My cousin Ronnie died in Viet-Nam. In 1969. I was 9 years old.

I remember we (my huge Mexican-American family lol) went to the beach, probably Corona del Mar, and there were some blondie girls lying on the sand with their bikini tops undone so as not to leave tan lines.

Ronnie gave me a quarter to go drop some ice on their backs lol.

Of course, you've got to understand that back then it was boys will be boys. Now a days your a sex offender.

Anywayzzz, the next thing I know I see a coffin with an American flag draped over it and my Tia Tencha screaming in agony. And all the women, my mom included, were so angry.

I guess the men in my family felt bad because they were all veterans and they kinda expected Ronnie to go and fight for his country.

Ronnie was 19. He's buried at Rose Hills in Pico Rivera, CA.

"Why are the contributions of immigrant soldiers largely ignored?"

It's not that they're ignored, but that they're treated equally, without special recognition over others who were born here. Why would you think that they deserve any better? Should we give separate recognition to Irish, Italian, Chinese, German, French or others? It seems that all of a sudden it's become a deliberate slight not to blow the horn for Hispanic Americans. I work with the military. Most don't care to be exploited for their ethnic background. I suspect that General Valenzuela would object to Marisa's demand that they should be exploited for ethnocentrist politics.

Have you seen John McCain's latest web ad? His Memorial Day message is for immigrant soldiers. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Azd2gV3-A4

Ironic isn't it, that one of the first soldiers to fall in Iraq turned out to be an undocumented immigrant.

And as enlistments of "native" US citizens, recruiters target undocumented immigrants.

IMO, only a U.S. citizen should be able to serve in our military.

"Ironic isn't it, that one of the first soldiers to fall in Iraq turned out to be an undocumented immigrant."

Technically he wasn't an undocumented immigrant when passed on. You don't get it Texano. Why should so-called d Hispanic undocumented immigrants be given the privilege of immigrating illegally over others in the world that do not have a common border with us? You wouldn't be arguing for special previleges for undocumented Iraqis, Chinese or Koreans, would you? This is simply a demand for special privilege just to fulfill your own racial/ethnocentrist biases, which is exactly what the KKK demands for white people. You really do not have an honest answer to this, because it would amount to an admission that you believe Hispanics are superior to everyone else in the world who would not qualify based upon education or economic status.

P.S. Not that's what I call ironic.

Recruiters are hittin' the bars in Tijuana, MX looking for potential recruits.

That really sucks.

"You wouldn't be arguing for special previleges for undocumented Iraqis, Chinese or Koreans, would you? "

I have never distinguished between any undocumented workers, whether they are from México, China, Korea or Iraq.

However, you go to great lengths to complain about the undocumented workers from México. Ironic, eh?

Texano, of course you haven't distinguished between illegal aliens from Mexico, Iraq, China, etc. To do so would give away you ethnocentric agenda. We know the truth though. It is only Latino illegals that you and your ilk really care about.

The reason that Latino illegals are mentoned more than others by those of us for the rule of law is because Latinos are the overwhelming majority of illegals in this country. Most illegals are coming thru our southern border. Duh!

"To do so would give away you ethnocentric agenda. We know the truth though."

The truth is that you engage in the advocation of cultural supremacy, not me.

My agenda to seek justice for all workers, undocumented or not, not that you care.

Texano, what cultural supremacy? Where did I or any other anti-illegal in here advocate that? Because we object to illegal immigration that equates to "cultural supremacy"? How so?

It appears that you and your ilk are in favor of your own cultural supremacy however because you advocate for the illegal entry of your own ethnic kind into this country. You have the shoe on the wrong foot, amigo!

Latino are the majority in 22 countries on the Western Hemisphere and Whites only have 2 and yet WE are the cultural supremists?

Texano, you are correct that I don't care about any so-called justice for illegal workers. Why should I or any other law abiding American? We also need to not care what happens to the employers who hire them. Lock em up and throw away the key! Both parties are guilty.

You are also guilty for reaping the benefits of the services and goods their work has brought you. Now that we advocate justice and equality for all you have a cow. Not once did you say anything for 20 yrs.

OK, let's have a reality check! These people have cost Americans, particularly lower skilled Americans, blacks, and LEGAL immigrants THEIR JOBS because they came in and undercut the wages of these people. The employers are the ones who benefitted from their cheap labor as the employers just increased their profit margins and did not pass the savings onto the consumers! DUH!

And as for not saying anything! People have been yelling about this in the border states for years! But, now the problem has spread out all throughout the country and more and more people are being directly affected by this illegal invasion! ENOUGH! Americans want this to stop! They want the borders secured, a return to the rule of law, and the sovereignty of their country respected!

The far left kooks can scream "racism and xenophobia" all they want; this is too important of an issue to allow this psychological bullying to have any effect. Find another tactic--this tactic is all worn out and broke!

Frank, if that were remotely true then why are Arizona legislators, at this very moment, deciding how to craft their own version of a guest worker program to bring in workers to fill positions vacated by undocumented immigrants and aren't being snatched up by lower skilled Americans?

From what I understand, it is only agricultural workers that Arizona is seeking a guest worker program for. We already have one in existance. It is just that the farmers chose not to use it as it was cheaper to hire illegal workers.

I have no problem with guest worker programs for any jobs whereby it can be proven we can't find American workers for at a fair wage. But the employers had side stepped hiring legal immigrant workers for cheap illegal workers. That has got to stop!

As you know by now, I am also an environmentalist. I believe in a smaller economy to fit a smaller population for all the obvious reasons such as the depletion of our natural resources. Our economy has been population driven for the past 20 years or so and that population growth was mainly thru illegal immigration. Massive population growth will bite us in the butt down the road.

A very good thing for the environment would be to rid ourselves of all racists. Get a clue and disappear already. You pollute the minds of our youth and embarrass Americans.