Discover Latino Heros Who Fought Fascism
Intro
I started out writing about National Hispanic Heritage Month and look where I ended up. My outrage at hearing immigrants and asylum seekers, including Latinos, called criminals and worse, found its way into the story, as you will see.
Yet, in the process of doing a bit of research, I was touched by learning of Hispanic heroes who fought fascism, and who risked their lives so that people who were considered sub-human could live. Big thank you’s are deserved!
Celebrate Latino cultures
So to start where I originally started, from September 15 to August 15, the United States celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month. “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future of America Together” is the theme of 2024. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua also celebrate during the first two days of this month.
It is a good time to enjoy some yummy chile rellenos, empanadas, mole, arepa, tajadas, flan, tres leches cake, and other dishes described in the article “Traditional Hispanic Foods for Hispanic Heritage Month.” When I moved from Philadelphia to Las Vegas when I was eleven, I discovered the new world of tacos and toasted cheese tortillas with salsa. Yum. I’m getting hungry.
It is the month to listen to music such as Salsa, Bachata, Regional Mexican music, Tango, Merengue, Latin Pop, and Reggaeton. To enjoy watching people perform, or to join in the dance.
The National Museum of the American Latino website explains the holiday and features a gallery of contributions Hispanics and Latinx have made to the arts, science, sports, entrepreneurship, and politics. The short, so informative video Exploring Latino Diversity can be found there. A very long “List of Hispanic and Latino Americans” from Wikipedia offers an extensive, eye-opening view of achievements. The National Hispanic Heritage Month websiteweaves inspiring stories and resources together.
Hispanic heroes
I was fascinated, while I scrolled around for this story, to learn about the contributions of Latinos who had fought fascism in dangerous circumstances. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum recognized “Hispanic Americans Sacrificing to Serve Their Country.” They honored the over 500,000 Latino men and women who served in World War II to join the Allies cause to fight the Nazis.
Among those who served was Anthony Acevedo, a Mexican American who worked as a US Army medic. He was captured in 1945 by German troops during the Battle of the Bulge, and held at the Belga forced labor camp, which was connected with the concentration camp Buchenwald. He gave medical care to those ill and kept a diary including a recording of all the soldiers’ names who died, with causes of death.
A touching animated video about his experience is called Tony: A Soldier’s Journey. I was tearful as I learned about the forced evacuation march that started on my birthday (though not the year) when 70 of the 350 soldiers died or were executed before the survivors were liberated.
A relatively unknown hero Gilberto Bosques Saldívar, the “Mexican Schindler” saved as many as 40,000 Jews from persecution. As consul general in Marseilles, he procured visas for 40,000 people and housed refugees in two chateaus he rented, before he and his family and co-workers were arrested. He was featured in the “Los Angeles Times” article “‘Mexican Schindler’ honored.”
Myths about immigrants and asylum seekers
I am in awe of these Latino heroes who risked their lives for others. I feel a need to debunk recent stigmatization of immigrants and asylum seekers, including Latinos, as criminals. These unjust accusations are broadcast through certain media without regard for the truth.
The July 2024 New York Times article The Myth of Migrant Crime, among other articles, found that over time, “…there is no relationship between immigration and crime trends.” They learned that the opposite is true.
For more explanation of the extensive disinformation that is being broadcast on Spanish-speaking radio, TV, and WhatsApp, and on other media to influence the U.S. 2024 election, you can see the Associated Press article “Latino voters are coveted by most major parties. They are also a target for misinformation.”
Danger of subhuman labeling
It is dangerous to imply that non-Aryans are sub-human or “Untermensch,” as they were called in the Holocaust. It is the opposite of spiritual truth as are the actions that flow from such myopic views.
As the U.S. enriches in diversity, with 19.1 percent of the population now Latino, it is important to not believe and to challenge degrading propaganda. If you want to learn from history how the Nazi party developed and stooped to using paramilitary to oppose their “subhuman” enemies, you can view “The Holocaust Explained: The Nazi Rise to Power.”
“Shaping the Future of America Together”
While it is just to confront lies and prejudices that appeal to people’s basest instincts and can become contagious, I believe another important service is to focus on the cultural diversity and unity that we can express in America and the greater world societies.
We are in a unique position, each of us, to contribute actions toward bringing unity to the world in infinitesimal or huge ways. While it is tough with all the distractions (I know, I’m working on mine) we can be gifts to our civilization. Yes! Yes! We can!
Oh, it may take some hundreds of years for humans to embody our essential unity but we can plant the seeds now. We can gradually become more aware of our prejudices that consider certain people as “other.”
Link to Hispanics who better the world
It takes courage to continually upgrade superior or judgmental thoughts we may find ourselves thinking, and be motivated to work towards embodying a “we” vision. If we can use some more knowledge of Latino culture, there are so many resources for learning more about it such as through checking out links to Hispanic cultural information in this article, or articles and books about Hispanic history and culture, Los Veteranos — Latinos in WWII or the work of Hispanic authors, poets, and artists.
We can also receive a DEI — diversity, equity, and inclusion training through Unexpected Tours and Training, go on a virtual field trip to the oldest Hispanic town in the U.S. through that site, adventure into a local Hispanic Heritage Month celebration if you are in a country that celebrates this month, or take a break to enjoy some tajadas, Regional Mexican music, or a tango performance. Our efforts can sprout shoots and seedlings of unity, and, even grow into great, noble trees in a forest of justice and peace.
Love,
Claudia AKA Penofgold
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“Like a muddled spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.” Proverbs 25:26
“The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.” — Carlos Santana
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