"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
MOPNS Response to a Reader’s Comments | Missouri Political News Service

MOPNS Response to a Reader’s Comments

August 31st, 2007 by mopns · No Comments

Reader Gil Guerrero takes exception to the post we did Wednessday on Jay Nixon and his support of illegal immigration. We pointed out that Nixon is having booklets titled, “Conozca Sus Derechos,” (”Know Your Rights”) printed in Spanish at taxpayers’ expense. Mr. Guerrero was particulary agitated at our reference to the separatist group “La Raza.” Below is his entire comment and our response to a couple of his concerns:

“You do not have the slightest clue to what you are saying in regards to la raza. yes it means the race, but in Spanish it’s actual meaning is the people. There is no La Raza Movement. That is the biggest lie that you are promoting. The National Council of La Raza is an organization similar to the Urban League, what they promote is programs and conditions to improve the quality of life for Latinos.

You also rail against Mecha. Mecha students are politically aware, We all speak of Aztlan, or the Southwest because it gives us historical roots to be present in this country. WE just did not come yesterday. Many of our ancestors were here before anglo settlers. During the 1960’s many Americans of Mexican descent began to fight notions that they had to live as second class citizens. At the same time Latinos were dying in Vietnam in greater proportions than they were represented in the Us Population.

You are promoting hatred and divisivess that is a dark spot on American history. We have attacked every non Anglo Saxon immigrant since the birth of this country, starting with Polish laborers in Jamestown. Nativists and demogogues like yourself have been a cancer to this country for decades. Lucky for this Country that despite historic attacks on immigrants by people such as yourself, they went on and have gone on to contribute to the economy and defend this country. Many of the Latino soldiers in Iraq have families who came here as undocumeted workers. Latinos also have the highest percentage of Medals of Honor that any ethnic group.

THE history books of my grandchildren will teach of this time of tribulation and hopefully also mention the work of you and your fellow xenophobes in tarnishing the image of America as a land of opportunity and freedom..”

—————————————————————————————–

“You do not have the slightest clue to what you are saying in regards to la raza. yes it means the race, but in Spanish it’s actual meaning is the people. There is no La Raza Movement. That is the biggest lie that you are promoting. The National Council of La Raza is an organization similar to the Urban League, what they promote is programs and conditions to improve the quality of life for Latinos.:

Mr. Guerrero, your naive assertion that there is not a prominent La Raza movement insults me and the readers of this blog. As does every subversive organization that has a dangerous ulterior motive, they disguise their true aims with humanitarian good works. One issue they have embraced is school choice for poor Latino families. The organization received nearly eight million dollars in Dept of Education grants in 2005. La Raza’s embrace of school choice, is an option we’d like to see more African American choose as well.

You also rail against Mecha. Mecha students are politically aware, We all speak of Aztlan, or the Southwest because it gives us historical roots to be present in this country. WE just did not come yesterday. Many of our ancestors were here before anglo settlers. During the 1960’s many Americans of Mexican descent began to fight notions that they had to live as second class citizens.

Because I am an African American, does that allow me to illegally sneak into any West African country and claim squatter’s rights, simply because my ancestors probably came from that region of the continent? As an African American, I deeply resent your attempt to equate the discrimination Latino’s faced in the 1960’s, with that of African Americans. You must remember Mr. Guerrero, that while many of your people have entered America illegally, (and that is truly the question here) my ancestors were illegally brought from Africa to America. A major distinction I’m sure you will agree with.

…At the same time Latinos were dying in Vietnam in greater proportions than they were represented in the Us Population….Latinos also have the highest percentage of Medals of Honor that any ethnic group

Nice try with the “conservatives always attack your patriotism” straw man you attempt to build regarding Latinos valiant service in Vietnam. It’s not a question of patriotism Sir, it is a question of the rule of law. In a post 911 reality, we must secure our borders and encourage legal immigration.” Those that are in line to enter our country legally should not be discriminated against. It is a matter of security and fairness.

“History will show that this period of time for Latinos will equate with the hatred endured by the Irish and Chinese during the 1800’s and the Eastern Europeans and Italians of the early 1900’s.”

No, what history will hopefully continue to show, is that the Irish, the Chinese, the Eastern Europeans, the Poles, and the Italians came to America the right way: LEGALLY!

Comments

comments

Tags: Illegal Immigration

0 responses so far ↓

  • 1 St. Louis CofCC Blogmeister // Aug 31, 2007 at 3:28 pm

    MECHA’s slogan:

    For those of the race, everything. For those outside the race, nothing.

  • 2 Paul Ground // Sep 1, 2007 at 12:06 am

    So much stupidity, so little time!

    This is one of those pieces that begs a response it takes three days to write. I will not waste my entire Labor Day weekend on this sort of self-indulgent, unsubstantiated (and unsubstantiatable) drivel. But I have to share a couple of thoughts.

    The so-called “reconquista” movement represented by the esteemed Senor Guerrero is unique in American history. Whereas past generations of immigrants to this country, whatever their continent and nation of origin, understood that they were becoming Americans and were glad for the privilege, Mr. Guerrero and his ilk have a different approach. “We have a right to be here because you stole our country!” In other words, we don’t have to obey your laws because you stole our country.

    And what I love about this approach is this. Mr. Guerrero spends a lot of time telling us what great citizens Mexican-Americans are. But his bottom line is, “Screw ya! We’re entitled!” What sort of citizenship is that?

    One final thought. For various reasons, importation of slaves to this country ended in 1808. That means that unlike whites, who came in large numbers in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the ancestors of most black Americans were here before the War of 1812. And unlike Mexican Americans, a large percentage of whom came illegally, the ancestors of most black Americans came here as kidnapping victims. So comparing the level of discrimination against Mexican Americans with that against African Americans is ludicrous. From a white person’s perspective, Senor Guerrero, you have no gripe.

    And obviously I must be right. If the situation for Mexican Americans was as bad as you contend, you’d stop coming illegally to the tune of several million a year. From a Missouri perspective it is a nice comparison to keep in mind that the 3,000,000 or so Mexicans who immigrate here illegally every year is a number larger than the population of metropolitan St. Louis, including the part of the Metro Area that’s in Illinois.

    I don’t think one must be racist to object to that sort of invasion.

Leave a Comment