Hispanics will help build future of U.S.

The Kansas City Star ^ | April 28, 2004 | Luis W. Giugud

[primeval patriot]

One clear message surfaced during last week's three-day Latino Civil Rights Summit 2004: This country mustn't ignore or suppress the needs or economic and political potential of Hispanics.

Jose Angel Gutierrez, a Dallas lawyer and author, said it best as Friday's luncheon speaker: “We are the future of America. Unlike any prior generation, we now have a critical mass. We're going to Latinize this country.”

People who were white, black, Asian American and Native American also attended the “Crossing the Bridge” summit to learn how the growing Hispanic population will affect the nation.

Gutierrez said people from Mexico, Central and South America are not immigrating to the United States. They are simply migrating because this land had been theirs. Spain had held it, and before that it had belonged to the indigenous people. Hispanics should never put up with others telling them to go back where they came from. “You don't have to apologize to anybody,” Gutierrez said. But he urged Hispanics to develop a plan.

“We're talking about crossing the bridge, but is it to get across or is it to come back?” Gutierrez asked. “Is it a one-way bridge or a two-way bridge? You've got to have a plan.”

On Saturday at the action planning session, Gutierrez pointed to Hispanic businesses on Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kan., as examples of America's future. “The potential is tremendous,” he said.

“What we have at the moment is labor power and consumer power,” he said. “We work and we buy. Political power will come later.”

That's because half of the Hispanics in the United States are younger than 21. “We're spectators at the basketball game,” Gutierrez said.

However, that also means that for every one Latino who dies, five white people will die because they are older. But that leaves five empty houses and five vacant businesses, Gutierrez said.

“The vacuum has got to be filled by somebody; otherwise all our economy and neighborhoods will collapse,” he said. More people of color and minority businesses must fill the void for America to remain vibrant.

The third Latino Civil Rights Summit left Hispanics with a greater sense of empowerment than the previous ones. The numbers are in their favor.

In 2000, the nation had 35.6 million Hispanics, representing 12.6 percent of the U.S. population. Census projections show the Latino population will rise to 102.6 million people by 2050, amounting to 24.4 percent of the country's 419.9 million people.

In 2000, African-Americans made up 12.7 percent of the population. By 2050 that will increase to 14.6 percent. Audiences at the summit were told Hispanics and blacks must form more alliances to increase their economic and political strength.

Each must leverage the numbers to their advantage, Rogelio Lasso, a University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor, said at a forum on collaboration. “We are thinking ‘Who is No. 1?' instead of thinking ‘If we are 30 percent together, how are we going to get 30 percent of the pie?' ” he said.

The summit included sessions on education and how the No Child Left Behind Act will negatively affect students of color. Resegregation also is occurring, stranding black and Hispanic children in poor schools, said Ruben Garza, an Austin, Texas, educator.

Patriot Acts I and II keep making life more difficult for immigrants. That's occurring as the nation is enjoying a record 33.5 million foreign-born residents. They are 11.7 percent of the population, Steve Camarota, director of research with the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, said in a telephone interview.

The foreign born represented a record 14.8 percent of the U.S. population in 1890 and 14.7 percent in 1910. “It's very possible by the end of the decade we'll pass the all-time high,” Camarota said.

But Lasso voiced concern about the rise in anti-immigration feelings since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“It feels like it's acceptable in this country to be anti-immigrant,” he said. “I fear if we have another terrorist attack it will affect the immigrants first.”

But our intertwined fates may be our salvation.

“The state of the Latino community cannot be separated from the state of America,” said Elias L. Garcia, executive director of the Kansas Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs. “Our destinies are inextricably tied.”

I hope more people develop an appreciation for that.

Lewis W. Diuguid is a member of The Star's Editorial Board. To reach him, call (816) 234-4723 or send e-mail to Ldiuguid@kcstar.com.
 

[Captainpaintball]

Hispanics will help build future of U.S.

That's because they are going to take all the construction jobs.

[CzarNicky]

Jose Angel Gutierrez, a Dallas lawyer and author, said it best as Friday's luncheon speaker: “We are the future of America. Unlike any prior generation, we now have a critical mass. We're going to Latinize this country.”

