Why is everyone racist to mexicans (Cuba: tax, housing, farms)

[j_k_k]

For me, at least, language is the tipping point. If illegal aliens (at least, the vast majority) would simply give in on that one, I'd be inclined toward the amnestia perspective even though it does reward lawbreaking. But when people enter my nation illegally, sending a significant percentage of wealth out of my country, and then have the supreme gall to expect service in Spanish (never mind that I speak it fairly well), that's the Rubicon. That's where I get obstinate and start waving the flag, which for me is like getting a Mormon to drink whiskey.

If I felt that most illegal aliens were committed to English proficiency, and understood that it was not my fiscal or moral duty to teach them English (but, rather their fiscal and moral duty to seek out and hire the instruction themselves if they need it), the large part of me that sees immigration as a great national positive would be inclined to yield to economic reality and history. I would support a solution to legitimize them as immigrants. Unfortunately, that is not what I see. What I see is people not committed to my country, unwilling to become proficient in its primary langauge, expecting me to learn theirs, and here only for the good money they can send home. Many jobs in my area now require bilingualism, and that's just utterly wrong. If it were up to me this would be handled in draconian fashion. But it's not, and we keep kowtowing to uninvited interlopers. Too bad. If they'd give on the language, I'd give them everything else.

Evidnence says that they won't. Which will mean that I will continue to stand by while persons who speak only Spanish flounder as they try to deal with clerks and cashiers who speak no Spanish, and remain silent though I could bridge the gap for them on the spot. I refuse to be an enabler.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by jesusitadelnorte

WOW! I honestly don't know what to say. Now I totally understand why I got almost no response to my previous post, Albuquerque to KC (thanks KCMO). I have just one question. Does Kansas teach state history? The Spanish/Mexican influence in your state goes back to at least 1541 with the expedition of Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, and what about the Santa Fe Trail? This thread is so depressing...

Jesusita del Norte

I would respond in Spanish, but that is against CD.c's TOS.

There is a vast world of difference between the Coronado expedition and the modern issue with Spanish language and illegal aliens. No rational, educated American fails to recognize that Spanish heritage is one of the great traditions of his or her nation, from the red and gold of Old Spain on the New Mexican flag to the thousands of Spanish place names of the greater Southwest (even as far north as Washington), to St. Augustine, Florida. Any educated American understands that the descendants of Old Spain's Mexico have been here centuries longer than the great northern/southern/eastern European immigration waves. They go back as far as African Americans, who while they did not have a choice back then, have since built and added their own cultural flavor to enrich us.

Hispanic persons born in the United States (or naturalized as citizens) are not and have never been the issue. They are American. If they choose to speak Spanish at home with Abuela, I don't care one bit; they can function in English as well as I can if not better, and in any case, they were born here--they can speak whatever they want and I'll help them slap around anyone who says they can't. Point: it is not about denying Spanish heritage. It never has been. It's about non-Americans entering the country illegally and having expectations. No Hispanic American national falls into that category.

[Sunnnee]

My mother works for the US Immigration dept and she says as long as any immigrant that comes into this country becomes a US Citizen the RIGHT WAY - meaning, paying your fees and whatever else that the law states, she is all for anyone coming to take residence here.

[stingraynm]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

For me, at least, language is the tipping point. If illegal aliens (at least, the vast majority) would simply give in on that one, I'd be inclined toward the amnestia perspective even though it does reward lawbreaking. But when people enter my nation illegally, sending a significant percentage of wealth out of my country, and then have the supreme gall to expect service in Spanish (never mind that I speak it fairly well), that's the Rubicon. That's where I get obstinate and start waving the flag, which for me is like getting a Mormon to drink whiskey.

If I felt that most illegal aliens were committed to English proficiency, and understood that it was not my fiscal or moral duty to teach them English (but, rather their fiscal and moral duty to seek out and hire the instruction themselves if they need it), the large part of me that sees immigration as a great national positive would be inclined to yield to economic reality and history. I would support a solution to legitimize them as immigrants. Unfortunately, that is not what I see. What I see is people not committed to my country, unwilling to become proficient in its primary langauge, expecting me to learn theirs, and here only for the good money they can send home. Many jobs in my area now require bilingualism, and that's just utterly wrong. If it were up to me this would be handled in draconian fashion. But it's not, and we keep kowtowing to uninvited interlopers. Too bad. If they'd give on the language, I'd give them everything else.

Evidnence says that they won't. Which will mean that I will continue to stand by while persons who speak only Spanish flounder as they try to deal with clerks and cashiers who speak no Spanish, and remain silent though I could bridge the gap for them on the spot. I refuse to be an enabler.

