LEt me say this. I have no clue how it is in LA. However, My wife is from Mexican American descent. Through marriage I have a few relatives that couldbe classifyed as anchor babies. What you are seeing on the street does not represent all Mexican American thought. There are many divergent opinions out there in that ethnic community. It gets really confusing when these symbols such as the Mexican flag get used. To my wife its a symbol of ethnic pride and thats it. However, I know there are radical groups out there that have some reclaimation radical agenda that it has different symbolism for them.
I am just saying that the pictures of some these rallies can be quite misleading because it paints a picture that a "whole group" thinks a certain way.
Man, we definitely know that!
It's all about illegals, not Mexicans, OK!
In your case with your ties, I can understand where you come from.
I live in Virginia and I've got some cool Mexican friends who are not illegal. I don't want them deported.
In my case (I speak for no other FReeper or 'civilian' :-)) I've been researching a lot of things for a lot of years when it comes to geopolitics and probably came off as extreme in my posts.
Our country was founded on 'extremism'.
There is a lot of frustration with regular folks because what The Founders envisioned has been hijacked.
That's my perspective anyway.
Welcome to FreeRepublic and I hope we can educate each other.
I don't know (or care) how any particular ethnic group views this, but as a citizen of the US, I take the act of replacing the Stars and Stripes with a foreign flag as prima facie evidence of insurrection. Anyone who doesn't want to be associated with that kind of activity need only issue a plain and simple condemnation of it! But we hear little of that kind of sincere condemnation from anywhere in the Latino community (much like we hear very little outright condemnation of terrorists from 'moderate' Muslims).
If there is an image problem, may I suggest it is up to the Latino community to mend it -- and not by trying to make others feel guilty about what they can plainly discern with their eyes and ears.
Where are your "group's" retractors??? I have not heard them in the media. The presupposition of RIGHTS by those who have broken our laws to come here is the cause of this strife. US citizens who are outraged by this 'citizenship grab' are rightfully outraged. There is no confusion. You are either here LEGALLY or here ILLEGALLY. Very simple, not hard to understand. If you are here ILLEGALLY and wish to ultimately obtain LEGAL status, you need to follow the rules, go home and apply through the proper channels. Sorry, the fact you chose to have and raise your children while you were here ILLEGALLY is not the fault of the American people. IT IS YOUR FAULT! Take some responsibility for your actions, quit blaming others and do the right thing. Instead of protesting you should be hat in hand asking the forgiveness of the American citizens you have scammed for free health care, schooling and a tax-free income. Perhaps then as is typical of the over-generous people of the USA - they will give you the golden ticket to citizenship! Now THAT would be reasonable! Actually admit you were wrong, ask for forgiveness and ask for consideration for citizenship.
The Mexican flag is known as a symbol for radicals in the US. I have no problem seeing Mexican flags flying- in Mexico. This is the United States of America, and we have our own flag that we are mighty proud of. I do not approve of flying other countries flags in this country, except at offices of Mexican officials, and then it should be displayed correctly- never above the US Flag.
It disturbs me that you don't seem to understand the issue, one who is proud to be an American will only support the display of the American flag. If one wishes to show pride in another country by flying that country's flag- I suggest they go back to that country to do it. You speak of ethnic pride, what I see in the display of the Mexican flag in the US is a lack of pride in being an American. Anyone who is here that does not support America needs to leave- regardless of what country they came from. Having pride in your ethnicity is great, but not when it involves displaying the flag of another country. To me and many others the display of the flag is an in your face gesture, as though one country is set on conquering another country- claiming the land for another country. That is how it has been throughout history, I really don't believe anyone thinks it is innocent to display another countries flag in the manner it has been recently. To me when I see all the people in the street with Mexican flags I take it as a declaration of war.
When 'ethnic pride' supercedes national pride, there's a problem. That 'hyphen' mentality will be the downfall of this country.