Political Stance
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The Brown Berets have always been and always will be Chicano Nationalists. To claim anything other than that is not
holding true to our historical founding principles. The Brown Berets hold no apologies for our political ideology, we
defend it as being the key unifying force behind our movement and as the only solution for the problems our Raza
are plagued with. Chicano Nationalism is far different than the fascism and totalitarianism of the Nazi's and
Communists. Chicano Nationalism is based on us taking pride in our culture and heritage and we stand by the
ancient Mexica prophecies of us retaking our lands and re-establishing our nation of Aztlan.
Does it mean that we become so narrow minded that we ignore the plight of others, and adopt a superiority complex?
NO!! We empathize with the struggle of people’s throughout the world in their quest for freedom but for us our
people and our cause is first because if we don't fight for us no one else will. The Blacks have their cause and agenda;
The Whites have their cause and agenda; we have ours. Why should any Brown Beret fight for a cause that is not our
own? Why should we advance an agenda that is either counter productive or outright subversive and destructive to
ours? Though we should never isolate ourselves from the world around us we must remember the saying "Mi Raza
Primero". Don't change it for "Mi Raza Tambien" or “Mi Raza Algun Dia". If it is not for Chicano Nationalism then
"Mexica Tiahui" means nothing.
Liberation and self determination must always be our guiding principle. Only through Chicano Nationalism will this
goal be fulfilled. Nationalism in its basic sense is merely unity and formation of a nation under the banner of the
commonality of ethnic, cultural, and linguistic ties. We shall also look and examine any book or articles dealing with
the ideology of liberation including "El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan" and many others. Though we are Chicano
Nationalists we do not limit ourselves. We learn from different cultures, political systems, ideologies and
philosophies, and we use what is deemed necessary and convert it to fit Chicano Nationalism and further lead our
people.
Heed the Words of the Veteranos who have more wisdom than the younger generation:
Corky Gonzalez on Nationalism
“Nationalism exists… but until now, it hasn’t been formed into an image people can see. Until now it has been a dream. It
has been my job to create a reality out of a dream, to create an ideology out of the longing. Everybody in the barrios is a
nationalist.. [I]t doesn’t matter if he’s a middle-class, a vendido, a sellout, or what his politics may be. He’ll come back
home, to La Raza, to his heart, if we will build centers of nationalism for him.. Nationalism is the key to our people
liberating themselves … I am a revolutionary … because creating life amid death is a revolutionary act. Just as building
nationalism in an era of imperialism is a life-giving act … We are an awakening people, an emerging nation, a new
breed.”
The term “nationalism” is generally used to describe two phenomena: "(1) the attitude that the members of a nation
have when they care about their national identity and (2) the actions that the members of a nation take when seeking to
achieve (or sustain) self-determination. The first one raises questions about the concept of a nation (or national identity),
which is often defined in terms of common origin, ethnicity, or cultural ties, and while an individual’s membership in a
nation is often regarded as involuntary, it is sometimes regarded as voluntary. The second one raises questions about
whether self-determination must be understood as involving having full statehood with complete authority over domestic
and international affairs, or whether something less is required.
It is traditional, therefore, to distinguish nations from states — whereas a nation often consists of an ethnic or cultural
community, a state is a political entity with a high degree of sovereignty. While many states are nations in some sense,
there are many nations which are not fully sovereign states. As an example, the Native American Iroquois constitutes a
nation but not a state, since they do not possess the requisite political authority over their internal or external affairs. If the
members of the Iroquois nation were to strive to form a sovereign state in the effort to preserve their identity as a people,
they would be exhibiting a state-focused nationalism."
Therefore we must return our movement back to our Chicano Nationalist roots. Our forefathers in the movement
had a vision to bring about revolutionary changes and political, social, economic, educational, and spiritual
empowerment through the use of Chicano Nationalism. When some organizations and people started espousing
ideologies and practices different than that, the movement splintered and the revolution ended. Therefore as Brown
Berets we proudly declare ourselves as Chicano Nationalists! We will NEVER water it down or show disloyalty to the
Chicano movement by substituting it for anything else!
