A Vision of a Hispanic American--Part II

(CoSprings, CO--07/11/05)
By Josué Sierra

I started doing a little more research to better understand these rumors of Hispanic separatist movements within the US. I searched for The Atzatlan movement and here is a little sample of what I found. You decide what this means to you? You decide what this sounds like, and what it means to our national security.

Here is a translated sample of the Yale chapter of the "Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán" anthem. It is titled "The Zapatista Hymn." It goes on about women, children and about farm workers revolting. This line goes, "Nuestra historia exige ya Lucha de liberación"--Our history demands now a battle for liberation. A few lines below it says, "Que vivamos por la patria O morir por la libertad"--That we shall live for our nation, or die for our liberty.

I ask you, what nation do you suppose they are wanting to live for and die for? Following is a history I found on the MECHA national web page:

HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

The fundamental principles that led to the founding of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán are found in El Plan de Santa Barbara (EPDSB). The Manifesto of EPDSB sees self-determination for the Chicana and Chicano Chicano and Chicana Movement in El Plan Espiritual de Aztlán (EPEDA).
A synopsis of El Plan stipulates:
1) We are Chicanos and Chicanas of Aztlán reclaiming the land of out birth (Chicano and Chicana Nation);
2) Aztlán belongs to indigenous people, who are sovereign and not subject to a foreign culture;
3) We are a union of free pueblos forming a bronze nation;
4) Chicano and Chicana nationalism, as the key in mobilization and organization, is the common denominator to bring consensus to the Chicano and Chicana Movement;
5) Cultural values strengthen our identity as La Familia de La Raza; and
6) EPEDA, as a basic plan of Chicano and Chicana liberation, sought the formation of am independent national political party that would represent the sentiments of the Chicano and Chicana community.

Both EPDSB and EPEDA served as the historical foundation for the establishment of a viable Chicano and Chicana Movimiento, and are therefore, fundamental to the M.E.Ch.A. philosophy.

Here is part of the core philosophy:

Joining with other community-based Chicano and Chicana nationalist organizations, M.E.Ch.A. is committed to ending the cultural tyranny suffered at the hands of institutional and systematic discrimination that holds our Gente captive.

I wonder if that captivity is why more and more Mexicans keep risking their lives to cross the border into this country. It must be that even American "slavery" is better than Mexican life? Well, I am sure I could go on and on, but how about you read it for yourself? Here are my search results in Yahoo.

Let me be clear--I am not against legal immigration. I am also not against Mexicans in any way. I believe the US should open its borders to imigration, and to the value that hard-working immigrants bring to this nation. But, if immigrants are going to come into my country, I would expect a bit more gratitude and respect. They can keep their culture, as I have kept ties with mine, but integration must be a goal for every immigrant. We have to do a better job of educating new immigrants, and we have to do a better job of securing our borders.

I am all for freedom of speech, but when your speed threatens my freedom and my nation--I do mean actually physical threats--that's where freedom of speech stops. How long will we tolerate threats against our own country? I, as a citizen, and yes, as a Hispanic, do not support this.

Every citizen is entitled to democratic participation, not supremacist threats against the nation that gives them everything. I refuse to be silent.