• Front page
• Receive letters on your RSS reader

Florence M. Zamora of Littleton writes:

Gosh, this is so disheartening!! I am a 53 year old female Hispanic American, born here in the United States, a Native Coloradan and proud of my heritage.
Obviously, I feel badly for all people who want to live in a better place. Nothing can be better than “OUR” United States of America!!! I was touring Wash., DC a couple of weeks ago, there were 22 of us. A comment was made by another unknown person passing our group, “that we should go back to Mexico, where we belong"... Ughhhh!! I felt that discrimination was a thing of the past and now it is coming back to haunt us once again. Just because of the illegal immigration issues that now have reached record highs and someone “now” wants to do something about it!!! I, being a citizen of our free country, saw as a teenager, that this was getting out of hand and now that it has reached insurmountable proportions, do they now want to do something about it.
It should have been controlled way back in the 70’s and 80’s when our numbers were growing at a rapid speed. I also want to note that it is not only the Mexicans from Mexico, but other Latinos from Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Cuba, Panama, Chile, not to mention the Vietnamese, Asian, Russian, Irish, and Polish people immigrating as well. Why highlight only the ones coming from Mexico. The United States should have devised a consistent plan from the beginning, to control the number of illegal immigrants of all races, coming to America... we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in now. There are many times that I have gone to an amusement park, a hotel, a fast food restaurant, or a movie theatre and in trying to make small talk with a service employee, found that they cannot speak English and they are not “MEXICAN".....

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

I am also a U.S. born American citizen (from New Mexico) of hispanic heritage, and I share many of your concerns and observations.

It is getting less popular for conservative-minded people to hate gays and lesbians, just like how it fell out of fashion to hate black people during the 1960's and '70's, so they have to find a new scapegoat group to vent their frustration and hate toward, so now it is hispanics, characterized as purely "Mexican". But making people approach an issue for the problem it is, without the mindless ethnic hatreds, would make people actually think about the problem. This is apparently too difficult for lots of people out there.

I know, Florence, at least from your letter, that you would like to find a solution to the problem of illegal immigration. But because of your last name you will be attacked for being an "illegal lover", just like Sen. Salazar has been. Salazar has even been called "Mexican" even though his family settled in what would become Colorado before Mexico even existed, and had the border cross them, not the other way around. But this and other facts will not stop those small-minded people that absolutely need a scapegoat to blindly hate instead of trying to look for a decent and fair solution to the admitted problem of illegal immigration. Maybe these people are afraid that if they look at the problem more objectively, they will find that they are actually a part of the problem and not the solution.

Oh well. I am ready to be attacked for purely nonsensical reasons and I expect you to be attacked too. I am glad that you have the courage to stand up and call "shenanigans" on the ugly direction this debate has turned toward.

I would bet the farm that if you are from mexican decent and CAN'T speak english, then they probably aren't legal citizens

Florence, all ethnic groups in the U.S have burdens to bear from illegal immigration. Since most (57%) of illegal immigration is from Mexico and the majority of the rest from Central and South America. American-Mexicans also have a burden to bear. What you described is unfortunately your's and your ethnic group here in the U.S.A.
It is too bad it has come to this.

Paulie, you represent the same attitude that many pro-illegal imigration people display. You want to blame the conservatives and accuse people of racism.
cusations of racism is a cop-out. It's not racist to want all illegal aliens out of this country and our elected officials to uphold existing laws. You might be surprised to find that a very large percentage of liberals do not support illegal immigration either.

Gay and Lesbian??!!!!

Mrs. Zamora, sorry you felt such disrespect on your trip. I hope that in the future you feel the same "respect and admiration" many Americans feel when they are involved in a car wreck and the other driver has no insurance or valid license and hauls off. I hope that you feel the welcome we do when we see the American flag burned by illegals who claim they are not criminals (What a contradiction that is) while they profess Mexican pride and the safety that we feel when La Raza and other groups call for the murder of all America so they can retake it all. Also, when that nine year old girl was raped by an illegal, who is now hiding in his native Mexico, I hope that you have the same, peaceful dreams she has every night.

Flo,

I'm also a fourth generation American Citizen -from Spanish decent.
Because of the invasion of illegal s into our country from Mexico,Honduras, Guatamals, etc. EVERYONE thinks we are Mexican. I have friends of different nationalities..and they told me.. "I It hought you were Mexican..I said NO thats another nationality. I'm spaniard ..New Mex. Never been to Mexico.
Our families can't and don't speak spanish.

With all the illegals and all the thousands of Mexicans coming out for those two yrs. on May 1st. They have brought resentment to Americans of every race ..including me..
Demanding everything under the moon..like their gold or something!

Now everyone hates us ..they think ..us Spanish- Americans are Mexicans.. We're 'lumped" together with them!

And they're not "HISPANIC" they're MEXICANS! I'm also sick of having to post all these comments trying to explain.. !

You should understand anyone involved with La Raza is not a friend of the American citizen,they pander to all the illegals..
Even the illegals are not our friend..they cheat, steal do anything they can to survive at our expense!

Me, show me where I used the word "racism" or "rascist" anywhere in my post. Likewise, show me where I advocated for illegal immigration. I won't hold my breath.

