Whose Land Is This Land?

It always bothers me when I hear Latinos say that California was once their land and that it was “taken away” from them by the United States.

But, I don’t believe that “misstatement of truth” has ever bothered me more than when I read it in your July 11 article “Tensions Escalate Between Leaders of Blacks, Latinos.”

The reason? Because it was made by a Latino who should know better: Rudolfo Acuna, whom your paper identified as a Chicano studies professor at Cal State Northridge.

According to the Encyclopedia Americana, Volume XVIII:

“The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave to the administration of President Polk the territory that his diary informs us he intended to acquire, California and New Mexico. Mexico in return for the loss of its fairest northern provinces was paid $15 million (emphasis added) and released from all claims of all kinds held by citizens of the United States against her, estimated at $3.25 million, which the United States assumed.”

This leaves no doubt in my mind that the United States did not “take” California away from Mexico, but that it did indeed pay for both New Mexico and California.

It is very important that this truth be known and that it be taught in our schools as well. It can only serve to speed the healing process.

PRUDY SCHULTZ

Van Nuys