Taken from the Los Angeles Times 8/02/02

COLUMN ONE
Ballad of the Poor Samaritan

Some praise illegal immigrant for returning $203,000, others say he's a fool. Meanwhile, he's still a dishwasher.


"It's easy for people to tell you what you should have done. It's not their life. I tell them it's so easy, huh? They weren't in my skin."
-- Ascension Franco Gonzales

By HECTOR BECERRA, Times Staff Writer


On a lonely evening beneath the skyscrapers of downtown Los Angeles, Ascension Franco Gonzales had the kind of moment Mexican songwriters put to music and transform into myth.

The ballad, or corrido, would tell the now-familiar tale: How last Aug. 27 an armored truck lurched, its back doors flipped open and out tumbled a bag containing $203,000. And how Franco, an illegal immigrant dishwasher, picked it up. And how he gave it back the next morning.

But it's doubtful the corrido could capture the vexing fallout of that fateful decision, the knuckleball trajectory of integrity's consequences.

"Everybody says I'm an idiot," said Franco, who is still washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant in South Los Angeles. Well, not everybody. His mother back in Mexico is very proud. And two Hollywood moviemakers think he may have a tale worth telling.

"A poor fellow finds money, and gives it back. That's a profoundly moving story," said Paul Mazursky, writer of films like the Oscar-winning "Harry and Tonto." "Most of the rich guys I know, they wouldn't be giving it back."

"It has the power of a fable—of myth," said screenwriter-novelist David Freeman. "I mean, you would think, finding the money, just having it, that creates troubles. But once this guy decides to give it back, that's when the craziness begins for him."

It was Aug. 27, about 8:40 p.m., at 7th Street and Grand Avenue, when temptation belly-danced into his life.

Franco, a boyish 23-year-old with a self-deprecating sense of humor, was waiting for the bus when the $203,000 fell to the street. There wasn't another soul around. He picked up the clear plastic bag and, to be safe, poked through trash canisters for a dark garbage bag to conceal the loot.

"I won't deny I needed the money, that I thought about [keeping] it," Franco said.

But if he did take the money, would anyone back home really believe he had found it? Maybe Franco would become the subject of another kind of corrido, a narco-corrido, the kind that extols the deeds of drug dealers.

He told his five roommates at their South-Central apartment that if he saw anything on the news about the money, he would return it. But that was just an excuse. He knew it would be on the news.

The next morning Franco called the police, who asked questions over and over. Could they tell the media? No way, he said, fearing that publicity would lead the Immigration and Naturalization Service to his door. They agreed to meet him near the baseball field at nearby Gilbert Lindsey Park. He stuffed the money into his laundry bag.

One of the officers, Sgt. Rick Sanchez, had yet more questions. He also asked, again, if the police could alert the media. Again, Franco said no.

Sanchez persisted, telling Franco he could get some job offers. Franco reluctantly relented. As Mazursky tells it—in a scene that "made the movie for me"—Franco asked for only one thing.

"After the cops took the money, he was looking at them, and they said, 'What's the matter? Is there anything else?' He said, 'Can I have my laundry bag back?' " said Mazursky, cracking up.

Glowing newspaper stories about Franco appeared across the country, as well as in Latin America, Asia and Europe. But he was irritated—"I made a fool of myself"—when he agreed to wash dishes in the background as a Spanish-language TV reporter pronounced that Franco would "continue to be a poor dishwasher."

When the news reached Tepeapulco, his hometown of 45,000 about 90 minutes northeast of Mexico City, strangers approached his family to congratulate them on his honesty.

"I cried of joy," said his mother Paula Gonzales, 47, when she saw her son on television. "He seemed a little gordito," she added, referring to the weight he had put on in the two years since she had seen him. "I thought it was a miracle from God—that God illuminated the path for him. We're very proud of our son. Honesty is something we inculcated in him."

Others called him un buey— literally an ox, figuratively an idiot.

His father, Liberio Sergio Franco, 49, said friends as well as strangers had told him that his son "should have come back with the money."

Even one of Franco's uncles, Gonzales said, called him an "idiot for returning money God had secured for him." A close friend in Los Angeles also lobbed zingers, giving Franco a nickname he still hears: Niño rico. Rich boy.

