Good morning. Though only a few weeks old, WHEN BLOGS ATTACK! has already carved out its niche as a column dedicated to the issues of the day. We try to address current news events in neutral tones. Yet every so often a story comes along to which we cannot help but speak from the heart.

Most of you out there have probably heard of the terrible tragedy of Maleny Mendez. This past Sunday, little Maleny was killed after leaving a friend’s party at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. She was done in by a stray bullet, fired by members of the St. James Gang from the Bronx. Maleny was only 10-years old. She was an innocent bystander walking home with some friends, hit by ricochet fired by Mexican street toughs.

Now, I’m not going to play Al Sharpton. I’m not going to try and convince you that these members of the St. James Gang weren’t the culprits. These were impulsive, hot-headed, cowardly young men. They crashed a private party at St. Paul’s, and when the hosts wouldn’t turn over any free alcohol, these young hoodlums walked across the street and they planned their revenge. They waited until the party let out. Then, when they saw Javier Fuentes, the young man who had turned them away, exiting St. Paul’s, the young hoodlums broke out guns and started shooting. So cowardly were these young hoodlums, they used a street to separate themselves from their target. So cowardly were these young hoodlums, they didn’t even have the stones to approach Javier Fuentes, to look him in the face. Instead, they squatted in hiding, like the cockroaches they are. And in the end, they only injured Fuentes, but killed an innocent little girl.

What you have just read are the irrefutable facts, as reported by the New York Post. You will notice, however, that I refer to the culpable party as “members of the St. James Gang.” I do not place blame for Maleny Mendez’ death on the entire gang. Nor should anyone. To do so would be no different from blaming the entire country of Afghanistan for the events on Sept. 11th. Let us not weld the actions of a few reprehensible chicanos to Mexican youth groups in general. Let us never generalize.

However, I realize that many outraged readers—who could not be outraged by the death of an innocent child?—will say, “Of course YOU, Phil X, would defend these Mexican gangs.” Yes, I do defend them. But NOT for the reason one immediately assumes. While my past affiliation with Mexican street gangs from California has been well-documented—I am still referred to as “El Diablo Amarillo” in certain circles—I speak not from misplaced loyalty. Rather, I am aware of the rich cultural history inherent in Mexican street gangs.

Mexican street gangs grew as a result of economic squalor and racism. After the Alamo, white America’s attitude towards Mexicans, even nationalized Mexicans, was intolerant. A typical young Mexican-American found himself growing up in the “barrio.” This was synonymous with the ghetto. Chicanos found themselves discriminated everywhere; if lucky, they could find work doing the dirtiest, most dangerous jobs. And naturally, Mexicans feared the racist police. Ironically, Mexican street gangs formed to protect their neighborhoods from POLICE extortion.
How did all of this change? After World War II, Mexican-Americans had much less to fear from the white government for some reason. Gangs from northern California turned against gangs from southern California (Supposedly, it had something to do with whether Desi Arnez was gay.) Mexican pimps started unionizing, which led to the forming of the mafia. And in prisons, everyone was doing a new dance.

But my point is, do not blame all Mexican gangs for the death of poor Maleny Mendez. Do not even blame the entire St. James gang for her death. I would like to quote an internet article by Al Valdez, Investigator for the Orange County District Attorney's Office. The entire article can be found at http://www.nagia.org/Hispanic_Gangs.htm. In his article on Hispanic gangs, Valdez lists many of the customs and rules which Mexican street gangs are supposed to follow. They include:

(A) Never committing crimes in your own neighborhood,

(B) Never involving innocent people, like women and children,

(C) Schools, as well as churches, stores and movie theaters, are neutral ground.

It’s pretty f*cking obvious that Maleny Mendez’ killers did not follow any of these rules of engagement. In my opinion, no self-respecting member of a Mexican street gang can overlook this. This is an internal problem; like mafia members sleeping with other mafia members’ wives.

If the problem is not solved internally, by members of Mexican street gangs themselves, the worst possible thing could happen: the police themselves could end up taking care of it. Should this happen, the public image of Mexican street gangs nationwide would never recover. Mexican parents would no longer be comfortable with their children in Mexican youth groups. They will start admitting them into other organizations; for example, the Boy Scouts of America. Now, from what I’ve inferred via comedy sketch shows, many of those “scout-masters” are homosexuals. I can only imagine how screwed-up our young peoples’ morals would become. Before you know it, they won’t want to visit the bordello for their fifteenth birthdays anymore. What other alternatives are there? The 4-H club? I’ve got three words for you: West Nile virus.

So it is clear that there can be only one solution: Mexican street gangs must find this rogue member in their midst—it can’t be that difficult, since his photo is constantly shown on the news—and they must turn him in to police. Or kill him, whichever comes first. For he is not our brother. He has turned his back on the sacred tenets of Mexican street gangs, and spilled innocent blood. A 10-year old’s blood. Only by cutting this cancer from our bodies, though he is of the same flesh as ours’, can the institution known as the Mexican street gang endure into the next millenium. I hope it’s done quickly. The fate of several prostitution circles, and the continued extortion of Mexican shopkeepers hinges on the outcome.