It's not necessarily the Mexican Reconquista that I'm most concerned about.
Posted on 04/10/2006 9:42:34 AM PDT by neverdem
Immigration reform
Para Español, oprima el dos.
Even if one does not speak Spanish, most Americans are familiar with those words. They hear them nearly any time they make a call to the phone, utility or other company that offers service in two languages. “For Spanish, press two.”
Even though I speak and love Spanish, I find myself increasingly annoyed by this unsubtle notice that the United States is gradually becoming a bilingual nation. And therein lies the source of much aggravation American citizens feel as Congress weighs in on illegal immigration.
Welcome to the U.S. one and all — within reason and according to the law — but all must become one if we are to remain a strong republic. That’s the single most compelling truth we seem to know instinctively even if no one is willing to say it.
Whatever one’s views in the abstract regarding a guest-worker or modified amnesty program, the concrete reality is that many of those seeking to stay in the United States are not seeking also to become Americans of the U.S. variety. Indeed, the clear message from some of those protesting the past week or so — and the content of many e-mails that found their way to my mailbox — is that Mexican immigrants are taking back what they consider to be theirs.
At least a segment of those protesting consider themselves to be neither immigrant nor illegal. Signs at one recent rally, for example, read, “This is our country, not yours!” and, “All Europeans are illegal.” Reconquista is the word they choose to define their mission, meaning “reconquest.”
An e-mailer suggested that I get myself ready for the boat back home because I — being of European descent — don’t belong in the United States. Only American Indians have a rightful claim to the lands my family has occupied since the 1600s, according to the writer’s historical yardstick. And only Mexicans have a right to border states that formerly belonged to Mexico.
Well. Where to begin? More to the point, where to end?
If we’re all going back to the nations of our origins, we’re going to need a mighty big fleet and some sophisticated splicing equipment. I don’t know about my correspondents, but I’m a little bit this and a little bit that, though most of my family names would place me in Ireland. I’m of course happy to reclaim the kingdom, but I’m not sure the present landowners in Connemara would welcome me back as the queen I’m certain I deserve to be.
The truth is, I doubt that most illegal immigrants now in the United States are interested in reclaiming conquered lands. Most just want a good job and a decent place to raise a family. But the sight of so many who feel entitled to a piece of the U.S., combined with a sense of encroaching bilingualism, contribute to a spirit of diminishing empathies among even the likeliest of sympathizers.
The idea of “reconquest,” meanwhile, is silly. Human populations have been migrating, conquering, surrendering and ceding for 60,000 years or so. We’re a rambling sort by nature, apparently, and find national borders annoying obstacles to the wanderlust with which we were, for good or bad, endowed.
Rearranging borders and rewriting history to satisfy grudges or to right wrongs would certainly keep us busy, but where would we draw the last line? In the ashes of human history, most likely. The only unequivocal ending to unhappy history, unfortunately, has no sequel. Only when everyone is dead is no one offended.
Barring the final solution, we might ask this: Do illegal Mexican immigrants really want Texas or Arizona or California without the U.S. economy, or the U.S. social services, or the inspired government instruments that have made this country so attractive to so many?
That’s the pinch, isn’t it? The country’s riches and benefits are not free for the picking — nor are they all necessarily indigenous to the physical territory — but are part of a national package that demands citizenship of its citizenry.
Mexicans are as welcome as any other group of people —and we all came from somewhere else, including the American Indians whose ancestors migrated from elsewhere — but reconquering, alas, requires a military action that could get messy. A simpler, more civilized course involves taking a number, waiting in line and signing on to the principles of assimilation, without which we will not long be a united states of anything or a worthy destination for immigrants.
Para Español, meanwhile, Mexico is lovely this time of year.
© 2006 Tribune Media Services
To reach Kathleen Parker, send e-mail to kparker@kparker.com.
The irony is that if the southwest was still part of Mexico, nobody would want to live there.
In about 20 years, after UN sanctioned elections, southern California, parts of Texas and Arizona will be amalgamated into a quasi independent republic. They will not go totally independent for fear of losing welfare and other entitlements.
BILL THE BUTCHER
We got the same now, a full share of nothing. There's nothing to settle.
There's nothing left.
Good point. If CA, AZ, NM and TX were part of Mexico, they would be flooding into Wyoming Oklahoma and Nevada.
"Barring the final solution, we might ask this: Do illegal Mexican immigrants really want Texas or Arizona or California without the U.S. economy, or the U.S. social services, or the inspired government instruments that have made this country so attractive to so many?"
You read my blogs. :)
Illegal is still illegal. Nobody is opposed to anyone pursuing legal means of becoming a U.S. Citizen. Just respect the law and do it right. They wouldn't want to be here if it was still Mexico. The economy would be crap.
"The irony is that if the southwest was still part of Mexico, nobody would want to live there."
_________________________________________
Bingo. And if they reconquiste...so to speak...nobody will want to stay!
I'm so sure that the Southwest was actually conquered before by anyone but European Americans, but my history might be wrong.
I still doubt that the Midwest and New England were ever part of this original "conquest."
We should change our name for United States to just States.
Rearranging borders and rewriting history to satisfy grudges or to right wrongs would certainly keep us busy, but where would we draw the last line? In the ashes of human history, most likely. The only unequivocal ending to unhappy history, unfortunately, has no sequel. Only when everyone is dead is no one offended.
That should be required reading for every lefty and every "educator" in this country. The Turks weren't native to Turkey. The Sicilians and southern Italians came from Greece. Etc., etc., etc. Most Europeans are an incredible mixture from various westward-migrating barbarian peoples. Sarmatians, Ostro-Visigoths, Huns, Franks, Bulgars, etc. Heck, the ones who might really win biggest in all that would be the Celts, who would end up owning much of Europe.
Aztlan, or whatever they call it, should be consigned to the ashheap of history.
They don't just want the Southwest, they want the whole enchilada. They think the whole continent was stolen from the Indians.
The anti Christ globalist UN desires
One World Government
One World Currency
One World Religion
One Race
Freedom only at the whim of a capricious dictatorship
Let the blending of races and borders begin
http://www.620wtmj.com/_content/talk/charliesykes/index.asp
Here's the email I read on the air this morning:
Dear President Bush:
I'm about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family, and I would like to ask you to assist me. I'm going to walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few arrangements. I know you can help with this.
I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here.
So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Vicente Fox, that I'm on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:
1. Free medical care for my entire family.
2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.
3. All government forms need to be printed in English.
4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.
5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.
6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.
7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.
8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.
9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won't make any effort to learn local traffic laws.
10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from Pres. Fox to leave me alone, please be sure that all police officers speak English.
11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.
12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and don't enforce any labor laws or tax laws.
13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might place on the economy.
I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure that Pres. Fox won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.
However, if he gives you any trouble, just invite him to go quail hunting with your V.P.
Thank you so much for your kind help.
Sincerely,
The Mexicans are unlike previous immigrants. This definitely needs to be read by everyone at least once! It should be linked on pertinent immigration threads. Here's an interesting link about Samuel Huntington:
Senator Phil Gramm of Texas, the president's chief Senate supporter in changing the Civil Service protections in the bill, acknowledged that Democrats had written 95 percent of the bill and acknowledged the paradoxical role of small-government Republicans like him in advocating for such a large department.
And which party is now making it useless.
Bush: Democrat killed immigration bill
In private as well as public, Reid and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who heads the party's campaign effort, said they did not want to expose rank-and-file Democrats to votes that would force them to choose between border security and immigrant rights, only to wind up with legislation that would be eviscerated in future negotiations with the House, which has passed a bill limited to boosting border security.
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