi again! You seem to be following me everywhere. You are right, though... there are no penguins in Greenland! There are eagles, falcons, ravens, owls, ducks, cormorants, puffins, auks, divers and gulls... but no penguins! I stand corrected.
Posted by Robert Bonfante on 07/03/2009 @ 08:40PM PT
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Criminal Justice cause, 5/31/2009, you wrote this Mr. Bennion:
"Nice post Matt. From what I've heard of the situation, Arpaio is elected as long as there are more white retirees than Latinas voting in Maricopa county, they'll keep returning him to office. He does what he does-- playing to the prejudice of his constituents--because it works politically."
So, do you mean only white retirees are prejudice?
Posted by L.S. hope on 06/29/2009 @ 10:44AM PT
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No, there's more than enough prejudice to go around for everyone.
If your goal is to unveil the closeted reverse racist in me, I hate to disappoint you but I'm white and I'm fine with that. If you're going to accuse someone of being anti-white, at least pick someone who's not white. That means not me.
What's next on the list: Jews who are anti-Semitic because they want a two-state solution and didn't vote for George Bush?
Posted by Dave Bennion on 06/29/2009 @ 05:55PM PT
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Dave, did You include the entire text? I can not find the references to race. Did the other commenters pick it up from some other version? I do see a whole lot of idiocy at any rate. lol
Posted by Charlie Reed on 06/29/2009 @ 12:15PM PT
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The idea is that people aren't emailing Atrios or Matt Stoller or Jane Hamsher and calling them "illegal immigrants" who should "go back to guatemala or whatever expletive middleeastern expletive you came from." They are emailing these things to Kos because he's Latino and grew up in El Salvador. At least that's my analysis. What do you think?
Posted by Dave Bennion on 06/29/2009 @ 06:03PM PT
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Mr. Bennion, I'm not trying to bring out the reverse raciest in anyone. As for your anti-Jew comment; (NOT EVEN FUNNY!) My best friend is Jewish, and she gets called, "wedda," as well. (NO! I'M NOT KIDDING.)
You wrote the comment on the criminal justice cause, not me. If it wasn't anti-white, then please, clarify. What was it?
P.S. For: Analisa ........"This happens when you reduce human beings to labels......" I thanked the women, that called me a," wedda," Paid for my drink, and left. (How could I have," turned the other cheek," anymore than that?)
Posted by L.S. hope on 06/29/2009 @ 10:23PM PT
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Charlie, that isn't the entire text. Click on the highlighted words in the letter to get to that text. And then prepare for a stunning monument of ignorance that's almost glorious in its stupidity. It's like watching an Uwe Boll movie... I did laugh a lot as I read it.
Posted by Robert Bonfante on 07/03/2009 @ 08:47PM PT
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Charlie, that isn't the entire text. Click on the highlighted words in the letter to get to that text. And then prepare for a stunning monument of ignorance that's almost glorious in its stupidity. It's like watching an Uwe Boll movie... I did laugh a lot as I read it.
Posted by Robert Bonfante on 07/03/2009 @ 08:47PM PT
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Mr. Reed, I know your smarter than that. If white retirees, are Arpaio's constituents, and he is,"playing to their prejudice;" The implication is clear.
I support immigration, as I've made very clear, in prior post. I'm just sick of the, "all white," hate speech Mr. Bennion post. It puts people like myself, in limbo, so to speak. There are other colors just as guilty for spreading hate. Why turn a blind eye to them?
Posted by L.S. hope on 06/29/2009 @ 02:50PM PT
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Mr. Reed, I know your smarter than that. If white retirees, are Arpaio's constituents, and he is,"playing to their prejudice;" The implication is clear.
I support immigration, as I've made very clear, in prior post. I'm just sick of the, "all white," hate speech Mr. Bennion post. It puts people like myself, in limbo, so to speak. There are other colors just as guilty for spreading hate. Why turn a blind eye to them?
Posted by L.S. hope on 06/29/2009 @ 02:50PM PT
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Sorry L.S., sometimes My horns show. :)
Posted by Charlie Reed on 06/29/2009 @ 03:53PM PT
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No, I changed my mind. We should turn a blind eye to them, and all the other propaganda hate groups puke into society.
