Assault underscores tension as Congress weighs immigration reform

[wabrams]

PORTLAND, Maine --Dozens of people pressing for rights for illegal immigrants gathered for a peaceful demonstration on Monday just minutes after a counter-protestor was bloodied by a teenager in broad daylight in Monument Square.

The attacker, wearing a bandanna over his face, went after one of three people carrying signs arguing that illegals have no rights, witnesses said.

The victim, Robert Gorman of Portland, grabbed his head and dropped to the pavement in a clump after being hit with something heavy that the teen was carrying, possibly in a sock or a bandanna, said Portland Police Sgt. Robin Gauvin.

More

 

[Jeffrey]

So THATS why the protestors for illegal aliens wear bandanas? Who woulda thunk it?

wabrams:

The attacker, wearing a bandanna over his face, went after one of three people carrying signs arguing that illegals have no rights, witnesses said.
The victim, Robert Gorman of Portland, grabbed his head and dropped to the pavement in a clump after being hit with something heavy that the teen was carrying

 

[LCMS_No_More]

wabrams:
While I do not condone violence, I can understand the teens feelings. He probably feels that his mother and father are being attacked by these anti-immigrant protesters and got angry and thoughtlessly attacked. Not a wise thing to do to attack someone, though.

I would have expected this kind of behavior from the counter-protesters first.

 

[Della]

LCMS_No_More:

While I do not condone violence, I can understand the teens feelings. He probably feels that his mother and father are being attacked by these anti-immigrant protesters and got angry and thoughtlessly attacked. Not a wise thing to do to attack someone, though.

Emotions can run very high indeed when people see themselves as victims, even if they aren’t the victims of those they think are victimizing them. Ordinary Americans aren’t victimizing illegals, their governments that don’t help them start their own businesses or encourage business opportunities are the ones who are victimizing them.

I would have expected this kind of behavior from the counter-protesters first.

I wouldn’t have thought that at all. Why should people act in violence who just want to point out the fact that we already have lots of laws dealing with immigration, and if we only implemented them as they were designed to be, a lot of the problems America is having with illegals would go away.

Now, I have a lot of sympathy for these folks trying to get work, any work, in order to keep food on the table. And I think we have been burying our heads in the sand on this issue for long enough. But, I will not be classified as a victimizer of those whose own governments don’t care enough about them to help them in their own country (not speaking about you, dear LCMS_No_More ) --who then turn around and blame the USA for all their problems, either.

 

[Jeffrey]

No compassoin for the victim of violence huh?

Figures.

LCMS_No_More:

While I do not condone violence, I can understand the teens feelings. He probably feels that his mother and father are being attacked by these anti-immigrant protesters and got angry and thoughtlessly attacked. Not a wise thing to do to attack someone, though.

I would have expected this kind of behavior from the counter-protesters first.

 

[wabrams]

LCMS_No_More:

While I do not condone violence, I can understand the teens feelings. He probably feels that his mother and father are being attacked by these anti-immigrant protesters and got angry and thoughtlessly attacked. Not a wise thing to do to attack someone, though.

I would have expected this kind of behavior from the counter-protesters first.

Lot of bias in that last sentence.

 

[Lance]

LCMS_No_More:

While I do not condone violence, I can understand the teens feelings. He probably feels that his mother and father are being attacked by these anti-immigrant protesters and got angry and thoughtlessly attacked. Not a wise thing to do to attack someone, though.

I would have expected this kind of behavior from the counter-protesters first.

This is not a very charitable post, why would you say a thing like this? If his mother and father are here illegally they should be punished to the extent the law allows. Do you feel that someone has a right to carjack my truck just because does not like my Bush sticker?

 

[gilliam]

LCMS_No_More:

While I do not condone violence, I can understand the teens feelings. He probably feels that his mother and father are being attacked by these anti-immigrant protesters and got angry and thoughtlessly attacked. Not a wise thing to do to attack someone, though…

I agree with this part.

I would have expected this kind of behavior from the counter-protesters first.

I don’t agree with this. At least I haven’t seen this kind of frustration yet with the counter protesters.

 

[Ani_Ibi]

LCMS_No_More:

While I do not condone violence, I can understand the teens feelings. He probably feels that his mother and father are being attacked by these anti-immigrant protesters and got angry and thoughtlessly attacked.

You know the interior life of this teen how exactly? Mindreading?

LCMS_No_More:

I would have expected this kind of behavior from the counter-protesters first.

Yet, the evidence shows you that it was not the counter-protesters who indulged in this kind of behaviour first. So much for your innuendo.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

Jeffrey:

No compassoin for the victim of violence huh?

