Latino Medal of Honor Recipients

Articles - History

Would you jump on a grenade to protect your mission, your weapons or your fellow soldiers? Would you take a bullet and continue fighting for the sake of the country? How about several bullets and some shrapnel?

Would you risk your life to save another soldier or expose yourself to open fire to keep your entire platoon from perishing?

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Decolonizing Puerto Rico

Articles - History

The United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization has agreed to send a resolution to the General Assembly asking that the United States to "guarantee to the Puerto Rican people their legitimate right to self-determination and the protection of their human rights, to order the halt of its armed forces' military drills and maneuvers on Vieques Island, which is inhabited; return the occupied land to the people of Puerto Rico; halt the persecution, arrests and harassment of peaceful demonstrators; respect fundamental rights, such as the right to health and economic development; and decontaminate the impact area."

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National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2000

Articles - History

Hispanic Heritage Month evolved from a Congressional declaration of Hispanic Heritage week in 1968. It was to be celebrated during the week of September 15th and 16th, covering a wide number of Independence Days for Latin American countries. On September 15th, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua celebrate their independence. On September 16th, Mexico celebrates its independence. In 1988, the celebration of Hispanic heritage was officially extended to 31 days. Now it includes the independence of Chile on September 18th, and Día de la Raza (Columbus Day) on October 12th. The final holiday recognizes the first immigration of Hispanic ancestors from the Eastern Hemisphere (Europe/Africa/Asia) to the Americas.

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The Bizarre State of Democracy - Puerto Rico

Articles - History

On this past Friday the 13th, during the first presidential campaign of the millennium in the world's greatest democracy - the government won its case in court against the world's oldest colony. The Department of Justice successfully won the appeal against a prior decision favoring Gregorio Igartúa de la Rosa.  Igartúa originally won in Puerto Rico when Judge Jaime Pieras, Jr. found in his favor.  Judge Pieras argued that the right to vote was much more important than the right of Congress to rule Puerto Rico.  Perhaps to honor past struggles of Hispanics for civil rights during Hispanic Heritage Month, the Clinton Administration and the Department of Justice spent a lot of energy on their appeal to ensure that more than 2 million Hispanics in Puerto Rico would not be able to vote this November.  Their arguments were clear and correct - individuals do not elect a president and American citizens do not have the right to vote. 

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Justice for Japanese Latinos

Articles - History

By now most Americans are aware that the United States arrested and imprisoned Japanese Americans during World War II. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. This allowed the military and INS to imprison any person of Japanese descent in camps often referred to as, "Department of Justice Internment Camps". Those Japanese who had recently immigrated were stripped of their legal status. Those who were naturalized were stripped of their citizenship, as were those born in the United States.

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Keeping Values in Amoral Times

Articles - History

In my last article, I asked for the respect of all life - "even if" it was Mexican. Just respect. Nothing more. While I received positive responses, I also received hateful messages filled with a total disdain for life. Unfortunately, I expect the same with this plea that we try to change ourselves for the better. After the recent attack, I immediately saw genocidal comments before any evidence was presented. I'd like to maintain the values we try to live when we're not in crisis. My plea is for everyone to lead themselves, their friends, their families and their public officials. That's American. Because I am patriotic, I will always seek to improve when we can and maintain our national dignity by living up to our values. And that means looking at how and when we can grow. Add a comment

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