Posted on 07/01/2006 7:13:50 PM PDT by garbageseeker
It is SO annoying that MALDEF, LULAC and UFW presume to speak for ALL Hispanics and/or "Latinos" in the U.S.
bump
An interesting quote:
"George P. Bush is the son of Florida Governor Jeb Bush and his Mexican-born wife Columba – which makes him the nephew of the Republican candidate for President. At a recent Republican rally he spoke in fluent Spanish about how his mother had instilled in him the values of Cesar Chavez, the Chicano who organized farmworkers. "She told me we have to fight for our race, we have to find the leaders who represent us," he said. About his uncle the candidate, he said, "This is a President who represents the diversity of our society, who we can count on to change the Republican Party to represent our views." (Reuters, Aug. 2, 2000.) "
http://www.amren.com/009issue/009issue.html
"This is a President who represents the diversity of our society, who we can count on to change the Republican Party to represent our views." (Reuters, Aug. 2, 2000.)"
...And fealty to the United States - and our Constitution --be damned.
Thanks for the quote and the accompanying link.
Absolutely! Are they American?
"Hispanic leaders" Why are they making distinctions based on race? Are they racist?
I do not think that people of the various nations that you mentioned in your post pose any more of a threat to our way of life than any other group that has emigrated here in large numbers at any time in our history. I also don't think that Latino/Hispanics are a race, the term simply refers to anyone whose native land is primarily Spanish speaking.
The cultural problems that you identify are manifold. The first, the lack of economic success in these immigrants home countries is different in almost every case, and is a mix of various things culture only being one part. The larger problem with many new immigrants comes not neccessarily from them per se as much as it does from our current cultural malaise. We are so inclined to tend toward fractional societal constructs over the common values that we as a nation used to emphasize, that it is difficult to blame the newcomers. They are simply existing in a time in our society when we refuse to force immigrants to assimilate. The vast majority want to, and do become a part of our great experiment, but it is the American haters in our own land who give the others an excuse not to become part of our culture. There are some cultural celebrations which have become part of national culture which certainly were not part of our original settler's melieu upon the founding of our nation and they have not destroyed us (ever had a green beer on St Patrick's day?).
I am a staunch supported of immigration, it is part of what has given us a great national heritage. I also recognize the value that other cultures have had in enriching our own, including Mexican and other Central and South American nations. I am not in favor, however of lawbreaking, and of the intrinsic unfairness of letting people who broke the rules move to the front of the line. I am also not in favor of immigrants who want to share the bounty of this great land and not become part of our nation's rich culture themselves, thinking that they can change it to mirror the country that they just left.
Illegal Aliens: A Few Myths to Keep in Mind . . .
GEORGE GRAYSON
Mexico City. Last Tuesday the Pew Hispanic Center announced that 41 percent of Mexicans surveyed in February and 46 percent questioned in May stated they would live in the United States if given "the means and opportunity." Indeed, two out of 10 people interviewed said they were prepared to enter the U.S. illegally. These figures could have amazing consequences because our Spanish- speaking neighbor has a population of nearly 106 million inhabitants.
Recent Virginia news stories have focused on the issue of illegals attending college in the U.S. Although we can sympathize with individuals, it might be useful to look at half-truths -- or, in some cases, myths -- that have suffused the immigration debate.
(1)Mexico has no good universities. True, many schools in the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) -- with 350,000-plus students -- are highly politicized. However, ITESM, known as "Monterrey Tech," has a network of excellent campuses throughout the country.
(2)Welcoming the 65,000 illegal aliens who graduate from high school to American colleges is cost-free. In fact, there are a limited number of places in freshman classes. Should individuals who have broken the law be preferred over applicants who have played by the rules?
(3)DIVERSITY HAS enriched the United States, which -- as a "nation of immigrants" -- has a moral obligation to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate of other lands. Times have changed. Exploding populations in poor countries and advances in transportation and communication have made America a "promised land" for millions upon millions of "have-nots." The U.S. has responded with the world's most liberal immigration policies. Yet, uncomfortably high domestic unemployment and overcrowded schools, highways, and hospitals mean that only a small fraction of those clamoring for admission can be accommodated without greatly sacrificing the quality of life of Americans, especially the poor.
(4)Illegal aliens are younger than the U.S. population as a whole and are, therefore, an economic asset. While there is an element of truth to this proposition, it overlooks the competition that immigrants pose to younger workers in the U.S., notably African-Americans and Chicanos, who suffer the highest rates of joblessness.
(5)Because they pay taxes, contribute to Social Security, and don't apply for welfare, illegal aliens put in more than they take from government coffers. Officials in Arizona find this proposition nonsensical: Illegal immigrants cost their state -- for education, health care, and prisons -- approximately $1.3 billion more annually than they pay in taxes. A study by the Center for Immigration Reform (CIS) found that the burden of such unlawful residents on the 2002 federal budget was $10.4 billion -- with Medicaid, health care, and prisons constituting the high-ticket items.
(6)Mexicans and other illegals perform menial work spurned by Americans. In some instances this is true; however, in March, 2003, there were 8.8 million Americans working full-time without a high-school education, 1.3 million school drop-outs unemployed, and a further 6.8 million not even in the workforce. "There is a good deal of evidence that these workers are in direct competition with Mexican immigrants -- i.e., these are jobs that Americans are doing already," according to immigration expert Mark Krikorian.
(7)AS IS THE case with most problems in a democracy, pressures will eventually compel American politicians to limit the flow of illegal aliens. In pursuit of political clout, many Hispanic-American groups welcome the influx of Spanish-speaking people.
The Electoral College magnifies the influence of ethnic groups viewed as power brokers in pivotal states such as California, Texas, Florida, and New York. Postponing action on unlawful immigration will strengthen those special pleaders who oppose enforcing U.S. laws.
(8)The guest worker plan that operated between 1942 and 1964 -- along with the 1986 amnesty -- proved successful in reducing illegal immigration and fostering bilateral cooperation. In fact, a robust stream of unlawful immigration paralleled the legal guest-worker program. Rather than end unlawful entries, the amnesty legislation gave rise to a snowballing of unlawful newcomers who believed that the first amnesty would beget a second amnesty, and so forth.
Continuing a porous border will see the current flood of illegals become a tidal wave and possibly spark an anti-foreign backlash in view of the two-thirds of Americans who oppose amnesty. The Statue of Liberty may hold the torch of freedom in one hand, but she has a book of laws in the other.
George Grayson, who represented the 97th District in Virginia's House of Delegates, teaches Latin American politics at the College of William & Mary.
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