"It's easy for people to tell you what you should have done," Franco said. "It's not their life. I tell them it's so easy, huh? They weren't in my skin."

Raul Anorve, director of the Los Angeles-based Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de California, said many day laborers and immigrants had seen Franco's good fortune as a blessing from God, "like the money came from heaven."

"Some said he deserved to flee with the money," Anorve said. "Poor immigrants do so much of the dirty work and never get the recognition. 'Something like this comes along, and at least one of us gets lucky, and he ought to have kept it.' "

Franco brushes off the criticism. More galling is the suggestion he lacks the drive to succeed.

"They said I lacked malice that night," he said. Then, thinking better, he said the word isn't malice; it's more a mix between that word and cunning, perhaps ambition.

And to suggest that Franco lacks ambition is to miss the dream that drove him to the United States in the first place.

When he was about 8, he began to notice how hard and long his mother worked cleaning houses, often the houses of the town's wealthier residents.

"He would tell me, 'Mama, sit down a little,' " she said. "He would say, 'When I'm big, I'm going to make you a really big house—so you could have your own house to preoccupy yourself with and you won't have to go to work.' "

She had worked since she was a girl, and in farming towns like Tepeapulco, she said, there aren't many opportunities for what might be called prestige jobs. So people take pride in doing what needs to get done. "You go forward," she said, "on the basis of working."

She and her husband couldn't afford to put Franco through high school, let alone a university. After working as a carpenter, his father's profession, and in the garment industry, Franco sold wares at a small store.

Two years ago, he came to California to raise money for his mother's house. "She worked too much and she had worked enough already for us," he said.

The man who would be heralded for his honesty saw no contradiction in crossing the border illegally. Conditions back home had given him little choice, he said.

"The factories are finished," Franco said of the empresas that once provided jobs in Tepeapulco.

And it seemed so easy to make money in the United States, an impression created by the young men, or chavos, who returned from up north. "The chavos who came from here to the town carried a lot of cash. It's the thing that pushes you to think you can make money over here," Franco said.

But the illusion of easy money quickly broke down. Franco worked hard—10 hours a day, six days a week—at a Chinese restaurant for about $1,300 a month. He sent $600, maybe $800, a month back home. He helped pay for the funeral of a cousin who was killed in a car wreck near the agricultural fields of Modesto.

On his one day off, he might eat at a mariscos, a seafood restaurant, or join friends at los bailes—dances. But just as often, he stayed home.

When Mazursky and Freeman, assisted by an interpreter, took him to the Pantry restaurant a few months ago, he looked straight ahead, as if embarrassed by the busy scene around him.

"There was a lot of good-looking chicks walking in and out, but Ascension doesn't look much to the right or to the left. He just looks at the food," said Mazursky, who pronounced him "a nice kid."

Franco wants to build that house, and says that clowning around and cotorreando—flirting—with girls, would delay that goal. The worst thing, he long thought, would be to get in trouble, to draw the attention of the authorities. It's a fear natural to the undocumented. He'd never even gotten a traffic ticket, and that was a small point of pride.

Mazursky and Freeman had entered his life in October, though they had to wait to meet him. He was too busy working, raising money for his mother's house.

At first, Franco wasn't sure his life was movie material, especially when Mazursky and Freeman said a movie might have a love interest. Franco, who often jokes about the sorry state of his social life, said: "Well, introduce me to that woman, because in real life, I know no such person."

The mixing of fact and fiction doesn't concern him, Franco said. He just thinks a movie, which is still not a done deal, would just release more gossip.

"They're just going to talk even more," he said. "Well, what are you going to do?"

Franco never did get a job offer. "With difficulty I found this job," Franco said of why he hasn't found something better paying than dishwashing. "I'm the kind of person, I won't even think of moving out of a job unless I definitely have something else lined up."

Although Franco trusted the police not to turn him in to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, he feared the publicity might lead to his arrest. The coverage also unnerved his boss, who remains anxious about the publicity.

INS officials have said they have bigger problems to worry about than a single undocumented immigrant who did a good deed. A rumor spread in Tepeapulco that Franco was even given citizenship—his papeles, papers—for his act.

