Are Hispanics, Northerners, and other immigrants responsible for "ruining" Orlando? (Miami: crime, Home Depot)

[compelled to reply]

Seems that way in these forums even by the positive posters. This poll is private, so don't worry about being publicly depicted as a "racist".I really don't care myself to change, question or modify what you think, I just want opinions. Personally, I think it has more to do with economic conditions and the attitude of the PARTICULAR people who were attracted to Orlando's booming minimum wage economy, but really, I'm not out to get on anyones case, but I just want to see the overall opinion. Just be honest, do you think that Hispanics, Northerners and other immigrants are responsible for most of Orlando problems? Do keep the discussion civilized, but feel free to voice your opinion, even if it isn't so "PC".

[THASPECIAL]

I dont think the blame can go on "All" of the people in any of those groups......There was crime in Florida ghettos long before this.....Florida has never really been one of the safest states in modern history....lets say the last 30-40 years......there were serial killers as far as i remember when i was growing up here......it has been a while since weve had a real serial killer in our state......and Florida was one of the first states with a high home invasion rate......then there were the drug wars in Miami throughout the 80's......and no one can tell me that their city was more dangerous in that period....Miami was the worst back then.......I even think that the crime problem isnt as bad as it was back in the 80's due to new technology that police have and new laws since then that might have prevented certain criminals from doing certain crimes....Orlando isnt a scary place....but its not a farm town either where you can be oblivious to your surroundings...there are places in the ghetto areas of Orlando that have crimes happen as bad as any other city in America but i really dont think that most people that are complaining everyday on here actually live near any of those areas because if they did they really wouldnt see anything new then what has happened in thier neighborhoods since theyve lived there......i was robbed at gunpoint and had a knife pulled in my face and have seen some fights but i still like living in Orlando....crime is not a new thing......i dont know how people think this is something so bad unless they are the ones losing a family member to violence or getting in fights themselves.....There might be some bad apples from the Northeast that thought moving here would be better than living in cold weather and they brought some criminal ways with them and there are also alot of good northerners too......The only "Major" group of hispanics in the Orlando area is Puerto Ricans.......most of those people moved here from NYC.....So you dont get that 3rd world mentality like everyone that complains on here says they have seen......When i was living in Miami there were large groups of Colombians, Cubans, Haitians, and Jamaicans.....and then there were other races like Puerto Ricans, Brazilians, Dominicans, Panamanians, Nicaraguans, Bahamians, Mexicans, Equadorians, Salvadorians, and Chileans who contributed to the population of Miami-Dade but they were smaller in numbers......Well Orlando isnt like that ......there is only one hispanic group with a really large population and the people from that group were mainly raised here in the U.S.........so i dont see where 3rd world enviroment comes into play.....

[ARC]

I think it's an economic issue and not a race, ethnic or regional issue. The fact that Orlando has a low-wage economy has "ruined" it.

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

Seems that way in these forums even by the positive posters. This poll is private, so don't worry about being publicly depicted as a "racist".I really don't care myself to change, question or modify what you think, I just want opinions. Personally, I think it has more to do with economic conditions and the attitude of the PARTICULAR people who were attracted to Orlando's booming minimum wage economy, but really, I'm not out to get on anyones case, but I just want to see the overall opinion. Just be honest, do you think that Hispanics, Northerners and other immigrants are responsible for most of Orlando problems? Do keep the discussion civilized, but feel free to voice your opinion, even if it isn't so "PC".

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by ARC

I think it's an economic issue and not a race, ethnic or regional issue. The fact that Orlando has a low-wage economy has "ruined" it.

That's pretty much what I stated in my paragraph. In my opinion, humans are humans, but I wanted to see the opinions of several others, since it's pretty obvious around these boards that they are different than mine.

[ARC]

Yes, I was agreeing with you! I used to be one who believed the problems in Orlando were due to ethnic differences, but I now believe differently. I think it has more to do with differences in values based on economics/education, and this spans all ethnic backgrounds. Just watch the local news and you'll see it.

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

That's pretty much what I stated in my paragraph. In my opinion, humans are humans, but I wanted to see the opinions of several others, since it's pretty obvious around these boards that they are different than mine.

[Marc45]

So you dont think that some of the suburbs of NYC are not like a 3rd world country?

