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Re: U.S. Vigilantes Test Drones on Mexican Border
By Deborah Tedford (Reuters - 5/13 - 7:40 PM EDT) -- See Feature

To: <Info@americanborderpatrol.com>
Subject: Washington Post/ Reuters article
Reply-To: <jsmith@------.com>

Do you object to the use of the term "vigilante"?  It seems as if our wonderful media loves to use their terms instead of reporting the truth.  The article uses the term vigilante at least 7 times when speaking of you group.  

vig·i·lan·te[vìjj lántee <http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/Pronounce.aspx> ](plural vig·i·lan·tes)noun1. law-enforcing citizen: somebody who punishes lawbreakers personally and illegally rather than relying on the legal authorities

  Do you use illegal means?  Do you punish lawbreakers. I don't know of or about your group, but if you were vigilantes you would be prosecuted and convicted as such.  I did a search and could find no stories of any such accusations about your group.   Please make the WP & Reuters print the news and not their commentary.  

Sincerely,   J Smith -- Los Angeles, CA    

To: info@americanborderpatrol.com
Subject: Good work

Hi folks:

I know you have lots of detractors on the "left", but I am one environmentalist who appreciates your efforts. It is very disturbing to me that my colleagues in wildland protection are silent on this issue as we are often complaining about "human disturbance" in many other habitats, yet turn a blind eye to this problem. Not only are these illegals destroying habitats and poisoning the creeks desert wildlife so much depend on, but they are making it dangerous for us to enjoy the very national parks we claim to support.

A recent visit to Organ Pipe National Monument was telling. This was the site of the murder of a park ranger (imagine, a park ranger attracted to our wildlands murdered and virtually no one speaks up) -- but I was told by both BP agents AND National Park employees to be careful on the 51-mile loop, part of which runs along the border, and that it wasn't a good idea to camp there. Jeez, how about taking control of the damn border?

Clearly, the Federal government continues to abdicate its responsibility in favor of political considerations. Yet in so doing, are only aggravating the problem that will lead, one day, to much worse consequences and damage long-term relationships between the US and Mexico that they claim to want to develop.

Keep up the good work. -- Regards, Stephen Dreher

Copy of Letter to the Washington Post in response to the article:

I say bravo for the courageous Americans down on the border. They are just doing the job the United States government will not do. As far as they being vigilantes and racists, how can anyone make these spurious claims when we have 8 to 13 million illegal immigrants in this country today and most came through the southwest border. As far as, "some of them armed", I would not be anywhere near that border without a gun because it is not only a major transit point for illegal alien smuggling it is also a major transit point for drug smuggling and they are heavily armed and dangerous.

Best Regards,
James Lane
Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 8:40 PM
Subject: Sent to Reuters Feedback

In the course of her 400 word article describing efforts by the American Border Patrol to monitor penetration of our country by illegal aliens, author Deborah Tedford 7 times refers to the group as "vigilantes". While the root meaning of the word 'vigil' - "an act or period of watching or surveillance" - certainly would be applicable, this is not how Tedford is using the word. Rather, she is using it in the pejorative sense as, "a member of a volunteer committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily."

At the same time there is this curious unchallenged quote by the Mexican official: "The Mexican populations along the border are indignant." Since when are Americans of Mexican ancestry living near the border "Mexican"?

It appears that Ms Tedford is in need of some vigilant oversight on the quality of her journalism. ---- Tim A.

Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 11:29 PM
Subject: Reuters hires stupid writer

Dear Editor,

Does Reuters hire just any uneducated stupid bitch to write for them or does her name have to be Deborah Tedford?

I am thankful that I live in America, where we still have "freedom of speech" and some News Publications practice honor and report the truth. Your despicable article is not the first report spewing FALSE information nor will it be the last. Moreover I am thankful that we have a multitude of very well educated citizens on this earth that are fully capable of recognizing a wolf when they see one, even if she is disguising herself as a writer. Deborah leaves false documentation for our children and grandchildren to read about when they will study history in the future.

Please feel free to keep your phone on the hook, no one that I know will give your publication an interview concerning volunteers working to disclose the truth about the "Invasion" Reuters has shown that it is not capable of reporting and printing the truth.

The following definition is provided to demonstrate that there are definitions available in the dictionary, Deborah uses the work like proud as a two year old boy that has just discovered his pee-pee for the first time, second time., or in the same manner that Ray Borane appears to still be doing, ("mayor of the border town of Douglas, Ariz., said the group's activities are racist.")(vig·i·lan·te (v?j'?-l?n?t?) n. 1. One who takes or advocates the taking of law enforcement into one's own hands.)

Cindy Kolb Hereford, Arizona cc: every honest American on my email list

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