"Here's your 'papers,' " said Franco, flicking his fingers in an irreverent signal that he had gotten no such thing.

But the armored car company did give him a reward—$25,000. After taxes and paying $700 to a check-cashing place—another downside to being undocumented—he netted $17,000.

He gave some of the money—a couple hundred dollars here, a thousand there—to a few people who had helped him when he first came to the United States.

Most of it he sent to Tepeapulco, where his parents raised the shell of the house he had promised them as a boy.

Franco still needs about $10,000 for windows, electricity and other finishing touches. He'll keep working until he gets it, he says. Then he'll go home.

"Yes, they criticize him," his father said. "But many also congratulated us for having such a son. They speak to us with respect. And those who talk bad, they see the house, and their mouth falls."

Thanks for posting this, ReyTJ. I was having a bad day, and this definitely lifted my spirits a little. If there is anybody who deserves amnesty and permanent residency status, it is this guy, IMO. I am surprised no politician has jumped on this story and tried to do something to help Franco out, while also making himself look good. I hope the guy makes twice as much off the movie deal as he would have gotten from keeping the money.

Hippie is 100 percent right this guy is just one of the many illegals that do good for us

Not all are bad people !

Milky

The guy is an idiot. He should have kept the money.

-Superman-

Hmmm its a sad day when we have to praise someone for doing something that was the right thing to do.

Superman is right. The guy is a complete moron. Imagine what it must be like, dragging your ass to some shitty dishwashing job every day, knowing that you could be living the good life right now, if only you weren't a god damned fool.

The virtues of truth and non-stealing outweigh monitary rewards. Advanced people realize that a sizable amount of $, is stolen, is simply not worth the excess baggage. Once you realize these things, the decision is easy. Until you realize these things, the decision looks foolish. I am not saying this moralistically, by the way.

From the article: "Some praise illegal immigrant for returning $203,000, others say he's a fool. Meanwhile, he's still a dishwasher."

In case you didn't catch it, here's the important line: "Meanwhile, he's still a dishwasher."

Here's another impoirtant paragraph:

"At first, Franco wasn't sure his life was movie material, especially when Mazursky and Freeman said a movie might have a love interest. Franco, who often jokes about the sorry state of his social life, said: 'Well, introduce me to that woman, because in real life, I know no such person.'"

Incidentally, if he kept the found cash, he wouldn't be stealing, anyway, He would just be keeping what he found.

So,let's think about this. What's better:

1. Scrubbing dishes 60 hours a week for shit wages in Los Angeles, or

2. Living the high life and having sex with beautiful women in Mexico.

Not a very tough decision at all, once the problem is broken down to its essence.

I'm glad that Superman and Kendricks said nothing that would change my opinion of them. Ahora007, I agree on basic principle, but feel that praise is warranted in this case because of the fact that most people, IMO, would not have done so. Also, when I stated that he would be a good person to have permanent residency, it was as much because he works his butt off and stays out of trouble as because he returned the money.

I wonder if they knew serial numbers. Probably if it was new money going to a bank. Don't know what I would do.

Kendricks, you're forgetting one possible outcome, getting caught with it somehow. There is a crime related to receiving stolen merchandise called "Failure to return found property". It's a misdemeanor/felony wobbler. In this case no doubt a felony.

Oh yeah, this idiot dishwashwer went through all the possible scenarios (serial numbers, risk/reward, etc). Einstein missed the "Hmmm, I'm an illegal ... maybe I should turn in this money anonymously to avoid drawing a great deal of attention to myself." LOL.

This poor schmuck thinks he's going to heaven because he "did the right thing." The truth is the guy is going to be a dishwasher for the rest of his life, at best. He will also probably get deported, which will amuse me to no end (the sweet irony ... do a good deed, get fucked by the government). When all is said and done, he will turn to dust and fade away into oblivion like every other once-living thing on the planet.

Pseudo-moralists rule. It's OK to fuck prostitutes, cheat on wives, and to have sex outside of marriage, but stealing is wrong. LOL. Anything can be rationalized ...

