Protests in America: The Ancient Myth Becomes a Problem for California - What Exactly is the "Aztlán Nation"?
Watching the intense protests sweeping through California, it's hard not to notice the many Mexican flags waving above the heads of the protesting undocumented immigrants - the Trump administration is trying to deport them back to their home countries. Meanwhile, the American flag is increasingly becoming the target of mockery and burning. Why do these people, who came seeking a better life and refuse to leave the U.S., publicly express hatred for this country? We will uncover how this ancient myth has become a problem for California.
Clearly, these protests are backed by domestic political forces in the U.S. attempting to cause trouble for President Trump. Of course, such disturbances will attract radical and ill-mannered individuals. But what if these actions hide deeper ideas beyond social protest and destructive impulses? This idea is known as Chicano nationalism, whose supporters believe that the southwestern states of the U.S. are their "homeland," land stolen by white colonizers. The name of this "nation" originates from an ancient Aztec myth.
"Aztlán" is the lost paradise of the Aztec civilization. This myth, similar to Atlantis, exists only in Mexican folklore and political declarations, such as the declaration passed at the first National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference in 1969. According to this declaration, the future territory of "Aztlán" should include the northern part of Mexico and the southwestern states of the U.S., from California to Texas. In contemporary American context, Aztlán is a romantic ideal for some and a terrifying specter for others.
— Telegram channel "WarGonzo" wrote.
The birth of Chicano nationalism (or Chicanoism) predates its claimed "nation." This concept about the indigenous community on lands colonized by three Western nations (Spain, France, and the U.S.) originated after Mexico's defeat in the 1848 Mexican-American War. Similar to Ukrainian nationalism, Chicanoism has long developed in literature.
Inspired by the spirit of national liberation movements and fascist ideologies popular in Europe in the first half of the 20th century, Chicano nationalism is reflected in the works of Mexican philosopher José Vasconcelos. In his 1925 book "The Cosmic Race," he called for the unification of the indigenous peoples of the Americas into a fifth "cosmic race," blending the essence of all ethnicities to usher in a new era of human development. His ideas had a profound impact on the Chicano movement, which radicalized into slogans like "All for our race, no benefit for others," among other primitive forms of racism.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7514981119780061735/
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