Two Americans and an Aztec warrior

jewishworldreview. ^ | Raoul Lowery Contreras

[SJackson]

Before I became a radio talk show host and television news commentator, I was a talk show guest. Once, while on a top rated talk show, the show host blithely insulted me with a question "super Americans" always ask of people born outside the United States but, of course, forget to ask the Timothy McVeighs of the country.

It is a question no one asks of Irish or Italian or British or Canadian Americans. It seems the question is reserved for Hispanics and people who might have some affinity for Israel.

"If Mexico (the country of my birth) and the United States were fighting each other in a war, which side would you be on," he smugly asked. He didn't realize that such a question was and is an insult to me and thousands like me who have served and do serve in the American armed forces.

Among people like this, we find a commonality of views about Hispanic immigrants and their progeny, illegal aliens from Mexico and other points south--they hate them. They hate each and every one of them. They also have another commonality, few, if any, of them have ever served in the United States armed forces.

One of their shared views is that illegals (and all Hispanic immigrants) come to America to suck off the public trough; to suck up welfare; to steal jobs, and to otherwise simply live off the fat of the land. Why, they are the first to jump on the fact that Hispanics are "underrepresented" in the armed forces they never served in.

In a recent report, the Pew Hispanic Center reported that 9.5% of our armed forces is Hispanic. The 2000 Census concluded that 13% of the U.S. population is Hispanic. Thus, critics howl, Hispanics aren't carrying their own weight.

That is not true. First, a huge number of Hispanics are less than 18 years old, thus, the percentage of the general population that military age Hispanics comprise is far lower than 13%. Moreover, over half are women. Secondly, Hispanics comprise a huge percentage of the armed forces that are defined as "combat arms," AKA fighting men.

In fact, Hispanics are 17.7 percent of the personnel who most directly handle weapons, according to Pew Hispanic report based on 2001 Department of Defense statistics. Hispanics make up 14 percent of the Marine Corps, 10.5 percent of the Navy, 9.7 percent of the Army and 5.6 percent of the Air Force. Subtracting out the Air Force and Navy, where few people other than pilots have hands on weapons, the 17.7 percentage mentioned in the report grows to something on the order of 25%.

These statistics and presence have been brought home to America by the deaths of three young men, all United States Marines, all in Iraq, all foreign-born Hispanic immigrants.

Jesus Suarez del Solar was born in Tijuana, Mexico, and was brought as a child to the United States. He was legally immigrated. Jose Angel Garibay was born in Mexico and brought her, legally, as a baby. Then, there was Guatemala-born Jose Antonio Gutierrez.

Gutierrez came to the United States, an orphan who lived on the streets of Guatemala City, by way of Mexico, by hitchhiking rides and riding Mexican freight trains headed north for almost two years. He came to the United States, alone, illegally, at 16, with no English, no family, no friends, hunted by the Border Patrol and "la migra." Helped by Anglo Los Angeles social workers, Gutierez found himself in a Hispanic foster family that took him in as a son and changed his life forever. They found a way to make him legal, to finish high school, to enroll in college and, then, to proudly watch him become a United States Marine.

Continued........

[SJackson]

The rest.........

It is said that he joined the Marines to give thanks to the United States of America for what it had permitted him to do, to become a solid contributing human being.

These three immigrant men died for us, regardless of whether or not we support the Iraq war. They died in combat, they died as Americans. The "green card" father of Suarez del Solar told us his son was an Aztec warrior.

Marines Garibay and Gutierrez may have died as "green card" immigrants, but they are being buried as American citizens, as United States Marines who gave their lives for this country, not Mexico, not Guatemala. They made the ultimate American sacrifice.

Compare that to vehement critics of immigrants, legal and illegal, who bravely give out interviews about how they are protecting America from hordes of immigrants and those dirty illegal aliens. Especially illegal immigrant ones like Jose Antonio Gutierrez, United States Marine, born a Guatemalan in1977; died an American in Iraq in 2003.

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U.S. Marine Cpl. Jose A. Garibay, who was killed Sunday March 23, 2003, after encountering Iraqi troops near An Nasiriyah, Iraq (news - web sites), is seen in this undated photo provided Tuesday, March, 25, 2003, by his family in Costa Mesa. Garibay was a native from Jalisco, Mexico, whose family moved to the United States when he was a baby. (AP Photo/Garibay family) Mar 25 3:39 PM

Marine Lance Cpl. Jesus Suarez Del Solar, 20, of Escondido, Calif., is shown in this undated family photo. Suarez, part of the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, was killed in combat in Iraq (news - web sites) Saturday March 29, 2003 his wife said Sunday, March 30. 2003. (AP Photo/Del Solar Family via San Diego Union-Tribune) - Mar 30 10:46 PM

The casket of Lance Cpl. Jose Antonio Gutierrez, one of the first American casualties from the war in Iraq (news - web sites), is carried from St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church April 7, 2003 in Lomita, California. Gutierrez, a native of Guatemala, was killed in combat during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. He was named a U.S. citizen posthumously. Leading the way at left is Cardinal Roger Mahoney. REUTERS/Jim Ruymen - Apr 06

[Publius6961]

I wonder if this fellow would like some cheese with his whine?
Speaking of hatred, illegal immigrant criminals is one topic, tourists are another. I stopped going to Mexico as a tourist. The anger and hatred is palpable.

Not looking like I am hispanic (and can understand) makes a world of difference.
What we have here is another "soldier" with mixed loyalties and definitely a chip on his shoulder.

I find it insulting that he resents Americans responding to threats with caution.

[JohnGaltSpeaking]

Obvioulsy the point the author of the article was making was that you can't paint an ethnicity with one giant brush. I'm on board with that statement. Why then, did he chose to paint all people that aren't rushing to Douglas, AZ. to hand out desert survival kits to people breaking in to our country as horrible people? And I personally think that when you have a movement in the southwestern United States to 'reconquista' lands that were acquired in the mid 19th century it is a perfectly valid question to ask which side you would fight on. But i am obviously just a biggoted white guy that hates everyone south of the Rio Grande

[7thson]

"If Mexico (the country of my birth) and the United States were fighting each other in a war, which side would you be on," he smugly asked. He didn't realize that such a question was and is an insult to me and thousands like me who have served and do serve in the American armed forces.

I can see where this type of question can be construed as an insult. I see it like this. Many Americans wonder about those in the US of Muslim faith because it does not seem that the vast majority of them have rose up and state - hey, we are not a part of those who want to kill you. With certain organizations within the US that loudly talk about annexing parts of the US back to Mexico, with Vincente Fox encouraging Mexicans to illegally cross over, with the Mexican army guarding their southern border; the rest of America does not see those immigrants who want to be Americans raising their voices in protest to these actions.

The question is not asked to Italians, Irish, etc., because those groups do not have some "spokesman" demanding a part of the US to house Italians, etc. When a black American boxer is fighting a white non-American boxer, I do not cheer for the white guy. I cheer for the American. When Americans see an Hispanic team cheered more than the American team in a soccer match, something is wrong.

[666beast]

how dare you guys even criticize this writer, you superamericans and timothy mcveighs!!!!

[eddiespaghetti]

when you have a movement in the southwestern United States to 'reconquista' lands that were acquired in the mid 19th century [. . .]

I wish more people would pay attention to this. There are those who claim that the Southwest USA is really part of "Aztlan." (I guess what they mean is that since it is part of the ancient Aztec empire, it really belongs to Mexico).

Is it so far-fetched to suggest that such people might make common cause with groups that have, shall we say, a hostile agenda?

es

[FITZ]

One of their shared views is that illegals (and all Hispanic immigrants) come to America to suck off the public trough; to suck up welfare; to steal jobs, and to otherwise simply live off the fat of the land.

All one needs to do is look at the extremely high rates of welfare useage along the border to realize very many are coming to suck up welfare. In some border counties the welfare rate is 35-50% and even higher. 34% overall for Mexican immigrants ----that's very high. Opinions would change if more illegals bothered to buy their own health insurance instead of expecting this be given to them at no cost except to the taxpayers.

[Elsie]

"If Mexico (the country of my birth) and the United States were fighting each other in a war, which side would you be on," he smugly asked. He didn't realize that such a question was and is an insult to me and thousands like me who have served and do serve in the American armed forces.

Did we NOT already have this argument, back in '76? (1776, that is)

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Look at all the folks who were from 'somewhere else' in THAT battle!

How about the 'Civil War' / 'War of Northern Aggression'?

Were not the same things asked?

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WWI produced the same question, as well as WWII.

Our Government locked UP people who LOOKED like the enemy in that war!

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Please - don't get riled because the question is STILL being asked!

[Elsie]

All one needs to do is look at the extremely high rates of welfare useage along the border to realize very many are coming to suck up welfare. In some border counties the welfare rate is 35-50% and even higher. 34% overall for Mexican immigrants ----that's very high.

Sorry...... but these folks did NOT write the laws! OUR very own, vote sucking Liberals did!!

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Do not blame others for what OUR country has decided to give away!