CHICANO NATIONALISM
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TENENTS OF CHICANO NATIONALISM
1. Chicano/a is our National Identity. Chicano/a is any indigenous person that’s fights for the freedom of Aztlan. As a political ideology it includes
non-indigenous people who have adopted our way of life.
2. Solidarity with all oppressed people nationally and internationally. Though we empathize we other people’s struggle for liberation at the present
we must fight for our people. Our struggle takes priority for us for we are in the belly of the beast. What we do here will have a great affect
worldwide, not just locally. After we have built our nation we shall be able to help and support other nations in achieving freedom.
3. Revolutionary Nationalism as a way of life. Every revolutionary struggle must be unique to the nation of people who are fighting for freedom
and not carbon copies of other movements or struggles. It must meet the needs of the community and revolutionize their way of thinking and
lifestyle.
4. Freedom for Aztlan. We believe in building the infrastructure of our own nation, Aztlan; a nation independent, sovereign, with equality and
freedom for all.
5. Abolition of European imposed borders. We believe in the human dignity for all Indigenous peoples in the Western Hemisphere. There are no
illegal immigrants, they are migrant workers, indigenous people of this continent who have a solemn right to migrate as they have for tens of
thousands of years before the arrival of European invaders. In Aztlan, all who seek freedom, peace, and betterment of life will be welcome to
become citizens.
6. End of the Upper Class. Wealth should be a reward of an honorable life, not gained through deceit, theft, or the enslavement of others.
Economic prosperity must be equally attainable by all.
7. Full Employment for all. All businesses will be responsible for hiring people from within the community in which it is located and taking the
initiative of caring for that community. All employees should be paid in direct proportion to their productivity and success of their business. It will
give full benefits to all employees, 4 day work weeks, child care, one month paid vacations, paid maternity and sick leave and employee funded
retirement accounts. It will bring an end to predatory Capitalism and workplace abuses. This will eliminate poverty and unemployment once and
for all. If a person doesn’t work it will only be because they don’t want to, are disabled, or have retired.
8. Community ownership of all natural resources. All proceeds from Natural Resources will only be used for the citizens of the nation of Aztlan for
the benefit of all.
9. Free education for all. Society as a whole will benefit from advances in every educational field.
10. Honoring Native Nations. We will elevate their status and make them an integral part of the nation of Aztlan.
11. Environmental and Wildlife protection. We must preserve mother earth and restore it. We must live in harmony with our environment and
not do that which will harm it. This includes reforestation, the full production and implementation of green technologies in transportation, energy,
production and manufacturing, as well as full recycling programs.
12. Full respect, dignity, and equality for all women in every aspect of society. We will move from a Patriarchal society to one where both voices
are respected and honored.
13. Free Universal Health Care. No person shall ever be without medical care. We will end the privatization of health care and the insurance and
pharmaceutical company’s death grip on a nation’s health. Healthcare will be fully regulated with set salaries for medical professionals, with an
emphasis on preventative medicine, proper dieting, and herbal remedies.
14. Affordable housing for all. For every family with children wanting to own their own home, affordable community/state owned land will be made
available where they can build their own home upon it. No bank or private corporation will ever own land or real estate. No person will be left
homeless, accommodations will be made for all.
15. End taxation without representation. All taxes and government resources will be used for the benefit of all. No taxes or resources will ever be
used to oppress other nations or people.
16. Full transparency in government. A full account of the governments transactions and dealings will be given. Government representatives who
do not perform their jobs satisfactorily in providing for the needs of the nation will be summarily dismissed and replaced.
17. Democratically elected government. All representatives must be from the people who live in the communities. Lobbying will be outlawed. No
special interest groups or their representatives will ever be allowed to be elected or hold office. Fascism will be outlawed.
18. Strengthen society through cultural arts. We shall encourage and nurture Culture and Arts that will bring an end to materialism,
consumerism, and individualism and shift us towards a collective and family values based society that brings meaning and fulfillment to every life.
19. End of the drug trade. Drugs were imported to subdue the populace, we shall never stoop to such measures to stupefy the people.
20. Just and fair Judicial process. All cases of convicts currently in prison will be re-evaluated for their veracity and fairness of the sentencing. All
prisons will be converted to rehabilitation centers where all inmates will be taught vocations and given counseling for them to become productive
members of society.
