The Real Shame Lies in Confiscation of Land

In response to the letter from Christopher Martin Hirt titled “Officer’s Past Is Cause for Shame” (Aug. 31), Officer Jose Vargas’ “criminal history” of illegal entry from Mexico pales in comparison to our ancestors’ illegal confiscation of Vargas’ ancestors’ land, namely the Southwestern USA. The average Mexican, or Mexican American, is 85% Native American. The average white person is more than 90% European or British by ancestry. Of course, this is our land now. As the late Sen. S. I. Hayakawa once said, “We stole it fair and square.”

--TED PREBYS

Fountain Valley