LatinaLista — The CNN story about U.S. Navy petty officer second class Eduardo Gonzalez was/is heartbreaking.
How this young sailor can’t just worry about his third tour of duty in Iraq, but must also worry about whether or not his wife will be deported to Guatemala while he’s gone, is not just sad but familiar.
Yet, Gonzalez’ story wasn’t the shocker of the CNN article — it was the so-called “expert” that the reporters used to quote in the story.
It would be easy to accuse this blogger of being overly sensitive about the person quoted but when random readers commented on it then it’s a good indication there’s another story tangled within the media coverage of the immigration debate.
In the article, the reporters used two sources for the proverbial “balance” always sought when reporting stories.
One source was Lt. Col. Margaret Stock, a member of the U.S. Army Reserves who teaches immigration law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
The other source was Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies.
At first glance, the two would seem like excellent sources for a story such as this, but it quickly becomes clear that while one offers unbiased expertise the other offers nothing but biased rhetoric that has less to do with Gonzalez and the military and more about their own political/personal agenda.
In an excerpt from the article, it discusses what will happen next with Gonzalez’ wife.
A judge in June granted her a one-year extension to remain in the United States. If her legal status does not change by June 8, 2008, she will have 60 days to voluntarily leave the country or face deportation.
That’s just fine, according to Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which lobbies for tougher laws on illegal immigration.
“What you’re talking about is amnesty for illegal immigrants who have a relative in the armed forces, and that’s just outrageous,” he said. “What we’re talking about here is letting lawbreakers get away with their actions just because they have a relative in the military. … There’s no justification for that kind of policy.”
Yet, instead of balancing such rhetoric, Stock is used to explain the military’s lack of policy in dealing with immigration situations involving family members. In essence, the article is a perfect vehicle for Krikorian to deliver to a wide audience his brand of immigration reform.
As I said, I could be accused of being overly sensitive about his comments but a quick scan of the comments reveals that readers don’t want to hear Krikorian’s rants.
Brandy
updated 4 minutes ago
Mr. Krikorian’s response is unconscionable! We’re not talking about someone who has a cousin, nephew, son in Iraq. This is a spouse! Unlike her sailor-husband, Mrs. Gonzalez didn’t enter our country illegally. Let her stay!
Al Q
updated 1 minute ago
Eduardo Gonzalez is an American Hero. He has volunteered for the military for the service our country. I cannot fathom the the reasoning that this patriot and his family are criminals. The young mother has been in the United States for almost twenty years due to circumstances beyond her control. Our country needs brave men like Eduardo to battle the evils around the globe and families like theirs to man the workforce. Our nation should embrace these people as counrtrymen and set aside the ignorant ideology regarding this family as “criminals”. The last time I looked, This country was built on the backs of immigrants andf immigrants have helped to make the United States what it is today. The irrational response of Mark Kirkorian is laughable, maybe he should be deported, I’m sure he comes from a family of immigrants.
Bob
updated 1 minute ago
This is the first email I have even written to a CNN article. I am a strong conservative but this case motivated me to respond. The statement by Mark Krikorian offended me. How can he say this about this couple when he is fighting to protect the very freedoms that allows Krikorian to have his job. This couple both came here as young children. Please help them cut through the red tape and make her a citizen. Thank you CNN for posting this article and having a place for people to comment. I hope in some small way this response of mine and others will help this couple.
Mike
updated 1 minute ago
First of all thank you Eduardo Gonzalez for serving our country and making it a safe place to live for all of its citizens. Shame on Mark Krikorian and the rest of the U.S government for not using common sense with regards to the immigration issue facing these U.S. Soldiers and their families. For those readers who have no sympathy towards the Gonzalez family, I ask you this question, if a soldier saves your life, and your way of life and prevents your family from being harmed by a terrorist, would you not thank him for doing that? I think yes….and the only way that he would have the ability to do this would be to have the support of his family and the knowledge that they are safe and secure as well. If his family is not safe or secure why should he feel obligated to protect you and your family? Common sense folks…let’s get the U.S Government to use some common sense with regards to this issue.
In the spirit of being fair, there are a few (a very small minority) who agreed with Krikorian but none of them cited his response in their answers — not like these few I highlighted.
So what does this mean?
It has several meanings:
1.) For CNN and other news media, there must be more vigilance exercised in using and quoting sources when writing articles about featuring immigration issues. The use of Krikorian as an “expert” and others like him, just because they may be associated with an organization with the term “immigration” in its title, misleads the public into thinking that what is being presented are factual statements devoid of influence.
