Posted on 11/17/2007 1:23:51 PM PST by Baladas
ESCONDIDO, United States (AFP) - Over his objections, his son joined the army and died in Iraq in 2003. Now Fernando Suarez is spearheading a crusade to stop the recruitment of young, financially vulnerable Hispanics into the US military.
"We have to stop military recruiters from harassing these boys at school, and if any of them want to sign up, they should do so out of their own free will, not because of economic and psychological pressures or even lies," Suarez told AFP.
Hailing from Tijuana, Mexico, 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of here, Suarez got together with school teachers, student unions and veterans groups to create the Aztec Warrior Project to raise awareness among young Hispanic and to take on the Pentagon. The anti-recruitment activists are also watching a bill proposed in the US Congress that would extend permanent residency to the sons of illegal aliens who either attend two years of university or sign up for two years with the military.
Under the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, they would attain US citizenship after six years of conditional status or if they die in combat.
The measure may be enticing to some of the 12 million illegal immigrants and their children living in the United States, and has the full backing of the Pentagon, which is finding it hard to keep its recruitment goals during the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Hispanics are the perfect cannon fodder, and signing up for military service is much easier than going to university, which is for rich people," Suarez said.
As he celebrated his son Jesus' would-be 25th birthday, Suarez said he would forever regret he could not talk him out of joining the Marines at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. He blames it all on recruitment campaign promises.
"The arguments put forth by the recruiters were very good: opportunities for professional development, helping your family along (financially) and a path to citizenship."
He said that after signing up, Jesus quickly caught on he hadn't been told the whole truth. But "getting out (of military service) is not easy, it's a David-and-Goliath struggle because they make you sign papers to commit you to the ranks, and when you have second thoughts you have to get a lawyer, and that's expensive."
Jorge Mariscal, who heads the Chicano and Latino Studies Department at the University of California at San Diego, said recruitment efforts target "public schools with Hispanic or black majorities."
Mariscal, an activist with the Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities, known as YANO, also refuted US official jargon that Hispanics are "proud and honored" to serve in the military.
"That's a total lie. Recruitment efforts in the United States target the most vulnerable classes, and in the case of Hispanic, Mexican and Central American communities they convince them with promises of a better future," he said.
When he died, Jesus Suarez automatically became a US citizen, allowing him to be buried as an American soldier.
Suarez said when he asked to see his son's body after it was shipped back from Iraq, the Pentagon refused, telling him his face had been blown apart in combat.
Suarez insisted his son get a civilian funeral and after hounding the soldiers guarding Jesus' casket at an Escondido cemetery, he got them to open it, finding that his son's face was intact, but that his extremities had been blown off.
He is still battling the Pentagon to get a full explanation of how his son died.
Suarez said he tells Hispanic teenagers that "the posthumous citizenship offered by the military, is to ensure all fallen soldiers get a military funeral, like the (US) Constitution stipulates for its heroes, as all soldiers who die in combat are called."
"The ironic thing," said professor Mariscal, "is that while the Pentagon seeks non-US citizens to fill the ranks of the occupying forces of the United States, other non-citizen workers (illegal aliens), whose economic contribution to this country is undeniable, are hunted and harassed by other US government agencies for deportation."
Now Suarez and his group make their rounds in public schools and Hispanic neighborhoods in San Diego, where one in three of its two million inhabitants are Hispanic, telling young people to open their eyes before joining the military.
"I'm doing this for my son who died in Iraq -- where I told him not to go, in the first place. It's my crusade against the recruitment of our boys," he said.
What an idiot.
I couldn’t parse it out from the article—is this guy an illegal? If so, he needs to be back in Mexico, YESTERDAY.
}:-)4
I'm having trouble believing this...
If this country is so bad, and not worth defending, why doesn’t the crud go back to the sewer he came from?
[When he died, Jesus Suarez automatically became a US citizen, allowing him to be buried as an American soldier.]
The father is either illegal or on a visa.
This man makes me SO angry, I will have to be careful what I say! It’s fine for them to live in our country and enjoy the benefits, but it’s not all right to let their sons and daughters join the military? I don’t think so.
My son could have gone straight to college. He could have done all kinds of jobs here in the US. He choose to join the Marines even though he thought he was going to die in boot camp and probably many times later. He served very well for four years, including two times in Iraq. He then spent another year in Afghanistan too, by choice. I thank God every day that he is home alive and well, now back in school.
This man is disgracing his son’s life and death.
His son probably joined to earn citizenship. His father is defecating on his son’s legacy.
It was his sons decision to go, not his, at least respect that! He should not use his sons death as some personal crusade he dreams up......
God Bless you and your family.
Since illegals get instate tuition rates in some states, he can’t really be serious about that point.
Because of the sacrifices made by men like your son, and young Jesus Suarez, me and the rest of the Free World get to sleep safely at night.
God bless them all.
Care to test that, Fernando?
Actually, doesn't this sound like a multicultural Cindy Sheehan retread?
I’m unable to post anything more that this, lest I be banned.
Free will? This man doesn't believe his son possessed free will? He was shanghaied? If he was kidnapped and enslaved why not give us the details? Off the deep end, this guy.
He probably enlisted to escape from his father.
Marine Lance Cpl. Jesus A. Suarez Del Solar
http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/solarjesusasuarezdel.html
NOTICE THE DATE
'You lied, they died,' US parents tell Bush Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles Saturday September 27, 2003 The Guardian The father of a soldier killed in Iraq accused President George Bush yesterday of being responsible for his son's death.
Fernando Suarez, whose 20-year-old son, Jesus, was one of the first fatalities, said: "My son died because Bush lied."
Mr Suarez, from Escondido, California, (HAVEN FOR ILLEGALS)speaking at a press conference to publicise tomorrow's anti-war demonstrations in eight US cities, said that about 1,300 parents of troops stationed in Iraq were involved in a movement against the oc cupation.
"It is time for these troops to come home," said Mr Suarez. "Neither my wife nor my family want more children to die in this illegal war. We are no less patriotic for wanting peace. Bush wants $87 billion for this war, but what does he give us for our schools?" he asked.
He’s right! Send in ICE and the INS instead!
Over FOUR years ago???
The news here just must be that the “dad” formed a new Soroish anti-war group, maybe he should move north and challenge Pete Stark for the House.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.