POV -The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández | PBS 2008

[La1Chona]

very sad:( tht one of are's hispanis boys died ths way

[joynthis]

More border troops coming soon.

[joynthis]

More troops headed for the border. More of this coming soon.

[tejanovet]

I was a Marine for 5 years. I'm from south Texas and seen this film, read the newpaper articles and in fact the Marine C.O. interviewed in it was LtCol McGee whom I served with in Iraq. The Marines in this situation should have been convicted and dishonarably discharged with a suspended sentance. How can we let this happen to an American boy!? A US citizen born and bred when the Marines were in the wrong but the case with Border Agents Compean and Ramos has those men sent to prison for and ileg

[eatpumkin090]

If the troops are guarding the boarder. So what was this person doing right on the boarder. They're are not enough facts in this story to really base an opinion...

But, to blame an entire army for one persons mistake is rediculous. If you were to get in a car accident you wouldn't blame everyone on the freeway. So why blame everyone else that has been doing a good job at serving their country.

It's sad that he died but you have to let things go, accidents happen nothing u can do about it.

[averagejoesgym71]

I was in the Marines 9 years. I think it was an accident. Nonetheless, Marines are trained to kill. Sure, they get "peacekeeping" training also but thier specialty is killing. I haven't seen the film yet, but, my initial impression is that someone or someones from Border Patrol should spend a couple months in jail. It is unacceptable that they were not responding to calls for assistance. One vehicle with one loudspeaker could have cleared up everything.

[hiram1308]

if you watch the documentary which u obviously happen, you'll learn that the community that they were in was an agricultural place, and esequiel, the one killed, was hearding sheep, once you see the documentary you'll see the crime behind the story, don't start talking about something you know nothing about, learn your facts before saying that a family should get over the death of their own, when there was no reason for him dying to begin with.

[eatpumkin090]

@hiram1308 I posted that comment over a year ago. I really don't care.

Maybe it was the. I notice everyone that doesn't support having a boarder is getting approval from everyone else and everyone that supports it is getting internet rage thrown at them.

It's easy to say "boarders are in humane". But no one thinks about the effect it has on the economy and job loss to legal citizens.

Instead of complaining about stuff on the internet. Go do something in REAL LIFE about your issues.

[troym33]

yes i would want marines guarding out streets, they would take out alot of thuggish idiots that don't deserve to live anyway, yes we need borders into our country to be guarded. let the democrats run the show and we will have alot more terrorist acts upon us and nothing will be done about it. i hate that the guy got killed and don't really know the whole story, he was problly somewhere he shouldn't have been but i don't know. someone please tell me the story so i have the facts.

[averagejoesgym71]

I could give you a number of sources, but, for now, just watch the documentary "Power of Nightmares" to get a small sample of just how off the mark you are. Right wingers, particularly neocons, use fear to control you. They encourage the boogie man so your fear will make you irrational.

[hiram1308]

this story takes place in a border town along the rio grande river, and its a small community that border patrol agents were saying that there was a lot of drug smuggling going on, there was really no reason for the millitary to get involved but they did, obviously border patrol agents need somebody else to do their job, esequiel was hearding sheep along the river, actually near his home and he had a small 22 on him, the marines claim he aimed at them but there is no way he could have because

[hiram1308]

the marines were camoflauged, and since its the marines you figure they are pretty well camo'd up, the marines claim he points the 22 at them so they take fire on him, it could be said to be an accident, but can you imagine the heartache his family feels for their son being killed in his own home basically over nothing, he was minding his own business, doing what he does everyday

[concienciaylibertad]

A story that must be told. Borders aren't humane.

[eatpumkin090]

Borders have nothing to do with bieing humane. I'm not racist nor have ever been but this is what happens when mexicans come into the countie.

The find jobs an work their asses off. That's fine but than they send their hard earned money down to mexico. This causes the us dollar to go down dramaticaly.

They sit here and leach off the system an never give anything back. Infact where I live imagrants get more privlages than leagal citizens.

inhumane? how about unjust?

[averagejoesgym71]

First, show some respect. Would you write Americans or America without capitalizing? I think not....just the brown people countries, huh? Second, stop watching Fox news. The top 1% in the U.S. control 40% of the wealth. If the working class would ever stick together we could all have a better life. People like you prevent that from happening by being so ignorant and bigoted that you think you have more in common with White multi-millionares than you do the minority working class.

[sagondo]

Traditionally the Marines have been deployed as a policing and intimidation force, tantamount to deploying trained killers as "peace keepers", when in reality they are provocateurs. When the threat to the public manifest itself, it will come in the presence of a well armed military posing as peace keepers,but acting as judge,jury and executioner. It is your government that is the biggest threat to your liberty and life. we have yet to feel the impact of Bush's policies: soon you will.

[VALDIGNE]

justice for Esequiel Hernández !

[HansCent]

I happen to catch the show last night. And the interesting part to it was, he had a MARINES poster at home and his little brother tore it up after his death. As for the episode being too 'left' well, you really need to see it before you judge it.

[2ndfloorlakewood]

My son is a Marine right now, I know all about what they train for. I too am a veteran. But, this was such an unneccessary death of a fine young man. However, from all that was said, this young man knew something was out there, especially if he was watching the goat's behavior. If one of the four Marines did yell "U.S.Marines", after Esequiel fired his 2 shots, then he must not of heard them, or no one yelled it at all. We only have the four Marines testimony on that.

[drapetomaniac]

This event is ENTIRELY ignored when discussing putting troops on the border. People want men trained to kill in war situations on the border. Would we want them on our streets every day?

[odserick]

typical anti-military, anti-American, left-wing drivel. It's no wonder it's showered with accolades....makes me sick!

[dudev]

Only an unquestioning gubbible fool would speak as if the military rules our nation. The military is supposed to answer to a civilian authority, not the other way round. That boy was an American citizen. His family deserved answers, don't you think? Simply questioning military policy isn't "anti-military". Only a fascist would see it that way.

[VALDIGNE]

you make us sick

[videoaccess001]

One dead person. I agree it's terrible on U.S. soil, but how many American lives have been lost in war to secure our freedom. This is huge on a small hometown scale, but means almost nothing when we compare what all our military has gone through for us. He benefited from that freedom and so do I. It's just happens to be I don't live near the border and point my gun in any direction toward a marine.

[dudev]

"point my gun in any direction toward a marine."

The boy couldn't see the marines. They were wearing camouflage. I can't stand people like you, who unquestionable kiss the ass of the military. Being a patriot doesn't mean checking your brain at the door. The military is supposed to answer to a civilian authority, not the other way round. Times change, and one day you might have a military boot on your head. Stranger things have happened in history.