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Disclaimer: I am about to make myself sound like the right-wing extremist Secretary Napolitano has tried to make all vets into.
It's funny how motherhood can shift your mentality. Two years ago, before I had gotten pregnant, if I had heard all the reports, seen the videos of people openly calling for revolution in the streets, if I had known what was in the air now, I would have said "Let them come." In my household, we own a rifle (scoped) a shotgun, 2 handguns, a machete and 2 swords. This is in addition to all the smaller hand to hand weapons we have such as saps and brass knuckles. My husband is capable with his weapons, and I can defend myself with the .22 handgun if necessary. I never thought it would be necessary for me to do more than shoot the intruder coming through my bedroom door. My father, though I didn't know it when I was growing up, is also capable with his weapons and owns his own arsenal. With all the guys I knew in the Navy, with all their combined weaponry, I thought they were getting a testosterone kick. I thought it was their hobby to collect weapons as some girls I know scrapbook. There were always jokes of the coming Zombie Apocalypse. Tactics discussed, plans formulated, games played... even if it was in jest, it was a mental excercise that I'm now glad has been in the works. Back then, I'd have taken up my handgun and made my way to safe haven with my husband, driving only 5 hours up the road to Vegas and my family, then down to Texas. The me of two years ago would know America would survive. Our way of life would continue once the storm had passed. And God save the idiot who got in our way.
Now, I read the stories. I watch the videos. I am preparing our house to move to San Diego. San Diego, within stone's throw of the Mexican border. San Diego, who is currently attempting a failing boycott against Arizona. Now San Diego seems to be the worst place in the world to be moving to. If something were to happen, not only are we right next to the border, but we're also completely surrounded by Aztlan. And now, it's not just me and my armed accomplice. Now I have this tiny person who is completely dependent on me for everything.
I'll admit it. I'm scared. I'm afraid that something really bad is just on the horizon. Something truly horrible that will have to happen to really get people to realize how serious this is. The worst part of it though... the worst part is that the government won't do anything to help. In San Diego, if anything were to happen, the local government is likely full of people who are on the other side of the revolution. Otherwise, why would they be boycotting a federal law made state law? Now I look at her and I wonder if she will have an America to grow up in.
My husband thinks I'm paranoid. He thinks I've been reading too much too fast. He says "If this were all real, and serious, it would be all over the news." Never mind the fact that he doesn't listen to the news. We don't watch the news. His whole perspective on the world is what is showed in thumbnails on Yahoo. I point this out and he says "Fine, let's turn on CNN and see if it's on there." I tell him CNN more or less works for the White House and can't be seen as an unbiased source of information... especially when our President is playing at race politics and is trying to push a socialist agenda and probably trying to push amnesty as well. Then he says, "Anything but FOX." You see... a few years back, a journalist at Fox condemned the video game Mass Effect for 'penetration shots' of human-alien sex... something that isn't true. Because of this, he thinks that Fox is the least trusted news source around.
Maybe I am reading too far into this. Maybe that's just another symptom of this mentality shift of motherhood. Either way, I am truly afraid for our country. We have La Raza in the southwest, trying to start a revolution. We have people sneaking into this country through our more-or-less open borders, not only from Mexico and Guatemala, but from Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran. We are under attack from radical Islam, from Al Qaeda, from sociopathic idiots who just want to make the headline news. And amidst all this, we have a President... a President who is slowly but surely trying to "nationalize" our economy. This is code-speak for becoming a socialist nation. At first this whole Kagan thing seemed like it wasn't so bad... but when he pushes a law through Congress (who has been trained to not read the documents in front of them) that, yet again, violates the Constitution, who is going to call him on it? His fellow socialist in the Supreme Court? The problem here is that it will take something extreme, like the rise of La Raza, to get everyman, like my husband, to realize there is something happening. By that time, it may be too late for many real Americans who live in places like LA, San Diego, and Arizona.
Showing posts with label La Raza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label La Raza. Show all posts
Monday, May 17, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
A Message Forwarded To Me
This was forwarded to me. Really makes you think, huh?
Guest opinion: Raza studies gives rise to racial hostility
JOHN A. WARD...
As a former teacher in Tucson Unified School District's hotly debated ethnic studies department, I submit my perspective for the public's consideration.
During the 2002-2003 school year, I taught a U.S. history course with a Mexican-American perspective. The course was part of the Raza/Chicano studies department.
Within one week of the course beginning, I was told that I was a "teacher of record," meaning that I was expected only to assign grades. The Raza studies department staff would teach the class.
I was assigned to be a "teacher of record" because some members of the Raza studies staff lacked teaching certificates. It was a convenient way of circumventing the rules.
I stated that I expected to do more than assign grades. I expected to be involved in teaching the class. The department was less than enthusiastic but agreed.
Immediately it was clear that the class was not a U.S. history course, which the state of Arizona requires for graduation. The class was similar to a sociology course one expects to see at a university.
Where history was missing from the course, it was filled by controversial and biased curriculum.
The basic theme of the curriculum was that Mexican-Americans were and continue to be victims of a racist American society driven by the interests of middle and upper-class whites.
In this narrative, whites are able to maintain their influence only if minorities are held down. Thus, social, political and economic events in America must be understood through this lens.
This biased and sole paradigm justified teaching that our community police officers are an extension of the white power structure and that they are the strongmen used "to keep minorities in their ghettos."
