Fallen Soldiers of Mexican Descent are not "Heroes" but "Victims"

by
Miroslava Flores
La Voz de Aztlan

Los Angeles, Alta California - April 7, 2003 - (ACN) It broke my heart to see Mrs. Martha Martinez, mother of fallen soldier Francisco Martinez Flores, in a Spanish language TV segment yesterday. She was crying inconsolably clutching a paper certificate that had been given to her by a stern face US Marine outside her humble home in Duarte, California. The paper was a "certificate of citizenship" that was granted to Private Martinez Flores by the United States of America. Private Martinez Flores, age 20, is one of three soldiers born in Mexico that have been killed in Iraq.

Martha Martinez said in Spanish, "I just want them to stop it, for all the suffering mothers. All of these young people have no need to die in this unending battle." The pain in Mrs. Martinez face was unmistakably visible as well as signs that she could not understand the events that have taken her beloved son from her. It definitely appeared that she was not buying the depiction by the media that her son was a "hero". It appeared more like she was desperately struggling to comprehend the terrible fate that has befallen her son.

For many in the Mexican-American community, the 8 soldiers of Mexican descent who have been killed, so far, in the Iraq War, are not "heroes" but "victims". A "hero" in Mexican culture is defined as "A man or woman distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility and strength in a cause which is considered good and moral." Unfortunately, those behind the present war have twisted the true meaning of "heroism" to serve their own interests. These warmongers have convinced many that soldiers who are killed invading a foreign country, kill children and women and rob that nation's treasures are heroes.

These soldiers of Mexican descent killed are actually victims themselves. They are victims because the social, economic and political realities and especially their lack of higher education has prevented them from understanding the true nature of this war of aggression against Iraq. Their lack of education on top of the actual brainwashing that goes on in society through the mainstream media convinced many of these young soldiers that joining the US military was the right thing to do. For many of these young soldiers, joining the military service was the only alternative out of poverty. These young privates and corporals were not just the victims of the warmongers but also victims of the US educational system that failed them miserably.

The caustic US General George S. Patton of World War II once said, "Men, it is not your duty to die for your country; it is to make the other son-of-a-bitch die for his." For the three Mexican soldiers killed, not only did they not "make the other son-of-a-bitch die for his," but they did not even die for theirs. Under these circumstances and others already mentioned, it is difficult to consider these young and naive fallen soldiers as being heroes. Pobrecitos . . . que descansen en paz!