Evelyn A. Servin & Presente

This is Evelyn A. Servin, a resident of either Russellville or Albertville, depending upon which news source you consult. Evelyn and her husband Jorge are activists--activists who throw around the word "racist" quite frequently. Perhaps the Servins feel if they use the word often enough many will come to believe it.

The song says "words are all I have," and certainly semantics can be either a champion of your cause or a cruel mistress. After all, according to many news outlets, there are no more illegal aliens, only undocumented ones.

Evelyn recently attended a protest at the state capitol in Montgomery. She and her followers are seeking nothing less than the repeal of HB56. We doubt that Servin and her cohorts accomplished much besides wasting time and gasoline.

Servin works for an organization called Presente, a champion of causes in U.S. Latino communities. This is certainly admirable up to a point. Which admirable causes are featured on their website today? Bringing more Latino categories to the Grammys. At least Presente is diversified.

Photo courtesy of the New York Times

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Need your fix for Shoals arrests, complete with photos? Look no further than:

The Quad-Cities Daily

Need your fix for scandalous behavior in Cherokee? Look no further than:

The Connection

Shoalanda

Civil Disobedience Ain't What It Used to Be

How do we feel about civil disobedience? It ain't what it used to be. Let's look in our billfolds and purses; what do we see? It isn't a pound note drawn on the Bank of England, so civil disobedience has its place...or did have.

In today's world of computerized record keeping, a simple arrest for a misdemeanor may follow a person his or her entire life. If your career doesn't depend on a spotless record, then go for it. If your vocation calls for a squeaky clean life, then consider letter writing as your best bet to effect change.

Why this topic today? It seems those opposed to Alabama's new immigration law have invited us to a protest of sorts to be held in Selma, of all places, on September 10th. We are encouraged to give an illegal immigrant a ride--around the block we suppose--in order to test this new law.

Our take on the law is that, while it may not be too little, it is too late. We've already spent thousands of our tax dollars on illegals who have added nothing to our culture. Yes, Alabama needs more education, but the state is not going to obtain it from Hispanic Indian farm laborers. Of course, we're not sure Wal-Mart in Russellville can survive without them...

Give an Illegal Immigrant a Ride

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Should Florence voters have a say in electing the Lauderdale County School Superintendent? As long as they pay taxes, yes. The argument that county residents spend money in Florence doesn't hold much water. As far as we know, no one is making them do so; however, Florence citizens are legally bound to pay taxes to Lauderdale County schools.

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A study has shown Florence and Lauderdale schools should be merged, the superintendent appointed, and higher standards set for the new system's teachers. The good news is we didn't pay for this study; the bad news is that it was conducted in 1965, and not one point from the study was ever incorporated into either the Florence or Lauderdale system. Did we hear someone say the more things change...?

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It's a sad day for Alabama that her one of our finest writers has passed away:

Kathryn Tucker Windham

Shoalanda

How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Prison Farm?

Our regular readers know that we oppose prison time for white collar crimes and early parole for those who have committed violent crimes. Now it seems the passage of HB56 may speed up parole for many of our state's inmates.

One provision in the newly passed immigration bill is to outlaw any correctional incentive time (good time) or early parole for illegal aliens convicted of any crime. It remains to be seen how this will affect Alabama's overcrowded prison system, but early release for legal residents may be one unintended result.

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I'm with Phil

Over the past twenty years, there have been several Phil Campbell celebrations attended by those named...you guessed it...Phil Campbell. This year's celebration, called I'm with Phil, will be a special one. Here's a link to the website promoting the June 17th-18th celebration. Good luck to all you Phils out there.

I'm with Phil Website

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University of North Alabama President William Cale concerning the proposed move to Division I athletics: "We should all have confidence that the board will act in the best interests of UNA.”

We're publishing that statement just in case you missed the original memo.



Shoalanda

Who's Here Illegally?/Opportunist?

Several liberally slanted groups have called Alabama's new immigration law racist. Yet there are 50K illegal Irish immigrants in the U.S., some living in Alabama. The new E-Verify will undoubtedly impact their lives here. How will Franklin County fare?

Judging from our e-mails, many will be leaving Franklin County, possibly headed to Texas or California. HB56 goes into effect September 1st. That gives illegal immigrants 90 days to...get legal? Leave? Hope for the best? Just what will they do?

Illegal immigrants aren't gasoline, or computers, or any other 20th Century arrival that we can no longer do without. In fact, Hispanic and other immigrants from south of the border were relatively rare 25 years ago. If HB56 isn't effectively challenged in the courts, in two years we will no longer notice any difference in our economy. In fact, Franklin County may even become the subject of a few documentaries. We suggest they use the publicity to their advantage.

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He's not a predator, but an opportunist? The word opportunist usually gets a bad rap, but there is no sin in taking advantage of a legal opportunity. What Quinnon William Riddle did to small girls was nothing short of predatory sexual behavior and that is a sin. Let's hope the 46 year-old Marion County man, now residing in the Franklin County jail, will have the opportunity for free state room and board for many years to come.

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Rockin' at the Roxy Tonight!

Shoalanda