Posted on 05/06/2008 7:39:17 AM PDT by SJackson
Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) festivities are to Mexican-Americans what St. Patricks Day festivities are to Irish-Americansa joyful expression of ancestral pride and a celebration of the rich diversity of American culture. Mexican-Americans, like Irish-Americans, migrated to the United States because of dismal economic prospects at home. Both have prospered here; both love to party. Indeed, that unquenchable love of party shows great courage of spirit. It persisted despite many generations of grinding poverty in the old country. Party on, amigos!
Cinco de Mayo commemorates a resounding victory of Mexican troops over French invaders in Puebla, Mexico, on May 5, 1862. The French emperor, Napoleon III, antidemocratic despot that he was, planned to recolonize Mexico. He then hoped to help the Confederate Army secure the disintegration of the United States republic which he despised so thoroughly.
Fortunately for the Union Army, the valiant Mexican forces at Puebla thwarted Napoleon IIIs game plan. The Mexican victory gave the Union Army enough time to build the massive military force that led to the decisive victory at Gettysburg in 1863. After Gettysburg, Lincoln dispatched General Philip Sheridan and troops to the Texas-Mexican border, where they supplied Mexico with weapons and ammunition. The Union even supplied soldiers, allowing honorably discharged American soldiers to keep their uniforms and rifles if they joined the Mexican army.
Although it took several years, the French invaders were eventually expelled. The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico City. Because of American support in the 1860s, thousands of Mexicans crossed the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces, as did others after 9/11.
Despite the Mexican-American war in Texas in the 1840s, by the 1860s, Americans and Mexicans coexisted primarily as allies and friends. Sadly, in the background of todays celebration of Mexican-American brotherhood, all is not sweet concord. I wont address the serious problem of anti-Mexican bigotry today, but instead will focus on the militant nationalism of hotheaded and hate-mongering Mexican-Americans that seeks to pervert the spirit of Cinco de Mayo.
A quick Google search uncovers various lurid statements that some Mexican-Americans are making about the United States. For example:
Get out! We are the future. You are old and tired Leave like beaten rats. You old white people. It is your duty to die.
California is going to be a Hispanic state. Anyone who doesnt like it should leave.
We are practicing La Reconquista in California.
The concept of Reconquista is crucial. The Reconquest refers to the reconquest of Spain by Christians after centuries of occupation by Muslims from the 8th century until that most eventful year of 1492.
It is useless to try to alter the opinions of the men who made those statements. Malevolence cannot be reasoned with, so I merely offer the cautionary note that people consumed with anger about what happened to their ancestors often condemn their children to strife and violence. However, to Mexican-Americans and Mexicans of a calmer frame of mind, I humbly ask you, why would you want Mexico to take over California or any other American state?
Think about it. Why have you emigrated from Mexico to come here? Was it not for economic reasons? Then ask yourself, why is the United States a land of vast economic opportunity compared to Mexico? Why has the United States prospered over the decades while Mexico stagnated?
You can accuse me of Anglo-American jingoism if you want, but would you at least consider the possibility that the only reason the American southwest is so affluent today is because it is part of the United States and not Mexico? Both the Southwest and Mexico were blessed with temperate climates and abundant natural resources. The only reason why the former prospered while the latter stagnated was because the one was well governed and the other poorly governed.
If Mexico had been under the same system of law, governance, and justice as the United States, then its economic development would have paralleled that of the United States. If, on the other hand, the American Southwest had remained part of Mexico, it would be as underdeveloped as Mexico, and Mexicans would be emigrating northward from California in search of economic opportunity. In short, everyoneregardless of race or ethnicityin the American Southwest today should be glad that Santa Anna lost the Mexican-American War! It would be a lot poorer region if he had won.
In closing, I offer an undiplomatic, pointed comment to the Mexican macho men who brag about reconquering California: If you really want to do something manly and heroic, try reforming Mexico. Set that beautiful land free so that it can finally achieve its enormous potential.
Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone.
Must Read PING! ;)
Should have it in a Spanish translation.
The Reconquista movement is full of cowards and lazy people.
Too weak and too lazy to solve the problems in thier own country, so they come over here thinking they can take advantage of our laws and overwhelm us.
Too bad John McCain wants to help them accomplish their goals.