Does this mean we are going to take naps in the middle of the day?

[Texas Eagle]

Great. Our future consists of mud huts.

[primeval patriot]

They are simply migrating because this land had been theirs.

When do the Mugabe style land grabs start?

[Mr. Mojo]

I hope it means better Mexican food in my little town.

[DoughtyOne]

What a bunch of bull $hit! Only an a$$ would write an article like this.

The Irish, the English, the Germans, the French, the Polish, the Africans, people from seven continents and countless nations will play a big part in the future of this nation.

Perhaps someone who lives near this guy, please kick him in the family jewels for those of us who live too far away to do so.

[Texas Eagle]

We're going to Latinize this country.”

Great. I can do all my Christmas shopping while sitting at a red light.

[RippleFire]

bump

[primeval patriot]

‘If we are 30 percent together, how are we going to get 30 percent of the pie?'

How are we going to get the fed.gov to point a gun at you and take your money.

[epigone73]

About ten years out in the southwest, I'd guess

[JSteff]

"Gutierrez said people from Mexico, Central and South America are not immigrating to the United States. They are simply migrating because this land had been theirs. Spain had held it, and before that it had belonged to the indigenous people. Hispanics should never put up with others telling them to go back where they came from."

That is what scares me about illegal immigration and the hispanics. It is less immigration and more of a slow conquest... like a bacterial infection.

I did not read anything about melting or assimilating. They do not want to blend, but transplant something they had before, had somewhere else. They want to stay hyphenated Americans. If truly being American matters to them at all.

Sad, so sad.

[primeval patriot]

However, that also means that for every one Latino who dies, five white people will die because they are older. But that leaves five empty houses and five vacant businesses, Gutierrez said.

Incredible. Can you imagine the ruckus talking about dead minorities would cause?

[bayourod]

Those beautiful big brown eyes, long shiny black hair, soft brown skin, sweet inviting smiles, and tight low hipsters don't fool me. All they really want is to do is reshingle my roof for $20 an hour.

[LNewman]

But every subside known to Americans is okay? Beat the 14th Amendment to DEATH! It's way over due! And it's not just south of the border!

[primeval patriot]

The summit included sessions on education and how the No Child Left Behind Act will negatively affect students of color.

WTF are they talking about?

[henderson field]

In other words, there will be an about-face. They have been trying to ruin it so far. Now they are going to build a great nation. Sorry boys, that was already done. George Washington, you know. You're over 200 years too late. Just try not to make it any worse than you already have. You're a disgrace.

[Marauder]

Does this mean we are going to take naps in the middle of the day?

Only if you're Hispanic; as an Anglo, you wouldn't understand. Besides, we Angloes are still the majority, even if they outnumber us.

That was explained to me once by some government wonk, but I cannot remember the logic.

[truth_seeker]

"Gutierrez said people from Mexico, Central and South America are not immigrating to the United States. They are simply migrating because this land had been theirs. Spain had held it, and before that it had belonged to the indigenous people."

Since most populations on the globe got where they now reside, by migration, this logic applies widely.

Using it, the Irish could claim Spain, and visa versa. The Celts, you know. Likewise, North American Indians could claim Japan, for it had been "theirs" at one time (according to physical anthropology, the Ainu, etc.)

And if we could figure who were the pre-Picts, everybody else would be cast from Britain, or be subjects of same.

The notion of some original "indigenous" folks having permanent and overriding claims is nonsense, of the highest order.

To say people of Mexico and central America have a claim on US soil is no different than the Japanese saying they have a claim on Chinese soil...."well, you see, we were there once, or passed through on our way from A to B = where we are now."

[lewislynn]

Hispanics will help build future of U.S.

And what a future it will be too.

6 suspects in home invasions are illegal

[gubamyster]

ping

[usadave]

Jose Angel Gutierrez, a Dallas lawyer and author, said it best as Friday's luncheon speaker: “We are the future of America. Unlike any prior generation, we now have a critical mass. We're going to Latinize this country.”

Spoken like the true racist that Jose is.

[oceanperch]

Careful what you hope for.

