El Centro de la Raza
Statement presented on Oct. 3, 2007
Community Conversation, Ethnic Center Foyer
Veronica Mendez-Cruz, Director
Part of the statement was as follows:

It is the position of El Centro de la Raza that the acts of Peter Lynch were acts of hate and should be treated as such.

Leah-Ann: The statement from the El Centro website was very helpful: when you have specific knowledge, as you seem to have in many areas, I find it very helpful to have it presented in an informational way.

I cannot speak for anyone else, but I do not react well to being informed how I ought to think and behave, but am always open to new information in order to be able to better form my own opinions.

I have concluded:

I believe that the Mexican Flag, flying alone on State or Federal property on Constitution Day was wrong regardless of where the blame should fall

I believe Mr lynch acted appropriately in removing the offending flag

I believe he acted inappropriately in destroying it

I believe that after he reported what he had done and offered to replace it, before the police were ever involved, El Centro escalated a situation unnecessarily, and then the DA saw a headline grabbing case and pursued it inappropriately

I don't belive I was unable to distinguish, I do know I had paid little heed until this afternoon, and as such I now know the difference between La Raza and El Centro De La Rasa, and wonder if our exchanges would be less contentious if you had responded to me more in this manner?



By the way, the rule I cited YOU called a (federal) law, and I was asking for confirmation, and he didn't trespass, he was a student at NMU, where the plaque at the bottom of the flagpole states that the US flag should fly during day light hours

I guess NASCAR is off?

Ah Pug, I do appreciate the quote from the El Centro, I hadn't seen it before. I read several articles about this event aroud the time it happened. Well over a year ago if I recall correctly. (old news?) I can't remember the dates, but it appears the quote you provide came several months later. So did this info:
"The UNM student who ignited controversy when he ripped apart a Mexican flag last month had earlier posted a statement on the Internet calling Mexicans "wet-backs," a university department charged Tuesday."
That charge was leveled by the school, not El Centro. Mr. Lynch responded "he doesn't believe he posted the message." a far cry from outright denial. I think the quotes were lifted from his myspace page.
I'm sorry that you read my comments to be instruction to you as to how you "ought to think and behave." My comments were intended to portray my view of how you do think and act. Just my opinion. You've expressed similar as to me.
The Mexican flag doesn't offend me - but little does. What offended you? After all, it was the American recruits who left it up there all alone and then forgot to rehang the US flag the following day.
Any way you slice it, Mr. Lynch trespassed. Why do you believe he reported the act to El Centro before he was contacted by law enforcement? I don't believe that is accurate. I do believe DA's abuse their discretion more than I'm comfortable with - but hey, I'm on the other side these days - I gave up the white hat when the shine wore off.
As I am all about the accuracy, it just wouldn't be fair for me to address you as "My Dear Friend" and you know how I feel about nascar.

azbob, why do you think I credited that statement to you? I didn't say you said it - or implied it. I did ask a direct question, which you didn't answer. For me, the obligation to protect my family and friends belongs to Someone who can actually do the job and won't mistakenly shoot an innocent person. In each of the few records we have of Jesus being met with violence, he is never seen reacting in kind.

I do not understand when you say say you did not attritude that to me???
It's late and I did not have much to drink, but I'm going to spleep on it.

LA -- I misinterpreted the facts of the case -- thanks for the clarification.

However, "El Centro" could have behaved very differently when charges were filed.

Leah-Ann, after a good night’s sleep, I see that you are asking a rhetorical question: “who would Jesus bomb”. I am not a theologian, just a simple man who believes in God. There is no one right answer to that question. You will get many opinions based on ones’ religious belief, but it will be an endless debate with no resolution.

Otter, I agree. Given all of the facts,El Centro was not out of line in thinking Mr. Lynch's actions were racially motivated. But it was the DA who let an opportunity slip by. This would have been a perfect case for mediation.

Sometimes, life is kind enough to hand out special gifts!

After staying up late to be chastised in both Mini Chat and on the message board, I got up early this morning and rode my bike many miles through the far north DFW Metroplex on a club ride.

One of the guys I was riding with was busy blaming GWB for everything, including the potholes in the road, while echoing the praises of the new messiah.

As we neared home, he suddenly swung to the side of the road and tore down a sign that was nailed to a telephone pole! "I hate people who do that" he said, and carried on riding. My mind of course immediately wondered if there was a way to escalate this to a felony, thus canceling his vote, but no one seems to bother about that anymore, and anyway, he seems like a nice guy when not in his “Change” induced trance.

My dilemma as a law abiding citizen is what I should do next: yesterday, I may have ignored this behavior, but now I know a crime has been committed!

Am I aiding and abetting if I don't report him?

Should I go to any ADA, or wait for the next election cycle in the area and head for the top (gender neutral) person?....(wow I'm getting the hang of this sensitivity thing)

I am so conflicted, as I only want to do the right thing......

By the way, the name on the sign?

El Centro Lawn Service

I could not even begin to explain my laughter to the other riders!

I couldn't pass this up

very nice!