It justified telling the class that there are fewer Mexican-Americans in Tucson Magnet High School's advanced placement courses because their "white teachers" do not believe they are capable and do not want them to get ahead.
It justified teaching that the Southwestern United States was taken from Mexicans because of the insatiable greed of the Yankee who acquired his values from the corrupted ethos of Western civilization.
It was taught that the Southwest is "Atzlan," the ancient homeland of the Aztecs, and still rightfully belongs to their descendants - to all people of indigenous Mexican heritage.
As an educator, I refused to be complicit in a curriculum that engendered racial hostility, irresponsibly demeaned America's civil institutions, undermined our public servants, discounted any virtues in Western civilization and taught disdain for American sovereignty.
When I raised these concerns, I was told that I was a "racist," despite being Hispanic. Acknowledging my heritage, the Raza studies staff also informed me that I was a vendido, the Spanish term for "sellout."
The culmination of my challenge to the department's curriculum was my removal from that particular class. The Raza studies department and its district-level allies pressured the Tucson High administration to silence my concerns through reassignment to another class during that one period.
The Raza studies department used the "racist" card, which is probably the most worn-out and desperate maneuver used to silence competing perspectives.
It is fundamentally anti-intellectual because it immediately stops debate by threatening to destroy the reputation of those who would provide counter arguments.
Unfortunately, I am not the only one to have been intimidated by the Raza studies department in this way.
The diplomatic and flattering language that the department and its proponents use to describe the Raza studies program is an attempt to avoid public scrutiny. When necessary, the department invokes terms such as "witch hunt" and "McCarthyism" to diminish the validity of whatever public scrutiny it does get.
The proponents of this program may conceal its reality to the public. But as a former teacher in the program, I am witness to its ugly underbelly.
Arizona taxpayers should ask themselves whether they should pay for the messages engendered in these classrooms with their hard-earned tax dollars.
The Raza studies department has powerful allies in TUSD, on its governing board and in the U.S. House of Representatives and thus operates with much impunity.
Occasionally there are minor irritations from the state superintendent of public instruction and the Legislature.
Ultimately, Arizona taxpayers own TUSD and have the right to change it. The change will have to come from replacing the board if its members refuse to make the Raza studies department respect the public trust.
John A. Ward is a former teacher at Tucson High Magnet School.
Guest opinion: Raza studies gives rise to racial hostility
JOHN A. WARD...
As a former teacher in Tucson Unified School District's hotly debated ethnic studies department, I submit my perspective for the public's consideration.
During the 2002-2003 school year, I taught a U.S. history course with a Mexican-American perspective. The course was part of the Raza/Chicano studies department.
Within one week of the course beginning, I was told that I was a "teacher of record," meaning that I was expected only to assign grades. The Raza studies department staff would teach the class.
I was assigned to be a "teacher of record" because some members of the Raza studies staff lacked teaching certificates. It was a convenient way of circumventing the rules.
I stated that I expected to do more than assign grades. I expected to be involved in teaching the class. The department was less than enthusiastic but agreed.
Immediately it was clear that the class was not a U.S. history course, which the state of Arizona requires for graduation. The class was similar to a sociology course one expects to see at a university.
Where history was missing from the course, it was filled by controversial and biased curriculum.
The basic theme of the curriculum was that Mexican-Americans were and continue to be victims of a racist American society driven by the interests of middle and upper-class whites.
In this narrative, whites are able to maintain their influence only if minorities are held down. Thus, social, political and economic events in America must be understood through this lens.
This biased and sole paradigm justified teaching that our community police officers are an extension of the white power structure and that they are the strongmen used "to keep minorities in their ghettos."
It justified telling the class that there are fewer Mexican-Americans in Tucson Magnet High School's advanced placement courses because their "white teachers" do not believe they are capable and do not want them to get ahead.
It justified teaching that the Southwestern United States was taken from Mexicans because of the insatiable greed of the Yankee who acquired his values from the corrupted ethos of Western civilization.
It was taught that the Southwest is "Atzlan," the ancient homeland of the Aztecs, and still rightfully belongs to their descendants - to all people of indigenous Mexican heritage.
As an educator, I refused to be complicit in a curriculum that engendered racial hostility, irresponsibly demeaned America's civil institutions, undermined our public servants, discounted any virtues in Western civilization and taught disdain for American sovereignty.
When I raised these concerns, I was told that I was a "racist," despite being Hispanic. Acknowledging my heritage, the Raza studies staff also informed me that I was a vendido, the Spanish term for "sellout."
The culmination of my challenge to the department's curriculum was my removal from that particular class. The Raza studies department and its district-level allies pressured the Tucson High administration to silence my concerns through reassignment to another class during that one period.
The Raza studies department used the "racist" card, which is probably the most worn-out and desperate maneuver used to silence competing perspectives.
It is fundamentally anti-intellectual because it immediately stops debate by threatening to destroy the reputation of those who would provide counter arguments.
Unfortunately, I am not the only one to have been intimidated by the Raza studies department in this way.
The diplomatic and flattering language that the department and its proponents use to describe the Raza studies program is an attempt to avoid public scrutiny. When necessary, the department invokes terms such as "witch hunt" and "McCarthyism" to diminish the validity of whatever public scrutiny it does get.
The proponents of this program may conceal its reality to the public. But as a former teacher in the program, I am witness to its ugly underbelly.
