Why is racism against Latinos tolerated? (Tom Tancredo, illegal, drug, statistics)

[loillon892]

Just an observation. Pick any post here written by someone dissatisfied with life in southeastern Florida (or increasingly, Orlando.) They'll go into the usual litany about traffic, rude people, bad schools, etc. etc. And almost without fail, they'll launch into a diatribe about how their neighborhood, or their city or their county, has been overrun by "those people." They'll link "those people" to derelict neighborhoods, blaring music at 3 AM, crime, drug dealing, and just about any other social ill that you can envision. They'll label "those people" as dirty, lazy, unintelligent, impolite, unwilling to assimilate and intent on destroying the country. For good humor, they'll usually even throw in a line or two of broken Spanish.

Of course, this is just as racist as anything to ever come out of George Wallace's mouth. But let's be honest here - if somebody on this forum started running off at the mouth about n-word this and n-word that, nobody would tolerate it. That person's account would probably be suspended. But whole threads here have become so hateful and vitriolic in their bashing of Latino immigrants (and Latino citizens in many cases, I might add) that they would surely make Lou Dobbs and Tom Tancredo blush.

So why is there a double standard on race? This happens in real-world Florida as well - Blacks seem to be "off limits" but hatred against Hispanics is fair game - but the anonymity of the Internet allows the racists - via sites such as this - to avoid any restraint or attempts at civil decorum.

[FLBob]

The question should be "Why is racism tolerated". When we finally accept that people are different but still people with similar dreams and aspirations then we will all be in a better place.

[Charles22]

They'll go into the usual litany about traffic, rude people, bad schools, etc. etc. And almost without fail, they'll launch into a diatribe about how their neighborhood, or their city or their county, has been overrun by "those people."

You left out the part about leaving their litter everywhere.

[OrlandoRE_Miracle]

Originally Posted by loillon892

Just an observation. Pick any post here written by someone dissatisfied with life in southeastern Florida (or increasingly, Orlando.) They'll go into the usual litany about traffic, rude people, bad schools, etc. etc. And almost without fail, they'll launch into a diatribe about how their neighborhood, or their city or their county, has been overrun by "those people." They'll link "those people" to derelict neighborhoods, blaring music at 3 AM, crime, drug dealing, and just about any other social ill that you can envision. They'll label "those people" as dirty, lazy, unintelligent, impolite, unwilling to assimilate and intent on destroying the country. For good humor, they'll usually even throw in a line or two of broken Spanish.

Of course, this is just as racist as anything to ever come out of George Wallace's mouth. But let's be honest here - if somebody on this forum started running off at the mouth about n-word this and n-word that, nobody would tolerate it. That person's account would probably be suspended. But whole threads here have become so hateful and vitriolic in their bashing of Latino immigrants (and Latino citizens in many cases, I might add) that they would surely make Lou Dobbs and Tom Tancredo blush.

So why is there a double standard on race? This happens in real-world Florida as well - Blacks seem to be "off limits" but hatred against Hispanics is fair game - but the anonymity of the Internet allows the racists - via sites such as this - to avoid any restraint or attempts at civil decorum.

I agree with you, but I fear some posters will miss your point (deliberately?) and restart the "hispanic whites" race debate again.

[annerk]

I have nothing against any race. I do have a major problem with illegal immigrants--in the Orlando area it's a proven fact that they were responsible for over half of the violent crime in 2007, I haven't seen later statistics. According to many that makes me a racist because the majority of illegals are Latino. Frankly I don't care where they are from, they are here illegally which is a crime, and should be deported back to whatever country they came from.

[SeattleWA]

Are people not allowed to state the truth now? Hispanics, many of whom are illegal, do cause many problems. And the only way to remedy the problem is to accept its existence.

[Scientifical Madness]

I just watch the news, see what is going in in my neighborhood, and then I can come away knowing that whatever I said, whether it be considered "racist" or not, I just gather the info from what I see on a day to day basis. But I have a problem with rude/inconsiderate people and criminals no matter what they look like.

[Jane72]

Why is racism against Latinos tolerated?

I think... because people disguise it as nationalism, patriotism, etc.
Some politicians even subtly pander to it.
It is no less abhorrent than any other sort of racism, though, and should not be tolerated any more than any other form of racism.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by OrlandoRE_Miracle

I agree with you, but I fear some posters will miss your point (deliberately?) and restart the "hispanic whites" race debate again.

Well actually, if you think about it, BECAUSE Latino is not a "race," people feel more comfortable criticizing "Latino" culture.

Just as people criticize redneck culture, or ghetto culture.

While I am sure there are exceptions, (and I don't want to make too many excuses for people who really are against anyone that doesn't look exactly like them), I think the dissatisfaction with "Latinos" comes from the culture clash. The Spanish, the flag waving, etc. The "Latino," alone, just for being and existing, does not raise the ire in the majority of cases.

[Fountainrunner]

Originally Posted by OrlandoRE_Miracle

I agree with you, but I fear some posters will miss your point (deliberately?) and restart the "hispanic whites" race debate again.

What are "hispanic whites"? Are they similar to "black whites" or "spanish whites" or "Asian whites"? I've just never heard of such terms before.