Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have to say I love Latin American culture. I grew up in Maine, but got the adventure bug after high school and went to the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus for undergraduate (B.S.) studies and studied and socialized there entirely in Spanish. I travel to the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Brownsville area) and just came back from a trip to Southeast Arizona (Nogales, Naco, Patagonia...). I will probably move there when I am independently wealthy (aka "retirement"). I've also traveled to Tamaulipas and Sonora (Mexico). The people in Mexico are among the warmest, friendliest I've ever met.
However, the U.S. does have an immigration problem and a wall might not be a bad idea. Canada gets the cream of the crop from Latin America, the U.S. does not. I've read academic stuff that one reason the divide between rich and poor in this country has grown so is because of the massive influx of "Hispanics" (a term invented by the U.S. Feds). They don't seem to have the upward mobility of previous immigrant waves. They even have characteristics of developing into a caste, especially in California (which has by far the highest poverty rate in the U.S.). Jason Richwine, who did his Harvard PhD thesis on IQ and Immigration, was beat silly by the liberal educated elite because he challenged their belief that IQ is not 100% environmentally determined. They didn't mind ruining his career because he challenged their sacred cows. He found that IQ among "Hispanic" immigrants stalled and actually declined by the 3rd generation. If you take race/ethnicity out of the equation, most geneticists state that IQ is between 40% and 60% inherited. But when race/ethnicity are mentioned, IQ is 100% environmental. That's how the game works. Take race/ethnicity out of the equation again, and social scientists have found a strong correlation between IQ and educational and professional attainment. Put race/ethnicity in, then the problem becomes "structural" or other forms of racism. There are also great disparities of criminality between "Hispanics" and non-"Hispanic" whites, according to Federal and other crime statistics.
I was listening to a woman who owned a B&B in Nogales, AZ. She makes a lot of money boarding pregnant women from Mexico. It's a "long-term investment" she says. They have their baby and when the baby turns 18, s/he can sponsor mommy and daddy, and then the rest of the extended family, to become U.S. citizens. Of course, there are thousands of others who cross the border illegally every week. Their U.S.-born children are automatic citizens and, as such, qualify for welfare. Many of these illegal immigrant parents avail themselves of this benefit for their children. Who can blame them? Free stuff!!!
Well I did say "if I was forced to choose".
Obviously Canada will always have an easier time dealing with this than the U.S.
That said Latinos are pretty much considered model immigrants here in Quebec. Their culture and demeanour are compatible and they learn French easily.
Even in my own family I could see cultural differences between French Canadians (my dad's family) and Anglo-Americans (my mom is half old-stock Yankee Mainer, and half Scots-Canadian). When my dad's family got together, there was a lot of talking, joviality, joking, and emphasis on passing a good time, while my mom's family's communication was always more measured with lots of pauses and silent spaces. When I was in Puerto Rico, I found that people had similar communication styles as my dad's family. There are other similarities between French Canadians and Latin Americans, too, besides, communication styles.
I don't think Canada is trying to favour some ethnic groups over others, I think it more has to do with which groups have larger shares of people who are able to meet Canada's immigration requirements. .... In the Latin American world - the U.S in on the mind as a place to immigrate a lot more than Canada. Closer proximity to Latin America, larger population and history play a role in that obviously - the U.S now has a massive Hispanic population and these things tend to attract and multiply - same with Canada and East Asian and South Asian. That all said, the latin American community in cities like Montreal and Toronto aren't exactly insignificant either. There are also large communities of Caribbean and Guyanese immigrants in Canada.
One might argue though, that in Anglo-Canada there is simply no preference for ethnic groups because since English is globally taught unlike French, that knowing English is not directly connected to ethnic groups, as all ethnic groups across the world strive after learning English. In East Asian and South Asian culture, education and a hard-working-mentality is highly valued unlike in Hispanic culture, that less values it. And since Canada is an icecold pure-capitalist country that prefers education and a hard-working-mentality... Hispanic people are less likely to make it to Canada in comparison to East/South Asians.
We shouldn't forget that the size of a population also plays a big role.
China's population is greater than the combined population of North, Central- and South America! China's population is 3x times bigger than the world's entire Spanish-speaking population!
Combine that with Confucius mentality and we will know why there are more Chinese than Hispanics in Canada.