Arizona taxpayers should ask themselves whether they should pay for the messages engendered in these classrooms with their hard-earned tax dollars.
The Raza studies department has powerful allies in TUSD, on its governing board and in the U.S. House of Representatives and thus operates with much impunity.
Occasionally there are minor irritations from the state superintendent of public instruction and the Legislature.
Ultimately, Arizona taxpayers own TUSD and have the right to change it. The change will have to come from replacing the board if its members refuse to make the Raza studies department respect the public trust.
John A. Ward is a former teacher at Tucson High Magnet School.
Say NO to Amnesty
"Amnesty" What does it mean?
-Millions of new Americans whose first act was to break our laws by crossing the border.
-Millions of people now legally sapping our south-western states' economy through welfare programs that they won't pay for.
-Millions of votes for the Democrats who pushed it through... wonder why they're pushing so hard.
Why do it? Because it's easier. It's easier than going house by house and looking for illegals to deport them. It's easier than deporting the hundreds of thousands who come through the legal system already. It's easier than chartering a boat to put them on, sending them to Southern Mexico.
You know what else is easier? Crossing the border in the first place. It's easier to cross the border illegally than to wait in line and pay the fees.
It's also easier to copy someone else's math test answers. Is that ok?
It's also easier to steal a Jaguar than earn the money to make the payments. Is that ok?
It's also easier for a President to pit one side against the other to fracture our government so he can grab more power, claiming the greater good rather than making real change that is needed. Is that ok?
If there's anything I've learned, it's that the right way is very rarely the easy way. Get over it.
What does it say to all those who became legal immigrants? You wasted your time and money. You shouldn't feel special as a citizen as every numb skull that crosses the border and hides out gets to be one too.
America was built by immigrants. True. Legal immigrants. We are all children of immigrants. Unless you are 100% Native American, your ancestors (or you) came here to be American. We do not discriminate against the legal immigrants. We don't discriminate against legal immigrants with so-called "funny names" like Schwarzenegger (Governor), Alito & Sotomayor (Supreme Court Justices), Menendez & Inouye (Senators), Ortiz & Diaz-Balart (Representatives). The only office in our country an immigrant cannot hold is President of the United States. Three of the Justices on the Supreme Court are first generation Americans. Their parents were born elsewhere.
Is it so much to ask that citizens be law-abiding? Does it not follow then that illegal immigrants are not in that category? Any person who is an American citizen should owe all allegiance to America. Do you think these people who did not have to work to become citizens (besides working to break the law, of course) will owe anything to America? All it will do is give people who believe things like La Raza a vote. That vote could mean the legal dismantling of our country.
A large number of illegals in this country don't want equality. They want to have more. They want to take the Southwest and make it Aztlan... then cleanse it of any non-Chicanos. Do you really want to give them a vote?
All amnesty will do is create an even bigger reason for illegal immigration. It will encourage a flood of Mexicans, encouraged by a Mexican government who gives them DUAL CITIZENSHIP, to come over here and stake a claim, then take it back home to Felipe Calderon.
Some studies estimate there are 20 million illegals in this country. That's 20,000,000. What does that mean? That means places like California which are full of illegals will gain more citizens, making their voice louder in the House of Representatives, and louder when it comes to the electoral college in electing a President. That's 20,000,000 people who will vote for even more government freebies, and probably 19,000,000 people who can't speak English.
Why do the Democrats want to reward law-breakers with citizenship? Because then that's 20,000,000 votes for Obama's re-election. Other than that, it doesn't make sense to me.
-Millions of new Americans whose first act was to break our laws by crossing the border.
-Millions of people now legally sapping our south-western states' economy through welfare programs that they won't pay for.
-Millions of votes for the Democrats who pushed it through... wonder why they're pushing so hard.
Why do it? Because it's easier. It's easier than going house by house and looking for illegals to deport them. It's easier than deporting the hundreds of thousands who come through the legal system already. It's easier than chartering a boat to put them on, sending them to Southern Mexico.
You know what else is easier? Crossing the border in the first place. It's easier to cross the border illegally than to wait in line and pay the fees.
It's also easier to copy someone else's math test answers. Is that ok?
It's also easier to steal a Jaguar than earn the money to make the payments. Is that ok?
It's also easier for a President to pit one side against the other to fracture our government so he can grab more power, claiming the greater good rather than making real change that is needed. Is that ok?
If there's anything I've learned, it's that the right way is very rarely the easy way. Get over it.
What does it say to all those who became legal immigrants? You wasted your time and money. You shouldn't feel special as a citizen as every numb skull that crosses the border and hides out gets to be one too.
America was built by immigrants. True. Legal immigrants. We are all children of immigrants. Unless you are 100% Native American, your ancestors (or you) came here to be American. We do not discriminate against the legal immigrants. We don't discriminate against legal immigrants with so-called "funny names" like Schwarzenegger (Governor), Alito & Sotomayor (Supreme Court Justices), Menendez & Inouye (Senators), Ortiz & Diaz-Balart (Representatives). The only office in our country an immigrant cannot hold is President of the United States. Three of the Justices on the Supreme Court are first generation Americans. Their parents were born elsewhere.
