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Well, thanks for an interesting post. I hope I didn't give the impression that I am anti-Mexican. I am not. I love Mexicans. I don't want us to be a two-language country like much of Canada. I don't think that encourages the sort of melting pot you are talking about.

I just think that the massive numbers of illegal (note word illegal) immigrants from Mexico needs to be halted.

Hey, my ancestors came over from England. Okay, it was on the Mayflower, but does that make me special? Well, maybe a little. Okay, not at all.

My post was not meant to be accusatory but an attempt to "extend and revise" (as they say on CSPAN) on your remarks. I'm in the same boat you are (though the ancestor who brought my family name came over as a slave after being on the losing side in the last Jacobite rebellion, not on the Mayflower). Having been born in Texas and lived in California along with having family all up and down the spine of the Rockies, including Albuquerque, I have broad exposure to the cultures of our Southwest and of Mexico. They are part of our country. I just don't like those who say that it is their country exclusively. Neither do the Asians, blacks and most particularly the Indians who live in those lands now.

I have a "native American" friend from The Nations in New Mexico. He hates the term "native Americans" because it implies some special status because they were here "first" and he's afraid that some new archaeological discovery will wipe that out, "proving" folks from New Zealand or Africa were here "first." He wants to claim his right to be here because he is part of this land and loves it and he makes it better. And he and his people (mostly) welcome anyone who does the same. He is also a member of the Minuteman project . His people are some of the most vehement about stopping illegal immigration as much of it happens on their land, which is trashed in the process, and it's the minimum wage entry level jobs that kids from their community need that are going to these guys who work off the books and for lower wages. But in his group of Minutemen are several Hispanics, some born here some who actually came here illegally. When the La Reconquista folks talk about taking back "their land" he and his friends say "bring it on, Mexican boy. We kicked your butts in the 1700s and 1800s, we'll do it again today! Don't even go there, Senor Conquistador!"

Did you know that some Hispanics and Indians in the Southwest with long memories and traditions celebrate the heroes of the Alamo and the eventual defeat of Santa Anna as a great victory for them, as well? There was never a fondness for the Mexican government (whatever flag it flew, but particularly Spanish or French) in the area that makes up our Southwest. That is a fiction of recent invention.

#872, I agree I believe most of us want secure Borders, legal immigrants with limits, and that very long fence built asap. Latins do make good Republicans. In the 10th Hour of my 12 at my Precinct on Tuesday, a Young Hispanic man came up to where I was waving and gesturing to vote for all my pubbies. He was in a County truck with Work clothes on and he smiled broadly and boasted that he was a Re-pooblican,and he had voted a straight republican ticket. I was as happy as he was,and I really felt great like we were really accomplishing things. You could not wipe the smile off my face for hours. I also talked a NPA into voting for all the Republicans,and dumping the Dem judges. I even talked a Dem into splitting her ticket the other day by just engaging her in pleasant conversation. She knew Republicans did not have two heads because I only have one. LOL!