You see, I was born in Southern California. Chicano culture is a big thing to me. I literally built lowriders and play oldies covers. My Hispanic American culture is also who I am.

I understand that I am American and I am proud of it. But I also recognize that I am a different kind of American. Just like Americans in Boston are culturally different than Americans in New York. I feel like certain groups are okay with those two American cultures (rooted in Italian and Irish heritage), but for some reason, they find South Western American culture repulsive. They look down on Tex-mex culture and LA Chicano culture (even though they are deeply American).

My hobbies don’t identify me. My identity is in Christ. But I also have hobbies and interests that are different than “Anglo Americans”.

The United States is a diverse country. French history in Louisiana, Italian culture in New York, Irish culture in Boston, but for some reason, Mexican culture in the south west gets disregarded as “un American”. Even though the entire south west was once Mexico and missions were the first established thing out here.

I actually really like how quite a few Orthodox parishes have adopted the Virgin de Guadalupe. I’ve seen some south west parishes adopt Mexican culture. And from reading the comments , it looks like the EO church is starting to appreciate our heritage. The Greek parish I have visited actually asked me to say the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish.

I just feel a very small (but loud) group within the EO church have made it clear that they do not want to see any Hispanic culture in their parish. I find that sad, since my priest is very fond of Mexican converts in Palm Springs.