Is it so much to ask that citizens be law-abiding? Does it not follow then that illegal immigrants are not in that category? Any person who is an American citizen should owe all allegiance to America. Do you think these people who did not have to work to become citizens (besides working to break the law, of course) will owe anything to America? All it will do is give people who believe things like La Raza a vote. That vote could mean the legal dismantling of our country.
A large number of illegals in this country don't want equality. They want to have more. They want to take the Southwest and make it Aztlan... then cleanse it of any non-Chicanos. Do you really want to give them a vote?
All amnesty will do is create an even bigger reason for illegal immigration. It will encourage a flood of Mexicans, encouraged by a Mexican government who gives them DUAL CITIZENSHIP, to come over here and stake a claim, then take it back home to Felipe Calderon.
Some studies estimate there are 20 million illegals in this country. That's 20,000,000. What does that mean? That means places like California which are full of illegals will gain more citizens, making their voice louder in the House of Representatives, and louder when it comes to the electoral college in electing a President. That's 20,000,000 people who will vote for even more government freebies, and probably 19,000,000 people who can't speak English.
Why do the Democrats want to reward law-breakers with citizenship? Because then that's 20,000,000 votes for Obama's re-election. Other than that, it doesn't make sense to me.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
La Reconquista/ Texan beginnings
Our country has come to a critical junction. Many don't realize it, many dismiss the idea as idiocy. The truth of the matter is that we are in grave danger of losing a large part of our country. I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. While I was in high school, the demographics shifted so much that whites were no longer the majority in my city. Did this bother me? No. At the time, all it meant to me was that maybe the 'oppressed minority people' would stop falsely claiming underdog status. It saddens me to see that as hard as this country has worked to destroy a culture of racism, it is those that were once targeted that are now the main perpetrators. But, as is often quipped, only whites can be racist.
I recently read an article that said up to 70% of all people of Mexican descent (did not specify if only Americans, or illegals were also in the poll) are loyal to Mexico first, America second, if at all. There is something called La Reconquista in the works. In our rush to cater to every lost soul, provide for those who cannot (or will not) provide for themselves, and welcome any and all into our midst, we have allowed house-by-house street-by-street city-by-city invasion by our neighbors to the south. By use of anchor-babies and lax immigration policies, a majority of the American Southwest is populated by Latinos/Hispanics/Chicanos that long to see the southwest returned to Mexico.
This is not some isolated group of people. There is a group called MEChA, prevalent as an after school club in many high schools in the Southwest and endorsed at many colleges and universities across the country. Miguel Perez, President of Cal-State Northridge's MEChA chapter said, "The ultimate ideology is the liberation of Aztlan... Once Aztlan is established, ethnic cleansing would commence: Non-Chicanos would have to be expelled -- opposition groups would be quashed because you have to keep power."
Anyone else get chills from just reading the phrase 'ethnic cleansing'? Opposition groups would be mainly loyal Americans.
Now some people may say, "Well, California's already run itself into the ground. If Mexico wants to pay for the land, why not give it back? It's just causing headaches for us now anyway." Not only is that an insult to all those Americans who worked hard to make the southwest as prosperous as it is, it is also naive. These people of La Raza won't seek to extend the borders of Mexico northward. As illustrated in the previous post I wrote, they don't believe in borders anyway. They will populate the local governments with their own. Local governments will endorse and support the state governments. State governments will elect senators and representatives sympathetic to their cause. Their cause? To continue forcing the American tax-payer to pay for freebies. Those who follow this group are not looking to better themselves. They are not looking to be a productive member of this country. They seek to destroy America from the inside out by sucking our economy dry with welfare, healthcare, and a number of other government assistance programs that were initially created to help our fellow country-men. They have used America's generosity and ignorance against us, and now we have come to this point.
What can we do? By now, any local vote will be severely biased towards La Raza. Generations of anchor-babies have produced American citizens with no loyalty to America. Look at what happened recently at Live Oaks High School. American students of Mexican descent were offended because of a display of the American colors. "We don't do that on the Fourth of July," one student said. We also aren't in Mexico. We're in America, and if it is truly offensive to show the American flag, any day of the year, any hour of the day, we may have already lost this fight.
Can we ask each citizen to swear an oath of loyalty to America, and if they refuse, have citizenship stripped? Perhaps. More than likely some left-wing lawyer or another will sue on grounds of Constitutionality. Also, what is to prevent these impostors from simply lying? We must first and foremost secure our borders from any more illegal entry into this country. We must purge the illegals from our land. Border patrol commanders who turn a blind eye to the drug runners need to be fired or relocated. Government officials with ties to the extremist side of La Raza, or any other anti-American group need to be removed from office. We must take back our country.
History Lesson:
1819- The Adams-Onis Treaty ceded Florida to America, but also had the US give up its claim to Texas. Spain, however, had little to do with the area. Mexico declared independence from Spain in February of 1821. Even then, very little was put into Texas. Mexico renewed a policy encouraging white settlement of Texas, attempting to boost the economy. (It seems that even then, Mexico was willing to let America take care of its own hard work.) Mexico allowed Stephen Austin to begin colonizing the land and building the economy, with the stipulation that all those who came to Texas had to convert to Mexico's state religion- Roman Catholicism. By 1830, there were roughly 25,000 Americans living in Texas, along with 2,000 slaves. About this time, Mexico wanted their booming colony back. They saw that the religious requirement was being largely ignored, and they had abolished slavery, and decided that these Americans living on Mexican soil needed to be disciplined. Lax laws were put into place that angered the Americans, but did not actually hinder their lives at all. In 1833, Austin was jailed in Mexico City for urging Texas to become a self-governing state inside the Mexican federation. In 1836, General Santa Anna marched towards Texas, and a group of settlers met to declare Texan independence. The Alamo was besieged, giving Sam Houston enough time to prepare for Santa Anna. At San Jacinto, a smaller American force defeated the Mexican Army, winning Texan independence. We all know what came of all of that.
