|
Latinos in the Military
"There are many people who will ask me, 'Why are you against this war?'"
Listen
to this Commentary!
By Silvia Rivera
It was a rainy day, but the chants and the drums were loud. Voices
bellowed in unison, "No War! No War!" Fists were raised and signs
waved in the air. In Chicago, like other parts of the country, high school and
college students walked out in protest against the war with Iraq. I was among
the thousands of college students who participated.
Earlier in the day, I called my mother to tell her what I would
be doing.
My mother, who has always felt that I am too politically involved,
said, "Are you crazy? Don't you remember that you have a cousin in the
military? Don't you want to support him?" After taking a deep breath, I
answered, "I do support him. However, I don't support the war." Feeling
flustered, I hung up and went outside to march with the masses. As the crowds
grew, I noticed the reflection of placards and faces in the black marble of
the city's skyscrapers. My mind wandered to another rainy day a few years ago.
I remember visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington,
D.C., and feeling awed by the thousands of names inscribed on the polished black
granite. As I paid my respects, I couldn't help but notice the incredible number
of Latino surnames on the wall…Gonzalez, Jimenez, Dias, Rivera. It dawned
on me that I had never considered the Latino experience in the military, maybe
because I had never heard much about it. I had watched tons of war movies and
read plenty of history books, but none glorified the contribution of the Latino
soldiers who were "the first in, and the last out." I took a solemn
picture by one of the names on the Vietnam Veteran’s wall: Miguel Angel
Rivera. Miguel was born on September 29th, 1944, and died at the age of 21.
There are many people who will ask me, "Why are you against
this war?" I could give many answers. I could say that Iraq has presented
no greater threat to the United States than North Korea. I could say that the
U.S. plans to overthrow the regime in Iraq, and violate international law. I
could go on to say that a war on against Iraq is, in part, a power play for
one of the world's most valuable commodities: oil. Depending on who I am talking
to, I might get a look, or a disapproving remark. I might even be viewed as
"un-American." But as an American, I will keep expressing myself,
participating in protests, and supporting and praying for our troops, including
my cousin Kevin.
When Kevin comes home, I hope that he will be treated like the
all-American hero that he is. I’ve heard Latinos make up 20 percent of
the U.S. Armed Forces of the military, but we are 12 percent of the population.
It's the never-ending story of minorities who often join the military to help
support their families, to pay for college, or simply for love of country. Even
though the U.S. is busy fighting an unjust war in Iraq, I hope that one day
our government will invest in creating equal opportunities in this country,
especially for those communities that have sent their boys to war to fight bravely
for human rights half way across the world.
— Silvia Rivera comes to Youth Radio from Radio Arte in Chicago.
|
|
