WEIRD AND UNWHOLESOME TYPES AS TURN OUT BEING RACISTS, WHITE SUPREMACISTS--NOT TO MENTION CLOSET APOLOGISTS FOR APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA--are fond of whipping up racist and xenophobic feelings from time to time against Hispanics by suggesting that the Mexicans have secret designs on La Reconquista (as in reclaiming such parts of the United States as were previously under Mexican control) bordering on "race war."

The idea, it turns out, is nothing new.

Witness the infamous Zimmermann Telegram as would be the last straw forcing the hand of the United States into World War I on 6 April 1917; decoded from German ciphers 0075 and 13040, which were broken by Room 40 of British naval intelligence, the same read as follows (emphasis added, and with thanks to Wikipedia):

On the first of February, we intend to begin unrestricted submarine warfare. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep the United States of America neutral.

In the event of this not succeeding, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and make peace together. We shall give generous financial support, and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details of settlement are left to you.

You are instructed to inform the President [of Mexico] of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence with this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Japan and ourselves.

Please call to the attention of the President that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England to make peace in a few months.

Wikipedia continues the discussion vis-a-vis the notion of a Mexican reconquista in the face of American entry into World War I:

Mexican President Venustiano Carranza assigned a general to assess the feasibility of a Mexican takeover of their former territories. The general concluded that it would not be possible or even desirable for the following reasons:

• Attempting to re-take the former territories would mean certain war with the United States.

• No matter how "generous" it was, Germany's "financial support" would be worthless. Mexico could not use it to acquire arms, ammunition, or other war supplies, because the United States was the only sizeable arms manufacturer in the Americas. The Royal Navy controlled the Atlantic sea lanes, so Germany could not possibly supply any quantity of arms.

• Even if Mexico had the military means to re-take the territory it would have had severe difficulty accommodating and/or pacifying the large English-speaking population.

Carranza formally declined Zimmermann's proposals on April 14, by which time the U.S. had declared war on Germany.

But then again, if the Mexicans were to seriously consider reconquista, how do we know their munitions and materiél aren't coming from the likes of Cuba or other unstable sources of supply?

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HOW'S THIS FOR "DEFENDING THE SANCTITY AND PURITY OF MARRIAGE" as the sole and exclusive monopoly of between man and woman, especially so considering the California Supreme Court's ruling that The Golden State's constitutional proscription on same-sex marriages is actually unconstitutional?

"QT" in the Chicago Sun-Times had this to say on the issue the other day:

Overlooked chapters

The pastor of a megachurch in Point Loma, Calif., rallying "traditional marriage" supporters against a court ruling that would allow gay marriage in the state:

"It's a spiritual issue, a religious issue. Marriage originated in the Bible."

Exactly.

And as long as we're at it, where is the constitutional amendment requiring that, in accordance with Exodus 21:1-6, any slave who marries while a slave and then is freed must leave his wife behind with the owner of the slaves?

The traditionalists have dropped the ball on this one.

That ought to be something worthy of "swift-boating" the Elmer Gantry Institute for Advanced Religiopolitical Theology with vis-a-vis Defending the Sanctity and Purity of Marriage....