-Superman-

Ldvee, if I found that much money, I would sock it away, keep my job for a while, and slowly let my bank balance build up while I made all of my purchases with cash, instead of making withdrawals (while simultaneously making small cash deposits).

If the serial numbers were sequential, I would replace them a few hundred at a time before depositing them. Not once have I ever had a dealer in a casino, for example, check the serial numbers of a bill I hand them against a list of stolen bills. Their only concern is whether the bills are real. It wouldn't be very hard at all to cash in a few bills, play conservatively for a little while, and then cash out the chips for new bills, which could be deposited in any bank, worry free.

I don't think I need to spell it out in any greater detail, but it would be easy to keep one's job, have several bank accounts, and cash in a grand or two a week, which could be deposited in different accounts, to keep the numbers under a point that would attract attention. Also, all of my Tijuana trips would literally be paid for with FOUND MONEY!!!

I think the risk v. reward ratio would obviously dictate keeping the cash.

Hippie, you have also said nothing which could change my opinion of you. I previously thought you were an empty head, and you have simply confirmed this.

Superman, however, has greatly impressed me with his clear, concise, and bitterly honest understanding of the idiot who returned the cash, his thought processes, and the dark irony of his future. I had always known that Superman was intelligent and insightful, but did not previously realize how profoundly intelligent and insightful he truly is. His paragraph which begins "This poor schmuck thinks he's going to heaven..." is one of the smartest, most clearly written things I have ever read on this forum.

His comments on the rationalizations of pseudo-moralists were right on target, too. Rock on, Superman.

For some people (I was originally going to say many, but maybe some is more realistic) there are more important things than money, especially money that is not earned legitimately.

There have always been and will continue to be happy poor people and miserable wealthy people. Look at some of those that have destroyed their lives at the height of their fame and fortune, compare them with those that have every opportunity and advantage as Americans yet post "How do I find happiness?" threads, and contrast them with some of the happy, yet poor families you know of. If you don't know any, ask some of those living in other countries about some of the poor people they've encountered that are happy with and appreciate the life they have.

I won't deny that money can make make life much easier and can help some find happiness, but money itself is not an answer. Many people realize this too late in life.

No one knows what will happen to this guy yet. Superman's prediction is entirely possible. Another possibility is that the movie idea pans out or some wealthy Mexican-Americans are so moved by his story that his financial gain turns out to be much more $200,000. That would be a much better financial bottom line than hiding the money and using it a little at a time to not draw attention. If he ends up making more money in the long run and does so with a clear conscience, is he still an idiot?

Even if his financial situation remains unchanged, what is the value of feeling that your accomplishments in life have been earned as opposed to a matter of a freak accident? If you can accomplish nothing unless a bag full of money falls at your feet, what value do you have? How does it feel when your friends say, "the only reason he has any money is because he found it by accident?"

I do find the pseudo-moralist point interesting, especially when people post strong opinions of what is right and what is wrong.

"What is the value of feeling that your accomplishments in life have been earned as opposed to a matter of a freak accident?"

The currently living Kennedys and Rockefellers, GW Bush, and all other members of royal families throughout history did nothing to earn their money, either, yet I don't see them giving it away to wash dishes in a Chinese restaurant.

How do they feel when people say, "the only reason you have money is because it was handed to you"? Or maybe they don't say that, since most people know, when it comes to money, that only one thing truly matters: how much of it do you have?

The man in the story was born into a harsh situation, and finally caught a break. Then he gave the break back. No matter how much psychobabble is injected into this thread, the fact remains: he is an idiot, who surely regrets his decision every day that he has to drag his ass back into the kitchen to scrub pots and pans for another ten hours.

Kendricks I don't know. I'd be more careful, safe deposit boxes, maybe hire some ex Arthur Anderson accountants, I know I would consult with the CFO of the company I work for, he's real good at hiding money when he has it and creating it when he doesn't. Don't think I would deposit in any bank accounts in the US.

And yes, I'd be plenty generous with las chicas, as if I'm not already.

Gotta go now for my Sunday evening run. Best way I know to end the week. ;-)

the sweet life

It's easy to pick and choose your examples, why didn't you use and rich and famous people that committed suicide or destroyed everything they had? By your logic, every person that's achieved fame and fortune should be the happiest people in the world.

