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One Reporter's Opinion - A Latina Joan of Arc George Putnam It is this reporter's opinion that all but lost in our reporting of mob demonstrations and the sea of flags from south of the border, are moments of patriotism such as that reported by David Brody of CBN News.
Brody writes that in Santa Ana, California where the sights and sounds can be deceiving, three out of every four in that southern California city are Mexican, and Spanish is the main language spoken. They identify with their country of origin and only 20 percent say they identify or feel American. One has a right to ask, is the allegiance on the part of protesters to America or Mexico?
That is why one woman has become the "Latino Joan of Arc" of her community. She is as patriotic as they come. A sign in her front yard reads: "English for the Children." Lupe Moreno is considered to be a traitor by her people, for she has gone from Latino housewife to flag-waving American and has devoted her life to keeping illegals out of the country. The story of how she got to this position is as amazing as it is painful.
Lupe Moreno was born in America. Her father, a Mexican illegal, ran a smuggling operation and brought an untold number of illegals into the family home. Lupe was abused by many of them. She says, "I was totally terrified of life. It was a day-to-day experience." But Lupe eventually moved beyond her painful childhood and began reading about America's history, a history she fell in love with. Later she worked for Social Services and witnessed firsthand how illegals are abusing our system.
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Then came the breaking point. Her patriotism enraged her husband who was an illegal immigrant from Mexico; and after 26 years of marriage, he divorced Lupe because he insisted she call herself Mexican. "I would say no," Lupe said, "I'm an American and proud to say it."
"America means so much to me," says Lupe. "So many have died to give us all these rights. They blessed us. They planted the seeds." Lupe charted a new course for her life; she became head of Latino Americans for Immigration Reform and became a full-fledged Minuteman patrolling the border. Now Lupe travels all over the country speaking out against the invasion of America.
Lupe says, "Loyalty to America must come first." And she cites President Theodore Roosevelt who said, "There can be no divided allegiance. Any man who says he is an American but something else also is not an American at all. We have room but for one flag - the American flag."
There have been very difficult moments for Lupe. There have been death threats and physical abuse when she speaks for America. Lupe believes that most of the protesters, while clamoring to become American citizens, are being used by activist groups and that is why she demands her fellow Latinos celebrate the red, white and blue - not the red, white and green.
But though this American Joan of Arc is making progress among those with her background, she is saddened by many young Latinos who tell her, "If we go to war against a foreign nation, we may fight for this nation; but if we go to war with Mexico, we will fight for Mexico."
As in her own case, Lupe says, "American patriotism begins in the home. The kids, given the opportunity, really want to be American. It begins in the home, in the school, and the church." With Lupe Moreno, it is never a question of loyalty. A present-day Joan of Arc, indeed! A Latino housewife, a flag-waving American. God bless Lupe and her love of America.
Editor's note:
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