Politicians Fuel The Reconquista Movement: Aztlan And S. 1348

http://www.postchronicle.com/commentary ... 7661.shtml

By Jack Ward
Jun 20, 2007

When the details of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, S. 1348, were revealed many asked who supplied input to the Senators? When it was revealed that La Raza (The Race) and MeChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan) were major players in the congressional smoke filled rooms, the intent of the legislation became evident.

While the naive believed that the immigration legislation was focused on compassion, the intent of La Raza and MeCha is Reconquista or the "re-conquest" of the Southwestern U.S. by Mexico. The intent of the Reconquista Movement is the creation of Aztlan, its secession from the USA, and its eventual annexation to Mexico. The 'Nation of Aztlan' would include California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, plus the southern part of Colorado. Aztlan is the alledged ancestral home of one of the main indigenous groups in the Southern latitudes of Mesoamerica. But there is no consenus that Aztlan even existed. Only Atlantis rivals the myth of Aztlan.

But if there isn't proof that Aztlan even existed, what legal claim to the Southwesten U.S. does the Aztlan supporters have?

History indicates – None! Prior to 1494 the land was occupied by indiginous tribes. In 1494 the Pope signed 'The Treaty of Tordesillas' which granted the New World to Spain. Spain conquered and occupied the land in the New World until it lost the territories by war or treaty. While Spain colonized Central America and some of South America, there was very little governmental influence in North America. Mexico defeated Spain and became an independent nation and claimed the Southwest U.S. Mexico exercised very little governmental control over the area and less than 1% of Mexico's population was in the disputed area.

Then in 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the US-Mexican War. In the treaty, Mexico relinquished control of disputed area in the Southwest U.S. in exchange for $15 million plus the U.S. assumed millions of dollars of Mexico's debt. Throughout the world, borders have changed due to wars or treaties and none have been rescinded based on mythical claims by individuals.

But war or treaty isn't the only way to take over a country. Countries can be lost through foolhardy legislation – and that may be what La Raza and MeChA have in mind. The Reconquista Movement is being perpetrated by disingenuous academics, political activists and opportunistic politicians. For example:

-- One of the Atzlan promoters is Professor Charles Truxillo, instructor of Chicano studies at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Tijerina claims that the 'Nation of Aztlan' is the "exclusive and supreme" power "within our territorial jurisdiction, over all persons and property situated therein, to the exclusion of all other countries and governments."

-- Miguel Perez of Cal State-Northridge's MEChA chapter said, "The ultimate ideology is the liberation of Aztlan. Communism would be closest [to it]. Once Aztlan is established, ethnic cleansing would commence: Non-Chicanos would have to be expelled … opposition groups would be quashed because you have to keep power."

-- On NPR's All Things Considered Gloria Ramirez Vargas, a Mexican politician from Baja said "Many Mexicans are nourishing the ground in the U.S., but those lands were once ours. Those same lands, which now with intelligence, with love and with a lot of work, we are re-conquering again for our Mexico."

But how does Atzlan affect immigration reform?

It has been estimated that there are between 12 and 20 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. The majority of those illegal immigrants are in the territory identified as "Aztlan." Unfortunately our gullible politicians are fueling the Reconquista Movement by proposing legislation that will give legal status to the illegal immigrants. The real question is, will the new legal residents and citizens want to assimulate into the U.S. culture or accept the Reconquista Socialist rhetoric?

Since 1848, no one can deny that the territory in question has prospered during the 159 years it has been under U.S. free market philosophy while poverty still exists south of the border. Disbelievers need only walk across the border at any of the border cities to see the stark contrast. Without the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the U.S. Southwest might still look like Tijuana.

The passage of S. 1348 will not cause the actual transfer of Atzlan to Mexico. But without assimilation, a defacto Reconquista could occur and the Balkanization of the Southwestern U.S. is probable. If it does, we can thank our politicians.