[FITZ]

a perfectly valid question to ask which side you would fight

Also when you're obtaining dual citizenship and your other president is demanding his country have "the whole enchilada" and is constantly meddling in US affairs.

[AnAmericanMother]

Actually, not that long ago the SAME question was raised to the Irish (who spent a lot of time funneling money to their friends back home to fight the perfidious British). A certain mayor of New York, currying favor with his Irish constituents, promised to "punch King George right in the nose" when he and Queen Elizabeth came over here to visit Roosevelt right before WWII. And you may remember a certain Father Coughlin . . . (although I read an interview with him in American Heritage magazine done when he was in his 80s and I'm willing to cut him some slack for being pure in motive but horribly mistaken)

And how can we forget the suspicion and ostracism with which the German citizens of the U.S. were treated during World War I (much more so than in WWII, when everybody was more worried about Japanese subs and saboteurs, and the Germans had been better assimilated). Remember "liberty cabbage"? Remember Frick's daughter who refused to allow German art in the Frick Museum? "Which side are you on?" was asked of Germans every day at that time, and they were reviled in the newspapers and in fiction.

My tag line seems particularly appropriate here. This guy is whining. He needs to grow up and take the long view of history. AS SOON AS his people assimilate, this problem will go away. Not before.

[JohnGaltSpeaking]

Pat Buchanan touched on this in his book 'Death or the West' Turns out, the last mayor of LA was very involved with the Aztlan cause, which seeks to make a Bronze skinned nation consisting of northern mexico and the southwest US. Not to be reactionary but things like this is what you get with non existent borders and the cult of multiculturalism

[thedugal]

That is not true. First, a huge number of Hispanics are less than 18 years old, thus, the percentage of the general population that military age Hispanics comprise is far lower than 13%.

How much?

Moreover, over half are women.

Over half of whites, blacks and Asians are women.

Secondly, Hispanics comprise a huge percentage of the armed forces that are defined as "combat arms," AKA fighting men.

Huge? Personally, I don't care about the numbers, it's not very important, but since the author brought the subject up, he ought to try to get it right.

One of my best friends in the Air Force was hispanic. His parents came from Mexico, but he was American. There are many hispanics in the military and they would often ask him if he was Mexican (since there are also, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, etc..). He would point to the patch on his arm (U.S. Air Force) and ask rhetorically, "Does that say Mexico? If I were Mexican, I'd join the Mexican Air Force." This would generally be returned with virtiol which probably would have led to a fight were he not so big.

I can't count how many Mexican flags I saw flying on the cars of Mexican American servicemen while I was in. I now live in Japan where I don't see many Americans of any persuasion, but I doubt things have changed for the better. If the author wanted to fully address the problem, he would be a bit more objective. I believe that most Mexican Americans serving in the armed forces are good Americans, but assimilation requires you leave the "Old World" behind and scratch the Mexican to become American, no hyphenation. That is all we ask, and doing so will win more support than they probably imagine.

[skeeter]

This attempt by some to bask with their favorite cause in the glow of US successes in Iraq make me sick.

[FITZ]

OUR very own, vote sucking Liberals did!!

But look at the voting patterns in some of these border areas and other areas with many new immigrants ----they are voting in liberals who promise them the easy life living off taxpayer money.

[FITZ]

These 3 individuals are heros who served their country ----but then you have to contrast them with the 3,000 protesting the other day near the border for their welfare and government handout rights ----they're demanding no cuts in government spending, they're sure they're entitled to money they never earned.

"Protest organizers said the protest helped give attendees, especially children, a voice on the proposed budget cuts. Organizers said the cuts would reduce money for child care for low-income families and would reduce education programs and health insurance like CHIP.

"Someone needs to speak up for children's rights," said Rosa Sanchez, president of the Alliance for Parents and Providers. "The children certainly can't do this, so this march will give them a voice and a face to legislators."

http://www.elpasotimes.com/archive.html (sunday archives)

[eddiespaghetti]

Pat Buchanan touched on this in his book 'Death or the West' Turns out, the last mayor of LA was very involved with the Aztlan cause [. . .]

Hmmmmmm. Thanks for the input. Is anybody else making note of the above?

es

[Elsie]

But look at the voting patterns in some of these border areas and other areas with many new immigrants ----they are voting in liberals who promise them the easy life living off taxpayer money.

This has nothing to do with the 'border' areas, as it is nation-wide. This country is DONE when the 'wants' finally tip the scales over the 'haves'.

[Elsie]

When you rob Peter, to pay Paul, you can ALWAYS count on Paul's support!