One dead and 6 or 7 individuals ruined most probably for life. Justice, tragedy a little of both hit this small PA town starting in June 2008 and finishing yesterday when two teens were found guilty in a Federal court of a hate crime and murder when they brutally beat Luis Eduardo Ramierz Zavala. Also, 4 or 5 police officers in the small town will also go on trial for covering up the crime and other offenses.
Many tiny towns, boroughs and cities in NE Pa. Most of them were settled by one or two distinct nationalities and most all of them were almost 100% white until around 1995 or so. These areas where settled primarily by Southern Europeans and Italians, some turned their back on education and that primarily means that some of them will hold very extreme and hateful ideas about people they don't know. Basically, minorities. Whether they are actively taught these ideas by their parents or just hear subtle comments and actions by these parents it instilled in these kids a hatred which boiled over and caused the loss of a life and the destruction of many others. Subtle comments and not so subtle comments, not unlike many of the comments written on this forum, turned deadly.
These kids were first charged with very minor crimes and found guilty and sentenced to a very short prison term. But the rage in the community and the state moved legislators and law enforcement to rethink and a Federal hate crime trial ensued.
I was one of the individuals very angry when these kids got away with murder. Now my heart aches for them and their parents, as well as for the victim and his family. Dozens or scores of people with a stake in this and a very serious stake indeed. As I look at the pictures of these kids, one of them only 18 I can't help but wonder how at such a very young age such great hate matured into this tragedy. Parents, I blame the parents. If these kids never heard racist comments at home or if they were actively taught that all people are truly equal this would never have happened. When will we learn?
Young parents, young fathers I hope you take heed and act and teach your children responsibly. Your words and actions just might avoid a tragedy like this in your future.
Many tiny towns, boroughs and cities in NE Pa. Most of them were settled by one or two distinct nationalities and most all of them were almost 100% white until around 1995 or so. These areas where settled primarily by Southern Europeans and Italians, some turned their back on education and that primarily means that some of them will hold very extreme and hateful ideas about people they don't know. Basically, minorities. Whether they are actively taught these ideas by their parents or just hear subtle comments and actions by these parents it instilled in these kids a hatred which boiled over and caused the loss of a life and the destruction of many others. Subtle comments and not so subtle comments, not unlike many of the comments written on this forum, turned deadly.
These kids were first charged with very minor crimes and found guilty and sentenced to a very short prison term. But the rage in the community and the state moved legislators and law enforcement to rethink and a Federal hate crime trial ensued.
I was one of the individuals very angry when these kids got away with murder. Now my heart aches for them and their parents, as well as for the victim and his family. Dozens or scores of people with a stake in this and a very serious stake indeed. As I look at the pictures of these kids, one of them only 18 I can't help but wonder how at such a very young age such great hate matured into this tragedy. Parents, I blame the parents. If these kids never heard racist comments at home or if they were actively taught that all people are truly equal this would never have happened. When will we learn?
Young parents, young fathers I hope you take heed and act and teach your children responsibly. Your words and actions just might avoid a tragedy like this in your future.