Got History?

Whereas by an intermixture with our people, they, or their descendants, get assimilated to our customs, measures, and laws: in a word, soon become one people. - George Washington

We are not a nation of immigrants. That slogan is leftist, anti-nationalist double-talk which belies the fact that the most recent census data shows that more than 85% of all people living in America today were born here. A good portion of those are descended from the original colonists, meaning that they have no ties to immigration whatsoever. We are a nation of Americans, efforts to separate us into properly hyphenated groups not withstanding.

The pro-illegal immigration rallies last week ought to be an affront to all Americans and legal residents. Using the same tired old rhetoric, the organizers of the rallies brought hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens “out of the shadows” from where they are supposed to be living. Apparently that shadow stops at the parking lot of all Home Depots, fast food joints, and hotels in America.

Invoking great Americans from George Washington to Martin Luther King, Jr. the speakers told the crowds and America at large that any attempt to make illegal presence in America a felony was a racist abrogation of the principles on which America was built. Protests as far east as Wisconsin featured signs saying such things as “Get off our land” (emphasis added). Others claimed that all European descendants are the “true” illegal aliens. And my personal favorite encouraged me to learn the “real” history. Of course, the liberal media and Democratic party panderers were quick to pick up and run with these themes.

Properly chastised by these holier-than-thou illegal aliens, I decided to check a few historical facts.

1. The extent of the Aztec empire never extended into the desert Southwest and Spanish Mexico encompassed only the area from California to Texas. Wisconsin is definitely not “their” land.

2. The illegal aliens in America are speaking Spanish, not Aztec, which means if we are “invaders” then so are they. The Spanish illegally invaded and conquered what is today called Mexico from the Aztec empire in 1519-1520. Spain also invaded and conquered the territory identified above. That means Spain, not Mexico, would have a priority claim on the land the illegal aliens claim is “theirs.” Of course, the American Indians might have something to say about that, and the buffalo and gila monsters would probably dispute them in turn.

3. The Aztecs had previously invaded and conquered all surrounding indigenous tribes by 1473. So even if the illegal aliens were speaking Aztec, they would still be invaders.

4. Spain ruled Mexico ruthlessly, instituting a caste system that put pure-blood Spanish at the top and natives at the bottom. Mexico-born offspring of pure-blood Spaniards were considered second-class citizens. Bi-racial offspring had even fewer rights. In America, laws protect the equal rights of all, and special laws grant “extra” equality to members of properly hyphenated groups. Thus, the illegal aliens would be better served by becoming legal residents.

5. Napoleon conquered Spain in 1808 and placed his brother on the throne. Spanish Mexicans became French subjects and eventually began a rebellion which ultimately led to independence in 1821. Mexico was re-conquered by the French after the civil war of 1858-1861, and was re-re-conquered by Benito Juarez in 1867. Which all leads to the question, who exactly is a “native” Mexican that could (inconceivably) assert some claim on American soil?

6. Today, Mexico is effectively a one-party system (the PRI), in which not a single one of the major leaders is descended from a native tribe. Illegal aliens in America have more voice in the political process of a country whose laws they are breaking than do native Mexicans in their own country. Which one of us is the real bad guy?

If the white presence in America is illegitimate, the Spanish presence in Mexico is also illegitimate. And further, Spanish Mexican illegal aliens have no right to claim any part of the US as “their” land because prior to 1821 there was no such country as Mexico – it was a colony of either Spain or France.

George Washington was not a proponent of open borders. In fact, he specifically cautioned against allowing immigrants to arrive en masse. He believed that if large groups arrived together, they would naturally tend to congregate in the same areas. They would continue to use their own language, their own customs, and their habits from the “old” country. In short, they would not assimilate into America.

He wrote the words above in 1794. How prophetic they seem today, as this is exactly what has happened. Rather than become a nation of Americans, we have become a nation of properly hyphenated groups. Any time someone has the audacity to encourage legal immigrants to assimilate, he is immediately accused of being a racist. Any time a crime is committed against a member of one of the properly hyphenated groups, it is immediately called a hate crime. And any time a large influx of members of these groups wish to come here illegally, the Democrats (and lately even the Republicans to their eternal shame) roll out the red carpet.

What we must not loose sight of is the fact that these people are here illegally. Whether or not they are “vital” to the economy is not the point. How absurd would it be if a bank robber made his defense the fact that he “does the jobs Americans won't?” A crime is a crime irrespective of the (supposed) underlying motive.

It's not rocket science. If someone wants to come to America, they can get in line like every other honest immigrant. Anything less is disrespectful to all.