1. Chicano/a is our National Identity. Chicano/a is any indigenous person that’s fights for the freedom of Aztlan. As a political ideology it includes
non-indigenous people who have adopted our way of life.
2. Solidarity with all oppressed people nationally and internationally. Though we empathize we other people’s struggle for liberation at the present
we must fight for our people. Our struggle takes priority for us for we are in the belly of the beast. What we do here will have a great affect
worldwide, not just locally. After we have built our nation we shall be able to help and support other nations in achieving freedom.
3. Revolutionary Nationalism as a way of life. Every revolutionary struggle must be unique to the nation of people who are fighting for freedom
and not carbon copies of other movements or struggles. It must meet the needs of the community and revolutionize their way of thinking and
lifestyle.
4. Freedom for Aztlan. We believe in building the infrastructure of our own nation, Aztlan; a nation independent, sovereign, with equality and
freedom for all.
5. Abolition of European imposed borders. We believe in the human dignity for all Indigenous peoples in the Western Hemisphere. There are no
illegal immigrants, they are migrant workers, indigenous people of this continent who have a solemn right to migrate as they have for tens of
thousands of years before the arrival of European invaders. In Aztlan, all who seek freedom, peace, and betterment of life will be welcome to
become citizens.
6. End of the Upper Class. Wealth should be a reward of an honorable life, not gained through deceit, theft, or the enslavement of others.
Economic prosperity must be equally attainable by all.
7. Full Employment for all. All businesses will be responsible for hiring people from within the community in which it is located and taking the
initiative of caring for that community. All employees should be paid in direct proportion to their productivity and success of their business. It will
give full benefits to all employees, 4 day work weeks, child care, one month paid vacations, paid maternity and sick leave and employee funded
retirement accounts. It will bring an end to predatory Capitalism and workplace abuses. This will eliminate poverty and unemployment once and
for all. If a person doesn’t work it will only be because they don’t want to, are disabled, or have retired.
8. Community ownership of all natural resources. All proceeds from Natural Resources will only be used for the citizens of the nation of Aztlan for
the benefit of all.
9. Free education for all. Society as a whole will benefit from advances in every educational field.
10. Honoring Native Nations. We will elevate their status and make them an integral part of the nation of Aztlan.
11. Environmental and Wildlife protection. We must preserve mother earth and restore it. We must live in harmony with our environment and
not do that which will harm it. This includes reforestation, the full production and implementation of green technologies in transportation, energy,
production and manufacturing, as well as full recycling programs.
12. Full respect, dignity, and equality for all women in every aspect of society. We will move from a Patriarchal society to one where both voices
are respected and honored.
13. Free Universal Health Care. No person shall ever be without medical care. We will end the privatization of health care and the insurance and
pharmaceutical company’s death grip on a nation’s health. Healthcare will be fully regulated with set salaries for medical professionals, with an
emphasis on preventative medicine, proper dieting, and herbal remedies.
14. Affordable housing for all. For every family with children wanting to own their own home, affordable community/state owned land will be made
available where they can build their own home upon it. No bank or private corporation will ever own land or real estate. No person will be left
homeless, accommodations will be made for all.
15. End taxation without representation. All taxes and government resources will be used for the benefit of all. No taxes or resources will ever be
used to oppress other nations or people.
16. Full transparency in government. A full account of the governments transactions and dealings will be given. Government representatives who
do not perform their jobs satisfactorily in providing for the needs of the nation will be summarily dismissed and replaced.
17. Democratically elected government. All representatives must be from the people who live in the communities. Lobbying will be outlawed. No
special interest groups or their representatives will ever be allowed to be elected or hold office. Fascism will be outlawed.
18. Strengthen society through cultural arts. We shall encourage and nurture Culture and Arts that will bring an end to materialism,
consumerism, and individualism and shift us towards a collective and family values based society that brings meaning and fulfillment to every life.
19. End of the drug trade. Drugs were imported to subdue the populace, we shall never stoop to such measures to stupefy the people.
20. Just and fair Judicial process. All cases of convicts currently in prison will be re-evaluated for their veracity and fairness of the sentencing. All
prisons will be converted to rehabilitation centers where all inmates will be taught vocations and given counseling for them to become productive
members of society.