Unfortunately, the average public who are busy with their lives and don’t take the time to really analyze what they read or hear, absorb the information — and repeat it. The overriding fallacy that exists among people is that if it is printed or broadcast, a story must be true.
For that reason, so much misinformation has been able to circulate about the issue that even members of Congress, we see, are susceptible and guilty of passing along the same misinformation.
2.) The readers’ comments reflect that the blanket statement routinely bandied about in this debate that starts with “The American people want…” is an invention of organizations like Krikorian’s.
Yes, the American people want immigration reform but it’s clear from these comments that they don’t prescribe to Krikorian’s extreme views.
3.) It means that the American public is slowly realizing and speaking out by affirming that extremist views like Krikorian’s will not go unchallenged anymore. People are waking up to the fact that a few groups have hijacked the humanity and common sense that used to exist in setting U.S. domestic and foreign policy and are speaking out about that loss in greater numbers.
4.) It means there’s hope for Gonzalez and other immigrant soldiers and their families who shouldn’t have to fight two wars at once.
Comment(37)
David O.
Well CNN could have gotten the same take from ‘Frank’. The talking points are identical in fact.
Care to comment Frank?
Perhaps sometime a little different than what the right wing talking heads tell you to say?
As for the Sailor and his wife it is a travesty and a moral crime to see what the KKK types are promoting under the guise of ‘We Americans’.
A movie that captures a similiar hysteria is the 1976 movie ‘The Front’ which deals with blacklisted Hollywood actors and writers during the McCarthy era in the early 1950s. It stars Woody Allen and many of the same blacklisted actors from the ’50s. The hysteria is the same, the intimidation is the same, and all under the guise of patriotism which to me has come to have a totally different meaning. It is more akin with racism and intimidation.
Frank
I am a little confused. Is Gonzales (the husband) a U.S. citizen? If not, I am opposed to non-citizens being in our military but it is not my call it is the U.S. government’s call on that anyway.
As far as the wife goes, the judge made the ruling based on our immigration laws. As everyone in here knows by now, I am for the rule of law. If I don’t like a law I will seek to change it but I wouldn’t beat up on those who are in agreement with or respect that same law. It is kind of like, “I am entitled to my opinion but you are not”. Or, “I don’t like the law so it shouldn’t be followed”.
I don’t make up my own rules as I go along. Whatever laws this country has, they are there for a good reason. Don’t like them, then seek change thru the democratic process.
David O.
‘They are there for a good reason’
You make Sgt. Joe Friday proud.
Oh the laws will be changed, oh yes.
Sometimes one has to use force or protest and violence in language to get the numb skulls to understand and make changes.
David O.
Maybe CNN used the white guy as an illustration to show everyone else what ‘we Americans’ really think and in the process made him the fool and advanced the cause for the sailor.
Hal
All illegals should leave and apply to be here as so many before them have done.
I have no sympathy for them.
Hal
Jacksonville
David O.
“All illegals should leave..”
A simple statement, but man what storm it creates. If the U.S. made it easier for immigrants to get in, oh like at Ellis Island, then yeah I would buy that. The fact is that immigrants, especially undocumented and Latino, are being demonized by the ‘we Americans’ and that is why many like me will fight tooth and nail for their rights and for their safety.
They have always been here, and will always be here and are not about to go anywhere, in spite of the Gestapo like assaults on women and children. Which makes me wonder how much all those raids cost?
From what I can tell it takes months to plan, to obtain surveillance, to collect the troops and finally spring the assault on all those evil McDonalds workers.
Hijo de la chinga..what a FUBAR. Your tax dollars at work here and in Irak.
Frank
David, you and yours can create all the havoc you want but you won’t win, especially if many that are creating that havoc are illegal aliens demanding we change our laws. They don’t have a voice in our government and rightly so. In the meantime, why is it necessary for your side to demonize law abiding citizens who don’t agree with you but honor our laws instead? (and they are the majority.) That is another reason you will lose.
We are demonizing illegals? If we said nothing else negative about them they demonize themselves by their illegal presence here and there is no fighting that and no excusing that.
Illegals have always been here? Well probably in smaller numbers but not in the millions like today. It is out of control and they need to be deported. I see you use woman and children to gain sympathy. Sorry, but we are all accountable to our laws, men and woman. If they bring their children into this mess it is their own doing, not ours. Gustapo assaults? I bet you wouldn’t say that if the police were searching an anglo home for a criminal. Doesn’t matter how much these raids cost, it has to be done. Do you also worry about how much it costs to take any criminal to court? Or would you rather they go free to save money? My tax dollars are well spent to arrest, detain and try criminals. Sorry you don’t feel the same.