You have absolutely no idea what most people know. Remember, you said yourself that most people do not have the capacity to understand your arguments. Most people do not lead angst filled lives which prompt them to pose questions about how to find satisfaction in life while they hold an advantage over 95%+ of the world. Most people also do not hold respect for serial killers who eat thier victims nor domestic terrorists who have targeted American airlines.

It's also easy to dismiss arguments against your own as psychobabble, however I am not the one claiming I know how someone whom I've never met feels every day when all I have for my basis is a news story that indicates otherwise. I also don't need to culo lick "profound" posters because so few people agree with me.

d'Art, I was wondering when the personal attacks were going to begin. Thanks for not disappointing me.

First, I never said that money is the only necessary factor for happiness. However, as far as that one factor is concerned, having money is always better than not having it.

Second, my own life isn't really angst filled, although I do occasionally have some down days. Do you know anyone who never feels down?

Third, most people do not respect Kaczynski simply because they have never read his works, or are too limited in their mental capacities to fully comprehend them if they did. What does this have to do with Ascension Franco Gonzales, anyway? Talk about a red herring...

Fourth, the number of people who agree or disagree with any point of view is absolutely immaterial. In any event, in an honest poll, I think I would be far ahead of you on this topic (since you are the one who brought up popularity!)

In any event, why does it bother you so much that I praised Superman's profound insights into this scenario, and the motivations of the players/commentators? I never saw you attack anyone before for complimenting another poster. What gives?

First, I agree that having money is always better than not having it. What I don't support is your constant complaining about how stupid other people are, especially those that have the balls to make tough, honest decisions which are consistent with their values, are supported by their family, and reflect an understanding that there are more important things than money.

Second, everyone has down days, but not everyone has to complain about everything they consider bullshit in life on prostitution websites. You are also the biggest complainer about how stupid other people are that do not hold similar views to your own.

Third, most people do not respect Kaczynski because he was a terrorist and murderer. The example and your response illustrate how little you understand how people think.

Fourth, my reference to "most people" relates to your proclamations about people such as what most people know about money or why most people do not respect Kaczynski. The references are not for your benefit, but for those who are unfamiliar with your writings so they may see how distorted your perceptions on people are. Also, I didn't state my point of view nor what I would have done. I explained possibilities and reasons for actions you seem incapable of understanding or refuse to consider.

Your Superman compliments don't bother me, I'm sure he's a cool guy, but I do find it amusing the way you lavishly praise those that agree with you and dismiss and insult those that disagree.

Thanks Kendricks ... I've always known how brilliant I am, but it's nice to see the rest of the world is finally catching on ;)

Another way to dispense of the money would be giving it to TJ whores ... they certainly don't check serial numbers. Bring $300 down per trip, and that $203,000 would probably equal a lifetime of TJ mongering, and definitely a lifetime of Thailand mongering. Free whores for life ... what a concept.

-Superman-

Kendricks:
Kaczynski? Fine
Dahmer? Fine

But culo-licking “Superman” is unforgivable.

I hereby resign my membership from your fan club.

Ah, free whores for life... That would be the way to go. $203,000 divided by 300 equals 676.66, or enough for two trips a month for 26 years.

I bet that if Ascension had thought it through like that, they couldn't have pried that bag of cash from his fingers with a crowbar.

Here we have a tale so heart warming, it speaks volumes. A man working hard to repay his mother's love and kindness. Obviously a man of pride and self-respect. Foreign to this country, but not foreign to dignity.

How could such a man give his mother a ill-gotten gift? If discovered, would not Brinks put a lien on the new home of this beloved madre?

Yet, upon the splendid glory of this tale falls the droppings from the vultures of the world. Finding it easier to prey upon the misfortunes of others, they're content to merely sit upon their perches awaiting their next easy meal.

I applaud the man, but still think INS should toss him back across the river with his reward money in hand. TEACH THOSE WETBACKS A LESSON I SAY!!!

D'art

By now you should know that Kendricks is always right. Even when he is wrong he is right.
The Ken/Bryon thing was funny as hell if you remember that one.

