" I think that people were probably not really behaving any better. I think that the Moderators are possibly reading racism into immigration comments that is not really racism. It is difficult to discuss an illegal population that is mainly from mexico, and not have accusations of racism emerge. Of course, you are asking us to comment on responses we never see, as they do not make it to the posts. But the ones I see on the immigration issue do not seem to be racist.
I was talking to a woman who was born in Mexico city, and she was accused of being racist for wanting clarification on a hispanic name printed in a story. It is very possible that certain meaning is being attributed by the reader, or moderator, based on their predjudices, that was not meant that way by the original poster.

OR, it could be all the racists in Napa are to busy paying attention to the election to have read the "Gang" articles. I am sure that those who so easily throw out the racist accusations are probably thinking along those lines..... "

" I agree with Sandra.

This country seems to be confused on what is and isn't racism.

It IS racism if you deny a person of a different race the same basic rights as you.

It ISN'T racist to dislike a person of a different race because they are jerks.

End of story. "

" I think you got it right Dan in your statement, "People in Napa County seem tired of gangs, but see that issue as a solvable issue. People in Napa County see illegal immigration as a problem they may be unable to resolve."

Illegal entry and it's far reaching impacts, including the gangs, are the real problem. My frustration is that our government and lawmakers don't seem to want to do anything about it on a large scale. Consequently, Nortenos, Surenos, Mexican Mafia and other very dangerous gangs are allowed to thrive international and state borders.

Not all gangsters are illegal immigrants or born of illegal immigrants but if you addressed the illegal factor it would produce very positive results that illegal entry has on crime and gang activity nationwide. "

" The Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton groups have made a name for themselves and kept in the headlines (as well as keeping donations up)
By throwing the words "Bigot" and "Racist" around whenever someone openly opposes their views or will.
Those words have been used too freely to quiet people from speaking their mind.
When a large ethnic group as whole does something someone dislikes and they speak out.
Someone always throws in the accusation of "racism" or "bigotry" "

" sandra, cellsitegod, and everyone:
You both touch on a good point about racist/hate speech comments that come in to this site and end up being deleted.
A huge number of the deleted comments include something along the lines of
"All (Mexicans, Hispanics, Latinos, or a derogatory phrase)," thus labeling an entire group of people the same.
Because illegal immigration is a hot topic around here, people making comments often label the entire group with comments like, "If all (insert race here) would get up and move back to where they came from, we'd all be better off."
Is that a racist statement? Yes it is, as it is a derogatory comment directed at an entire group of people, and moderators are instructed to delete such comments. "

" Okay, then, Paddy. If it's illegal immigration causing the gang problem...what if legal immigration of people from Mexico doubled? Would you have a problem with that? Do you personally believe that would cut down on the gang problem? I don’t. Not because I think that gangs are a “Mexican” thing, but because most of the gangsters are already here—the most dangerous and most prolific of the Mexican gangsters are second-or third-generation immigrants.

That's the problem here. No, it's not racist to dislike someone personally regardless of race or color. It is racist to generalize an entire population. I don't like to cry racism--it's somehow seen as "bad" to be politically correct--but let's face it: so many of the problems with illegal immigration do stem from racism. Obviously I know that the biggest illegal immigration problem by far stems from those illegal immigrants coming from Mexico. But I find it difficult to believe that people would be equally as up in arms if the problem were Caucasian people from Canada.

As for the gang thing, I don't think it's a solvable issue per se; I think it's an issue that can be handled. My uncle and a friend's dad are both cops, and I know they work very hard. I think the people of Napa--for the most part--recognize that and are willing to come together to solve this issue. Turning it into an issue about immigration won't solve anything, and I'd like to think that the people of Napa are smart enough to realize that. "

" pharper - I stated that illegal entry is a problem that includes gangs and gang violence. I didn't say that it's the sole cause of the gang problem.

However, we can take this back a couple of generations. My guess is that if you track 2 or 3 generations of violent gang members you will find illegal entry either from one or both parents/grandparents.

The gang problem will grow exponentially unless our country gets a handle on illegal immigration. It will never completely go away but if we'd gotten a grip on illegals 20 or 30 years ago we wouldn't have nearly the same impact that we're experiencing today. "

" One of my friends from Canada worked illegally in the U.S. and I told her that I disagreed with that. She eventually got her green card and now can work legally. I did not "turn her in" , but neither have I ever turned anyone in. I am very much against illegal immigration, but it has nothing to do with where they are from. Many of those illegal immigrants in Florida are from the Caribbean, but what difference does that make? I did not find the fair theme objectionable, nor do I find celebrations of Hispanic culture (or any other culture) objectionable. The majority of gang members are Hispanic; some are "legal" or citizens and some are not. But I am definitely concerned about gang activity and the hazards they pose for the rest of us. "

" I believe that the reason illegality may have some bearing on discussing gangs with names like "nortenos" and "surenos" is that those who enter illegally have already shown a great willingness to break the law for personal gain. It's not really much of a stretch to think that children of those who arrive illegally, wherever those children are born, may continue the practice of breaking laws for personal gain. Parents' actions provide a blueprint for their offspring, and kids very often do what their parents do, not what their parents tell them to do.
This isn't a racist observation. It is a human behavior observation. "

" Dan-
Most people say "illegals" which isn't a "derogatory term", it's who they are. "

" I agree with diehard4ever, I have tried to post comments that have the word "illegals" and it was not posted.
Do the author's of the articles themselves review/censor the comments on their own articles?
Nobody can dispute the fact that the majority of our illegal population is made up of mexican nationals.
Is it politically correct to say: "If all ILLEGAL MEXICAN NATIONALS would get up and move back to where they came from, we'd all be better off."?
Where is the line drawn on using the words such as "Hispanic", "Mexican" and "blacks"?
The register quotes police using these words in articles.
Are the Nortenos and surenos all Mexican members? They are quoted as "Mexican gangs".

Dan,
Will the use of the word "illegals" be censored going forward?
An illegal is no paticular race nor specific country of origin.
Just trying to understand the rules. "

" diehard and cellsite:
the word illegals does not get a post deleted unless it is added to with phrases that indicate all Hispanics are here illegally, etc., so your portrayals are not quite accurate. Most people do not say illegals, many posts that are included, however, add such reference.
As stated previously, when inaccurate comments about an entire ethnic group are sent in, the comment is deleted. "

" The gang series was well written and informative I purposely avoided reading the comments as even the most well-intentioned posters often slip into patronizing commentary that in and of itself may not be racist but by analysis can be shown to be just that. One clue to this are those who would preface their comments with what they believe themselves not to be and merely switch the euphemisms to present the same fear laden accusations in an acceptable form.

One criticism of the series is, while revealing it shed little light on the epistemology of gang formation but rather unintentionally reinforces the idea that current gangs are not a product of the local environment but imported from a foreign land. Where it may be true that gangs tend to have a national or ethnic aspect it is not what lends credence to their origin. The truth that many avoid is that current gangs were originated here in the U.S. and not in other countries. We are not speaking here of the Mediterranean Pirate romance of the mafia but of a modern phenomenon whose roots were formed on U.S. soil then exported and re-imported in a more virile strain.

Not to recognize this is to avoid responsibility and seek to shift the attention to those countries that are less equipped to cope with the problem and avoid the need to address the cause here. "