DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Ernest Rodriguez speeches, 1976-2006 | Mexican Independence Speech by Ernest Rodriguez Page 2

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Ernest Rodriguez speeches, 1976-2006

Mexican Independence Speech by Ernest Rodriguez Page 2

I remember as a kid we lived in a boxcar owned by the Bettendorf Company which manufactured underframes for railroad cars. My father was recruited by the Rock Island Railroad when he crossed the International bridge at El Pas. He and other Mexican men and young boys were taken to the railroad yard and locked in a shed until they were put on a work train headed for Montpelier, Iowa. He later worked as a farmhand, in the coal mines of southern Iowa and as foundry worker for the Bettendorf Company. His story is much like that of thousands of Mexicans who came to this country and found hard back-breaking work in steel mills and grey iron foundries as field hands harvesting crops in the vast farmlands of the Southwest, West and Midwest. 

The work ethic is a tradition among Mexican Americans. Their desire to care for their families and control their own destiny make them some of the most reliable and skilled workers of this country. Wherever Mexicans settled you found evidence of their religious faith. In Des Moines, Iowa in Silvis, Illinois and in many Mexican colonies the Mexican people raised money to build their own churches, many named their church Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

Love of family. The Mexican love for family is a social value which is a source of moral support for every member of the family. Mexican mothers love of their children is without boundaries. Even when children rebel against family and society, the Mexican mother's love continues unabated. Suffering in silence is part of her love for her children. Mexican mothers very rarely give up their children to foster parents or place them in orphanages. The Mexican mother would rather go without basic necessities in order to provide for the needs of her children. Self-sacrifice is an innate part of her character. 

Grandparents and other elder members of the family hold a respectful and honored place within the Mexican family. Very seldom will you see grandparents living alone or living in nursing homes. Their value as as human being does not dissipate with age but is enhanced within the Mexican family. Mexican elders are held in esteem b;y their children. Many times grandparents bridge the gap between their children and their grandchildren. 

Respect for others. Benito Juarez emphasized that the basis for peace when he said that peace is respect for others. La pez el respeto al ajeno. Mexicans who migrated to this country did not look down on anyone they met nor did they regard themselves as inferior to anyone. They met and treated people as their equals. They respected cultural differences. The Mexican is distinguished by his or her courteous nature and desire to make strangers feel welcome. Aqui tiene usted su casa. Venga a la hora le gusta. My house is yours. Come back any time.

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I remember as a kid we lived in a boxcar owned by the Bettendorf Company which manufactured underframes for railroad cars. My father was recruited by the Rock Island Railroad when he crossed the International bridge at El Pas. He and other Mexican men and young boys were taken to the railroad yard and locked in a shed until they were put on a work train headed for Montpelier, Iowa. He later worked as a farmhand, in the coal mines of southern Iowa and as foundry worker for the Bettendorf Company. His story is much like that of thousands of Mexicans who came to this country and found hard back-breaking work in steel mills and grey iron foundries as field hands harvesting crops in the vast farmlands of the Southwest, West and Midwest. The work ethic is a tradition among Mexican Americans. Their desire to care for their families and control their own destiny make them some of the most reliable and skilled workers of this country. Wherever Mexicans settled you found evidence of their religious faith. In Des Moines, Iowa in Silvis, Illinois and in many Mexican colonies the Mexican people raised money to build their own churches, many named their church Our Lady of Guadalupe. Love of family. The Mexican love for family is a social value which is a source of moral support for every member of the family. Mexican mothers love of their children is without boundaries. Even when children rebel against family and society, the Mexican mother's love continues unabated. Suffering in silence is part of her love for her children. Mexican mothers very rarely give up their children to foster parents or place them in orphanages. The Mexican mother would rather go without basic necessities in order to provide for the needs of her children. Self-sacrifice is an innate part of her character. Grandparents and other elder members of the family hold a respectful and honored place within the Mexican family. Very seldom will you see grandparents living alone or living in nursing homes. Their value as as human being does not dissipate with age but is enhanced within the Mexican family. Mexican elders are held in esteem b;y their children. Many times grandparents bridge the gap between their children and their grandchildren. Respect for others. Benito Juarez emphasized that the basis for peace when he said that peace is respect for others. La pez el respeto al ajeno. Mexicans who migrated to this country did not look down on anyone they met nor did they regard themselves as inferior to anyone. They met and treated people as their equals. They respected cultural differences. The Mexican is distinguished by his or her courteous nature and desire to make strangers feel welcome. Aqui tiene usted su casa. Venga a la hora le gusta. My house is yours. Come back any time.