[ceebee1957]

It is the same the world over. England, Germany, France and Sppin are ones where I have experience. Colour/ethnicity is a by-product of the reality.

Originally Posted by ARC

Yes, I was agreeing with you! I used to be one who believed the problems in Orlando were due to ethnic differences, but I now believe differently. I think it has more to do with differences in values based on economics/education, and this spans all ethnic backgrounds. Just watch the local news and you'll see it.

[compelled to reply]

The poll results don't seem to correspond with the discussion here...come on, I don't care about PC, just keep it civilized and say how you feel!

[Stupid Flanders]

I think it's all about perception - especially when it comes to race. Where I grew up in the cold, cold north, black people were largely prosperous middle class folks, and all Latinos were Mexicans who picked apples or stood outside of the Home Depot.

When I moved to Florida, I was exposed to a completely different "class" of blacks, and met hispanics from all over Central and South America many of whom were doctors, engineers, and professionals. The majority of blacks I encounter in the south have a much different mindset. A huge change from where I was raised.

I do not think it is racist for someone - especially someone who was born and raised here - to say that Hispanics and immigrants have ruined Orlando. If southern living is all you know, and you read the Orlando Sentinel or watch News 13, one could easily see who is not exactly contributing to decent society down here.

That being said, I think that the economy here seems to draw the bottom feeders from all all races backgrounds.

I'll have to admit that I get furious when I go to a restaurant or the Bank of America and get greeted in Spanish...not the biggest deal, but when I get that "you're stupid for not speaking Spanish look" I want to throw a damn fit!

I'm sure it's because of the side of town I work on...

[bw1]

Originally Posted by Stupid Flanders

I think it's all about perception - especially when it comes to race. Where I grew up in the cold, cold north, black people were largely prosperous middle class folks, and all Latinos were Mexicans who picked apples or stood outside of the Home Depot.

When I moved to Florida, I was exposed to a completely different "class" of blacks, and met hispanics from all over Central and South America many of whom were doctors, engineers, and professionals. The majority of blacks I encounter in the south have a much different mindset. A huge change from where I was raised.

I do not think it is racist for someone - especially someone who was born and raised here - to say that Hispanics and immigrants have ruined Orlando. If southern living is all you know, and you read the Orlando Sentinel or watch News 13, one could easily see who is not exactly contributing to decent society down here.

That being said, I think that the economy here seems to draw the bottom feeders from all all races backgrounds.

I'll have to admit that I get furious when I go to a restaurant or the Bank of America and get greeted in Spanish...not the biggest deal, but when I get that "you're stupid for not speaking Spanish look" I want to throw a damn fit!

I'm sure it's because of the side of town I work on...

Umm...nobody's "ruined" Orlando. Not even close. Do I hear people speaking Spanish in the Target? Do I hear spanish music from nearby cars at traffic lights? Does my daughter hang out with some spanish kids in my neighborhood (my family is a mix of English and German)? The answer to all these is "yes". Does this ruin Orlando for me? Of course not. How idiotic can people be to suggest so? I guess they can't handle the fact that the world is full of different people from different backgrounds. We're all part of the human family. Some of us need to grow up and understand the world doesn't revolve around them and there ethnic group and that it's not evil to move from one country to another.

Has Orlando's economy been ruined by anyone? Not by any stretch. It's always been mostly service-based, but it's been going strong for quite awhile and doesn't show any sign of a major slow-down anytime soon. What are people exactly complaining about with our economy? We have had a housing boom for a few years which has brought high housing prices, but that's now peaking and slowing down. These cycles are a part of the way the free market works. Housing has boomed because of high demand and because of a crazy speculative investment environment, now it's time for wages to catch up, and they will. The market will demand it. Starting wages are always going to tend to be lower when people keep moving in. Here again, supply and demand. Does that mean people with a decent education and experience can't get jobs? No. It might mean there is more competition for the jobs. Just suck it up and compete. If you can't compete you might try another city or you might try to improve your skill set. Don't moan about it if you can't make it here.

Most of us who have lived here for awhile love it. I've lived in central florida for most of my life and right now I personally have never been happier here. Maybe it really is a matter of perspective. I have some complaints, but I have found that things always work better for me if I look ahead and see possibilities for improving things that I don't like about my own situation. I suspect those that know how to take personal responsibility aren't the ones complaining most of the time.