HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 17

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Karen E. Giannini

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ELSEWHERE RECOGNIZE NEW MEXICO AS THE FORTY-SEVENTH STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

     WHEREAS, with the exception of a few weeks during the Civil War, since the Republic of Mexico's secession and sale of the state's territory to the United States of America via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Gadsden Purchase, New Mexico has been a part of the United States of America; and

     WHEREAS, in the year 1912, New Mexico became the forty-seventh state of the union; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has historical ties to the Republic of Mexico and the Spanish North American empire; and

     WHEREAS, despite its historical ties to Mexico and the Spanish empire, New Mexico has been independent of those foreign lands for well over a century and a half; and

     WHEREAS, individuals born or naturalized in the state of New Mexico are citizens of the United States of America; and

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico is located on the continent of North America; and

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico is bordered by the states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas as well as the Republic of Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is not a part of the Republic of Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, English, Spanish, Diné, Tewa, Keres, Vietnamese and many other indigenous and world languages are spoken by the diverse populace of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the cuisine of New Mexico is in fact a delicious and distinct cuisine, unique to the state; and

     WHEREAS, despite New Mexico's status as a state of the United States, New Mexico's residents are often asked, by residents of other states, if they have to show their passports to enter New Mexico from other states or territories of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans are often told by postal agents and shipping retailers that international postage is required to ship things to other parts of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans are often asked on which continent their state is found; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans are routinely asked whether Spanish is the only language of government, business and social life of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexican cuisine is often mislabeled by outsiders as "Mexican" or "Tex-Mex"; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans are routinely asked whether they are citizens of the Republic of Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the people of the United States and elsewhere be requested to recognize that, despite its historical ties to other nations, New Mexico has belonged to the United States of America for over a century and a half; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the mailing and shipping agents of the United States and elsewhere be requested to recognize the applicability of postage and shipping rates appropriate to New Mexico's actual location in the continental United States; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the people of the United States and elsewhere be requested to consult their maps to locate New Mexico within the continental United States, bordering the states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas as well as having an international boundary that separates New Mexico from the Republic of Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the people of the United States and elsewhere be requested to recognize that people born or naturalized in New Mexico are legally citizens of the United States of America; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the people of the United States and elsewhere be requested to recognize that the residents of New Mexico are often speakers of English and Spanish languages as well as other languages; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the people of the United States and elsewhere be requested to recognize that the people of New Mexico have a fascinating and complex history as well as linguistic and cultural traditions that are unique to the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the people of the United States and elsewhere be requested to recognize that, since 1912, New Mexico has been the forty-seventh state of the United States of America; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to every person on the planet.

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