Kenny you must have some nice posts over at your buddies site. I got an email the other day from one poster over there asking about you. He said you are one of the most interesting people on the site. It must be tough to entertain all 7 people on it.

I look forward to more arguements here

Dogster

All kendricks proves with this is he is dishonest.
I also agree with you hippie. He does deserve some praise but dont think for a minute that the thought of getting caught didnt cross his mind.

DonGringo says: "TEACH THOSE WETBACKS A LESSON I SAY!!!"

What a disgusting display of racism. Instead of "Dongringo", your handle should be "Uglyamerican".

Kendricks;
"Uglyamerican?"; If I actually WAS an American, perhaps I should call be called that! Since I am but a lowly "wetback" myself, I thought it acceptable to use this term. Forgive my eastcoast naivete for using such a slanderous barb, Kendricks. I didn't realize I'd strike a nerve with someone who's as politically correct as you.

I find it quite odd that one who frequently expresses himself without regard for the feelings of others would call me onto the carpet for such a "faux pas". Kudos for your newfound conscience Kendricks!

Incidently, exactly when did social awareness become your new forte?

Social awareness has always been my forte. That's why I advocate that poor Mexican immigrants do not return large sums of found cash to large corporations, and why I have expressed outrage at the people in here who have suggested that Mexican immigrants deserve to die in the desert.

I happen to know, and be related to, a lot of Mexicans who are very fine people, and I do not at all appreciate it when people like you attempt to dehumanize them.

This guy does deserve some further reward, like a green card just based on his decency. He is the kind of guy I would not mind having as a fellow citizen, rather than some asshole cholo who has the good luck to have a US Citizen relative to sponser him.
As to people saying he was a fool for turning it in, you are morons. Whatever happens to him financially in life, he has kept his dignity and self respect, which are much more valuable than money. Furthermore, he is ILLEGAL which means no bank account (as of last year, now illegals can open them)(He even, according to the story had to pay $700 to cash the refund check). Therefore, how is he going to stash the money in the bank? He could take it back to Mexico, but it is a crime to move more than $10,000 out of the country at a time without reporting it, if he reported it they would give it back to the armored car company, if he did not and got caught, the money would be confiscated, and he could go to jail.
Now, if I found the money, who is to say what I would do...

Also, stealing is stealing, whether from the poor or from a company. And keeping found stuff, if you know who the owner is, is STEALING.

Actually, I would feel that I had lost all dignity and self respect if I gave up the shot to bring a substantial amount of cash back to Mexico with me, and instead had to spend 60 hours a week scrubbing pots and pans for a pittance.

Any self respecting human being owes it to himself to grab for the brass ring, wherever he can find it. How do you think the company that originally owned the cash made their fortune, anyway? By exploiting the economic circumstances of others. How ironic that Ascension de la Pendeja had the chance to turn the tables, but decided to fuck himself in the ass instead.

Kendricks
From a purely legal standpoint, consider this; an ILLEGAL alien did something legal by turning in the cash. Pay him his reward and escort him back across the border. If he still wants to come to work and live in the USA, let him apply for a resident alien card like the rest of us law abiding immigrants.

Contradictions are the threads you use to weave every preposterous post on the fabric of this board.

My "dehumanizing" wetback post was a shot at myself - you missed the point and took it personally.

While calling for a higher standard of respect for Mexicans who are your friends and family, you then say "Actually, I would feel that I had lost all dignity and self respect if I gave up the shot to bring a substantial amount of cash back to Mexico with me".

You then explained your world view quite well in one sentence:
"Any self respecting human being owes it to himself to grab for the brass ring, wherever he can find it".

You only have respect for yourself and those who appear to agree with you. You follow the law of Kendricks, not the law of the USA. Well when you buy the Isle of Kendricks and establish your autocracy, perhaps many will set sail to your better world. There certainly will be enough wind for trip.

Actually, dongringo, it appears that it is you who is contradicting himself. Your handle identifies you as a gringo, yet you now claim to be an undocumented mexican immigrant (or are you unaware of what the "wetback" slur refers to?). This is especially odd in light of your past comments that you have never been to mexico.