David O.
Won’t win? Have you heard of Ceasar Chavez? He went up against the big guns and won. I think he was in a small minority too. Don’t underestimate us.
As for law abiding citizens who what their Leave it to Beaver lifestyle, I do believe there some changes afoot.
And some are racists and KKK types advocating private arrests, imprisonment, and shooting illegals for seeking work? Yeah they are angels fighting the good fight.
Please don’t equate police searching for some white criminal such as a serial rapist as being in the same category as assaulting a fast food restaurant taking out those who are working here without documentation (a misdemeanor).
“Do you also worry about how much it costs to take any criminal to court? ”
In some cases it’s a waste of money. Like the Duke Lacrose players for one. Yeah I would venture that the police don’t care what it costs as long as they get their man, woman and child.
flower
” Time magazine dealing with illegal immigration.. its entitled “WHO LEFT THE DOOR OPEN?…very interesting read. It explodes every myth that open-borders proponents churn out. The most crucial one is the “we can’t turn off the flow†myth. According to this , the border invasion is an unstoppable fact of nature that has nothing to do with government action or inaction. The only solution, say the apologists, is to legalize illegality. Time is having none of it. “Who’s to blame for all the intruders?†the magazine asks. “The problem is one of the U.S.’s own making. The government doesn’t want to fix it.†The biggest cause of border trespassing, argues Time, is the government’s decades-long refusal to enforce the law against employing illegal aliens. Simple solutions. Second biggest myth of the open-borders advocates: illegals take jobs Americans spurn. Wrong again, says Time. It’s bottom-of-the-barrel wage rates, not hard work, that American workers reject. Third myth: illegal aliens are an economic plus for the country because they cheerfully provide inexpensive services that raise everyone’s standard of living.
Horace
Give it up Frank. I have. These people care nothing for the law unless it supports their case. There’s is a simple tribalistic world governed by ethnocentrism that thrives on blaming others for their people’s indiscretions. Laws directed toward keeping order in this country are construed as personal affronts. A sailor and his family have no personal responsibility for their fate, as the federal government is plotting against them and a illegal immigrant who gets caught for a currency crime after evading deportation for a decade has no personal responsibility to comply with our laws. He’s entitled to exceptions, after all he’s Latino. It’s all a plot against Latinos. No matter that citizens have tempted the same fate and lost. Justice is only to be served against non-Latinos. After all, its whitey that’s oppressing them.
One last thing. Did you notice that after spending 10 years in this country he could barely speak a word of English?
ed cookman
I am in total agreement with Marisa Treviño, that there is a second story that needs to be exposed. Mark Krikorian’s ability to label this family as “lawbreakers” is at least ignorant, as the mother and daughter were granted legal status as war refugees. To use the word amnesty, an official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses, borders on slander. As far as politically offensive, let us not lose track of the fact that the military is able to both use the husband as a soldier, and (possibly) deport his wife.
Frank
David, this about Cesar Chavez from Wikepedia:
“He was considered a hero for farm laborers, and opposed both legal and illegal immigration to help keep wages higher and improve work safety rules.”
He is a bad example of your cause as you can see.
Some anti-illegals are racists but they don’t represent the majority of Americans so why harp on them? We are entitled to retain our “Leave it to Beaver” lifestyle if we so wish. The majority of a society has always determined what identity they will take on. Just as in Mexico, they have their own culture and lifestyle and I wouldn’t think of seeking to change it. It is about respect for the country’s native citizens.
Why not equate the search for a White man who is a criminal to searching for illegal aliens? A crime is a crime no matter how big or how small and law enforcement are paid to catch and detain criminals. In the case of illegal aliens many are caught and deported. This is a waste of time?
adriana
I would be interested to know what kinds of promises were made to Eduardo Gonzalez re: the citizenship status of his wife when he enlisted or when he married her.
This is a tragedy, as petty officer Gonzalez is already sacrificing so much for his new country, and now he has to endure this emotional trauma of his wife being removed from the nation that he is fighting for?!
Frank
Maybe he shouldn’t have enlisted without the promise of his family being able to stay here? I doubt that he was made any promises or that the government even knew his wife was here illegally.
David O.
Now you are trolling with ‘what ifs and should haves’ that serve no purpose but to inflame the issue. Yes Frank trolls come in all shapes and sizes.
adriana
There is evidence suggesting that many recruiters promise citizenship to non-citizens and their families when they sign them up for the service.
