Let’s Make It ‘Mision Vieja’

Just another note pertaining to the renaming of Mission Viejo. The name “Mission Viejo” (meaning “Old Mission”) has always been a source of minor embarrassment to me with my Spanish-speaking friends. That the persons who first came up with this name hadn’t care or respect enough for the cultural heritage of California to use correct Spanish is a singularly sad statement.

The correct translation of “Old Mission” in Spanish is “Mision Vieja”: The gender of the adjective agreeing with that of the noun.

To the Spanish speaker, of which there are still vast numbers in this state, the name “Mission Viejo” is indicative of either just the ignorance of the developers, or, much worse, the ongoing commercial abuse of our Californian-Mexican history and heritage.

So, I’d like to suggest that before continuing the renaming debate they at least begin somewhat clean--with Mission Viejo--and go on from there. There is still a chance we might correct this equivocacioncita (little mistake).

LARRY F. O’HANLON

San Juan Capistrano