In any event, I have been quite clear and consistent in my opinion that people who live their lives as hapless cattle are not worthy of my respect. All of the crap you have been taught about your "duty" to OBEY others is designed merely to control your life and your mind. You are a chump if you fall for it, and I honestly have no respect for chumps.

The subject of this thread, Ascension de la Pendeja, has proven himself to be a complete chump, and undoubtedly deserves his sentence as a dishwasher. If he had any balls, he would be a free man, with a couple hundred grand in his pocket. Since he has proven himself to be a eunich, he can instead resign himself to servitude.

My vote for the funniest line of this entire thread is "How do you think the company that originally owned the cash made their fortune, anyway? By exploiting the economic circumstances of others".

jajajjajaj We gotta get more socialist paranoid conspiracy theory nuts on this board. Trust me, every post will be fun reading.

Yes indeed Kendricks - I admit to being ignorant of the fact that the term wetback is derogatory and reserved solely for Mexicans. Perhaps if I ever made it over to the west coast that would be more obvious. Well ... I guess that clears up my only contradiction ...

By the way, before you became enlightened, were you more open minded then?

I am always open to new new information, new points of view, and new ways of looking at the world.

What I have no patience for are small minded bigots, and petty minions who spend their lives in mindless obedience to rulebooks.

There are places that have safety deposit boxes available that don't require an ID to rent.These are not banks ,are very secure and as long as the rent to them is paid up they have no interest in your Identity.There are at least a couple of these vault companies in Vegas and I would have to figure there would most likely be a few in california.

I look at finding money the way he did as a blessing that he rejected. If it was money from the bank, that would just add to my justification list to had kept it.

DG,

Autocracy, Derogatory, Naivete ????????

I haven't worked so hard reading a post since I studied Middle English!

HC1

"What I have no patience for are small minded bigots, and petty minions who spend their lives in mindless obedience to rulebooks. "

Am I now to be labelled a bigot for the acknowledged misuse of a term?

Does it make me a petty minion for pointing out the fact that a confessed illegal immigrant is "washing dishes at large" in this country? Either grant him a green card or throw his ass back across the border, but don't turn a blind eye to it. What kind of message does this send to the rest of the Mexican community? Sounds like "Come on in - the water is fine!" Why even bother with border patrol?

Stay focused Kendricks. See if you can address the point without digressing into yet another tyrade. Bless us with your pearls of wisdom as relates to illegal immigration in general, or better yet THIS illegal mexican immigrants status.


Oh, and good point GCL, about the socialist thing.
"We gotta get more socialist paranoid conspiracy theory nuts on this board. "

Some people simply ignore a post when it touches a nerve...
(Spread the word...Kendricks is a commie, a pinko, a bleeeeding heart liberal)

HC1
Sorry dude, but I write to the level of the reader, and Senor Kendricks has an impressive mastery of the english vocabulary. He's a well educuated, well read eccentric who might otherwise immediately dismiss my words. In spite of our differing opinions on most every topic, I'd still buy him a beer if we met. I'd keep a tight grip on my wallet, however, after reading his posts about how he would treat "found money"!

Funny how kendricks fights for the Mexican cause unless it happens to be a poor Mexican girl impregnated by some worthless gringo that doesnt want to pay child support!

I am not getting into values and concsienciousness here. But, let me point out that the guy already received $25,000 as a reward which he can keep legally. It won't be the end, either. He will likely cash in more for his celebrity; as movie/book rights and appearance fees (the guy must be at the top of the list for every talk show in America). So, at the end, he may be getting something close to what he gave up.

Another thing I would like to point out is, from the reward he received, he sent "most of it" to Tepeapulco, so that his parents could live in a bigger house. Therefore, the thought of using the money for his own mongering was clearly NOT on his mind.

Funny too that Kendricks likes to take a moral high ground and in the same breath advocates stealing.

"Any self respecting human being owes it to himself to 'steal'". Well thank goodness thiss guy apparently don't have much self respect. But
I bet he sleeps well at night. And he may just end up coming out ahead on this if the movie rights work out for him.

The reason I initially didn't respond to the "socialist" post is because it was an asinine statement, and really not worthy of comment. By special request, though, I will debunk it.

