Occupied America

In this reading, Rodolfo Acuna points out some key facts that Americans do not want to accept, and that is we are in some way imperialistic. He states that we do not believe we are because we think of imperialism as "an affliction of other countries." When you read between the lines, you are able to see that America is and will remain the same way forever, and that is bending and twisting words like oppression, imperialism, racism and any other demining words to take away the harsh reality that this country is like a young spoiled and selfish king.

It wasn't bad enough that we ran the Mexicans off their own land, we had and still have to manipulate them for cheap labor. "After 1910, almost one-eighth of Mexico's population migrated to the United States" for an opportunity, instead all they received was tons of labor for a pay of close to nothing.

This reading highly affects me because i am from Los Angeles California where the Mexican population is high. I hear my family, and see protests against Mexicans because it is said that they are taking up all the jobs in L.A and are not paying taxes, mainly because some of them are illegal. Buisness owners mainly hire illegal immigrants because they can not use their freedom of speech; holding a protest and speaking out for the bad work conditions and poor pay would only end in them being deported back to Mexico where the pay is worst. American citizens have the right of free speech and use it whenever they feel cheated. So for a buisness owner, someone who can't say anything about their low pay or poor condition, it would be the better financial choice for them.

Mexicans who reside in America whether illegal or not are here to help their family back in Mexico who have nothing because of America. They are hard workers who deserve more than being oppressed and manipulated by buisnessmen and down talked by the citizens and the media. To think that they were here first and now are not welcomed by most who live here is outrageous and signs of an imperialistic country.