One sticking point for anti-immigration polemicists in the immigration debates of 2006 was that some individuals in pro-immigration rallies flew Mexican flags.
How un-American, right?
Well, that all depends. Are you perhaps a resident of Arizona or New Mexico? Because your flags have colors taken from Spanish standards. Admittedly, that's pretty historical.
Are you from California or Texas? Because your flags are actually the flags of independent nations, annexed either quickly (California) or after a while (Texas) into the United States.
Are you from Hawaii? Because your flag has a British flag on it.
Are you from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, or South Carolina? The flags of Alabama, Arkansas, and Florida all include reminders of the Confederate flag. Georgia's flag is the first national flag of the Confederacy, with the state seal superimposed in the middle. Mississippi's flag contains the stars and bars, the second national flag of the Confederacy. South Carolina continues to fly its flag from the secession years.
If the flag of a secessionist force that tried to destroy the United States and led to the deaths of millions of Americans is an acceptable part of our national cultural heritage, then I defy you to produce a legitimate complaint against immigrants to this country waving a Mexican flag at a rally. All the good people in my neighborhood who have Mexican flags on the backs of their cars go to work every day, pay into Social Security every day, and contribute to the fabric of my very healthy local community. If they want to acknowledge where they came from, that's great.
I'm glad to have them. I hope they're glad to have me.