Posted on 04/08/2006 10:23:27 AM PDT by Travis McGee
"The True History of the Southwest, 101"
The amount of historical idiocy and fallacies surrounding the history of the Southwest is staggering, chief among them the "Aztlan" fairy tales. What's the truth? How did the Spanish Europeans conquer the Southwest? The "conquistadores" (that means "conquerors") did it with the lance, and the lash.
For example, in 1541 Coronado entered present-day New Mexico (which included present Arizona during the Spanish era) searching for the "lost cities of gold." One of his first actions upon meeting the natives was to burn 100s of them alive in their dwellings, for not handing over suspected horse thieves. That is how Spain conquered the natives of the present US Southwest--not with hugs and kisses! It was certainly no love-fest between long-lost brown-skinned soul- mates, as it is often portrayed today by the delusional Aztlaners today, who spin the "new bronze race of Mestizos" toro-mierda.
By 1821, Mexico City was strong enough to overthrow even more decrepit and ineffectual Spanish rule. However, the distant provinces of the current US Southwest were far beyond the reach of the authority of independent but strife- torn Mexico. These distant northern provinces received neither military protection nor needed levels of trade from the south. Under Spanish rule, trade with the USA was forbidden, but at least Spain provided trade and Army protection from hostile Indians. Under Mexican neglect, the Southwest received neither trade nor protection from Mexico City.
For example, Comanches and Apaches ran rampant in the 1830s in this new power vacuum created by Mexican neglect, burning scores of major ranches that had been around for hundreds of years and massacring their inhabitants. Mexico City could neither defend nor keep the allegiance of its nominal citizens in these regions. Nor did it provide needed levels of trade to sustain the prior Spanish-era standard of living. Mexican influence atrophied, withered and died at the same time that American pathfinders were opening up new routes into the region.
Increasingly, a growing America was making inroads into the Southwest, via ships into California, and via gigantic wagon trains of trade goods over the Santa Fe Trail from St. Louis. The standard of living of the SPANISH in these states subsequently increased enormously, which is why they did not support Mexico City in the 1846-48 war. In fact, the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of the Southwest NEVER considered themselves "Mexicans" at all, ever. They went, in their own eyes, from SPANISH directly to AMERICAN.
So how long did Mexico City have even nominal control over the Southwest? For only 25 years, during which they had no effective control, and the area slipped backwards until the arrival of the Americans. The SPANISH inhabitants of the Southwest NEVER transferred their loyalty to Mexico City, because all the received from the chaotic Mexican government was misrule, neglect, and unchecked Indian raids.
Since then, how long has the area been under firm American control? For 150 continuous years, during which time the former Spanish inhabitants of the region, now American citizens, have prospered beyond the wildest dreams of the Mexicans stuck in Mexico. To compare the infrastructure, roads, schools, hospitals etc of the two regions is to understand the truth. The Mexican government has been mired in graft, corruption, nepotism and chaos from the very start. The ordinary Mexican peons have been trampled and abused, while only the super-rich elites have thrived. This is why millions of Mexicans want to escape from Mexico today, to enjoy the benefits of living in America they can never obtain in Mexico.
And now, we are supposed to let any Mexican from Chiapas, Michoacan or Yucatan march into the American Southwest, and make some "historical claim" of a right to live there? From where does this absurd idea spring?
At what point in history did Indians and Mestizos from Zacatecas or Durango stake a claim on the American Southwest? Neither they nor their ancestors ever lived for one single day in the American Southwest. The Spanish living in the Southwest in 1846 stayed there, and became Americans by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. There were no Spanish inhabitants of the Southwest who were marched to the border and driven into Mexico. It didn't happen. The SPANISH in the Southwest welcomed American citizenship, which brought stability, protection from Indian raids, and a vast increase in their standard of living with the increase in trade.
In sum, NO current inhabitants of Mexico have ANY claim on even one single inch of the Southwest!
NOT ONE citizen of Mexico is sneaking into the USA to reclaim property they were deprived of, NOT ONE.
