We need UNM’s Chicano and Chicana Studies Dept.

It saddened me to read about LULAC State President Ralph Arellanes’ quest to whitewash historical facts and suggestion that we destroy the Chicano and Chicana Studies Department at the University of New Mexico. In my opinion, he is a history denier. I am also a direct descendent of the first Spanish “settlers” who came to what today is our beautiful state of New Mexico. I have Oñate blood in my veins. I am proud of the wonderful contributions that my Spanish colonial ancestors made to our state. But, let’s be honest. Not everything was positive and, by denying the negative, we are condoning it.

The historical fact is that my Spanish ancestors were not invited into New Mexico by the native people who were the rightful stewards of this land. We were usurpers, just as the English were usurpers on the East Coast, and the United States usurped this land when it belonged to Mexico. These are historical facts. And, yes, it hurt me greatly when I learned that my people actually conducted a human slavery enterprise, selling stolen native people to other Spaniards. This is a historical fact that can’t be denied. I can understand an innocent truth-seeking student being brought to tears when they learn this fact about our Spanish ancestors. But the truth is the truth.

The Spaniards were not total monsters. In fact, many Spanish colonists protested Oñate’s cruelty in ordering that Acoma men over 25 years of age have their legs cut off. In fact, they helped many of the Acoma men escape and registered a complaint with the Spanish crown against Oñate’s cruelty, which resulted in him being found guilty by the Spanish government and exiled from the Americas. He died a man of humble means as an inspector of mines in Guadalcanal, Spain, in 1626.

I applaud the work of the University of New Mexico in establishing and supporting the Department of Chicano and Chicana Studies. The truth will set us all free. ENNIO ANDRÉS GARCÍA-MIERA Jemez Springs