by Sonia Mohammed
While the rambunctious, fun-loving "culture-war commandos" in the Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) celebrated the independence of Texas on March 2, some Mexican supremacists condemned the event as "racist."
The YCT held a birthday party for Texas on the West Mall complete with a gorgeous "Happy Birthday Texas" cake, music, balloons, party favors, and a special guest speaker, Alex Jones. Jones is a charismatic local cable television and radio personality who hosts a talk show on 98.9 FM, KJFK.
The Mexican supremacy group MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan) traditionally protests the celebration every year, deeming it racist. They allege that Texas' liberation from Mexico was unjust and advocate returning Texas to Mexico. The Mechistas have proven themselves to be absolutely notorious for their immaturity and morally bankrupt behavior. One year, when the YCT defended and celebrated Texas' liberation, a cake was presented in the day's honor, of which students could partake. En masse, the Mechistas gorged themselves with YCT's cake and then proceeded to regurgitate it in "protest" during the celebration on the South Mall.
This behavior was not surprising to the YCT. Sonia Mohammed, Chairman of the YCT, responded to the irreverent display by characterizing the Mechistas as "hoodlums and heathens" in the Daily Texan last year. "It's an absolute disgrace that these ignorant heathens would exhibit the utmost disrespect for and disregard to our state and its historical heroes. Instead of giving thanks to those who made our freedom possible, these hoodlums are making a mockery of the battles that were so courageously fought to grant us our independence," Mohammed said. Her reference to the "hoodlums and heathens" has become so popular that now it's a common description used University-wide to describe the Mexican supremacists who vomited celebration cake. "These were no ad hominem attacks," said Mohammed. "Their behavior was definitely indicative of heathenry," she said.
To counter all the negative publicity the Mechistas have received in the past, they approached the YCT celebration differently this year. MEChA held a "mock funeral procession" to illustrate the number of Mexicans killed in their fight to oppress Texas. Mechistas dressed up as Aztec Indians and marched from the South Mall to the Texas Union, where they performed tribal dances.
However, the Mechistas' affinity for Aztec culture is not as innocent as it may at first seem. It's disturbing to think that the Mechistas worship the Aztec Indians as much as they do. It's part of a radical belief system which is much more dangerous than their childish behavior. The Aztecs actually performed human sacrifices and ripped the hearts out of living, breathing human beings.
MEChA's website (http://www.utexas.edu/ftp/student/mecha/index.html explains the meaning of MEChA:
"Each word in M.E.Ch.A. symbolizes something. MOVIMIENTO means that the organization is dedicated to the movement to gain self-determination for their people. ESTUDIANTIL identifies the organization as a student group for we are part of our Raza's future. At the heart of the name is the word CHICANO. At first seen as negative, now is taken as a badge of pride. In adopting their new identity, the students committed themselves to return to the barrios, colonias, or campos and together, struggle against the forces that keep our people oppressed. Lastly, the students affirmed that they were from AZTLAN, the legendary birthplace of the Aztecs, which reputed is today's Southwest. M.E.Ch.A. originated in the Southwest but quickly spread throughout the United States."
The MEChA chapter at UT even refers to itself as "Mecha de Tejaztlan," implying that Texas is a part of the legendary Aztlan. Mechistas emphasize the liberation of all of their "Raza", or race. It's hypocritical for the Mechistas to be the race-hustlers that they are but then cry "racism" when individuals celebrate Texas' freedom from the tyrannical and oppressive country that was and is Mexico.
It's crucial to understand some of the major beliefs of the Mechistas in order to understand why they protest Texas' liberation. MEChA chapters nationwide affiliate themselves with other race-hustling groups such as the Committee on Raza Rights (CRR).
Somos Raza, a youth group formed in the mirror of MECha to "win back Aztlan", describes how it feels persecuted (http://burn.uscd.edu/~udb/somos-index.html):
"Somos Raza understands that these conditions under which we exist are not our fault. We know it is the gringo system that uses this 'low intensity warfare' to keep us from joining the movimiento and depriving our struggle of the ability to replenish its ranks. To those of us who can read between the lines of the gringo-colonial press (T.V., newspapers, movies, etc.) we understand that the purpose is for the pigs to get together and share notes on how to attack Mexican youth; to the pigs, all Raza are criminals. We also understand, that all the so-called laws (Prop. 187, Clinton Crime Bill, Three Strikes, English Only Laws, Anti-Affirmative Action, and Social/Education Cutbacks) being sold to the white population by racist snake politicians are nothing but an excuse to harass, brutalize, psychologically destroy and lock-up Raza youth. History teaches us that this gringo-settler society has never implemented a law or policy with the objective of helping our community. We understand that the whole situation of Raza killing Raza and other colonized people is a product of the C.I.A./F.B.I./Police counter intelligence program designed as one of the ways to keep us from joining the struggle for liberation of all Mexicanos." They continue, "The gringo-colonial government of the United States is able to maintain Raza in a semi-slave situation where we do all the low-paying jobs, while a large group of rich gabachos continue to live and profit off the land stolen from Mexicans. We understand that Aztlan (also known as the 'Southwestern United States') is occupied Mexico; it is our land stolen by the U.S. government in 1848."
Somos Raza and the UT chapter of MEChA constantly claim that they have no interest in returning Texas to Mexico. The same website mentioned above claims otherwise. "...We are part of the movement to unite under a broad organization that takes into account the interests of all Raza and adheres to a strategy that calls for the total liberation of our gente and our lands...only by coming to terms with these lessons, can Raza youth fulfill our obligation to the liberation and re-unification of the Mexican nation."
Regardless of what the Mechistas believe, it's disheartening and hypocritical for them to protest our great State's liberation. They're absolute ingrates for reaping the economic and social benefits of being Texans and Longhorns but also condemning the institutions which granted them those freedoms and opportunities.
Conveniently, the Mechistas always neglect to mention the great Mexicans like Juan Seguin who were on our side, fighting for their liberation as well. It's not like the battles were fought between the dark-skinned and the light-skinned; the tension was between the oppressors and the oppressed, regardless of skin tone.
YCT's speaker during the Independence Day celebration, Alex Jones, encouraged the crowd to think hard about why one should celebrate Texas' independence. "They were fighting against tyranny, man!," said Jones to a hostile member of the audience.
Mohammed wondered what the Mechistas are doing residing in Texas if they don't like it. She said that there are plenty of people appreciative of the freedoms they have now because of the men who fought for Texas' independence.
Mohammed also noted, "Have y'all noticed? People aren't dying to get out of this country. They're dying to get into this country."
A magnificent display of pride resonated through the crowds as Jones led "God Bless Texas" chants.
All local news media and radio outlets captured the event very favorably.
The bottom line is that the freedom fighters at the Alamo sacrificed their lives so that all future Texans could live the Texan dream of life, liberty, and freedom from incompetent and illegitimate governments. Remember the Alamo!
Mohammed is the Chairman of the Young Conservatives of Texas and the Editor-in-Chief of Contumacy.