Publicola

Salon.com has a vicious article demonizing the militia's that are patrolling the U.S./Mexico border.

"There are those in Tombstone who say that the 41-year-old former teacher is an eccentric, an egomaniac and a threat to the local tourism industry. While Simcox says his militia has 600 members, others here say the number is far smaller. 'Chris can only get a three-man patrol going,' says Jeff, a bartender at the Crystal Bar on Main Street. 'Basically, the kind of people who want to join his group can't even pass a background check."

Nothing like the expert opinion of a bartender on who can & cannot pass a background check. Nothing against bartenders mind you - they perform an invaluable service & should be tipped more than they are - but the only named source in a paragraph long critique is a bartender who, unless the liquor laws in Arizona are vastly different than everywhere else, could have no idea who could or couldn't pass a background check, let alone what 'kind' of people are willing to step up to perform their civic duty.

"In Cochise County alone, self-styled vigilante groups in recent years have harassed and detained hundreds, perhaps thousands, of migrants suspected of entering the country illegally. They claim they are only enforcing U.S. laws too often ignored by law enforcement officials. But human rights advocates are worried about a climate here and through much of southern Arizona that seems increasingly primed for violence."

If a group has detained hundreds or perhaps thousands of people 'suspected' of entering the country illegally, wouldn't that be a more newsworthy focus than trying to demonize a group of citizens who are attempting to do what they think is right?

Here's the kicker:

"Vigilante injustice
Arizona militia members, a Colorado Republican and a national group with white supremacist ties have made a remote stretch of the Mexico border a flash point for anti-immigrant hostility."

That's the title of the article. Of course you expect to read about how the Aryan Nation or some other such group is involved, but here's where the 'white supremecay' connection is revealed:

"The alliance includes not only local ranchers, landowners and law enforcement officials, but also former high-ranking Border Patrol agents and U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican. Quietly backing their efforts is the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a controversial anti-immigration group that in the 1980s and 1990s received more than $1 million from a shadowy group accused of white-supremacist leanings."

Lemme try this again:

"...a controversial anti-immigration group that in the 1980s and 1990s received more than $1 million from a shadowy group accused of white-supremacist leanings."

One more time, with some clarity:

"...a shadowy group accused of white-supremacist leanings."

The gist of it is that Salon.com relies on a very politically incorrect novel that's published by Federation for American Immigration Reform founder John Taton's publishing company, The Social Contract Press. Mr. Taton resigned as executive director of FAIR after a 1988 scandal which involved white seperatist statements, but remains on the board of directors. FAIR is also accused of receiving funds from racially motivated groups. This ties in with the border patrols set up by the citizens how? Apparently FAIR has donated around $50,000 over 3 years to two of the groups mentioned. That's roughly $8,000 per year per group from 1998 to 2001. The article fails to mention how much of the respective groups total contributions this amounted to, or what ideaological ties the respective groups have with FAIR &/or Mr. Taton. It is guilt by third party association, as FAIR itself does not seem to have an officail white supremecist or white seperatist policy. There is nothing in the article that shows any white-supremicist ideaologies advocated by the 3 respective border patrol groups.

While all of this is going on Hispanic-seperatist groups plan to confront the citizen patrol groups mentioned above.

"While most Americans will spend Memorial Day weekend honoring those that died defending America, along with the thousands killed by illegal aliens on September 11th 2001, some are using the weekend to demonstrate in support of illegal aliens and Hispanic racial solidarity.

"The Hispanic separatist web site Aztlan has reported that race based Hispanic organizations will attempt to confront leaders of three citizen volunteer border organizations over the weekend from May 22-25.
Aztlan reports that organizers of the meeting say it is designed to ‘demonstrate bi-national solidarity’ with pro-illegal alien groups and to ‘send a powerful warning’ to leaders of citizen volunteer groups that they will be ‘dealt with accordingly.’
Targets of the Hispanic separatist groups are Glenn Spencer from American Border Patrol, Chris Simcox from the Civil Homeland Defense, and Jack Foote and Dave Stoddard of Ranch Rescue."

In other words Aztlan doesn't like the idea of a militia patrolling the borders in an effort to stem illegal immigration. Perhaps this can be partly explained by one of Aztlan's goals:

"Aztlan promotes the secession of the southwestern U.S. and the creation of the Nation Of Aztlan, a mythical Hispanic nation."

Of course they object to anyone preventing illegal immigration - they believe the southwestern U.S. belongs to them & they should decide who stays & who goes.

If you're down on the border, consider lending a hand & perhaps some time to help out the border patrol militias. With Democrats, Mexican Government & hispanic anti-semitic groups such as Aztlan (look at their home page) coming down on them, they need all the help & encouragement they can get.