Wallace L. Haynes (Readers' Forum, Feb. 4) seems to think Mexicans just recently started "coming" to our country and that because many first-generation Mexicans now live in the United States, Mexico owes us more of their country.
American history would suggest that we have taken quite enough of Mexico. Manifest Destiny anyone? Or maybe the Mexican-American War, which was totally unprovoked by Mexico and was conducted under false pretenses.
Many Mexicans were living in the western United States before it was actually called the western United States.
These "immigrants" are our friends and neighbors. Many of them have a right to be here. They were here when it was Mexico, before we conquered that land.
History still matters. Let's not forget the past and stay as humble and kind as possible. Who knows, someday we might not be the toughest kid in the neighborhood and will hope that the stronger kids help us out.
W. Brad Bleak
Salt Lake City