Issue date: 10/11/05 Section: News

JP Beato III - The Battalion Angelita Garcia-Alonzo from Bryan holds a sign and chants during a protest outside the George Bush Library on Monday. University and community groups voiced their opposition to Samuel Huntington´s views toward Mexican-Americans.

Huntington´s book, ´Who Are We?: The Challenges to America´s National Identity,´ has sparked controversy with its commentary about Hispanic immigrants.

A coalition of organizations gathered outside George Bush Presidential Library on a windy Monday evening to protest the ideas of Harvard University Professor Samuel Huntington, who wrote a book questioning the integration of Mexican-Americans into Anglo-American culture.

Protesters held cardboard posters with messages such as "This is not diversity" and "Soy Americano." They also chanted in Spanish.

"I believe he's using his Ph.D. to state an undocumented opinion as intellectual fact," said Jenni Mueller, a member of Make Aggieland Safe for Everyone. "Lots of research proves what he is saying is wrong, especially about Mexican-Americans."

Huntington was the Distinguished Lecture Series' featured speaker Monday evening. In his latest novel, "Who Are We?: The Challenges to America's National Identity," Huntington said Mexican-Americans are resistant to assimilation and will change American culture. The book states that "there is no Americano dream" and that Mexican-Americans will share in the American dream "only if they dream in English."

Other organizations that participated in the protest were the Mexican American/Latino Faculty Association, the Faculty and Staff Committed to an Inclusive Campus, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Comunidad Luchando Unida por la Educacion (Community United in the Struggle for Education).

"We believe everyone has the right to free speech," Steve Gangora said. "By all means, Texas A&M has the right to bring him here; however, as members of this country, we have the power to dissent his views. We want to let Dr. Huntington know members of our Latin-American community do not support his ideas."

Gangora, a member of LULAC, said there is not a single specific culture in America and that Mexican-Americans should not be ostracized from being considered American.

"I believe this nation is made up of immigrants," Gangora said. "I believe anyone of Mexican descent has roots in the New World, especially this country. I believe anyone of Mexican descent can make a claim to being an American."

Andrew Brummett said he attended Huntington's speech because of his previous work on military and society.

"I think he's an insightful scholar," said Brummett, a history graduate student. "A scholar makes an argument and backs it up with relevant evidence. ... You can be controversial and insightful. It adds a perspective to knowledge, even if you disagree."

Lindsay Anderson, a sociology graduate student, said it was hypocritical for A&M to bring Huntington in to speak because A&M says it supports diversity and Huntington does not.

"It's a contradiction," Anderson said. "We say what needs to be said, but our actions speak louder than our words. Minority students don't want to come to an unwelcoming environment. To say an individual culture is ruining America is ridiculous."

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