A socialist is one who advocates the collective ownership of the means of production. Nope, not me. I do not advocate such a thing. A communist is one who advocates collective ownership of the entire economy. Nope, that's not me either.

It really is sad that some of you guys are so utterly controlled by propoganda that you see the world only in two shades: "good" is what you have been taught to believe, and "bad" is everything else, which is "communist" or "socialist". If it weren't so sad, it would be laughable.

As far as being a bleeding heart liberal goes, well, it was also me who said that women who defraud men by getting knocked up don't deserve to have the government sanction their fraud. Damn, your "bleeding heart" label gets tossed into the shitcan, too.

Now, here is a concept for you guys: it is called "free thought". Thinking without preconceived limitations and boundaries. Not allowing self serving representatives of the media, government, and religions to tell you what is right and wrong, but acting in your own rational self interest. Actually understanding a situation, instead of being driven by knee jerk reactions to self defeating actions.

What a fucking concept, eh?

There is a classic story gcl and a few others need to read. It is called "Robin Hood", the hero of the people who stole from the rich, and gave to the poor.

Actually, more accurately, he returned to the poor the wealth that the rich had stolen from them over the years, by means of taxes and other forms of theft.

There was a young man named Ascension,
Who's brain must have been on vacation.
He found $200 k,
But he gave it away,
Life does suck when your heart is so craven.

Wait - you are all in a paradyn of misconception and not seeing outside the bun. The problem is not in Ascension Franco, the main issue that should be addressed is what happened afterwards.
You see, Ascension received approx. $25,000 in reward money for turning in the lost money. Should he have turned in the money or should he have kepted it? Is the glass half full or half empty? The only person who can decide is the person who found the money, nobody else because if there are 1 million mongers on a clubhombre board, there probably will be approx. 1 million different opionions/reactions, and who's right besides me :-)???

The problem I see is the good ol' U.S.A. You see, our great state got to keep approx. 7 or 8 thousands dollars of the reward money!!! How's that for 'honesty'. Also, when receiving the reward money of approx. $17,000 or $18,000 dollars, Franco had to pay another $700.00 to the cash agency who cashed his check. Again, the good ol' U.S.A. was able to profit approx. $8,000 from an illegal's good faith! I believe that there should be a law in which under circumstances such as Franco's, he should have kept the entire amount due to him not being a citizen of the United States.

Knowing how much he was deprived from his reward -gives Kendricks and Superman more credit on their views about the entire fiasco. The money was found, case closed. Would it be different if Franco was a businessman, perhaps ceo of Enron and that ceo happened to find the money. What do you think would have happened? Would that ceo then give back the money? Hell no!!! Look at all the thousand of investors who were swindled out of their savings and investments. And what did those blue collar ceos use other peoples money for.........themselves and to live life large at the expense of the poor. To buy mansions, expensive cars, land, more houses, vacations, hotels, fine dining, rolexs, jewelry, diamonds, jets, planes, etc...and what did Franco use his reward money for? To build a larger and better roof for his parents.

Under the conditions that he was in, by all means, keep the money. Yet perhaps spend the money to make your life better, your familys life, perhaps provide an education for realatives, purhcase food for the needy, open a child care, or a type of hospital to help the less fortunate that way the money can be used for the good of people. Who knows, perhaps create a business in mexico so that it can provide some type of financial means of a job oppurtunity for the poor who cannot find work and are living way below poverty.

Raiders.

It really is sad that Kendricks is so utterly delusional that he sees the world only in two shades: "good" is what Kendricks agrees with, and "bad" is everything else, which is what Kendricks doesn't agree with. If it weren't so pathetic, it would be laughable.

"I am always open to new new information, new points of view, and new ways of looking at the world."

That has got to be the biggest joke of all. Kendricks has confused his acceptance of nonconventional theory with open-mindedness. He is so insecure with his position in life that he proudly pounds his "free thought" across his chest while dismissing other thoughts as controlled by media, government, or religion.

What a fucking fool, eh?

When Kendricks openly admits to respect for domestic terrorist Kaczynski and serial killer Dahmer because they "think outside the mold", it shows the rest of us how truly worthless his respect is. That he brings up respect at all is especially amusing since the respect others have for him diminishes with every judgement post he makes about other people.