Close to the bone

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10330397

NPR did a story yesterday on gangs in Sunnyside, Washington USA. We heard the story driving to pick up Memphis from school; heading to a library event [at the Douglass Truth branch]. At first I chuckled "that's my home town!"; then I was pissed off. Apparently the city administrator they interviewed believes [or so he implied] that Mexicans are the root of all criminal activity; that they have brought this culture to Sunnyside for decades [which covers my time there]. WTF!

Sunnyside was many things to me; but it was not criminal. And there certainly were not any gangs at the source of any criminal activity [trust me, I would have known]. Sure young people [and this is where I have a problem with the slant on the story] were doing dumb things; but to be clear it was both white and Mexican kids. Funny how most of my bad influences in Sunnyside were white kids trying to shed their farmboy personna.

So if you're inclined; send NPR a piece of mail and let them know what you think about this piece of [you choose] reporting. Con paz.

frank