We had a great hamburger/milkshake local place here for many years now it is Decorated in bright yellow,green and red and is part of a chain of fast food Mexican food called Mucho Gracias and is about one step up from Taco Bell.

I would describe it more like authentic fast food.

[oceanperch]

Yeah the article states that white Americans dying leave homes open for someone to move in....well don't folks still pass homes onto next of kin?

[DoughtyOne]

Yeah, as long as the next of kin can pay the estate taxes without liquidating.

[antaresequity]

There is a huge disconnect here between these modern day conquistadores the hispanic shlepping 2 x 4...

There is a bucket load of opportunity to drive a wedge between the La Raza dreamers, the trench worker denizens who truly just want nothing more than an opportunity to bust butt and live a moral life...

I hope to hell we don't throw the baby out with the bath water...

Am I the only one who sees an opportunity here?

[Cacique]

ping

[antaresequity]

and the hispanics schlepping 2 x 4

[oceanperch]

Good Point.

[cdbull23]

That's because they are going to take all the construction jobs. boo hoo, look at me, im sad because i'm not going to be a construction worker. i'm tired of lazy americans complaining that hispanics are "taking" their jobs...if you lost your job to an immigrant, it's probably because the immigrant is willing to work harder for less money. what's that? is that the sound of COMPETITION i hear? who cares, competition with an immigrant or non-immigrant, if someone can't deal with it, then maybe THEY'RE the one who shouldn't be in this country, not the immigrant.

[meadsjn]

...immigrant is willing to work harder for less money. what's that? is that the sound of COMPETITION i hear?

No. Competition exists when the rules are the same for all parties.

Illegal immigrants don't have 1/3 of their pay taken up-front in payroll taxes. A mexican working for 10 dollars an hour takes home 10 dollars per hour. An American citizen has to "make" 15 dollars per hour to take home 10 dollars per hour. In the higher-tax states the disparity is greater.

American workers are further handicapped in the "competition" when the illegal immigrants have free access to government services that are not freely available to the employed American -- services that the American must pay for through taxes to benefit the invaders, then pay for again when they need to use the services.

American workers don't get free college, free medical, interest-free SBA loans, free housing, along with tax-free living, that the immigrants enjoy.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

The author of this piece is apparently so stupid he couldn't google the name Jose Angel Gutierrez to find out the guy he quoted is a rabid anti-white racist. Check out this page.

Here's a quote from JAG: "The border remains a military zone. We remain a hunted people. Now you think you have a destiny to fulfill in the land that historically has been ours for forty thousand years. And we're a new Mestizo nation. And they want us to discuss civil rights. Civil rights. What law made by white men to oppress all of us of color, female and male. This is our homeland. We cannot - we will not- and we must not be made illegal in our own homeland. We are not immigrants that came from another country to another country. We are migrants, free to travel the length and breadth of the Americas because we belong here. We are millions. We just have to survive. We have an aging white America. They are not making babies. They are dying. It's a matter of time. The explosion is in our population."

Here's another quote: "We have an aging white America. . . . They are dying. . . . They are ******** in their pants with fear! I love it!" "We have got to eliminate the gringo, and what I mean by that is if the worst comes to the worst, we have got to kill him."

I urge everyone to send a POLITE email to the KC Star suggesting that Lewis Diuguid improve his googling skills: readerrep@kcstar.com

[cdbull23]

well it sounds to me like these immigrants are simply taking advantage of what the GOVERNMENT has to offer.


look, in the case of illegal immigrants, i'll agree with you on every single point you offered, absolutely. but when it comes down to it, LEGAL immigrants are simply doing things the way they should be done AND helping out this country...maybe not TAKING OVER like this guy stated, but definitely contributing.

[Cronos]

people from seven continents

1. N. America
2. s. America
3. Europe
4. Asia
5. Africa
6. Australia/Oceania
7. Antartica????? ;-P

I'm sorry, couldn't help it. Your point, however, is very correct, only and Ash would write an article like this.

