MaryJae
Redistricting Map Is 'Deplorable'
RECEIVED Tue., June 21, 2011
Dear Editor,
Re: “Redistricting: ‘Purposeful Discrimination’” by Lee Nichols [News, June 17]: Shame on the Republicans who worked on this deplorable map. Using this deceptively manipulating strategy just goes to show how low they will stoop to gain more political power. Putting aside for now the map’s illegality and the sheer stupidity of repeating past mistakes, they purposely and brazenly factored in race in deciding where to redraw the lines in order to take votes and power away from blacks and Latinos. This new congressional boundary is also a direct response to the growing number of Latinos. This was a racist and elitist endeavor if it was driven by their feelings of superiority to working-class “minorities.” How arrogant of them to think we are that stupid to not see through their conniving scheme.
Even though racism is not as blatant as it was back when my great-great grandparents lived here in Austin, this subtle one feels more insidious and evil to me. This discrimination against Mexicans here goes much further back in history. Encroaching Anglos used the Manifest Destiny theory to justify their killings and land grab. Then in 1848 the U.S. waged an illegal and unjust war against Mexico to seize half of it. Land continued to be confiscated from Mexicans through fraud and after their lynching.
Now Republicans seem to think that they have the God-given right to take over Texas and take away the legal rights we fought so hard for in the civil rights movement. The Senate needs to establish a set of guidelines for a fair redistricting process. A rule this important and sensitive should be written by intelligent and principled politicians and not ones with little social conscience.
Re: “Redistricting: ‘Purposeful Discrimination’” by Lee Nichols [News, June 17]: Shame on the Republicans who worked on this deplorable map. Using this deceptively manipulating strategy just goes to show how low they will stoop to gain more political power. Putting aside for now the map’s illegality and the sheer stupidity of repeating past mistakes, they purposely and brazenly factored in race in deciding where to redraw the lines in order to take votes and power away from blacks and Latinos. This new congressional boundary is also a direct response to the growing number of Latinos. This was a racist and elitist endeavor if it was driven by their feelings of superiority to working-class “minorities.” How arrogant of them to think we are that stupid to not see through their conniving scheme.
Even though racism is not as blatant as it was back when my great-great grandparents lived here in Austin, this subtle one feels more insidious and evil to me. This discrimination against Mexicans here goes much further back in history. Encroaching Anglos used the Manifest Destiny theory to justify their killings and land grab. Then in 1848 the U.S. waged an illegal and unjust war against Mexico to seize half of it. Land continued to be confiscated from Mexicans through fraud and after their lynching.
Now Republicans seem to think that they have the God-given right to take over Texas and take away the legal rights we fought so hard for in the civil rights movement. The Senate needs to establish a set of guidelines for a fair redistricting process. A rule this important and sensitive should be written by intelligent and principled politicians and not ones with little social conscience.
Anita Quintanilla
