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Ernest Rodriguez speeches, 1976-2006

Mexican Independence Speech by Ernest Rodriguez Page 3

The Mexican is product of difference races and cultures. For the most part Indian and Spanish. The Spaniard was also a product of many races and cultures. He held no racial hatred toward the Mexican Indian. In fact the Spanish conquistador respected the fierce courage of the Mexican on the battlefield. The conquistador's motivation was his insatiable lust for gold, his relentless search for prestige and glory, and his religious fervor to spread the Christian faith among the pagans. The old cliche, with a bible in one hand and a sword in the other, holds true for the Spanish conquistador. 

Respect for others and love of your fellow man. Mexican Americans have demonstrated this principle in every war this country had fought. More Mexican Americans and other Hispanics have died on the battlefields of the Second World War, the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam proportionate to their population than their Anglo American counterparts. Many Mexican Americans volunteered or were drafted to fight in the jungles of Vietnam. They couldn't afford to go to college or get deferment. Mexican Americans have won more medals for bravery on the battlefields than any other ethnic group. Many times they sacrificed their lives that others may live and that freedom may prevail. No greater love hath a man to lay down his life for another.  

So to those superpatriots in our society I say, don't question our patriotism. Our patriotism is unequaled. I remember when I was stationed at Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, Texas there was a company of all Hispanics waiting to processed out. Half of a company of all Hispanics waiting to processed out. Half of them did not speak English. Yet no one demanded that they speak English before taking up a weapon and heading for the battlefront to fight a war for freedom. I imagine that some of this group died in foxholes in Korea. Yet today the issue of English as an official language keeps cropping  up. Are these people misguided or is this an attempt to call in to question the patriotism of those people who speak another language?

This is only one of the issues which confront the Mexican American today in the political arena. But Hispanics as a group have learned how to deal with such issues. Hispanics are now being registered to vote in unheard of numbers. Hispanics all over the country are becoming more politically active than in any time in the history of our country. We are becoming better educated.

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The Mexican is product of difference races and cultures. For the most part Indian and Spanish. The Spaniard was also a product of many races and cultures. He held no racial hatred toward the Mexican Indian. In fact the Spanish conquistador respected the fierce courage of the Mexican on the battlefield. The conquistador's motivation was his insatiable lust for gold, his relentless search for prestige and glory, and his religious fervor to spread the Christian faith among the pagans. The old cliche, with a bible in one hand and a sword in the other, holds true for the Spanish conquistador. Respect for others and love of your fellow man. Mexican Americans have demonstrated this principle in every war this country had fought. More Mexican Americans and other Hispanics have died on the battlefields of the Second World War, the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam proportionate to their population than their Anglo American counterparts. Many Mexican Americans volunteered or were drafted to fight in the jungles of Vietnam. They couldn't afford to go to college or get deferment. Mexican Americans have won more medals for bravery on the battlefields than any other ethnic group. Many times they sacrificed their lives that others may live and that freedom may prevail. No greater love hath a man to lay down his life for another. So to those superpatriots in our society I say, don't question our patriotism. Our patriotism is unequaled. I remember when I was stationed at Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, Texas there was a company of all Hispanics waiting to processed out. Half of a company of all Hispanics waiting to processed out. Half of them did not speak English. Yet no one demanded that they speak English before taking up a weapon and heading for the battlefront to fight a war for freedom. I imagine that some of this group died in foxholes in Korea. Yet today the issue of English as an official language keeps cropping up. Are these people misguided or is this an attempt to call in to question the patriotism of those people who speak another language? This is only one of the issues which confront the Mexican American today in the political arena. But Hispanics as a group have learned how to deal with such issues. Hispanics are now being registered to vote in unheard of numbers. Hispanics all over the country are becoming more politically active than in any time in the history of our country. We are becoming better educated.