Disclaimer: I am not a licensed mental health professional and none of my assessments should be taken as fact given that this blog is humorous satire and simply my opinion on PUBLIC happenings. No accusations made should be taken astrue and should be taken for their satirical value only.
Why did the El Paso Times do an article on the crazy lady in Logan Heights and her racist sign? Actually - the sign isn't racist, she is. The sign is just a sign - it has not control over what is written on itself. I think we too often use phrases that reassign blame to the wrong place. She is racist, not her sign. Well, she's crazy - the sign and the racism are just a manifestation of that craziness.
Read the piece HERE, even though I wish you wouldn't give this woman or her issues anymore attention than they have already been given.
You don't have to read very far in the article realize that lady is nuttier than a Payday bar. Her views on people of color are terrible, and obviously motivated by mental illness. If that's fodder for news, the EP Times need only visit any of the various homeless encampments around town (under the freeway in the culverts) to find a treasure trove of insane people making insane comments about their insane beliefs.
The real news story was simple - here's a lady who needs some help. She thinks people are out to get her and take her property (paranoia is red flag the size of Texas indicating someone might be crazy, by the way). Her property has been damaged and is not suitable for modern habitation (the occupiers are redefining that term, though). The community needs to get this woman some help and make sure she's not sleeping out in the cold. I don't like the fact that she makes anyone feel unwelcome because of their race, however I don't like the fact that the paper is making an insane person into a news story. This does not help her mental state.
Shame on the paper. An editor should have nixed this story after reading it last night. Hell, the reporter should have had the conscience to tell his editor that the story shouldn't run because the lady has lost it and ain't ever going to find it again. Borunda is great all the time, I'm surprised this story came from his pen.
We shouldn't be so eager to burn racists at the stake that we forget - or purposely ignore - mental illness and what part it plays in creating these thoughts in these people. The number of people suffering from mental illness in this country is in the millions. We do all of them a disservice when we do what was done here in this article. You are no less human becuase your elevator no longer goes all the way to the top and you've got more than a few screws loose.
Now the lady will have real reason to believe someone is after her once some idiot decides to take out their dislike of racists on her and her property. Don't think for a second that she won't be visited by people who think they are doing the right thing by taking social justice into their own hands. Somebody is going to get hurt and when that happens, I'm going to be looking squarely at the El Paso Times for stirring the pot. There will be blood on their hands. For God's sake the lady is already marching around with a rifle - which is her right, but you just know that someone is going to push her buttons and we know she isn't making the best decisions right now. It's a disaster waiting to happen.
Again, shame on the paper. They're supposed to be better than this.
The Time's report was much better than the TV reports. The one I saw/read didn't mention anything about this woman's history of unstable behavior. The sign is wrong, of course, but the bigger story is this woman's crazy behavior and the fact that she is armed and threatening people. Her racism pales in comparison. This is a disaster waiting to happen and all the proper officials already know about it, like city officials and police. They need to do something NOW before some gets hurt or killed.
Posted by: westside voter | November 01, 2011 at 01:26 PM
sorry to say, but this article is the number one article being read this morning on the el paso times internet address. its been number 1 since about 7 am and is still number 1 now. i guess this is what it takes to get people to read your newspaper on the internet and make your advertisers happy.
Posted by: the lynching of another black conservative | November 01, 2011 at 02:27 PM
I've met her and she is ok. What I don't understand is people's lack of understanding etc for the disabled...I can only conclude it is because we are a society totally based on status and who 'better' etc eg ladder climbing etc.
She told me she did not understand why re her house and the Government. She seemed honest. I saw some of her pro se lawsuit filings...I did not help her and thought some of her legal writings needed to be clearer but I admired her pro se layperson effort. She even rode the Greyhound Bus to New Orleans once on one of her appeals.
I disagree with any racist views, in the real world there is racism everywhere and I think I can see how in her world re her abode etc how she say such a awful thing. While some 'community leaders' may be racist and some criminals too...this poor woman's views are hardly the problem. The problem I see is societies treatment of the disabled in the name of who is smarter or 'better'.
One unnamed candidate ran for office last year who may have a disabilty and I was appalled at comments re his disabilty. I personally found him more real and humanity than any slick stuffed suited ladder climber.
I am also appalled that our government sanctions vigilante gaslighting as a M.O. against the disabled and nondisabled.
Posted by: Carl Starr | November 01, 2011 at 04:18 PM
Carl - many people have posted on the El Paso Times that they know her and she is not ok mentally. Disabled? Are you saying she is ok, but mentally disabled? Then she does NOT need to have that gun and she needs help. She is angry and dangerous and that is NOT ok.
Posted by: westside voter | November 01, 2011 at 04:58 PM
And it is not a matter of a lack of understanding - this would not be an issue if she wasn't acting out publically, making threats and waving a gun. It is a matter of alarm and concern. You think people should just leave her alone even though this is potentially a dangerous situation? If so, you are very wrong.
Posted by: westside voter | November 01, 2011 at 05:03 PM
Yeah, I bet this woman is a real hoot at cocktail parties. The local fishwrap does seem to be delving into sensationalistic journalism. Which reminds me, have you seen todays headline on the Weekly World News? It reads: 'BatGirl claims to be carrying Herman Cain's love child.' Now that I DO believe.
Posted by: WAYtooSMARTforTHIScrowd | November 01, 2011 at 05:29 PM