They are criminal invaders and colonizers, pure and simple.
It's time Americans learned the true history, as a counter to the prevalent Aztlaner fairy tales.
I understood his/her point. But I don't believed he/she wants to believe that many Hispanics concentrated at those demographic points mean anything. But, when you tie goals of Aztlan to that map it means plenty, whether the people have good or bad intentions. In a revolution, it means alot to go along with the over throwers, or lose your head, that's how it works.
I want to believe that most have good intent, but, when several hundred thousand Mexicans/Hispanics are waving Mexican flags and pledging allegiance to Mexico and not the U.S., then that is troubling.
The site of the Bear Flag revolt is still somewhat preserved in Sonoma. General Vallejo (pronounced Va-Lay-O if one is a true native Californian not Va_Lay_Ho) fortress like barracks and some other buildings still evident. An interesting place to visit.
I agree with that, it's not only troubling it is downright scary.
I grew up in South Texas and there are many wonderful hispanics in my town. I can imagine it is a delemma for them at this point. Many of them are against the illegals too but I guess they're afraid to speak up.
If our representatives fail to take notice then the buck passes to the citizens.
I know you're a good, hard Texan. I would like to see Aztlan brought down by Homeland Security. All their doing is preaching sedition, hate, and division. To many good Hispanics from all parts of our country, including Mexico, have given their blood and lives for America and our flag.
These hate organizations thrive off the ignorant, poor, yes, miserable illegal immigrant that lived and had no other life but poverty! My ancestors came through Ellis Island, but, that's another story.
So SA if they are illegals will we still be facing a "Civil War" ?
Let me know when you are ready to carry on a civil conversation. Until then we have nothing to discuss.
Just like this one:
Together they represent a nuke!
I was so upset over that map I forgot to post the link
Stunning facts about the proposed immigration bill
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1611802/posts?page=78
There is a time when words fail...this is that time Ranch
~tsk tsking
I think that's where the Minutemen are right now. Doing the job for FREE that our PAID Government won't do.
bump
That is an important point, potlatch. I recall when the floodgates opened in the late '80s and the newer Mexican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Guatemalan and Honduran illegals began pouring into southern California.
The Americans of Mexican descent, aka Chicanos, despised the newcomers and referred to them as "pochos." They didn't want to be identified with these frankly lower class people, who were leeching everything in sight.
The Chicanos I went to school with, and whose homes and families I visited, were highly assimilated and had the close-knit families that are their strength. They were and are in every profession and mingle comfortably with non-Latinos.
They wanted the newer, poorer illegals to go back. I don't recall when they stopped being vocal about it, and somehow many have been co-opted into the pro-illegal movement or, at least, intimidated into silence.
We must remember the Hispanic families who have been here for generations as 100% Americans, whose sons and daughters have served this country proudly in the military.
It's so ironic, B4, I agree.
Two articles have appeared during the past week in the L.A. Times (distributed to a large hispanic illegals market), demonstrating how 'sympatico' both George W. and Jeb Bush are to Mexicans.
I think you've seen both of those articles here on FR. I feel that was done deliberately, just another way to get around the will of the people.
I don't understand how FReepers who love this President can have that same attitude. The Secret Service isn't working to protect them with the same dedication. How any American can promote the idea of open borders is beyond my comprehension. I am guessing that our national sovereignty doesn't means as much to them as it does to me.
The United States filled the void created by ineffectual Mexican rule in what is now our Southwest a century and a half ago. It was our manifest destiny. The ineffectual Mexican rule over Mexico now makes it our manifest destiny to fill another void--move south, young men, move south!
bttt. Thanks Travis.
They went, in their own eyes, from SPANISH directly to AMERICAN.
One of the first things I learned living in New Mexico is NEVER call a long-time resident "mexican". Those are fighting words. They at least want to be called hispanic, if not properly spanish.
There was a big fight at the local high school here last year, the papers never really said what happened. In a follow up a couple of weeks later it came out the fight was between "hispanic" and "mexican" students........where there is "a lot of tension"......
Ping
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