Hot House Flowers
Encyclopedia
Hot House Flowers is an illustrated, allegorical
children's book
written and self-published by Brooklyn
criminal court
judge
John H. Wilson, which compares illegal immigration
to dandelions which overrun a greenhouse
.
It is illustrated by Marina Tsesarkaya.
The God
-like hothouse owner removes the dandelions. When the original dandelion sends in more seeds the native hothouse flowers use their roots and stems to push the dandelion seeds to the bottom of the hothouse, where they cannot grow. Seeing this, the dandelions outside the hothouse stop sending seeds in.
, has requested an inquiry by the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct, alleging that the book demonstrates Wilson's inability to act impartially in illegal immigration cases. §100.4(A) of the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct allows a judge to engage in "avocational activities" as long as they do not "cast reasonable doubt on the judge's capacity to act impartially." The Advisory Committee ruled in 1999 that judges may write nonfiction, but that "promotion of such works should not exploit the judge's judicial position."
Wilson is responsible for night-shift arraignment
s in Brooklyn, a position that requires him to set bail
for defendants, during which he says he takes a defendant's immigration status into account: "It's got to be a factor — if a person's an illegal immigrant, how likely is it that he's going to come back to court?"
Wilson has described the book as an allegory for "the defense of home and country," which he defends as an expression of his First Amendment
rights. On Fox & Friends
, Wilson stated that illegal immigrants "probably should be seeking legal counsel about seeking exit from the country."
Margaret Fung, executive director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, stated: "I would hate to be an immigrant in his courtroom."
, a spokesman for the Minuteman Project
, praised the book as giving "great insight to children and families on the issue of illegal immigration."
Lewis Black
, a commentator for The Daily Show
, characterised the book as "combining the charm of The Hungry Caterpillar
with the subtlety of a Brooklyn criminal judge."
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
children's book
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
written and self-published by Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
criminal court
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
John H. Wilson, which compares illegal immigration
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
to dandelions which overrun a greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
.
It is illustrated by Marina Tsesarkaya.
Plot
A dandelion from outside a hothouse releases her seeds into the hothouse and the dandelions begin to use up all the water, soil, and sunlight. The native flowers, who remain silent for fear of appearing intolerant, begin to wither.The God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
-like hothouse owner removes the dandelions. When the original dandelion sends in more seeds the native hothouse flowers use their roots and stems to push the dandelion seeds to the bottom of the hothouse, where they cannot grow. Seeing this, the dandelions outside the hothouse stop sending seeds in.
Alleged judicial misconduct
Steven Banks, chief attorney for the Legal Aid SocietyLegal Aid Society
The Legal Aid Society in New York City is the United States' oldest and largest provider of legal services to the indigent. It operates both traditional civil and criminal law cases.-History:...
, has requested an inquiry by the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct, alleging that the book demonstrates Wilson's inability to act impartially in illegal immigration cases. §100.4(A) of the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct allows a judge to engage in "avocational activities" as long as they do not "cast reasonable doubt on the judge's capacity to act impartially." The Advisory Committee ruled in 1999 that judges may write nonfiction, but that "promotion of such works should not exploit the judge's judicial position."
Wilson is responsible for night-shift arraignment
Arraignment
Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal complaint in the presence of the defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him or her. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea...
s in Brooklyn, a position that requires him to set bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
for defendants, during which he says he takes a defendant's immigration status into account: "It's got to be a factor — if a person's an illegal immigrant, how likely is it that he's going to come back to court?"
Wilson has described the book as an allegory for "the defense of home and country," which he defends as an expression of his First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
rights. On Fox & Friends
Fox & Friends
Fox & Friends is an American morning television show on the Fox News Channel.-History:The show begins at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time with the latest Fox News Live headlines and analyzes the news of the morning...
, Wilson stated that illegal immigrants "probably should be seeking legal counsel about seeking exit from the country."
Margaret Fung, executive director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, stated: "I would hate to be an immigrant in his courtroom."
Praise
Tim BuelerTim Bueler
Tim Bueler is a media and political consultant and is currently serving as the Director of Media Relations for the Minuteman Project an immigration reform advocacy group....
, a spokesman for the Minuteman Project
The Minuteman Project Inc.
The Minuteman Project is an activist organization started in April 2005 by a group of private individuals in the United States to monitor the United States – Mexico border's flow of illegal immigrants. Co-founded by Jim Gilchrist, the name derives from the Minutemen, militiamen who fought in the...
, praised the book as giving "great insight to children and families on the issue of illegal immigration."
Criticism
Norman Eng, a spokesman for the New York Immigration Coalition criticized the book: "I think it's irresponsible for someone to write a children's book like this — one that poisons the minds of impressionable young readers with the idea that immigrants are to blame for the world's ills." Annette Clifford of the Daily Press calls it an "ugly allegory."Lewis Black
Lewis Black
Lewis Niles Black is an American stand-up comedian, author, playwright, social critic and actor. He is known for his comedy style, which often includes simulating a mental breakdown, or an increasingly angry rant, ridiculing history, politics, religion, trends and cultural phenomena...
, a commentator for The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
, characterised the book as "combining the charm of The Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a children's picture book designed, illustrated and written by Eric Carle, first published by the World Publishing Company in 1969, later published by Penguin Putnam. The book follows a caterpillar as it eats its way through a wide variety of foodstuffs before...
with the subtlety of a Brooklyn criminal judge."