LETTER: Fernandez is not pro-illegality

This letter is in response to a recent post entitled “Fernandez is pro-illegality,” which addressed the Mexicans Without Borders movement. This movement fights for the repossession of North American
territories by indigenous peoples, and the destruction of oppressive, white supremacist governments (which they apply specifically to the U.S.).

Let me state, first of all, that I do not support the tactics used by the Mexica movement.

That having been said, I completely disagree with the author’s comment that Fernandez is “pro-illegality.” Technically speaking, Fernandez is “pro-illegality,” if by this term you mean that he supports
illegal aliens as they struggle in their current plight. However, considering his overall vision, pro-illegality is not a very accurate description; he advocates the destruction of current country and state
boundaries so that land is returned to the original, indigenous inhabitants.

If this vision is said to be “pro-illegality,” then we must also apply that term to the original explorers and founders of our own country, who ignored the current tribal and regional classifications by
indigenous groups and created their own system.

To say that Fernandez’ message is un-American demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of American history. Euro-Americans invaded this continent, and then spent the next 400 years telling
everyone that all humans were equal and deserved freedom. The author cites illegal immigrants as “lawbreakers,” but that certainly by itself should not be cause for condemnation. Just a few hundred
years ago, a slave who escaped from his master was a “lawbreaker.” Laws are constantly changing, and the “illegal” status of these peoples is certainly not an inherent truth and may change in the future.
These are not serial killers and rapists who are coming to invade your streets; these are people who have moved to the United States to live a better life and often to achieve the mythical “American
dream.” How un-American of them.

And finally, the author cites Fernandez’s ideas as “human rights violations.” Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines human rights: “All human beings are born free
and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. ”

If illegal immigration fits your definition of a human rights violation, there are a few prison camps you should probably visit.

RACHEL SPENCE

Woodbridge