The difference of course, is that we Irish settled in and eagerly became Americans. We spoke the language. We didn't try to turn America into Ireland and we didn't demand a damn thing from anyone, and we survived poverty by assisting each other. We chose the most respectable jobs and became police officers to help keep order in our wonderful new home. We fought and died in wars to defend America some of us even changed our names to sound more American.
Big difference. Great big difference.
"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-day 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, 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 U.S. Southwest were far beyond the reach of the authority of the independent but strife-torn government of Mexico City. 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 abandonment and neglect, the Southwest received neither trade nor protection from Mexico City.
For example, Comanches and Apaches ran rampant in the 1830s in this power vacuum created by Mexican neglect, burning scores of major ranches that had been active for hundreds of years and massacring their inhabitants. Mexico City could neither defend nor keep the allegiance of its nominal subjects in these regions. Nor did it provide needed levels of trade to sustain the prior Spanish-era standard of living. Mexican governmental influence atrophied, withered and died at the same time that American pathfinders were opening up new routes into the region.
Increasingly, a growing United States of 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 provinces 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. To this very day, if you want a punch in the nose, just call an Hispanic native of New Mexico a "Mexican!"
So how long did Mexico City have even nominal jurisdiction (in their eyes) over the American Southwest? For only 25 years, during which they had no effective control, and the area slipped backwards by every measure until the arrival of the Americans. The SPANISH inhabitants of the Southwest NEVER transferred their loyalty to Mexico City, because all they 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 still 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 until today. 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 that they can never hope to obtain in Mexico.
And because today Mexico is a corrupt third-world pest-hole, (despite having more millionaires and billionaires than Great Britain), we are now 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 summary, 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 their ancestors 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.
Maybe the Mexicans need to start thinking about what happens when we have had enough of their bushwah and decide to make Mexico an American protectorate or colony.
In California, if 3.5 million illegal aliens moved back to Mexico it would leave an extra $10.2 billion to spend on overloaded school systems, bankrupt hospitals and over-run prisons. It would leave highways cleaner, safer and less congested. Everyone could understand one another as English became the dominant language again.
In Colorado, 500,000 illegal migrants, plus their 300,000 kids and grand-kids - would move back ‘home’, mostly to Mexico. That would save Coloradans an estimated $2 billion (other experts say $7 billion) annually in taxes that pay for schooling, medical, social-services and incarceration costs. It means 12,000 gang members would vanish out of Denver alone. Colorado would save more than $20 million in prison costs and the terror that those 7,300 alien criminals cause to local citizens. Denver Officer Don Young and hundreds of Colorado victims would not have suffered death, accidents, rapes and other crimes by illegals.
Denver Public Schools would not suffer a 67 percent drop-out/flunk-out rate because of thousands of illegal alien students speaking 41 different languages. At least 200,000 vehicles would vanish from our gridlocked cities in Colorado. Denver’s four percent unemployment rate would vanish as our working poor would gain jobs at a living wage.
In Florida, the repatriation of 1.5 million illegals would return the Sunshine State back to America, the rule of law, and English.
In Chicago, Illinois, 2.1 million illegals would free up hospitals, schools, prisons and highways for a safer, cleaner and more crime-free experience
If 20 million illegal aliens returned ‘home’, the U.S. Economy would return to the rule of law and employers would hire legal American citizens at a living wage. Everyone would pay their fair share of taxes because they wouldn’t be working off the books. That would result in an additional $401 Billion in IRS income taxes collected annually, and an equal amount for local, state and city coffers.
No more push ‘1’ for Spanish or ‘2’ for English. No more confusion in American schools that now must contend with languages that degrade the educational system for American kids. Our overcrowded schools would lose more than two million illegal alien kids at a cost of billions in ESL and free breakfasts and lunches.
We would lose 500,000 illegal criminal alien inmates at a cost of more than $1.6 billion annually. That includes 15,000 MS-13 gang members who distribute $130 billion in drugs annually.
In cities like LA., 20,000 members of the ‘18th Street Gang’ would vanish from our nation. No more Mexican forgery gangs for ID theft from Americans. No more habitual drunken drivers, rapists and child molesters. Losing more than 20 million people would clear up our crowded highways and traffic gridlock, meaning cleaner air and less drinking and driving American deaths by illegal aliens. That would also put the ‘progressives’ on the horns of a dilemma; illegal aliens and their families cause 11 percent of our greenhouse gases.
