Are people in El Paso patriotic Americans? (home, law school)

[skyegirl]

Originally Posted by Robbie123

I've heard that people in El Paso are not really that proud to be americans. Is that true? Is there a lot of patriotism among El Pasoans about America as it is in the rest of the country?

No, they are patriotic Mexicans.
A dumb answer for a dumb question.

[Smooth from ELP]

I remember when I still lived in ELP there were a bunch of clowns driving around the city honking their horns drapped in Mexican flags when their country just beat ours in a soccer game. I was sooooo embarrassed that day to be brown.

No ELP is not patriotic. Most are still loyal to Mexico.

When I came to Central Texas my eyes were opened to Texas and USA pride for the first time. It was like I was reborn as a citizen of this great country. I am proud to be a US Latino citizen living in the great State of Texas.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Smooth from ELP

I remember when I still lived in ELP there were a bunch of clowns driving around the city honking their horns drapped in Mexican flags when their country just beat ours in a soccer game. I was sooooo embarrassed that day to be brown.

No ELP is not patriotic. Most are still loyal to Mexico.

When I came to Central Texas my eyes were opened to Texas and USA pride for the first time. It was like I was reborn as a citizen of this great country. I am proud to be a US Latino citizen living in the great State of Texas.

I don't know about most. I think it's about a third. I see far too many Mexican flags and hear far too many people proclaiming that Texas should be "given back" to Mexico so I know these people are quite anti-American.

Another third is neutral or ambivalent. They could go either way, they may feel very patriotic to Mexico one day, and the next day not as much, or they'll celebrate 4th of July and 16th of September but maybe it's more an excuse to drink beer.

The other third is about as patriotic as people anywhere. Some even more than most. That third includes hispanics along with whites and blacks.

[mistabinks]

Again, I think we see individual occurrences and lump the whole city into it. There is no way this city is more loyal to Mexico. We just see individuals and jump the gun. El Paso is very patriotic and a great American town.

[Smooth from ELP]

Originally Posted by mistabinks

Again, I think we see individual occurrences and lump the whole city into it. There is no way this city is more loyal to Mexico. We just see individuals and jump the gun. El Paso is very patriotic and a great American town.

maybe it has become more "USA Pride" in the last 8 years but I lived there 33 years and it was more anti-American back then.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Smooth from ELP

maybe it has become more "USA Pride" in the last 8 years but I lived there 33 years and it was more anti-American back then.

I'd say it's about the same, maybe tilted a little more toward Mexico in recent years but possibly tilting back a little lately.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by mistabinks

Again, I think we see individual occurrences and lump the whole city into it. There is no way this city is more loyal to Mexico. We just see individuals and jump the gun. El Paso is very patriotic and a great American town.

Maybe it's all in how someone wishes to define "patriotic to the USA". I have neighbors who live in the USA but were praying that the USA would lose to Mexico in a fairly recent soccer event. They were devastated their country's team lost.

[Gary Siete]

The thread obviously focuses on the patriotism of local Mexican-Americans - not local anglo-Americans. Many Hispanic families in El Paso have children or parents in the military and many have been here for generations.

Studies have shown that it takes a couple of generations before olde-country ties and the olde-county language is lost. The grandchildren of immigrants rarely speak their native tongue. This is the case in my own extended family where the younger kids & the grandkids have limited Spanish skills.

To me, patriotism (in any country), esp. for immigrants, is not an on/off switch but is something that grows slowly in your heart and isn't necessarily something that is overtly worn on your sleeve. Many Hispanics are caught in a bind as the overt patriotism signs are often seen as code for anti-immigrant bigot.
In recent years Republicans have been seen (at least by themselves & Fox) as being more patriotic and 'American' than Democrats. Republicans tend to wear their patriotism on their sleeves more than Democrats and El Paso is a Democratic town.

[mistabinks]

I don't have a problem with anybody rooting for Mexico is a soccer game. As long as they are good citizens, obey the law, support our military, then I am fine. I have other things to worry about than who a certain demographic roots for in a soccer game.

[mrsmeyer]

Originally Posted by XChucoresident

Yes..ELP is very patriotic..My parents are constanly telling me ..how proud they are to be American and fly the flag every national holiday...My Dad served proudly in 3 wars,...I would not doubt if my parents have their flag out now for Memorial Day..I am in Austin now!

YES people in ELP are very Patriotic, it struck me as an odd post, perhaps someone mislead you? I am glad it was posted though, we like eliminating doubt when doubt is planted.