Now I want to highlight a couple of bullet points here.
-Mexico encouraged white settlers (America encourages people of all races to join her)
-25,000 Americans were living in the borders of Mexico. (40 million Mexicans now live in the borders of America.)
-Lax laws put into place angered Americans, but didn't DO anything. (Lax immigration policies are angering Mexicans, but not actually stopping the problem.)
Do we really want to get farther into the parallels before we do something about it?
I recently read an article that said up to 70% of all people of Mexican descent (did not specify if only Americans, or illegals were also in the poll) are loyal to Mexico first, America second, if at all. There is something called La Reconquista in the works. In our rush to cater to every lost soul, provide for those who cannot (or will not) provide for themselves, and welcome any and all into our midst, we have allowed house-by-house street-by-street city-by-city invasion by our neighbors to the south. By use of anchor-babies and lax immigration policies, a majority of the American Southwest is populated by Latinos/Hispanics/Chicanos that long to see the southwest returned to Mexico.
This is not some isolated group of people. There is a group called MEChA, prevalent as an after school club in many high schools in the Southwest and endorsed at many colleges and universities across the country. Miguel Perez, President of Cal-State Northridge's MEChA chapter said, "The ultimate ideology is the liberation of Aztlan... Once Aztlan is established, ethnic cleansing would commence: Non-Chicanos would have to be expelled -- opposition groups would be quashed because you have to keep power."
Anyone else get chills from just reading the phrase 'ethnic cleansing'? Opposition groups would be mainly loyal Americans.
Now some people may say, "Well, California's already run itself into the ground. If Mexico wants to pay for the land, why not give it back? It's just causing headaches for us now anyway." Not only is that an insult to all those Americans who worked hard to make the southwest as prosperous as it is, it is also naive. These people of La Raza won't seek to extend the borders of Mexico northward. As illustrated in the previous post I wrote, they don't believe in borders anyway. They will populate the local governments with their own. Local governments will endorse and support the state governments. State governments will elect senators and representatives sympathetic to their cause. Their cause? To continue forcing the American tax-payer to pay for freebies. Those who follow this group are not looking to better themselves. They are not looking to be a productive member of this country. They seek to destroy America from the inside out by sucking our economy dry with welfare, healthcare, and a number of other government assistance programs that were initially created to help our fellow country-men. They have used America's generosity and ignorance against us, and now we have come to this point.
What can we do? By now, any local vote will be severely biased towards La Raza. Generations of anchor-babies have produced American citizens with no loyalty to America. Look at what happened recently at Live Oaks High School. American students of Mexican descent were offended because of a display of the American colors. "We don't do that on the Fourth of July," one student said. We also aren't in Mexico. We're in America, and if it is truly offensive to show the American flag, any day of the year, any hour of the day, we may have already lost this fight.
Can we ask each citizen to swear an oath of loyalty to America, and if they refuse, have citizenship stripped? Perhaps. More than likely some left-wing lawyer or another will sue on grounds of Constitutionality. Also, what is to prevent these impostors from simply lying? We must first and foremost secure our borders from any more illegal entry into this country. We must purge the illegals from our land. Border patrol commanders who turn a blind eye to the drug runners need to be fired or relocated. Government officials with ties to the extremist side of La Raza, or any other anti-American group need to be removed from office. We must take back our country.
History Lesson:
1819- The Adams-Onis Treaty ceded Florida to America, but also had the US give up its claim to Texas. Spain, however, had little to do with the area. Mexico declared independence from Spain in February of 1821. Even then, very little was put into Texas. Mexico renewed a policy encouraging white settlement of Texas, attempting to boost the economy. (It seems that even then, Mexico was willing to let America take care of its own hard work.) Mexico allowed Stephen Austin to begin colonizing the land and building the economy, with the stipulation that all those who came to Texas had to convert to Mexico's state religion- Roman Catholicism. By 1830, there were roughly 25,000 Americans living in Texas, along with 2,000 slaves. About this time, Mexico wanted their booming colony back. They saw that the religious requirement was being largely ignored, and they had abolished slavery, and decided that these Americans living on Mexican soil needed to be disciplined. Lax laws were put into place that angered the Americans, but did not actually hinder their lives at all. In 1833, Austin was jailed in Mexico City for urging Texas to become a self-governing state inside the Mexican federation. In 1836, General Santa Anna marched towards Texas, and a group of settlers met to declare Texan independence. The Alamo was besieged, giving Sam Houston enough time to prepare for Santa Anna. At San Jacinto, a smaller American force defeated the Mexican Army, winning Texan independence. We all know what came of all of that.
Now I want to highlight a couple of bullet points here.
-Mexico encouraged white settlers (America encourages people of all races to join her)
-25,000 Americans were living in the borders of Mexico. (40 million Mexicans now live in the borders of America.)
-Lax laws put into place angered Americans, but didn't DO anything. (Lax immigration policies are angering Mexicans, but not actually stopping the problem.)