"the problem of illegal immigration"
"the admitted problem of illegal immigration"
-from my original post.

Apparently, I am a liberal who does not support illegal immigration, but that does not mean anything unless I want to HATE Mexicans too? What garbage.

What, Me, are you "afraid that if [you] look at the problem more objectively, [you] will find that [you] are actually a part of the problem and not the solution"? (Also from my original post)

And Nick, burning the US flag is not a crime, but rather it is constitutionally-protected free speech, no matter how lamentable it may be. And try to lay off the fear-mongering for a while too.

I worked on Logan street in Denver in the 80s.
La Raza had their offices in the same building my company occupied. I talked to American Hispanics everyday who were employed by La Raza. I had alot of fun and enjoyed chatting with the ladies at coffee breaks.
These ladies were no different from any other American citizen. Same goals, same problems, same everything.

However La Raza has changed and now shows it's true colors and the colors are NOT Red, White, and Blue!!!
What kind of message is being sent to non-Latinos by LaRaza???

What is happening here is that some American-born Latinos are aligning themselves with the illegals!

Ken Salazar and all the other Latino senators voted FOR amnesty. These senators are not doing American-born Latinos any favors by showing such bias with their pro-illegal stance!
I repeat, what kind of message is being sent to non - Latino voters by these senators???

It is totally confusing to non-Latinos when they read the papers or see the news on TV and many Hispanic surnames are in the forefront as perpetrators of all kinds of criminal activity.

It is difficult, for some people to differentiate between Joe Gonzales and Jose Gonzales.
Therefore, many people lump the cultures together and determine that all people with Latino sound names are Mexican.

The situation is as confusing to many non-Hispanics as it is to American born Hispanics.

I remember not-so-long ago that Asians were all thought to be Chinese or Japanese.

AAA,
You are so right! Years ago , before this ..it was so different. Everything was cool.. it didn't even come to mind ....about nationality.
We all accepted each other as ..just people..

Good example, of the Chinese or Japanese..or..Asian or Oriental. And a person didn't want to offend by calling some one ..one or the other. But they were still accepted.
But ..this thing is a whole new ballgame.

Seven federal agencies gave away $2.1 billion to religious charities in fiscal 2005. Terrorist Justices, five Catholic Supremes say Bush doesn’t have to obey 1968 law and can give away $billions to Christianity because the money doesn’t come from Congress but from his appropriations, his allotment and as the decider he can squander the funds. Bush and Supremes pilot their craft into the wall of church state separation. Taxpayers have no standing to challenge Bush’s giveaway. Saddam, Hitler, Bush all have their loyalists. $Billions going to the Church could be going to enforce America’s border.

Deicide Corner: "I say there are gods, but they care not what men do." ~~ Ennius The Founders were mostly deist leaving god out of the Constitution and banning him: Art.6:3

I am truly sorry for Ms. Zamora and "Maria" for being victims of the illegal immigration train wreck. My next door neighbors are naturalized American citizens (first generation) from Mexico. They applied and entered according to the rules in place. Part of their "reward" was to have some illegals (28 at last count) "adopt their legal identities" for the purpose of obtaining work at higher wages than illegals normally command. It's been an ongoing nightmare for these folks.

Unfortunately, human nature is often times culpable of subconsciously racial profiling even when we know better. If one sees a dark skinned man with flowing robes, turban and beard waiting nervously in the pre-boarding area at the airport it's almost inescapable to have thoughts of Muslim terrorists go through the mind. Hell, the poor man in robes is probably just nervous because everyone is looking at him nervously!

Damage done by the politicos in Washington either condoning or ignoring the illegal immigration problem has escalated for the last 20 years -- and, it will continue to escalate until it is resolved. The experiences of the above named ladies are a travesty for which, I for one apologize. I fervently hope that such actions towards Americans (born, naturalized or legal immigrant) by fellow Americans, regardless of color or ethnic background, will abate.

I'm glad you all understand. Thanx!

Paulie wrote
It is getting less popular for conservative-minded people to hate gays and lesbians, just like how it fell out of fashion to hate black people during the 1960's and '70's, so they have to find a new scapegoat group to vent their frustration and hate toward, so now it is hispanics, characterized as purely "Mexican".

Paulie, you're the most hate filled person that posts on the RMN.

I have no hatred toward any ethnic group and in former posts you have called me a blankety blank white guy. HEY, LISTEN UP, I'm not white. I'm American Indian.

Racism is not a white man's disease, all races are equally guilty of it.
You play the race card immediately whenever you post. I don't care what color your skin is, don't ask, don't tell.

Now you're going above and beyond and accusing "conservatives" of hating gays and blacks. What is your problem. Stop whining and get a life.

We have immigration laws and they ought to be obeyed.

Paulie,
I just read my own post and it scared me.
I apologize.
I have fallen into a trap of my own making and respectfully ask you forgive me.

I don't agree with your views but you are entitled to them.

Sincerely
skeptical

Skeptical....
Sounded harsh, but ..you were right.

POST A COMMENT

• 'Kid Nation' reality show a new low
• Rivers a shameful hire
• Too little news
• ‘Diesel’ fumes
• Unlocalized story a disservice to readers
• Riled up by Christian music
• Darling of the left
• Solutions too costly