Re: Frank Moraga’s Aug. 10 essay, “Born in East L.A.�:
Moraga's essay saddens me, but not for the reason you may think. He tries to build sympathy for a man who was "deported" to Mexico when he was actually an American citizen, but that's not Moraga's real agenda.
I am all in favor of righting any wrongs done to innocent Americans. But Moraga doesn't stop there. He builds to what he considers a "stirring" climax, questioning "all the frenzy to stop illegal immigration at any cost."
Some frenzy. During the recent immigration debate in Washington, even President Bush was on the side of those favoring amnesty. I thank God that the proposition failed. As Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., said:
"An agreement with Mexico would cost $78 million in its first year and rise to an annual cost of $650 million by 2050. The agreement has also been criticized by the Government Accountability Office, which says Mexican citizens could easily and fraudulently access Social Security benefits even if they had spent a short time working in the United States."
I was born in the United States of Mexican parents. My parents, to their eternal credit, never tried to instill their Mexican customs in me. I grew up steeped in American culture. This is my country. I enlisted proudly in the Army during wartime, served three years and was discharged honorably. This is my country, and I'm proud of it.
It saddens me to read an essay like Moraga's. He is, I suspect, Hispanic, and, though he writes flawlessly in the English language, his sentiments appear to be on the side of the illegal aliens. I hope and pray Moraga and other Hispanics like him will come to recognize the extraordinary value of the American culture and to respect our laws.
— Dan Navarro, Ventura
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