“An American doing an American job”

In “The Daily Show” report below, correspondent Aasif Mandvi wonders which border vigilante is the “Mexican”: the Minuteman volunteeer who patrols part of the Rio Grande for free or the gentleman hundreds of miles away who uses a series of webcams to patrol part of the border for free.

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As you can see at the end of the video, the correct answer is neither one!

Online Sources- The Daily Show

Follow-up: Columbia U. won’t invite Minutemen founder back

Minutemen founder Jim Gilchrest will not be invited back to speak at Columbia University. According to a post in Gothamist a tentative invitation was offered to Gilchrist by professor David Eisenbach, but the school’s Columbia Political Union (CPU) opted against issuing a formal invitation:

“The CPU was apparently interested in re-inviting Gilchrist with the hope of having Karina Garcia, the leader of the group who charged the stage last year, also speak at the event. According to Garcia, she told Eisenbach she was not interested in speaking with Gilchrist, but the CPU voted to invite him with the understanding that she would be participating. When it became clear that Garcia would not be speaking, the CPU decided to rescind its invitation to Gilchrist.”

Gilchrist replied to the rescinded invite by assuming that a return appearance would have "redeemed the Columbia University student body's reputation of being comprised of a...caveman mentality."

The change in plans occurred one day after it was reported that Gilchrist would be interested in speaking again at Columbia. His previous appearance in October 2006 was remembered by a melee involving students and Minutemen as he was trying to give a speech.

Sources- Gothamist, The Latin Americanist, New York Post

Image- Columbia University (View of Columbia University’s library)

Minutemen founder may return to Columbia U.

Jim Gilchrest- the founder of the controversial anti-immigrant Minutemen Project- claimed that he might lecture again at Columbia University. Though he did not provide many details, Gilchrist told the university’s newspaper that he would accept an invitation to speak again though “nothing is completely solid at this point.”

Gilchrist’s previous visit to Columbia last October was interrupted not by the peaceful protest on campus but by a fracas on stage between protestors and Minutemen supporters (image). Some students were reprimanded in March for participating in the fight though Minutemen spokesmen were upset over what the viewed as a light punishment.

The university’s College Republican organization invited Gilchrist to the ill-fated October event. Yet one member of the group would not want Gilchrist back for a return engagement:

“There was an interesting reaction from College Republican director of operation Lauren Steinberg (class of 2009): ‘Personally, I really hope he's not coming. I mean, it was a fun time last year, but I don't need it to happen again.’”

Image- NYC Indymedia

Sources- Columbia Spectator, Gothamist, The Latin Americanist