Do we really want to get farther into the parallels before we do something about it?
La Raza Speech at UCLA
I'm sure a lot of you have seen this video floating around. I know a lot of people never bothered to watch, and several probably turned it off before it was over. I'm going to post a transcript, then I have a few comments on it. Despite the violent nature of this speech, the sign in the background appears to read "Hate Speech is not Free Speech." The man speaking is Mr. Ronald Gochez, a history teacher at Santee High School in Los Angeles. You can visit their website at http://www.santeefalcons.org/, (213) 763-1000. The Los Angeles Unified School District can be reached at 213-241-7000 or superintendent@lausd.net. The LA Board of Education can be reached at 213-241-6389 or steve.zimmer@lausd.net.
"I want to start off by saying that the young man who spoke a little while ago is one of my students. And that made me so proud because I know that our people have strong leaders for years and years to come. As[el militante de la barrio?] a revolutionary Mexican organization here we understand what the [?] is saying . You're right. This is not just about Mexico. This is a global struggle against Imperialism and Capitalism. But we know that all of that is happening in the context that where we now stand is stolen, occupied Mexico. And the message that we bring, if you want to bring a little more of a revolutionary context to this, why is that these people- these frail, racist, white people want to keep us out of this country? It's not because, simply because of the color of our skin. It's not simply because they just want to exploit us. Let me tell you why. Because on this planet right now are six billion people. At the forefront of this revolutionary movement is La Raza. [??] We have a long history and example of our Commandante Fidel Castro Ruz. We got Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, we got Brazil, Ecuador. You name it. We have nine, nine [??] governments in Latin America right now. And they know something that one young Argentine named Che Guevara said. It was called the Domino Theory. And he knew that every single country would go revolutionary one after the other, after the other, after the other.
So what do they fear? They know that every single country, they know that we will no longer fall to these lies called borders. We know that El Salvadoran, and a Guatemalan, and a Nicaraguan, se el Mexicano- that there's no damn difference. That we are all one people. So with that in mind, we see ourselves here- all of us here- as the northern front of a Latin American revolutionary movement.
There are more than 40 million of our people north of the Rio Grande. That means to them that's 40 million potential revolutionaries north of the border, inside the belly of the beast. So when you think about Why do they want to kick us of all people out, that's why. Because they know that we now know the truth. They know that now we are Raza, we're professionals, we're educators, we are revolutionary students. What does that mean? We are not just a regular culture anymore. We are a culture of revolutionary spirit. And that's the fear.
So with that being said, I want to leave you with this: as a Revolutionary and with revolutionary context, let's be clear about one thing. Our enemy is not the Minutemen. Quote me. Our enemy is not the Minutemen. Because the Minutemen are not the ones who have killed over four thousand six hundred people at those borders. Our enemy is the same enemy as Hugo Chavez- that Hugo Chavez has. Our enemy is the same enemy that keeps Africa poor. Our enemy is the same enemy that keeps Asia poor. Our enemy is Capitalism and Imperialism. OK, That's our enemy.
And I'll finish with this. I'll finish with this in respect of time. If we are serious about making change, if you are serious about making change, let me tell you- this struggle will go on for many more years after we leave UCLA. Reading a book, or writing a book, or teaching a class... that is not, that is not part of the movement. What you do 24 hours a day as a professional revolutionary- that is what's going to lead our people, and all people, to liberation. Viva La Raza."
So we'll start with the first bold statement- "Where we now stand is stolen, occupied Mexico" My initial statement is this: February 2, 1848, the Mexican government and the US government sat down and signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to end the Mexican-American War. General Scott's troops had taken Mexico City, and the US hadn't lost a battle. The US was given the remainder of what is now California and New Mexico. The Mexicans agreed to acknowledge the Rio Grande as the southern border of Texas, and the US gave Mexico $15 million, as well as taking on any debts owed to citizens of the former Mexican territory. Spoils of war or legal 'business' transaction, Mexico gave up that land.
Second on that statement is this: If the US has no legal claim on the land because it was 'stolen' by the armies of the US, then neither does Mexico as they took it from Spain when they revolted. Before that, the Spanish conquistadors took it from the Aztecs.
Third, later on he mentions the 'lies that are borders.' If borders are lies, what matter does it make who 'owns' that land? It is not truly the US nor is it Mexico if you follow that logic.
Next is a line that I first bolded, then italicized because there are two separate, but similar points I want to make. First, by calling white people "frail, racist, white people" that is saying that white people are frail and racist- which is racism. (Racism- hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.... Usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.)
Second, "It's not simply because of the color of our skin." Hmmm... that sounds like the requirement to be racist. If "frail racist white people" aren't solely judging you on the color of your skin, they're not being racist. However, I have a word for him: bigot. Bigotry is the stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own. Sound like someone he knows?
"We will no longer fall to these lies called borders." Then why be in the US at all? Is it because on one side of this imaginary line, the standard of living is higher (like his leather jacket) the opportunities for education and promotion are higher (like his job as an educator) or because the civil liberties are better (like his right to gather PEACEFULLY and speak his mind)? Or does he just like the view better?