Agreed again. The entitlement complex is nothing more than rude, presumptive, and ego-centric. Nobody is owed a bending of the rules, and especially nobody who refuses to even try to abide. Some of the debates/complaints I've heard people incite on the language and amnesty issues are downright ridiculous given the leeway they've already been afforded in civility of enforcement. Any American who has faced Mexican penal enforcement can surely tell you that their country doesn't afford us the same civility... and that's just as much any Mexican individual's fault as only learning English during formative years in public schools is any U.S. individual's fault. In either case, it's important that a person who wants to cross borders keeps in mind what to expect, as more tolerance on either front would be nice but is not the realistic case due to a myriad of circumstances.

Personally, I spent a 2-month stint in Sao Paulo, Brazil (<--English spelling) right after high school, and I did a slacker's job of learning Brazilian Portuguese on a CD before I left since I'd have a friend to translate (and a lot of folks there understand sufficient English), so I can relate to the fish-out-of-water feeling. Still, the moment I got there and realized how little even my meager effort on the CD was actually worth due to dialects, I made sure to acquaint myself with many common phrases (and customs!!! That's emphasized for a reason...) as quickly as possible. Misunderstandings definitely happened quite a bit, but I knew to always make sure I understood how to demonstrate effort, and then concession where effort failed.

If a person shows any sign that they have tried to attend to our language and customs, even if they do a poor job (in which case they should know to keep an apologetic demeanor, instead of being dismissive or vindictive), I'll try to use my American textbook knowledge of Spanish to help them. But yeah, people who blather away - especially angrily, apathetically, or in slang (many fail to understand that lots of Americans who don't even know any Spanish can still pick out insults) - can struggle away at the mercy of misconception for all I care. It's not like we're "locking them up and throwing away the key" if that misconception goes too far. And in most instances, the context only warrants rolled eyes and denied service at the very "cruelest".

[allisonguru]

Jeez, i dont know why,....................

[joshandles]

Well, I lived in AZ and had a brief life in TX, so I have no problem with Hispanics. I don't speak Spanish, so I appreciate if I can converse with my neighbor and they can get my order right if they happen to work in the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant.
My husband and I may have a new home around Wichita/Hesston area for a new job.
I thinking being tolerant of anyone requires a person become a little something extra within themselves. Only that person can do it. We cannot change anyone.

[michael85225]

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

Even though Hispanics make up only 15% of the general U.S population, they make up a whopping 47% of all gang members in the United States. No wonder many White people look down on Mexicans/Hispanics because they are not exactly a model minority group like the Asians.
Gangs in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I assume that you are White. So just because your White, that gives you the right to look down on other ethnic groups? Are your Whites a "model minority"? If you watch "How to catch an online predator", you will see that the majority of the men caught are White. Look at some of the most notoroius serial killers, most of them are White. White people have no business to look down on ANY ethnic group because they are not so innocent themselves!

[seastorm]

I-70 is a major highway for drug trafficking so lots of people are pulled over-of all races....Also please do not judge all of everyone in topeka or kansas by the phelps gang (or others like them) and their behavior.

[stingraynm]

Originally Posted by michael85225

I assume that you are White. So just because your White, that gives you the right to look down on other ethnic groups? Are your Whites a "model minority"? If you watch "How to catch an online predator", you will see that the majority of the men caught are White. Look at some of the most notoroius serial killers, most of them are White. White people have no business to look down on ANY ethnic group because they are not so innocent themselves!

First off, I think if Dean visited Australia or New Zealand, he'd find that Asians don't exactly maintain the "model minority" status. Even in the U.S., Los Angeles metro transportation could change his opinion pretty quickly. Every race/ethnicity has arenas wherein the less redeeming types will make themselves all too apparent.

On that note, I understand that most of your asserted generalizations are meant to illustrate (by example) your counterpoint about the absurdity of stereotypes, but your first/last sentences allude that your frustration at "white people" has put you on an unsavory cognitive bent yourself.

"White people" aren't looking down on ethnic groups, even if certain white people do. You see, it goes further that white people aren't the only ethnic group that maintains prejudice against other ethnic groups. Every person, regardless of race, shares responsibility in erradicating the social plague of racism. Although ethnicity is a major factor in identity, it should never be a means to group people together and judge them as a whole.

I know you're probably not a racist, but it is absolutely vital that you - like everyone should - assess what your mind is really saying with a particular assertion, along with how others may interpret it. Really... now that you're outside the subjectivity of your emotions when you wrote that, take a look and consider what you're actually saying with your statements I bolded.

[pvlman]

Originally Posted by OhioUberAlles

Let the bad times roll!

I suppose we could expect such a disaillusioned hope from someone who's motto is Ohio should be above all others. Seems as the biggest threat(s) to America are cocky punks We should ask ourselves what would they do to their fellow Americans to insure they come out on top. Hire illegal workers maybe?