[Cronos]

I would rather have Christian Latinos than Slamics in the USA

[Cronos]

Using it, the Irish could claim Spain, and visa versa. The Celts, you know. Likewise, North American Indians could claim Japan, for it had been "theirs" at one time (according to physical anthropology, the Ainu, etc.)

The Spaniards are descendents of the Celto-Iberans and Romans with Greek, Phoenician and Moorish blood all mixed in. The Irish are not at all related to Spanish lands.

Ainu are considered to be Caucasians, Indo-Europeans like Europeans, Indians and Persians, while Native Americans are Mongoloid like the Japanese, Mongolians etc.

[Cronos]

The notion of some original "indigenous" folks having permanent and overriding claims is nonsense, of the highest order.

Not really. Israel has God given claims to their land including what is falsely called "occupied land"

[Flyer]

We're going to Latinize this country

Over my dead body.

Or maybe yours.

[FITZ]

Does this mean we are going to take naps in the middle of the day?

Naps are the least of it --- look at the large and growing number of street children throughout Mexico and all the many other problems they're having ---skyrocketing crime, drug abuse. That's what is being brought over. They ruined their own country and now expect to be given ours.

[raybbr]

Jose Angel Gutierrez, a Dallas lawyer and author, said it best as Friday's luncheon speaker: “We are the future of America. Unlike any prior generation, we now have a critical mass. We're going to Latinize this country.”

Is this an editorial or a news story?

[taxed2death]

Actually, you're wrong. Here in the US, we have these silly things called "Laws". Now, it seems you and GWB are of the same ilk, you like "selective law enforcement". But in a Democratic Republic, that kind of stuff doesn't really fly.
I'm a legit business owner, I abide by these annoying little things called "Laws". Darn, I know they get in the way, but the principal of the matter is that it levels the playing field for everyone to "compete".

So, when some POS a$$hole hires an illegal criminal trespasser....or "immigrant" as you like to call them, that POS side steps current "LAWS"....there goes that silly word again....he, he, he....
Now, here's where the tough part comes in. That employee now has an unfair advantage over (silly) people who choose to obey these "laws". That POS employer does not have to pay taxes on his employee, and also pays the "migrant" less than what he would normally have to pay. This "Normal" pay rate is called the "market rate". When you hire illegal criminal trespassers, you do not have to pay the "market rate".

Please step back a few feet from your computer when you read this, I fear your head might explode with all this reality goin' on.

Maybe it's YOU, who should leave this country and set up residence in a lawless turd world country.

[kittymyrib]

Duct tape and baling wire...and candles and incantations.

[Dust in the Wind]

Please step back a few feet from your computer when you read this, I fear your head might explode with all this reality goin' on.

Maybe it's YOU, who should leave this country and set up residence in a lawless turd world country.

This is not a punt, it's a drop kick BUMP, thanks.

[Dust in the Wind]

these annoying little things called "Laws". Darn, I know they get in the way, but the principal of the matter is that it levels the playing field for everyone to "compete".

I've got to double bump your post. This needs tattoed onto the palms of ALL illegal(any kind) advocates.

[Brownie74]

I live in Dallas so I'll try to find out something about this character. I'll get back to you later.

[skeeter]

So, when some POS a$$hole hires an illegal criminal trespasser...

Triple bump. Employers of illegals I hold in far, far lower regard than their illegal workers... their screwing us all for the love of money.

[cdbull23]

"So, when some POS a$$hole hires an illegal criminal trespasser....or "immigrant" as you like to call them, that POS side steps current "LAWS"....there goes that silly word again....he, he, he.... "

well there you go again with the whole concept of an ILLEGAL immigrant, which i said i agreed with you on...yes yes, let me say this AGAIN, since you apparently missed it the first time.


i agree with you on that.



but LEGAL immigration, totally different story.



yes, i did step back from the computer and realized "hey, you know what, my brain didn't explode."




i guess the absolutely complex and advanced nature of your argument wasn't so bad.

[RightWingAtheist]

Only an a$$ would write an article like this

Or a racist.

[RightWingAtheist]

If you're talking about my Honduran-born sister, she's only 13, so unless you work at the UN, hands-off. :-)

[NYC GOP Chick]

Thanks! Interesting read! :)