Freedom isn't Free

We just lived through a pretty somber weekend, marking the 9th anniversary of the cowardly attacks on civilized society by Islamic extremists.

Lauren's Garden, Market Square Park

If you were on hand for the dedication of the new Market Square Park garden in downtown Houston, you were moved by the significance of the dedication of Lauren’s Garden, named for Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, who was among the passengers who perished on United Airlines Flight 93.

I am dismayed that this year’s commemoration of 9/11 was marred by politicizing the event, and the turmoil over a fringe group of equally-extreme zealots hell-bent on burning copies of the Koran in protest, and act equally as cowardly, and blatantly hypocritical of the tenets of Christianity and the American ideals upon which this country was founded. 

Burning books is not what real Americans do.

In the midst of this mis-placed hypo-patriotism was a story that didn’t get much play, yet, ironically was reported on the same day most American’s respectfully mourned the loss of 2,996 innocents: A most-wanted drug trafficker from Texas, snagged by Mexican federales, decided to appeal to the United States system of justice, instead of facing judgment in Mexico.

He’s known as “La Barbie,” but he’s no doll, according to a Houston Chronicle story, responsible for some of the most heinous, bloody crimes in a turf war for control of the drug trade between Mexico and Texas.

Edgar Valdez Villareal was born in Laredo, and started his nefarious career selling pot in high school. With his Mexico drug connections, he rose through the ranks, beheading his enemies along the way. 

Who says marijuana is a victimless-drug?

Now Villareal would rather take his chances in America’s justice system than be left to the justice for which Mexico has become infamous. According to his attorney in Houston, Kent Schaeffer, “La Barbie” wants the same kind of deals other drug thugs have gotten: 

Plea bargains providing leniency in exchange for intel on his peers. 

According to the Chronicle story, such cases rarely go to trial.

In America citizens are guaranteed a trial by our peers. 

Perhaps that’s just the kind of justice Villareal deserves. 

In Mexico.