Check this out:
http://www.metroactive.com/metro/09.19.07/news-0738.html
I doubt that young undocumented kids would be making up stories of promises of citizenship and residency for their families in all of these places.
Frank
David, can’t debate without personal insults? I am a troll for expressing my opinion? I don’t know what or if anything this sailor was promised by our government. If he was promised citizenship for his family, then our government is obligated to honor their end of the bargain. Until we know the truth, we are all just speculating.
Diana Joe
Frank..noticed you were advised by Whore-us “to give it up”..you end up being named troll..ji ji. It is amusing to see the lot of yous “rule of law” mongers stickin’ your noses to all these domestic issues..you must’ve healed from the historical trauma that you suffered through the broken treaties with the Native Americans already! Now you’er ready, and armed (with the constitution and the rule of law)to take on the ILLEGALs? It is not the “rule Of Law” to DIVIDE EM”&CONQUER EM”..but it worked before huh? Cesar Chavez is a leader! He is and will always be an example to all you edjumacated ones the rival to all your economic strongholds! He with the force of the “workers” managed to uphold human rule to “natural law”- beating the “rule of law” and he is an honored one for that! Just like CRAZY HORSE was and IS! In gathering together with many Native Tribal leaders-they will tell of a time when these lands had no lines or divisions the DIVIDE And CONQUER tactic are nothing new to the ORIGINAL peoples of these lands-ugh..hate to remind you boyz but MEXICATLS..are original to these lands!..WIKIpedia that!
David O.
Frank stop driving on the Left side at 55, you might get over run. You can cite the law all you want, you can call it debate, and you can write that you are merely offering facts, but when you start posting that maybe he should have done something, I can only assume it’s their fault. Yes I think you are trolling since the Governments action’s are as bullheaded and stubborn as
someone driving 55mph on the left lane and refusing to move to the right lane.
Frank please move to the right and leave us alone.
David O.
Frank,
Ceasar Chavez is an excellent example of big business abusing and taking advantage of Mexicans, both legal and illegal migrants. He fought for their rights as well by improving wages and working conditions. If the growers had their way, the pickers would earn just over what worker earn in Mexico.
Horace
Diana Joe, are you hermaphroditic? By your name you appear to be.
Start citing natural law in a court and see how far you’ll get. You’re a joke.
Caesar Chavez was dead set against illegal immigration, as he viewed his constituency as primarily Mexican-Americans who would have to compete with cheap Mexican national labor. Apparently, DJ, you and your illegal alien friends are working against everything Chavez stood for.
Frank
How many of you pro-illegals in here are full blooded native indian? I would venture a guess, none! Your Spanish ancestors are just as guilty of any atrocities against the native indians as any other white Europeans so stick that in your pipe and smoke it! Mestizos have no more right to this land than anyone else. If by chance you are full blooded native indian, treaties were made, lands conquered and I wish you well with your casinos and private sovereign lands.
Frank
David, did you miss the part where Cesar Chavez was opposed to illegal aliens?
David O.
“Your Spanish ancestors are just as guilty of any atrocities against the native indians as any other white Europeans so stick that in your pipe and smoke it!”
And you ask why mestizo’s don’t side with their European ancestry? You answered it yourself in this post but somehow avoided the correct answer earlier when you went on about genetics and some law abiding tangent. Genetics and white people seems to bring out a certain era from about 80 years ago.
David O.
Horace,
Lets have those ideas you were talking about. I sense a bit of superiority and arrogance in your posts.
I understand about quiting this blog especially when your view, truth, justice and the American way, is ignored or ridiculed. Yeah I would quit to, and I wouldn’t hold against you either.
David O.
Cezar Chavez fought for migrant workers, and the companies fought back by hiring illegal braceros to maintain wages at a low level.
My question is simply this, why wasn’t the U.S. Government enforcing it immigration laws then? Maybe they were to busy bringing democracy to the Vietnamese.
ed cookman
I hope the Gonzalez family is NOT following most of these commentaries. Some of you are using this post as a place to do your own ranting and raving. Meanwhile the Gonzalez family is in the REAL world dealing with the sheer stupidity of the U. S. government. I think you should start your own blogs, maybe call it Chavez meets Native Americans dealing with ye ole rednecks at the OK corral in Alamo, Texas. Hasta la vista baby, (said with a German accent in Sacramento, California)… Guten Tag Y’all.
David O.
They post repeatedly, non stop, the same thing, and we defend.
You make a very good point too.
