Illegal Immigration

On Jan. 28, you carried a story by Patrick McDonnell in which he quoted me correctly when he used my words, but mischaracterized my statements when he didn’t. He said that I compared the problem of illegal immigration to the conflict between U.S. forces and the Viet Cong. Wrong. I compared it to the conflict in Southeast Asia where one group of people, through a greater will, ended up dominating disputed territory. There is an important distinction here. Many Vietnamese fought in the war on the side of the United States, just as many Mexican Americans voted for Prop. 187.

There is ample evidence that most of those who enter this country illegally from Mexico (the vast majority of illegal aliens) believe that California rightfully belongs to Mexicans. There is also strong evidence that many, but not all, Mexicans living in the U.S. share this belief. One need only to have attended the Oct. 16 rally in Los Angeles where, in a crowd of 100,000, it was the flag of Mexico that was prominent to understand this. One large American flag was displayed on the main stage, but it had only 13 stars--a deliberate statement about the “true ownership” of California.

Prop. 187 was an attempt to control illegal immigration, which comes mainly from Mexico.

The retaking of “Aztlan” will not be done by a direct frontal assault. That would be easily defeated. Rather, it will be done slowly, as one boils a frog.

GLENN SPENCER, President, Voice of Citizens Together, Sherman Oaks