http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_4203004

Article Last Updated: 8/18/2006 02:39 PM

Latinos have no secret agenda

By Janet Murguia
Salt Lake Tribune

Latinos want what every American cherishes: the opportunity to be part of the American fabric and a shot at the American Dream.

We have no secret separatist agenda. Yet, over the last few months, we have seen a growing revival of the tired old canard that the Latino community's real agenda is to reclaim the Southwestern part of the United States as its "homeland."

This notion of "reconquista" dates back more than 40 years to a small offshoot of the Chicano movement. Few took it seriously then and fewer even now. In fact, the only people who seemed to have ever given this idea any credibility were a tiny part of the far left in the 1960s and, more recently, anti-immigrant extremists.

Seeing the growth of the Hispanic community solely and exclusively as a threat, these extremists seem determined to make sure that the ever-stronger Latino voice is silenced.

Instead of engaging in meaningful debate, many of these extremists stigmatize us. For instance, my organization is the National Council of La Raza, and "La Raza" in this context means "the people" or "the community." But some of our opponents insist on calling the group the National Council of the Race. This is not accurate. Hispanics are an ethnicity, not a race, as anyone who has met a Dominican-American vs. a Mexican-American vs. a Chilean-American can attest. What makes a person Latino is not his or her skin color. This would be offensive if it wasn't so silly.

Search the words "America" or "American" on the Web site of any national Latino organization and you get hundreds of hits. And if you continue to look closely, you'll find that our group, for example, works with more than 150 community-based organizations throughout the nation to help people integrate into American life by learning English, becoming citizens and registering to vote.

Latinos have been fighting and dying for this country for more than 200 years. They, like all Americans, should be able to express their opinions, agree or disagree on issues or fight for what they believe in without having their right to belong challenged or their patriotism called into question.

Our democracy deserves nothing less.
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J
anet Murguia is president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza.