Happy New Year everybody! With a baby on the way in 2008 and my daddy hormones chugging at full speed, I was tickled to read an article in the Ventura County Star today about the first baby born in the county this year...
Isn't that nice? And the picture that accompanies the article is great. Mrs. Ruiz looks so happy and the baby is absolutely adorable. It's a happy, fluffy article that deserves nothing more than a congratulations and a smile.
But I made a mistake in scrolling down to the comments section, a mistake that I used to make far too often, a mistake that used to get me really angry with all of the trolls that rule the comments section, a mistake that I corrected and I've been much happier because of it. Yes, it was my mistake, I wish I never would've read these totally racist, inappropriate comments (paraphrased a bit since they've thankfully been removed)...
...these were just the first two, they just got worse from there on.
For those of you who don't think that the anti-immigration crowd is racially motivated or at the very least are spawning racism towards Hispanics no matter their situation, look no further than these idiotic comments. Based solely on the name, these bigots presumptuously decided the Ruiz's were illegals without insurance that didn't speak any Spanish (there is a line later in the article that translates the dad's Spanish quote into English) who are too stupid to understand birth control and are looking to the system for a handout and to raise their child.
When you take something as innocent as an article like this, ignore the facts (she's employed by the hospital, he's a forklift driver) and start making ignorant presumptions, that makes you a racist. And unfortunately, the immigration "debate" is creating a climate of hate that is taking it's toll on all Hispanics, not just illegals.
For example, my co-worker and her family - who are here legally - were the target of a random phone hate attack last month that scared them enough to change their home phone number. Someone called their house and accused her husband of stealing his social security number, his credit card number and accused him of paying all of their bills with that credit card number. He berated them and threatened that he would call the police and immigration and have them deported if they didn't admit what they did. Her husband doesn't speak great English, though he's learning, and was really confused. She was in the shower at the time but got out in time to tell the guy off and hang up on him. Understandably, she was embarrassed, confused, pissed off and most of all, scared.
This bullshit is unacceptable. Hard working folks like the Ruiz Family and my co-worker shouldn't have to put up with crap like this. Sadly, racism is alive and kicking in this country, it's just hiding behind the idea of anti-immigration where it gets a free pass. It makes me sick.
Anyway, welcome to the world little Ruiz! Do not worry, you will be raised in a bilingual world and when you are old enough to go to college and/or get a job in this ever growing bilingual county (a trend that won't stop no matter what happens), you will have one up on the kids of these racists and xenophobes. You'll have the last laugh, I'm sure of it.
"Josie Ruiz was in familiar surroundings when she delivered Ventura County's first baby of the year at 1 a.m. on New Year's Day...Ruiz is a patient account representative at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, where she gave birth to her fourth child, a girl who weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces."
Isn't that nice? And the picture that accompanies the article is great. Mrs. Ruiz looks so happy and the baby is absolutely adorable. It's a happy, fluffy article that deserves nothing more than a congratulations and a smile.
But I made a mistake in scrolling down to the comments section, a mistake that I used to make far too often, a mistake that used to get me really angry with all of the trolls that rule the comments section, a mistake that I corrected and I've been much happier because of it. Yes, it was my mistake, I wish I never would've read these totally racist, inappropriate comments (paraphrased a bit since they've thankfully been removed)...
Freedom 1 - "Surprise, surprise. The first baby born in Ventura is Hispanic and the Father doesn't speak any English. Great.
jprieto - "Surprise, suprise #2 - guess who'll pay for this? Us taxpayers and hard working folks."
...these were just the first two, they just got worse from there on.
For those of you who don't think that the anti-immigration crowd is racially motivated or at the very least are spawning racism towards Hispanics no matter their situation, look no further than these idiotic comments. Based solely on the name, these bigots presumptuously decided the Ruiz's were illegals without insurance that didn't speak any Spanish (there is a line later in the article that translates the dad's Spanish quote into English) who are too stupid to understand birth control and are looking to the system for a handout and to raise their child.
When you take something as innocent as an article like this, ignore the facts (she's employed by the hospital, he's a forklift driver) and start making ignorant presumptions, that makes you a racist. And unfortunately, the immigration "debate" is creating a climate of hate that is taking it's toll on all Hispanics, not just illegals.
For example, my co-worker and her family - who are here legally - were the target of a random phone hate attack last month that scared them enough to change their home phone number. Someone called their house and accused her husband of stealing his social security number, his credit card number and accused him of paying all of their bills with that credit card number. He berated them and threatened that he would call the police and immigration and have them deported if they didn't admit what they did. Her husband doesn't speak great English, though he's learning, and was really confused. She was in the shower at the time but got out in time to tell the guy off and hang up on him. Understandably, she was embarrassed, confused, pissed off and most of all, scared.
This bullshit is unacceptable. Hard working folks like the Ruiz Family and my co-worker shouldn't have to put up with crap like this. Sadly, racism is alive and kicking in this country, it's just hiding behind the idea of anti-immigration where it gets a free pass. It makes me sick.
Anyway, welcome to the world little Ruiz! Do not worry, you will be raised in a bilingual world and when you are old enough to go to college and/or get a job in this ever growing bilingual county (a trend that won't stop no matter what happens), you will have one up on the kids of these racists and xenophobes. You'll have the last laugh, I'm sure of it.
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