Most Hispanics in the US come from neighboring countries Mexico, Central America, Cuba, mostly. It's a way shorter trip than to have to cross the entire USA to reach Canada. Also, immigrants attract more immigrants. Most Hispanics already known someone at their destination, a relative, a friend etc. Last but not least, Canada's weather is not very appealing to Hispanics used to tropical weather.
With regard to your mention of America I have this to say. Canada doesn't need to try to differentiate itself from America. Canada already is and always has been different from America and it always will be different from America. It's a mistake for you to try to compare Canada and America with each other in the matter of their respective immigration policies and the types of immigrants that are in both countries. There is no comparison. It is what it is.
I was not aware of Richwine's demise at Heritage Foundation. He must have done something to really **** them off. From what I read of his dissertation, it is sound by contemporary scientific methods. The main problem, from what I can see, is the subject matter.
I've watched videos of J. Philippe Rushton debating with others in public forums. It is funny to see how his detractors (and there are many) try to railroad him by resorting to theatrics, emotionalism, but very little reason. I think he was even being charged at one time for hate crimes in Ontario because of the subject matter his research... not his scientific methodology, but his subject matter. Canada also has lots of sacred cows, taboos...
Nope. Rushton, Jensen, and Arthur Murray are practitioners of what's called "scientific racism" or academic racism, using dubious and questionable methodologies to arrive at a conclusion. And there is a very long history of this type of junk science to justify and support racism in policy.
My humble, personal explanation for Hispanic and Latino people not giving too much consideration to Canada: it is cold (both physically and SOUL-wise) and there is not too much culture resonance with the Latin spirit in general (not to mention the extreme Socialism).
Of all provinces and metropolitan area, maybe Montreal or QC in general has a better chance.
Even some European do not find it to their liking - and that's not for the frigid winters reasons alone...
One might argue though, that in Anglo-Canada there is simply no preference for ethnic groups because since English is globally taught unlike French, that knowing English is not directly connected to ethnic groups, as all ethnic groups across the world strive after learning English. In East Asian and South Asian culture, education and a hard-working-mentality is highly valued unlike in Hispanic culture, that less values it. And since Canada is an icecold pure-capitalist country that prefers education and a hard-working-mentality... Hispanic people are less likely to make it to Canada in comparison to East/South Asians.
We shouldn't forget that the size of a population also plays a big role.
China's population is greater than the combined population of North, Central- and South America! China's population is 3x times bigger than the world's entire Spanish-speaking population!
Combine that with Confucius mentality and we will know why there are more Chinese than Hispanics in Canada.
Can you post some links, because what I've found so far disputes this. BC alone has 100,000 Latin Americans out of a population of 4.6 million. Quebec has 129,000 Latin Americans out of a population of 8.6 million.
Can you post some links, because what I've found so far disputes this. BC alone has 100,000 Latin Americans out of a population of 4.6 million. Quebec has 129,000 Latin Americans out of a population of 8.6 million.
Of course, I can. I use the following definition for a Hispanic:
A person whose native or everyday language is Spanish.
I never referred to Latin Americans, the category Latin American also includes people from Brazil, a Portugese-speaking multiethnical country of over 200 million inhabitants.
I only refer to Hispanics. This topic is about Hispanics, not Latin Americans, don't forget that.
Of course, I can. I use the following definition for a Hispanic:
A person whose native or everyday language is Spanish.
I never referred to Latin Americans, the category Latin American also includes people from Brazil, a Portugese-speaking multiethnical country of over 200 million inhabitants.
I only refer to Hispanics. This topic is about Hispanics, not Latin Americans, don't forget that.
For whatever reason, they're also a lot more visible or "audible" in Quebec. This is of course might be due in part to the fact we have fewer immigrants in general compared to the GTA and SW BC.
Even in my own family I could see cultural differences between French Canadians (my dad's family) and Anglo-Americans (my mom is half old-stock Yankee Mainer, and half Scots-Canadian). When my dad's family got together, there was a lot of talking, joviality, joking, and emphasis on passing a good time, while my mom's family's communication was always more measured with lots of pauses and silent spaces. When I was in Puerto Rico, I found that people had similar communication styles as my dad's family. There are other similarities between French Canadians and Latin Americans, too, besides, communication styles.
I had kinda figured out you'd had this type of background and exposure from your posts.
And of course the username "phaneuf" is icing on the cake.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We ensure that Canada does not equal a "little US-America", unlike New Zealand that is a "little Australia".