Frank
David, not all of the Spaniards were bad people. There are good and bad people everywhere. It doesn’t matter anyway, Mestizos are just as genetically white as they are native indian. Go ahead and don’t recognize that part of you but you can’t use that as an excuse to claim ownership of the U.S. when your white ancestors were also invaders and that is what many Mestizos are doing.
Our government has been lax in enforcing our immigration laws in the past and present and for the same reason, cheap labor. But illegal immigration is out of control now and Americans are waking up to that fact and are saying, NO MORE!
Horace
“Some of you are using this post as a place to do your own ranting and raving. Meanwhile the Gonzalez family is in the REAL world dealing with the sheer stupidity of the U. S. government.”
Well Ed, what do you propose, that we immediately pass a law that relatives of servicemen whose family members violate our laws be given a free pass? Gonzalez knew well in advance that his wife was an illegal alien and that she was subject to deportation if caught. Perhaps he should have planned for that contingency. I know that I would. This isn’t a case of a family who got caught up in a change of law while the Gonzalez was away. If Gonzalez had had any sense he would not have put himself in this position. This is another case of people denying personal responsibility for their actions and blaming the government for their predicament. If it were within my power, I would give him an immdediate hardship discharge so that he can take care of his family affairs, but that’s the only concession that would be acceptable.
diana joe
Whore-us oops-I meant whorus no woreass ah-you must acknowledge whatever blows..Joe is my last name-GOVERNMENT issued to the Navajo husband that I married. In the Navajo stories hemaphrodites are holy people something you probably will never calm yourself down enuf to learn. The fact that I am a joke is another lame observation of yours, and far far from the fact that I mention [DIVIDE AND CONQUER]how you missed those three words is precisely what I’m talking about with all y’all upholders to the rule of law-bologna!The full blooded indian crock of caca is another example of the “Divide ’em and Conquer Em’ tactics that you seemed to have avoided or completely overlooked? The most remarkable thing about peoples of color is their abilities to maintain their indigenous identity! Unlike the self-championed assimilated ones that don’t have a damn clue who their first cousin is so they marry em’
peace on AMERIKKA! We love you.
Horace
Diana Joe,
Sorry that I suspected you of having a gender identity crisis. It’s commendable that you can be so certain which first cousin you’re marrying, and that you can guarantee a good supply of hermaphrodites in your tribe. Praise be to the household gods!
Frank
You mean the color of brown plus white, as in Spaniard? Why do “browns” speak a white language aka Spanish? Oh, thats right deny one’s genetics when it is convenient.
Diana Joe
Horace and Frank..if you two bubies want action there’s blogs that cater to the Airhead brotherhoods-or is Arian Brotherhood? Either one, i’m certain that the you two of yous would fit into either of these two perfectly..It’s obvious that you two left-over confederate war ghosts hate spaniards, you hate native americans (unless they are pure bred)-thats the funniest, you hate people with brown skin, you hate people that don’t agree with your rule of law- wrong blog fellas…seems like its just not the right world for you guys.Oh,and the medicine of the ancient indigenous ways is already working against yous..you’er gonna go insane beyond institutionalization status- thanks for the entertainment.
Uncle Sammi is getting old,and isn’t it customary fer certain groups of people to put their old folk in homes..and forget em’?
It is through spirits such as you guys’ that the “little” less fortunate people learn from..and those little people ultimately have learned to fight you’s back, by using your own crazed methods..only we have millions of relatives and y’all never did…one baby’s easier to feed than one million wasn’t that the rule?!There are people that have kept the old ways alive. There is nothing wrong with this. There are ppl that wear what they weave..going against the corporative beast is the new old way fellas..try it you might get well.
David O.
Diana Joe,
I believe that these folks exemplify exactly what the twins like.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=642_1191766663
Frank
I am not interested in any white supremist groups. As a matter of fact I oppose what they stand for. I have nothing against anyone in this country nor their cultural practices nor the color of their skin as long as they are here legally.
Horace
“Horace and Frank..if you two bubies want action there’s blogs that cater to the Airhead brotherhoods-or is Arian Brotherhood? Either one, i’m certain that the you two of yous would fit into either of these two perfectly..It’s obvious that you two left-over confederate war ghosts hate spaniards, you hate native americans (unless they are pure bred)-thats the funniest, you hate people with brown skin, you hate…..” yada, yada, yada.
Just for the record, which half of your split personality is speaking? I’m sorry, but most of your rambling English is incomprehensible. I hope that you didn’t graduate high school in the U.S., as it would be a sad commentary on your communities schools.
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