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Why we speak Spanish in Texas
By Jos Antonio Lpez - Feb 9, 2015.
In a previous article, I mentioned that the contentious fence on our
southern border was being built in the middle of northern Old Mexico
(New Spain). A reader asked what I meant by that. I am happy to
answer the question.
Likewise, this article will have the side benefit of countering recent antiSpanish comments of John Huppenthal, former head of the Arizona
Department of Education. His bizarre cause and effect theory is as
follows -- The majority of Mexican-descent citizens in the Southwest are
poor because they speak Spanish.
He claims the following: Do away with the Spanish language in the
U.S. and it will eliminate poverty among Mexican-descent people.
Incredible! Though, why is it that he and so many non-Hispanic people
fail to recognize the nature of the U.S. Mexico border as a permanent
Mason-Dixon Line? Why is it they dont know that Spanish has been
spoken longer than English in what is today the U.S.? Why is it they are
clueless about the reasons why we Mexican-descent people in Texas and
the Southwest speak Spanish?
The fact is that todays descendants of the original Spanish Mexican
pioneers in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, California, and Texas
Len children taught the Austin children to speak Spanish and in turn
benefited by learning English from their new friends true bilingualism!
The Spanish language and Spanish Mexican footprints abound in the
Southwest.
For example, before the U.S. subsumed the Southwest, the territory
encompassed the provinces (states) of Alta California, Baja California,
Nueva Vizcaya, Nuevo Mxico, Nueva Extremadura (Coahuila), Tejas,
and Nuevo Santander.
Towns in Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, such as Monclova were key
commerce destinations. Today, U.S. citizens strike them off as foreign
cities. However, at one time they were magnets that attracted diverse
groups of people, including U.S. Anglo travelers. Indeed, the vast
region thrived with vibrant activities along the Camino Reals southern
trade routes.
In truth, Anglo people heading west used Spanish-developed maps,
followed the Camino Real, and relied on Spanish-named points of
interest (rivers, mountains, towns) along the way. In short, it was
Spanish Mexican population centers that served as points of reference
and as welcome oases that drew in the hungry, exhausted immigrants
and travelers from the U.S.
The next time you hear about the Border Fence debate on TV, remember
that in 1848, Texas was nowhere near the Rio Grande. As Mexicos
most northeasterly Provincias Internas, Texas was much farther north.
So, the Border Fence cuts through the heart of Northern New Spain.
(Here in South Texas, it split the vibrant Villas del Norte in two and
stripped the state of Tamaulipas of about one fourth of its territory!)
Learning about our long-ignored early Texas history is most essential.
Recently, the selection of the Vaquero as the mascot for the University
of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) generated a debate. Those who
know about their early South Texas history overwhelmingly support the
decision. Those opposed to the respectful tribute tend to be terribly
unaware that the honorable tradition of the vaquero founded the Rio
Grande Valley in the first place. Sadly, generations of being told their
history was not important contributes to disbelief and cynicism. Only by
learning about the past will they stop viewing the rich vaquero tradition
in negative terms.
In summary, due to a perpetual colonialism attitude based on the
Manifest Destiny myth, our group (a Class Apart) has occupied the
lowest socio-economic level since 1848. At all costs, Spanishsurnamed, Spanish-speaking citizens of Mexican-descent originating in
South Texas (Rio Grande Valley) must first get to re-learn and then
accept the fact that they are not immigrants to the U.S. Indeed, that is
what separates us from our sister Hispanic groups that came later as
immigrants. Lets remind ourselves (and our children) that our ability to
speak in two languages is a true blessing that their peers in school dont
have.
As to the Berlin Wall-type border fence, those who think that its going
to keep Mexican-descent citizens on this side of the border from
speaking Spanish (English Only) are in for great disappointment.
Spanish was spoken 24/7 in Texas and the Southwest yesterday; is
spoken today, and will be spoken tomorrow. Bilingualism is here to
stay. Judging from the millions of dollars being spent in Spanish
language multi-media advertising, the U.S. business community depends
on it.
As to the absurd cause and effect theory mentioned above, its hard to
believe that the man who proposed it occupied Arizonas top education
job. No doubt his Hispanophobia is due to a lack of education (no pun
intended.) Being bilingual has nothing to do with being poor.
If anybody tells you that Hispanics can make it in the U.S. only if they
learn English, tell them that speaking English has not necessarily helped
Blacks gain equality in this country. The same goes for the plight of our
Native American brethren.
Lastly, lets use the education process to chip away at the wrong
perception that the general public has about our heritage on this side of
the U.S. Mexico border. If we stay together, we can erase that wrong
view in one generation. In the sage advice of Dr. Lino Garcia, Jr.,
UTRGV: Un paso a la vez! Pero, adelante, siempre adelante!
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