Mexican Americans are those Hispanics who originated from Mexico and have arrived in the United States either legally or illegally from Mexico. Spanish settlers who lived in California, New Mexico and Texas- remanants of the old Spanish empire did not originate from Mexico and even though Mexico claimed them as its citizens they have refused to be part of Mexico. They are not Mexican-Americans even though they have Spanish surnames. Twelve Spanish (Tejano)settlers fought against Mexican soldiers in the Alamo against Santa Ana. They wanted their independence from Mexico as well. Mexican-Americans have contributed their lives to the betterment of the US and were considered exceptionally brave soldiers in World War II. The dilemna we now have is that Mexican-Americans are contributing very, very little toward the scientific, educational and technical aspects of the modern US society. They are becoming a bigger part of the US society but are not discernably contributing toward its improvement or betterment. Linguistically, Mexican-Americans speak Spanish in their homes until the Anglo Society strips them of their language and culture by educating them in the US school system. The Mexican-Americans in turn have their own secret weapon against Anglo acculturation - drop out of school and do not get an education. They thus are now a cultural group who despite being here for over one hundred fifty years has not been acculturated because they have resisted being educated by the Anglo. Their Hispanic culture varies in degree to the amount of Anglo education. The more highly educated the Mexican-American the less Hispanic he/she is either culturally or linguistically. Politically, the Mexican-American is a liberal Democrat due to their social and moral debt to the Democratic party incurred by Civil Rights Act that gave them their dignity as human beings. Socialy, the Mexican-American has been manipulated by the more agressive, powerful and savvy cousin - the Cuban. Cuban-Americans, the elite US Hispanics treat Mexican-Americans as stupid, country bumpkins, raw meat for exploitation and profit. Mexican-American's needs and future in the US is currently being dictated by the Cuban-American elite. They control the television media that in turn controls the Mexican-American. Religiously, Mexican-Americans are 90 percent Catholic. The US was founded by pilgrims fleeing the Catholic church and is a protestant country. The US has a strong disdain for catholisism and catholics. Mexican-americans unfortunately have tied their religion to their cultural identity. To be a catholic is to be a Mexican-american. Catholisism views poverty as a virtue and the grace of God and encourages economic poverty (Book of James chapter 3). Catholisism shackles the Mexican-American to economic and moral poverty. It is very difficult to practice the protestant work ethic if you are not protestant. What is common among the impoverished countries of Mexico and the Americas is the catholic mind set. More and more Mexican-americans are bettering their moral and economic lives thru protestant religions. The Mexican-american as a people are lost. They lack a Martin King Jr. to guide them, protect them and give them purpose in this nation. They need a national leader who will speak to the president about their needs. Leaderless, their social and political rights are trampled, their lives have no purpose, their children have no hope. The Mexican-american himself is fiercely independent and does not want to be ruled by a leader and has subdivided socially into several fiefdoms run by Mexican-american "warlords" who fight for their own turf and position among the Mexican-American people. None respecting the other and none with the power to help. They rule their little Mexican-American kingdoms with great passion but destroying the hopes of their people. Over 40 million people in this nation, the Mexican-American people- without ONE visible accountable leader. Where is Moses when you need him?