"There's no damn difference. We are all one people." Mexico is notorious for their harsh handling of the Guatemalan, Honduran, and El Salvadoran illegals crossing their own Southern border. Often the military is involved in border patrol, and three groups- criminals, local police, and immigration agents- all mistreat and abuse those that are caught. If all Latino/as and Chicano/as are one people, then why treat your brother so badly? If borders are lies, why patrol your own so harshly?
"north of the border" again with the border statements?
"Why do they want to kick us of all people out?" It's not just the Latino illegals. It's all illegals. Illegal means "forbidden by law or statute; contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc." Guess what... if you are an illegal immigrant, if you crossed the border without authorization, a green card, a work visa, you are breaking the law. Not just any law, either, but the United States' most sacred law- the Constitution of the United States. Article I, Section 8 paragraph 4: "The Congress shall have Power... To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization..." We don't want to ship all those of Latino descent out of the country. We only want those who are here illegally to go back home and then, if they so desire, come back the right way.
Quick history lesson:
Fidel Castro- Communist leader of Cuba for over 45 years. Known for his long-winded anti-American speeches. Born into a wealthy family, graduated from Havana University as a lawyer. Led an ineffective revolution, was granted amnesty, and came back a second time, this time successfully.
Hugo Chavez- friend of Castro, leftist leader of Venezuela. Venezuela is constantly suffering from national strikes, threatening to severely disrupt the national economy. Venezuela is rich with oil, and supplies Cuba. Attempted to overthrow the government, and failed. He was elected to power in a landslide victory six years later, ousted, then after 2 days, his supporters took the streets, and he was placed back in the presidential palace.
Evo Morales- leader of Bolivia since 2006. Close relationships with Hugo Chavez and Raul Castro. As a coca farmer himself, he encourages growing coca (but not the production of cocaine), he is often at odds with the US's anti-drug policies. Another Socialist leader, he was not revolutionary, per se, but lost an election, building his fame from the defeat, and taking the next. He is Aymara Indian, and boasts that he is the first indigenous president of Bolivia.
Che Guevara- Argentine who studied medicine at the University of Buenos Aires, worked as a doctor. Joined Fidel Castro in Mexico while Castro was exiled between revolution attempts. Was instrumental in overthrowing Batista's rule in Cuba, inciting the Cuban public to revolt against their incumbent government. The CIA eventually caught him, and he was executed.
And now a quick vocabulary lesson:
Sedition- incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government. Any action, esp. in speech or writing, promoting such discontent or rebellion. syn. Insurrection, mutiny.
Treason- the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm or kill its sovereign. A violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or to one's state.
Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution- "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."
The speech was an act of sedition. If any of La Raza were to act on the speech, it would be treason. However, the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 expired and were not renewed, so this speech is protected under the First Amendment (assuming that as a public school teacher, Mr. Gochez is indeed a legal citizen of this great country. If he isn't, he doesn't have the rights of the Constitution.)
Either way, as an educator, and a history teacher no less, you would think he'd have a firmer grasp on the realities of borders and who California really belongs to. You'd think after studying so many failed communist/socialist countries, and how many of his idols failed in their politics, that he'd realize that maybe he's on the wrong side of the line. We cannot force him to cease these speeches, but we can learn from them.
"I want to start off by saying that the young man who spoke a little while ago is one of my students. And that made me so proud because I know that our people have strong leaders for years and years to come. As[el militante de la barrio?] a revolutionary Mexican organization here we understand what the [?] is saying . You're right. This is not just about Mexico. This is a global struggle against Imperialism and Capitalism. But we know that all of that is happening in the context that where we now stand is stolen, occupied Mexico. And the message that we bring, if you want to bring a little more of a revolutionary context to this, why is that these people- these frail, racist, white people want to keep us out of this country? It's not because, simply because of the color of our skin. It's not simply because they just want to exploit us. Let me tell you why. Because on this planet right now are six billion people. At the forefront of this revolutionary movement is La Raza. [??] We have a long history and example of our Commandante Fidel Castro Ruz. We got Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, we got Brazil, Ecuador. You name it. We have nine, nine [??] governments in Latin America right now. And they know something that one young Argentine named Che Guevara said. It was called the Domino Theory. And he knew that every single country would go revolutionary one after the other, after the other, after the other.
So what do they fear? They know that every single country, they know that we will no longer fall to these lies called borders. We know that El Salvadoran, and a Guatemalan, and a Nicaraguan, se el Mexicano- that there's no damn difference. That we are all one people. So with that in mind, we see ourselves here- all of us here- as the northern front of a Latin American revolutionary movement.
There are more than 40 million of our people north of the Rio Grande. That means to them that's 40 million potential revolutionaries north of the border, inside the belly of the beast. So when you think about Why do they want to kick us of all people out, that's why. Because they know that we now know the truth. They know that now we are Raza, we're professionals, we're educators, we are revolutionary students. What does that mean? We are not just a regular culture anymore. We are a culture of revolutionary spirit. And that's the fear.
So with that being said, I want to leave you with this: as a Revolutionary and with revolutionary context, let's be clear about one thing. Our enemy is not the Minutemen. Quote me. Our enemy is not the Minutemen. Because the Minutemen are not the ones who have killed over four thousand six hundred people at those borders. Our enemy is the same enemy as Hugo Chavez- that Hugo Chavez has. Our enemy is the same enemy that keeps Africa poor. Our enemy is the same enemy that keeps Asia poor. Our enemy is Capitalism and Imperialism. OK, That's our enemy.