America’s economy is drained and taxpayers are harmed while unscrupulous employers get rich. Over $80 billion annually wouldn’t return to the aliens’ home countries by cash transfers. Illegal migrants earned half that money untaxed, which further drains America’s economy - which currently has an $8.7 trillion national debt.
At least 400,000 anchor babies would not be born in our country, costing us $109 billion per year per cycle. At least 86 hospitals in California, Georgia and Florida would still be operating instead of being bankrupted because illegals pay nothing via the EMTOLA Act.
Americans wouldn’t suffer TB and hepatitis cases brought in by illegals unscreened at our borders.
Over one million of Mexico’s poorest citizens now live inside and along our border, from Brownsville, Texas to San Diego, California in what the New York Times called, ‘colonias’ or new neighborhoods. Those living areas resemble Bombay and Calcutta where there is grinding poverty, filth, diseases, drugs, crimes, no sanitation and worse. They live without sewage, clean water, streets, electricity, roads or any kind of sanitation.
This is America’s new ‘Third World’ inside our own country. Within 20 years, at their current growth rate, they expect 20 million residents of those colonias. By enforcing our laws, we could repatriate them back to Mexico.
We should invite 20 million aliens to go home, fix their own countries and/or make a better life in Mexico. We already invite a million people into our country legally, more than all other countries combined annually.
We cannot and must not allow anarchy to continue at our borders, more anarchy within our borders and growing lawlessness at every level in our nation.
“You can accuse me of Anglo-American jingoism if you want, but would you at least consider the possibility that the only reason the American southwest is so affluent today is because it is part of the United States and not Mexico?”
Perfect!
Big bump
Reform mexico? Are you kidding?
That would require work, hard work, and risk of injury.
The kleptocracy that is mexico would not take kindly to a bunch of rabble trying to upset the status quo.
Much easier to get the gringos to do the heavy lifting for them with shamnesty supporting politicians and pro bono law suits against those anglo invaders.
pingamigo
Thank you for sharing that.
I've posted this before, but that basically is what I use in any in-your-face encounter with the "you stole our land" types. I.E. "In 1847 both sides of the border looked exactly the same. We turned our side into a wealth-generating land - what the Hell did you do with yours?"
(I'm usually called a racist at this point.)
2). The southwest never belonged to Spain or Mexico except on paper. The southwest was the heart of Apacheria and it clearly belonged to the Apaches until General George Crook pacified the Apaches in two campaigns (1870-72 and 1882-86).
Anytime.
Wull... SCREWWWWWWWWWWWWWW, YOU SONNY BOY!!! This old waspman ain'ta goin nowhere!!!
The only reason you interlopers and scoff-laws want this region back is due to the beautiful resource we've created out of your worthless old desert with our tired old european descendent brains!!!
Take your "politics of envy" and shove it where the sun don't shine!!!
Your "politics of resentment" are exceeded only by Mrs. Barak H. Obama!!! (and Jimmy Carter's terrorist buddies in Gaza)
Cinco de Mayo (5 de mayo) a las festividades son mexicano-americanos lo que el Día de San Patricio a las festividades son irlandeses-americanos-una gozosa expresión de orgullo ancestral y una celebración de la rica diversidad de la cultura americana. Mexicano-americanos, como el irlandés-americanos, emigraron a los Estados Unidos debido a las perspectivas económicas deprimentes en casa. Ambos han prosperado aquí; tanto amor a las partes. De hecho, que el amor inextinguible de los partidos muestra una gran valentía de espíritu. Se persiste a pesar de muchas generaciones de miseria absoluta en "el viejo país." Parte, amigos! Cinco de Mayo conmemora una resonante victoria de las tropas mexicanas sobre los invasores franceses en Puebla, Mexico, a 5 de mayo de 1862. El emperador francés, Napoleon III, antidemocrática déspota que él era, previsto para recolonizar Mexico. A continuación, espera contribuir a la seguridad del Ejército Confederado de la desintegración de la república de Estados Unidos que desprecia tan a fondo. Afortunadamente para la Unión ejército, los