Mr. Bennion wrote an article about,white hate groups, a while back. He had one reader teetering on the edge of," rationality", and,"full-blown Nazi." When I suggested," poverty was at the root of racism, and if we helped out the poor in the U.S. it would help his cause;" He labeled, all involved, "anti-immigration," and pushed that man over the edge. He was ready to be the Grand dragon of the KKK. (or what ever they call their leader?)
Mr. Bennion, you once asked, "If we ignore hate groups, they'll just go away?" (Sorry if the quote isn't exact.) I gave this some thought, and no, they won't go away. Although, by redistributing their hate speech through sites like this, (even to poke fun,) they gain momentum and supporters. Just as it did in your, "White Nationalist," article.
No doubt, as I said before, I hate this issue! It brings out all the ugly in our country. Mr. Bennion, I know this is a heart-felt cause for you, and I wish I could change the laws, but your up against much more than just, "Immigration."
Posted by L.S. hope on 06/29/2009 @ 04:56PM PT
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I think you are confused about what Dave is trying to convey in these blogs. Fortunately, there are many beautiful white people in the pro-migrant movement -- folks like Dave who like themselves just fine and who feel no need to fear or hate others, whatever their race or ethnicity. They are thoughtful and compassionate human beings, and I wish there were more people like this. The world would be a better place. Just my persepective.
Posted by a d on 06/29/2009 @ 06:57PM PT
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It would be pretty funny, but then you stop and think that this is how some folks actually think. And this is the same dehumanizing language that allows people to commit hate crimes, go to war, drop bombs on innocent people, etc. When you stop seeing people's humanity, it allows you to justify all kinds of hateful acts. This happens when you reduce a human being to a label, such as "socialist" or "illegal alien," or even "white," I suppose. However, I think that many folks are confused about what racism really is. It has to do with the systematic abuse of power by the dominant group, which happens to be white folks in the U.S. Of course, just because you are white doesn't automatically make you a racist. However, when you come over to a pro-migrant blog, and insult our friends by calling them "criminals" and "illegal," you are no longer responding to them as human beings, but as objects and symbols for your venom. This is what we object to, and I'm sorry to say, but this IS racism.
That said, bigotry can and does sometimes go both ways. However because of the power differential, people of color are more inordinately affected when politicians and pundits whip up a climate of fear and hate. Now, I can't change other people, but I can work on myself. I am basically a pacifist who has difficulty practicing it, especially when I see my undocumented friends being attacked or demonized. When that happens, I am like am other tiger defending her cubs -- that is, I can get very combattive. But I don't like it when I get like that. I truly wish there were some way we could learn to talk to each other with an open mind and with respect, without resorting to all the name calling and ad hominem attacks. So, I'm going to try harder from now on, and I hope others will too. Sometimes your biggest battles are with your self, and not the person or people you think of as the "enemy." Just saying.
Posted by a d on 06/29/2009 @ 06:40PM PT
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*am like a mother tiger... (typo)
Posted by a d on 06/29/2009 @ 06:42PM PT
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However, when you come over to a pro-migrant blog, and insult our friends by calling them "criminals" and "illegal," you are no longer responding to them as human beings, but as objects and symbols for your venom. This is what we object to, and I'm sorry to say, but this IS racism.
And here I thought it was there "actions" that we were discussing. They were never responded to as anything less than human, it was your projection of it onto others that has stalled progress and your own disparagement towards the "other" that has limited your ability to reeason.
Posted by Liquids Reign on 06/29/2009 @ 06:49PM PT
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That said, bigotry can and does sometimes go both ways. However because of the power differential, people of color are more inordinately affected when politicians and pundits whip up a climate of fear and hate. Now, I can't change other people, but I can work on myself. I am basically a pacifist who has difficulty practicing it, especially when I see my undocumented friends being attacked or demonized. When that happens, I am like am other tiger defending her cubs -- that is, I can get very combattive. But I don't like it when I get like that. I truly wish there were some way we could learn to talk to each other with an open mind and with respect, without resorting to all the name calling and ad hominem attacks. So, I'm going to try harder from now on, and I hope others will too. Sometimes your biggest battles are with your self, and not the person or people you think of as the "enemy." Just saying.
I commend you if this truly is what you end up doing. Listening and comprehending what is being said will further all future debate.