And I'll finish with this. I'll finish with this in respect of time. If we are serious about making change, if you are serious about making change, let me tell you- this struggle will go on for many more years after we leave UCLA. Reading a book, or writing a book, or teaching a class... that is not, that is not part of the movement. What you do 24 hours a day as a professional revolutionary- that is what's going to lead our people, and all people, to liberation. Viva La Raza."
So we'll start with the first bold statement- "Where we now stand is stolen, occupied Mexico" My initial statement is this: February 2, 1848, the Mexican government and the US government sat down and signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to end the Mexican-American War. General Scott's troops had taken Mexico City, and the US hadn't lost a battle. The US was given the remainder of what is now California and New Mexico. The Mexicans agreed to acknowledge the Rio Grande as the southern border of Texas, and the US gave Mexico $15 million, as well as taking on any debts owed to citizens of the former Mexican territory. Spoils of war or legal 'business' transaction, Mexico gave up that land.
Second on that statement is this: If the US has no legal claim on the land because it was 'stolen' by the armies of the US, then neither does Mexico as they took it from Spain when they revolted. Before that, the Spanish conquistadors took it from the Aztecs.
Third, later on he mentions the 'lies that are borders.' If borders are lies, what matter does it make who 'owns' that land? It is not truly the US nor is it Mexico if you follow that logic.
Next is a line that I first bolded, then italicized because there are two separate, but similar points I want to make. First, by calling white people "frail, racist, white people" that is saying that white people are frail and racist- which is racism. (Racism- hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.... Usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.)
Second, "It's not simply because of the color of our skin." Hmmm... that sounds like the requirement to be racist. If "frail racist white people" aren't solely judging you on the color of your skin, they're not being racist. However, I have a word for him: bigot. Bigotry is the stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own. Sound like someone he knows?
"We will no longer fall to these lies called borders." Then why be in the US at all? Is it because on one side of this imaginary line, the standard of living is higher (like his leather jacket) the opportunities for education and promotion are higher (like his job as an educator) or because the civil liberties are better (like his right to gather PEACEFULLY and speak his mind)? Or does he just like the view better?
"There's no damn difference. We are all one people." Mexico is notorious for their harsh handling of the Guatemalan, Honduran, and El Salvadoran illegals crossing their own Southern border. Often the military is involved in border patrol, and three groups- criminals, local police, and immigration agents- all mistreat and abuse those that are caught. If all Latino/as and Chicano/as are one people, then why treat your brother so badly? If borders are lies, why patrol your own so harshly?
"north of the border" again with the border statements?
"Why do they want to kick us of all people out?" It's not just the Latino illegals. It's all illegals. Illegal means "forbidden by law or statute; contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc." Guess what... if you are an illegal immigrant, if you crossed the border without authorization, a green card, a work visa, you are breaking the law. Not just any law, either, but the United States' most sacred law- the Constitution of the United States. Article I, Section 8 paragraph 4: "The Congress shall have Power... To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization..." We don't want to ship all those of Latino descent out of the country. We only want those who are here illegally to go back home and then, if they so desire, come back the right way.
Quick history lesson:
Fidel Castro- Communist leader of Cuba for over 45 years. Known for his long-winded anti-American speeches. Born into a wealthy family, graduated from Havana University as a lawyer. Led an ineffective revolution, was granted amnesty, and came back a second time, this time successfully.
Hugo Chavez- friend of Castro, leftist leader of Venezuela. Venezuela is constantly suffering from national strikes, threatening to severely disrupt the national economy. Venezuela is rich with oil, and supplies Cuba. Attempted to overthrow the government, and failed. He was elected to power in a landslide victory six years later, ousted, then after 2 days, his supporters took the streets, and he was placed back in the presidential palace.
Evo Morales- leader of Bolivia since 2006. Close relationships with Hugo Chavez and Raul Castro. As a coca farmer himself, he encourages growing coca (but not the production of cocaine), he is often at odds with the US's anti-drug policies. Another Socialist leader, he was not revolutionary, per se, but lost an election, building his fame from the defeat, and taking the next. He is Aymara Indian, and boasts that he is the first indigenous president of Bolivia.
Che Guevara- Argentine who studied medicine at the University of Buenos Aires, worked as a doctor. Joined Fidel Castro in Mexico while Castro was exiled between revolution attempts. Was instrumental in overthrowing Batista's rule in Cuba, inciting the Cuban public to revolt against their incumbent government. The CIA eventually caught him, and he was executed.
And now a quick vocabulary lesson:
Sedition- incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government. Any action, esp. in speech or writing, promoting such discontent or rebellion. syn. Insurrection, mutiny.
Treason- the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm or kill its sovereign. A violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or to one's state.
Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution- "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."
The speech was an act of sedition. If any of La Raza were to act on the speech, it would be treason. However, the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 expired and were not renewed, so this speech is protected under the First Amendment (assuming that as a public school teacher, Mr. Gochez is indeed a legal citizen of this great country. If he isn't, he doesn't have the rights of the Constitution.)
Either way, as an educator, and a history teacher no less, you would think he'd have a firmer grasp on the realities of borders and who California really belongs to. You'd think after studying so many failed communist/socialist countries, and how many of his idols failed in their politics, that he'd realize that maybe he's on the wrong side of the line. We cannot force him to cease these speeches, but we can learn from them.
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