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While many of the first wave of Cubans that came to the US were quite affluent, all but a few [ mega wealthy families like the Bacardis and the Fanjul's had Swiss bank accounts or foreign investments]. The majority of upper and middle class Cubans were stripped of everything that they had and arrived here penniless. One of the first things that the regime did was confiscate all private property and make an inventory of all personal wealth. Even wedding bands were confiscated by the regime. There are stories of children as young as five having a bracelets ripped from their wrists as they tried to exit Cuban customs on their way to exile in the USA. In essence, the only thing that the first wave of Cubans came with were their brains. While I am not going to deny that an education is probably the most powerful resource anyone can have, it would be wrong to dismiss how hard life was these people.
Regarding race, first of all, although they were white, these Cubans still suffered xenophobia. You don't have to be non-white to be the victim of bigotry, just ask the early wave of Irish immigrants to the USA who had to face signs saying, "No Irish or dogs allowed here." Second, they had to learn a new language, and get their licenses in a new country while working the worst jobs. Yes, they didn't have to worry about the border police raiding the factories where they worked and they may have gotten loans to go to night school, but it is still an arduous task. Just imagine if you lost everything that you had: your job, your home, your bank account, your personal belongings, and then you were ripped from your family, and sent to Finland, or Russia. There you had to clean toilets, or wash dishes while: [A] learning enough Finish or Russian to [b] be able to study for your license in Finish or Russian, so that you could then start practicing as a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer or whatever other profession you had in the United States. It is a gargantuan task.
Regarding the aid that Cubans received, as I have said before, all refugees from the Soviet bloc received aid. One of my best friend's wife went to New York University [considered one of the best schools in the USA, the late John F. Kennedy, Jr. got his law degree there] with money that the gov't set aside for Russian Jews. So, it is not true that Cubans are these singular people in the annals of US history receiving massive amounts of aid. In fact, I happen to know many Eastern Europeans, refugees from communism, who came to the USA and they all received aslyum and were put on the fast track to citizenship. As residents in the USA, they were also eligable to apply for public assistance, loans and medical care.
Tell you what, the next time I see a thread entitled, "Do you consider Soviet Russians the most assimilated of Eastern Europeans into American culture" and some bonehead Soviet Russian c-d poster states that not only are they most assimilated, they are superior to other Eastern Europeans - nay, to every immigrant group that has come before them - then I will investigate the privileges extended to Soviet Russians.
No. The most assimilated are the people who learn English regardless of where they are from.
I agree but I will take it one step further. When out in mainstream speak it! Anything else is not assimilation. I don't care what language someone chooses to speak at home.
You are way off....Spaniards are the most American. The rest are Hispanic trailer trash.
Yes, tell that to the Cubans living in Palm Beach with their aristocratic coats of arms from Spain and their memberships in the most exclusive country clubs. You wouldn't even be considered fit to clean their toilets.
Assimilation is attained by four benchmarks, Socio-Economic status, Language, Intermarriage, and Geographic Distribution. Check Cubans on one of four, SES. Other Hispanic groups are leading in the other benchmarks.
Yes, tell that to the Cubans living in Palm Beach with their aristocratic coats of arms from Spain and their memberships in the most exclusive country clubs. You couldn't even be considered fit to clean their toilets.
By the way, Ray1945, do you have different accounts? LOL. There are a couple of screennames on this board that have your same writing style. LOL.
Really? I'd probably like those posters - can you give me their names, please? LOL
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