Posted by Liquids Reign on 06/29/2009 @ 06:52PM PT
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Unfortunately, I am not a saint, nor Mother Teresa, and I don't pretend to be. I have boundaries and limits just like everyone else. When people have shown me that they can't respect my boundaries, I reserve the right to protect myself (that is, to be left in peace). My concession to you is this: I told Dave that I was willing to co-exist with you on this blog, but I'd prefer you didn't address me or bait me into debate. I also asked Dave to delete one of my angrier remarks (my remark to Mary on the blog "Confused"). I am going to try to tone down my remarks and listen to people more...this is what I meant. If people can't be civil, I intend to ignore them. That's the best I can do for you, Liquid.
Posted by a d on 06/29/2009 @ 07:29PM PT
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I'm throwing in the towel on this one. (In Ref. to Xa Lynn's comment:) I thought she was saying, the hate being spewed was beautiful. If I misinterpreted it, sorry.
Mr. Bennion, if things aren't going your way in court, do you accuse the judge of being a bigot? Or, are these antics reserved for your commentary?
Ms. Analisa, I'm going to go ahead and burst, the idealistic bubble, your floating around in; bring you back down to earth with the rest of us. I do see what Mr. Bennion is trying to convey.....to all of us. You can't lay a foundation for equality, and love, on a mountain of blame, and hate. I support immigration, and if my questions ruffle his feathers.... (he wants Congress to support The Dream act,) they'll pluck him alive.
Posted by L.S. hope on 06/29/2009 @ 11:59PM PT
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Xa Lynn was referring to my post, in which I wrote what my response would have been had someone sent such a racist letter my way. Also, you will notice that there was no racial comment in any part of my simulated response (although I did call the guy an idiot). That's why I'm confused as to why you are attacking Xa Lynn.
Now, if you feel that I was being hateful... you should address me, and not Xa Lynn. I'm always up for a good debate. But honestly, I just think there is some miscommunication going on here.
Posted by Robert Bonfante on 07/03/2009 @ 08:59PM PT
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L.S. Even though this country is no more rascist than any other country, and certainly a lot more tolerant of other cultures than most, Liberals like Dave will continue to spread this stuff to make Americans hate their nation. This allows Them the freedom to tear down what has been built so they can be build their new totalitarian utopia. Dave and other liberals are sincere, just misinformed.
Posted by Charlie Reed on 06/30/2009 @ 05:21AM PT
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L.S. I am full white, and I have been called güera in Mexico. It does not offend me. It is not usually said to be mean.
The definition of it is as follows:
Güero For other uses, please see: Güero (disambiguation)Güero (Alternatively spelled Guero or Huero pron. IPA ['wero] sounds like "Wher-roh" in English) is a Spanish slang demonym for a light-skinned person, commonly directed to a non-Hispanic white American; however, it can also be directed to Latinos with lighter complexions. Depending on its usage, the word can be considered pejorative, but is also found as a common term of endearment. For example: "¿Qué onda, Güero?". (In English, "What's up, white boy?")
The lady at the taco stand may have been using it towards you in a derogatory manner, however, most do not. They call Mexicans güeros. This simply is due to their skin being lighter than other Mexicans.
This is from a woman from Canada, who lived in Mexico:
For me, when I first arrived in Oaxaca, I was initially taken aback to have people constantly call me guero, a word that when most literally translated means something like "Whitey," though in terms of strength is more like "Blondie." However, I I quickly learned that in Mexican culture, identifying people by their most striking physical attribute is a matter of custom and not considered to be rude. Therefore, you'll hear people freely referring to others as "Gordo" ("Fatty"), "Flaco" ("Skinny"), "Chaparrito" ("Pee Wee"), and in indigenous areas where some people have very Asian features, "Chino." People with dark complexions might be called "Negro," so foreigners of African descent should ready themselves for the term. Mexico's culture is very race-conscious, a phenomenon dating back the Colonial period when the conquering Spanish virtually enslaved the dark-skinned indigenous population. From out of that tradition has grown an idea that to be white is to be rich and have power, whereas to be dark is to be indigenous, poor and backwards. That perception is still very much alive today, for in a country where today about 10 percent of the population is white, 60 percent mestizo ("mixed") and 30 percent indigenous (at least racially if not culturally), those three demographic percentages very neatly overlap with socio-economic standing. Understandably, European features in Mexico are simultaneously coveted and resented.
Posted by Jessica Carmona on 06/30/2009 @ 06:20AM PT
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