Radical 'Reconquista'
Agenda
Behind the respectable front of the National Council of La Raza lies the
real agenda of the La Raza movement, the agenda that led to those thousands
of illegal immigrants in the streets of American cities, waving Mexican
flags, brazenly defying our laws, and demanding concessions.
Key among the secondary organizations is the radical racist group Movimiento
Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, or Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan (MEChA),
one of the most anti-American groups in the country, which has permeated
U.S. campuses since the 1960s, and continues its push to carve a racist
nation out of the American West.
One of America's greatest strengths has always been taking in immigrants
from cultures around the world, and assimilating them into our country as
Americans. By being citizens of the U.S. we are Americans first, and only,
in our national loyalties.
This is totally opposed by MEChA for the hordes of illegal immigrants
pouring across our borders, to whom they say:
"Chicano is our identity; it defines who we are as people. It rejects the
notion that we...should assimilate into the Anglo-American melting pot...Aztlan
was the legendary homeland of the Aztecas ... It became synonymous with the
vast territories of the Southwest, brutally stolen from a Mexican people
marginalized and betrayed by the hostile custodians of the Manifest
Destiny." (Statement on University of Oregon MEChA Website, Jan. 3, 2006)
MEChA isn't at all shy about their goals, or their views of other races.
Their founding principles are contained in these words in "El Plan
Espiritual de Aztlan" (The Spiritual Plan for Aztlan):
"In the spirit of a new people that is conscious not only of its proud
historical heritage but also of the brutal gringo invasion of our
territories, we, the Chicano inhabitants and civilizers of the northern land
of Aztlan from whence came our forefathers, reclaiming the land of their
birth and consecrating the determination of our people of the sun, declare
that the call of our blood is our power, our responsibility, and our
inevitable destiny. ... Aztlan belongs to those who plant the seeds, water
the fields, and gather the crops and not to the foreign Europeans. ... We
are a bronze people with a bronze culture. Before the world, before all of
North America, before all our brothers in the bronze continent, we are a
nation, we are a union of free pueblos, we are Aztlan. For La Raza todo.
Fuera de La Raza nada."
That closing two-sentence motto is chilling to everyone who values equal
rights for all. It says: "For The Race everything. Outside The Race,
nothing."
If these morally sickening MEChA quotes were coming from some fringe
website, Americans could at least console themselves that it was just a
small group of nuts behind it. Nearly every racial and ethnic group has some
shady characters and positions in its past and some unbalanced individuals
today claiming racial superiority and demanding separatism. But this is
coming straight from the official MEChA sites at Georgetown University, the
University of Texas, UCLA, University of Michigan, University of Colorado,
University of Oregon, and many other colleges and universities around the
country.
MEChA was in fact reported to be one of the main organizers of those street
demonstrations we witnessed over the past weeks. That helps explain why
those hordes of illegal immigrants weren't asking for amnesty -- they were
demanding an end to U.S. law, period. Unlike past waves of immigrants who
sought to become responsible members of American society, these protesters
reject American society altogether, because they have been taught that
America rightfully belongs to them.
MEChA and the La Raza movement teach that Colorado, California, Arizona,
Texas, Utah, New Mexico, Oregon and parts of Washington State make up an
area known as "Aztlan" -- a fictional ancestral homeland of the Aztecs
before Europeans arrived in North America. As such, it belongs to the
followers of MEChA. These are all areas America should surrender to "La Raza"
once enough immigrants, legal or illegal, enter to claim a majority, as in
Los Angeles. The current borders of the United States will simply be
extinguished.
This plan is what is referred to as the "Reconquista" or reconquest, of the
Western U.S.
But it won't end with territorial occupation and secession. The final plan
for the La Raza movement includes the ethnic cleansing of Americans of
European, African, and Asian descent out of "Aztlan."
As Miguel Perez of Cal State-Northridge's MEChA chapter has been quoted as
saying: "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."
MEChA Plants
Members of these radical, anti-American, racist organizations are frequently
smoothly polished into public respectability by the National Council of La
Raza.
Former MEChA members include Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was
officially endorsed by La Raza for mayor and was awarded La Raza's Graciela
Olivarez Award. Now we know why he refuses to condemn a sea of foreign flags
in his city. California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante is also a former MEChA
member. He delivered the keynote address at La Raza's 2002 Annual
Convention.
The National Council of La Raza and its allies in public office make no
repudiation of the radical MEChA and its positions. In fact, as recently as
2003, La Raza was actively funding MEChA, according to federal tax records.
Imagine Robert Byrd's refusing to disavow the views of the KKK, or if Strom
Thurmond had failed to admit segregation was wrong. Imagine Heritage or
Brookings Foundation making grants to the American Nazi Party.
Is the National Council of La Raza itself a racist organization? Regardless
of the organization's suspect ties, the majority of its members are not.
When one examines all the organization's activities, they are commendable
non-profit projects, such as education and housing programs.
But even these defensible efforts raise the question of whether education
and housing programs funded with federal tax dollars should be used in
programs specifically targeted to benefit just one ethnic group.
La Raza defenders usually respond by calling anyone making these allegations
"a racist" for having called attention to La Raza's racist links. All the
groups and public officials with ties to the La Raza movement can take a big
step towards disproving these allegations by simply following the examples
of Senators Byrd and Thurmond and repenting of their past ways.
If they are unwilling to admit past misdeeds, they can at least state --
unequivocally -- that they officially oppose the racist and anti-American
positions of MEChA, and any other groups that espouse similar views.
Through public appearances, written statements, and on their respective
websites, La Raza groups and allies must:
1. Denounce the motto "For La Raza todo. Fuera de La Raza nada," as
repugnant, racist, and totally incompatible with American society or
citizenship.
2. Acknowledge the right of all Americans to live wherever they choose in
the U.S. without segregation.
3. Commit to sponsorship of nationwide educational programs to combat racism
and anti-Semitism in the Hispanic community.
4. Denounce and sever all ties with MEChA and any other organizations with
which they have ever been associated which held to the racist doctrines held
by MEChA.
5. Acknowledge the internationally recognized borders of the U.S., the right
of the citizens of the U.S. to determine immigration policy through the
democratic process, and the right of the U.S. to undertake any and all
necessary steps to effectively enforce immigration law and defend its border
against unauthorized entry.
6. Repudiate all claims that current American territory rightfully belongs
to Mexico.
If the National Council of La Raza, other La Raza groups, and local and
national political leaders with past ties and associations with the radical
elements of the La Raza movement can publicly issue such a statement and
live by every one of these principles, they should be welcomed into the
American public policy arena, with past sins -- real or imaginary --
forgiven.
If they cannot publicly and fully support these principles, Congress needs
to take appropriate steps and immediately bar any group refusing to comply
from receiving any future federal funds. Both the House and Senate should
strike these groups from testifying before any committees, and the White
House should sever all ties. Both political parties should disengage from
any further contact with these groups and individuals.
There are plenty of decent, patriotic Hispanic organizations and elected
officials to provide Congress with necessary feedback on specific issues
confronting Americans of Latino heritage. Any group or individual who can
agree with the simple six points should be welcomed into that fold.
If not, the American people will know there's a wolf in their midst, and
take the necessary precautions to defend our Republic against an enemy.
Mr. Norwood, a Republican, represents the
9th District of Georgia.