Figures.

How presumptuous and rude. We don’t have both sides of the story, do we?

What we know is a young latino teen attacked a counter-protester.

We don’t know what the counter-protester was doing, do we? I would no compassion if the counter-protester was provoking the teen to attack him. If he was just holding up a sign and chanting along with his band of anti-immigrant protesters, then things would be different.

Granted, assault is NEVER appropriate behavior, but I’ve heard right-wingers on the radio (KFI in Los Angeles…John and Ken like to hold right-wing rallies where they try to goad and provoke counter-protesters to violence) intentionally provoke people to get a negative reaction.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

wabrams:

Lot of bias in that last sentence.

There’s a lot of bias going around in this discussion. How kind of you to only point mine out.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

Lance:

This is not a very charitable post, why would you say a thing like this? If his mother and father are here illegally they should be punished to the extent the law allows.

So, deport him and leave him an orphan. How kind and charitable.

Do you feel that someone has a right to carjack my truck just because does not like my Bush sticker?

Irrelevant to the discussion.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

gilliam:

I agree with this part.

Getting moderate in your old age?

I don’t agree with this. At least I haven’t seen this kind of frustration yet with the counter protesters.

John and Ken on afternoon drive radio here in Los Angeles are very into provoking people they disagree with (they’re extremely right-wing and anti-immigration).

 

[Della]

LCMS_No_More:

How presumptuous and rude. We don’t have both sides of the story, do we?

What we know is a young latino teen attacked a counter-protester.

We don’t know what the counter-protester was doing, do we? I would no compassion if the counter-protester was provoking the teen to attack him. If he was just holding up a sign and chanting along with his band of anti-immigrant protesters, then things would be different.

Granted, assault is NEVER appropriate behavior, but I’ve heard right-wingers on the radio (KFI in Los Angeles…John and Ken like to hold right-wing rallies where they try to goad and provoke counter-protesters to violence) intentionally provoke people to get a negative reaction.

Exactly because we don’t have both sides of the story, we shouldn’t jump to conclusions based on our own leanings. It is perfectly possible that this man did nothing to provoke such an attack. After all, the account says he was only one of a handful of people counter protesting. Usually, very small groups like that don’t tend to goad large angry crowds, no matter who they are, not unless they have a death wish.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

Ani Ibi:

You know the interior life of this teen how exactly? Mindreading?

There’s a wonderful qualifier word in my post. The word is “probably.” That means that I’m expressing an opinion and not a fact.

Flamebait denied.

Yet, the evidence shows you that it was not the counter-protesters who indulged in this kind of behaviour first. So much for your innuendo.

We don’t know whether or not Mr. Counter-Protester Victim was antagonizing or provoking the teen. That would actually determine who started the agression.

 

[gilliam]

LCMS_No_More:

Getting moderate in your old age?

Maybe

John and Ken on afternoon drive radio here in Los Angeles are very into provoking people they disagree with (they’re extremely right-wing and anti-immigration).

If they are provoking people to violence they should be arrested.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

gilliam:

Maybe

If they are provoking people to violence they should be arrested.

Agreed! No one has taken the bait yet. Most me of hopes no one ever does, but part of me hopes someone does so they can go off the air. Hate radio is so…boring.

 

[gilliam]

LCMS_No_More:

Agreed! No one has taken the bait yet. Most me of hopes no one ever does, but part of me hopes someone does so they can go off the air. Hate radio is so…boring.

Which is why I don’t listen to Savage or Air America.

 

[Lance]

LCMS_No_More:

So, deport him and leave him an orphan. How kind and charitable.

Irrelevant to the discussion.

No, deport him and his parents.

Yes it is relevent, the point is you cannot attack someone just because you don’t like what they are saying. If he is caught he should be charged with assault which in Illinois is a felony and can get you some hard time then after he has served his time if he is illegal deport him…

 

[Ani_Ibi]

LCMS_No_More:

There’s a wonderful qualifier word in my post. The word is “probably.” That means that I’m expressing an opinion and not a fact.

You are expressing an opinion – as usual – about something for which you have no reason whatsoever to believe is probable. As for your qualifier being wonderful: it isn’t. Moreover it doesn’t change the fact that you have no reason to think your scenario is probable.

LCMS_No_More:

We don’t know whether or not Mr. Counter-Protester Victim was antagonizing or provoking the teen. That would actually determine who started the agression.

Exactly. Yet that did not deter you from stating a probability based on nothing.

“We”? Is that the Royal We?