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Forum: Current Events Topic: U.S. rightfully owns its lands started by: Stone-Magnon Posted by Stone-Magnon on Jul. 22 2011,11:17 am
U.S. rightfully owns its landsPublished 8:35am Friday, July 22, 2011 Email Comments This letter is a response to Rudy Spieker’s ridiculous letter of July 17 concerning U.S. Mexican borders and land. The United States has purchased, and in some cases, won vast expanses of land masses during the formation of this country — sea to shining sea. Our history is full of such expansions and complicated treaties. Not knowing all the facts or reasons of some land mass exchanges does not negate history. There are some people living in this great nation who continually find fault and condemnation for America’s history. Mr. Spieker seems to be one of them. Let’s look at the expanding America, a look through a patriot’s eyes and the 1800s’ money values (today values equal times 30). Louisiana Purchase, 1803, from France, 828,800 square miles, $15 million, Mississippi River to the Rockies. Mr. Spieker, do you feel that the U.S. stole this land, and France still has a claim to it now? Transcontinental Treaty, 1819, purchased Florida from Spain, 58,560 square miles for $5 million to satisfy U.S. citizens’ claims against Spain. This signing extended the border with Spanish Mexico (opposed to French Mexico) all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Should we now let them have it back? Mexican War of Independnce with Spain and France, 1810-1821. Mexico declared ownership of all Spanish lands. Texas Revolution, 1836. Republic of Texas declared independence from Mexico because of many greivances and persecutions. Mexican-American War, 1846-1848 (only 25 years after Mexico won independence from Spain and France). The United States won the war but gave northern Mexico and Mexico City back to Mexico. The U.S. did not want Mexico. Mexico (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo) then accepted the Rio Grande River as the border. This Mexican Cession gave the U.S. upper California and New Mexico for $18 million, plus payment of debts owed by Mexico. The U.S. paid $15 million for 525,000 square miles of some of the most God-forsaken land, becoming part or all of 10 states. Plus, the U.S. paid $3.25 million in Mexico’s debt for 389,166 square miles in Texas. Mr. Spieker, how about giving California back to Mexico — and keep Texas? Gadsden Purchase with Mexico, 1853. The U.S. paid $10 million for lower parts of Arizona and New Mexico for a transcontential railroad right-of-way. How devious of the United States? Alaska Purchase, 1867. The U.S. purchased 586,412 square miles from Russia for $7.2 million. What a steal! What do you say, Mr. Spieker? Did we steal such a great treasure? Should we give it back to Russia? I don’t think so. Mexico, nor any country, has any claim on United States lands. Regardless of what Mr. Spieker says. The United States is the legal and rightful owner, regardless of the garbage that the pro-illegal immigration lobby puts out and regardless of what the illegal aliens want you to believe. Get over it. Robert L. King Hollandale So, when the country is a majority Hispanic they'll get to keep it Bob? Posted by irisheyes on Jul. 22 2011,5:05 pm
If you read the July 17 letter it was only a response to a letter by Paul Westrum claiming that the United States won a war, the Mexican-American War, and signed a treaty agreeing to pay for the southwest area now known as California and a few other states. Either Paul Westrum or Robert King's explanation of the Mexican-American War is absurd. The United States was engaged in "Manifest Destiny" at the time and thought that it had a right to expand west regardless of who was the owner. We provoked a war and won it entirely because the powers that be wanted that land. Today this would be referred to as annexation, and 20 years ago we had a war in Iraq because Saddam Hussein did the same thing to Kuwait as America did with California.Texas may have won independence from Mexico as Mr. Westrum's letter mentions. But a vast amount of American immigrants moved to the Texas part of Mexico because of relaxed immigration laws at the time. Before long, Texas became less and less Mexicans, and more and more Americans. Pretty soon these Americans didn't see much point in being part of Mexico anymore. As the Joe Friday used to say, "just the facts, ma'am." America has had some dark spots in her history. Ignoring them is either ignorance or McCarthyism. |