valientes fuerzas mexicanas en Puebla frustrado Napoleon III del plan de juego. La victoria de México dio a la Unión Ejército tiempo suficiente para construir la gran fuerza militar que llevó a la victoria decisiva en Gettysburg en 1863. Después de Gettysburg, Lincoln envió General Philip Sheridan y las tropas de Texas-frontera con México, donde se suministra Mexico con armas y municiones. La Unión aún suministrado soldados, lo que permite honorablemente vertidas soldados americanos para mantener sus uniformes y fusiles cuando se unió al ejército mexicano. A pesar de que tomó varios años, los franceses invasores fueron expulsados. El American Legion of Honor marcharon en el Desfile de la Victoria en la Ciudad de Mexico. Dado que el apoyo de América en el decenio de 1860, miles de mexicanos cruzaron la frontera después de Pearl Harbor a unirse a los EE.UU. Fuerzas Armadas, al igual que otros después de 9 / 11. A pesar de los mexicano-americanos en la guerra de Texas en la década de 1840, por la década de 1860, los estadounidenses y los mexicanos coexisten principalmente como aliados y amigos. Lamentablemente, en el marco de la celebración hoy de mexicano-americanos hermandad, no todo es dulce concordia. No voy a abordar el grave problema de la lucha contra el fanatismo de México el día de hoy, sino que se centrará en el nacionalismo militante de hotheaded y el odio de tráfico de mexicano-americanos que busca pervertir el espíritu del Cinco de Mayo. Una rápida búsqueda en Google descubre lurid diversas declaraciones que algunos mexicano-americanos están haciendo sobre los Estados Unidos. Por ejemplo: "Get out! Somos el futuro. Usted está viejo y cansado
Deja golpeado al igual que las ratas. Usted antigua población blanca. Es su deber de morir. " "California va a ser un estado hispano. Cualquier persona que no le gusta que debe salir de casa. " "Estamos practicando" La Reconquista "en California." El concepto de "Reconquista" es crucial. La "Reconquista" se refiere a la reconquista de España por los cristianos después de siglos de ocupación por los musulmanes el 8 de siglo hasta que la mayoría de año lleno de acontecimientos de 1492. Es inútil tratar de alterar las opiniones de los hombres que hizo esas declaraciones. Mala fe no puede ser motivado, así que simplemente ofrecen la nota de advertencia que la gente consume con ira acerca de lo ocurrido a sus antepasados a menudo condenan a sus hijos a las luchas y la violencia. Sin embargo, a mexicano-americanos y los mexicanos de un sereno estado de ánimo, yo humildemente le pido que, ¿para qué quieren tener en Mexico a lo largo de California o cualquier otro estado americano? Piensa en ello. ¿Por qué emigró de Mexico a venir aquí? ¿No es por razones económicas? Entonces te preguntas, ¿por qué los Estados Unidos de América una tierra de grandes oportunidades económicas en comparación con Mexico? ¿Por qué los Estados Unidos prosperó durante las décadas se estancó mientras que Mexico? Usted me puede acusar de Anglo-American jingoísmo si quieres, pero por lo menos considerar la posibilidad de que la única razón por la cual el suroeste americano es tan ricos de hoy es porque es parte de los Estados Unidos y Mexico no? Tanto el suroeste y Mexico fueron bendecidos con climas templados y abundantes recursos naturales. La única razón por la que el ex prosperado mientras que el segundo se estancó debido a que el uno estaba bien regulado y el otro mal gobernados. Si Mexico había estado bajo el mismo sistema de la ley, el gobierno y la justicia como los Estados Unidos, entonces su desarrollo económico tendría paralelo al de los Estados Unidos. Si, por otra parte, el Sudoeste de América se ha mantenido parte de Mexico, sería como subdesarrollados como Mexico, y los mexicanos sería emigrar hacia el norte de California en busca de oportunidades económicas. En resumen, todo el mundo-independientemente de su raza u origen étnico-en el sudoeste americano de hoy debería ser alegro de que Santa Anna perdió el mexicano-americano guerra! Sería una región mucho más pobre si él había ganado. Para terminar, ofrezco un undiplomatic, señaló comentario al macho mexicano hombres que alardear de reconquering California: Si usted realmente quiere hacer algo heroico y varonil, intentar la reforma de Mexico. Establecer esa hermosa tierra libre para que pueda finalmente alcanzar su enorme potencial. Feliz "Cinco de Mayo," todo el mundo.
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