Paradox
13th August 2005, 22:19
Vigilante Watch Principles
All legal observers must agree to be both Non-Violent and Non-Confrontational with the vigilantes.
Through non-violence and non-confrontation we are directly challenging the hatred and fear that still exists towards people of color in the 21st century.
We must remember that the vigilantes are human beings and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Though we may disagree with their positions and think their activities are both immoral and illegal, it is important to remember their humanity. We can not defeat hatred with hatred.
We are struggling for a better society and it would be counter-productive to have malice towards another when we are hoping that we can someday live in a society where human beings do not have malice towards others because of the color of their skin.
The problem of race relations in 21st century America goes well beyond the Minutemen. We should not simply dismiss the Minutemen as evil racists, rather we can use them to see a larger problem in our society.
Many of the vigilantes believe their society is being overrun by a ‘flood’ or ‘invasion’ of people from Latin America. They see their society slowly changing; more Spanish
surnames at their childrens’ schools, more advertising in Spanish, a greater presence of people of color in positions of power. These are the changes that many of the Minutemen fear, and it is a fear that many Americans agree with.
We must remain non-violent because you can not beat the ignorance out of someone. While the ‘mission’ is not to change the minds of the Minutemen, we must remember that we must not sink down to their level and hold hatred in our hearts towards people we perceive to be different. Of course this also requires that we be non-violent and non-confrontational with the Minutemen.
While in the desert with the Minutemen we also adhere to a strict policy of non-confrontation. This includes not engaging in political conversation with the Minutemen. While we may certainly listen to anything a Minutemen would wish to tell us, we will not engage in a political debate with these individuals.
While in the desert we will not get into a shouting match and yell with Minutemen so that the media can take good pictures and have a few soundbites for the evening news. The problem is much bigger then an individual Minutemen and Legal Observer. We must keep this in mind and be willing to bite our tongues for the sake of the larger movement.
It is certainly a test of your pride and humility to have someone yell at you and know that you could show them how faulty their logic and facts are yet instead you remain quiet.
Our willingness to go out in the middle of the desert and stand behind armed individuals is our political statement. We are using our bodies, our lives, to denounce hatred and fear towards people of color and to call for an end to the needless suffering that occurs on the U.S.-Mexico border.
We do not hold picket signs, nor do we chant, but our message is certainly conveyed.
http://vigilantewatch.org/index.htm
Anyone here from Arizona or California an observer to the Minuteman Project? The minutemen are supposed to start patrolling here in Texas, as well as in New Mexico, this October. I picked up a flyer from the ACLU asking for people to volunteer to follow the minutemen out into the desert and watch to make sure nothing happens, i.e. they don't go shooting up a storm. What do you think of this idea? They want strict non-violence, even if the minutemen attack the volunteers, and many of them are members of White-Power groups. What do you think?
All legal observers must agree to be both Non-Violent and Non-Confrontational with the vigilantes.
Through non-violence and non-confrontation we are directly challenging the hatred and fear that still exists towards people of color in the 21st century.
We must remember that the vigilantes are human beings and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Though we may disagree with their positions and think their activities are both immoral and illegal, it is important to remember their humanity. We can not defeat hatred with hatred.
We are struggling for a better society and it would be counter-productive to have malice towards another when we are hoping that we can someday live in a society where human beings do not have malice towards others because of the color of their skin.
The problem of race relations in 21st century America goes well beyond the Minutemen. We should not simply dismiss the Minutemen as evil racists, rather we can use them to see a larger problem in our society.
Many of the vigilantes believe their society is being overrun by a ‘flood’ or ‘invasion’ of people from Latin America. They see their society slowly changing; more Spanish
surnames at their childrens’ schools, more advertising in Spanish, a greater presence of people of color in positions of power. These are the changes that many of the Minutemen fear, and it is a fear that many Americans agree with.
We must remain non-violent because you can not beat the ignorance out of someone. While the ‘mission’ is not to change the minds of the Minutemen, we must remember that we must not sink down to their level and hold hatred in our hearts towards people we perceive to be different. Of course this also requires that we be non-violent and non-confrontational with the Minutemen.
While in the desert with the Minutemen we also adhere to a strict policy of non-confrontation. This includes not engaging in political conversation with the Minutemen. While we may certainly listen to anything a Minutemen would wish to tell us, we will not engage in a political debate with these individuals.
While in the desert we will not get into a shouting match and yell with Minutemen so that the media can take good pictures and have a few soundbites for the evening news. The problem is much bigger then an individual Minutemen and Legal Observer. We must keep this in mind and be willing to bite our tongues for the sake of the larger movement.
It is certainly a test of your pride and humility to have someone yell at you and know that you could show them how faulty their logic and facts are yet instead you remain quiet.
Our willingness to go out in the middle of the desert and stand behind armed individuals is our political statement. We are using our bodies, our lives, to denounce hatred and fear towards people of color and to call for an end to the needless suffering that occurs on the U.S.-Mexico border.
We do not hold picket signs, nor do we chant, but our message is certainly conveyed.
http://vigilantewatch.org/index.htm
Anyone here from Arizona or California an observer to the Minuteman Project? The minutemen are supposed to start patrolling here in Texas, as well as in New Mexico, this October. I picked up a flyer from the ACLU asking for people to volunteer to follow the minutemen out into the desert and watch to make sure nothing happens, i.e. they don't go shooting up a storm. What do you think of this idea? They want strict non-violence, even if the minutemen attack the volunteers, and many of them are members of White-Power groups. What do you think?