"My parents came her legally (paying a dear price for it, I might add), and have taught all 7 of thier children to become solid, American citizens."
It is people like you (and your parents) who make America work.
In 28 + years of service I have seen intense loyalty and devotion to the American dream by people who came to this country with the idea of becoming American. They pass that on to their children. They (and your family) make a proud additon to the fabric of America.
In all the retoric, many on this site (myself inlcuded) talk about Illegals, but have repect for those who work to become legal immagrants then American citizens.
Thank you and to my other fellow freepers who have responded so kindly to my post. I've always disliked La Raza and other organizations of the same ilk because of thier "representation" of Hispanics. It would be like the media asserting that the ACLU represents all caucasions or that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton represent all blacks. La Raza and other organizations like them get thier power and influence from un-educated hispanics or liberal hispanics or worse, liberal-psuedo-intellectual hispanics. I've been called an elitist by some liberal-leaning hispanics because of my hard-core conservative, USA-Lovin' views. I'm not an elitist. I'm a practical, thinking person with more than 1/2 a brain that I'm not afraid to use. I also happen to love and respect my hispanic heritage. This love of heritage, however, extends to the country I was born in and which continues to be the greatest nation on earth. This country is a divine gift to humanity and should be treated as such.