September 21, 2003

California Recall Tests Extent of Chicano Apostasy

The governor-recall election in California -- where voting by Mexican emigrants may decide the outcome  – focuses attention on the meaning of citizenship. Is it a right, privilege or responsibility?

This is not a topic for high school debaters. At issue is apostasy of Americanism – the rejection of a commonly held belief or cause.

Authors of the U.S. Constitution distrusted both "popular factions" and "minority tyranny" so they invented "representative democracy" of "checks and balances." It is he only practical model for a one-world culture.

Most Americans believe in diversity of culture in a political system of freedom and personal responsibility.

The concept is being tested in the California brouhaha. At this writing, the fates of Gov. Gray Davis, Lt. Gov. Cruze Bustamonte and Challenger Arnold Schwarzenegger are statistically even.

Lurking behind the curtains is the majority-minority Hispanic vote. Or is it Latino" Or is it Chicano? It is interesting that illegal immigrants from south of the border can’t decide. They fight among themselves over semantics

Have at it. It doesn’t matter. Eventually they must perceive themselves as Americans -- or fade back into the failed culture that drove them here.

The Irish and Italians make a big to-do of their ancient heroes – St. Peter and Columbus.  Non-Irish non-Italians help them celebrate – especially non-Irish non-Italian politicians who rush to get in the front line of ethnic parades.

Thus, Chicano fiestas of Cinco de Mayo are colorful and appropriate. However, they do not celebrate Mexican independence as often believed. The day of liberation from Spain was Sept. 16. 1810.

Cinco de Mayo marks May 5, 1862, when the Mexicans defeated a large French army sent to collect payment on national debt.

The day of nationhood is the more important anniversary in Mexico. Chicanos whoop up May 5 as more patriotic because it represents opposition to foreign intervention.

Which brings us back to the California recall.

Gov. Davis was elected with the strong backing of former or first-generation Mexicans who sneaked into the United States illegally.

No personal condemnation for that. I would do the same if my family was suffering and my native country was unable to provide opportunity for a decent living.

 Illegal immigrants are hard workers at important tasks most American shun. Nevertheless, it is hard to understand why immigrants once established here are nostalgic about the old, hopeless days somewhere else.  

The nineteenth-century "melting pot" concept was efficient and humane. No former nationality was able to impose a nostalgic but failed former culture -- or wanted to. In a short time, we shared a rich mixture of the best of all cultures.

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante – a Chicano seeking to replace Gov. Davis should the recall succeed – is as good a liberal Democrat as there is. He is the leader of a large, narrowly focused voting block. He probably will win if Davis is recalled.

Bustamante’s fatal fault is his Cinco de Mayo fixation to turn California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas into a de-facto Mexican province. Really.

He has long been an associate of the Chicano Student movement of Aztlan (MEChA). It is a militant, racist organization dedicated to "liberating" the Mexican race from the clutches of European, African and Asian descent Americans.

Bustamante admits of having active in MEChA as a student, but not any more. However, he refuses to dissociate himself from the organization and recently journeyed to Fresno State for a separate Latino commencement ceremony organized by MEChA.

Hispanics now outnumber blacks in the U.S. They have succeeded in getting voting ballots, road signs and all official documents printed in Spanish. Chicanos do not have to speak or read English to become a citizen or get a driver’s license.

To facilitate separatism, Mexico has issued about a million "consular identification cards" to illegal Mexicans in the United States. Many municipalities rush to recognize the cards in granting all public services except Social Security -- yet.

Latinos are rushing faster into a country-within-a-country – a la Montreal, Canada -- than they are into Mexican provinces. A Bustamante re-election will hasten either process.

Alas, Babylon.

 PARTING SHOTS

Bill Clinton and Gray Davis campaigned together at a black church. Rare combination. The first black president of the U.S. and the last white governor of California.

 * * *

Sen. Teddy Kennedy says the war on terror is a "fraud made in Texas." Thoughtful words from the Coward of Chappaquiddick.

Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can be reached at linwms@lindseywilliams.org