Thread: Editorial: Hispanic Independence Festival offers chance to c

Editorial: Hispanic Independence Festival offers chance to celebrate Hispanic heritage
greenbaypressgazette.com
2:17 AM, Sep. 16, 2011

The eighth annual Hispanic Independence Festival being held today and Saturday at Leicht Memorial Park gives us a reason to celebrate our community's cultural diversity.

In recent years we have seen the growth of the Latino population, whose culture has become integrated into the social fabric of our region and continues to enrich us. The festival is a time for non-Hispanics to get to know their Hispanic neighbors, learn more about their culture and get a taste of their food and music. We urge local residents to join in the celebration.

The festival is the kickoff for a month-long observance of independence for countries of Hispanic heritage. Today is the anniversary of Mexico's independence. Thursday marked the anniversary of independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Sunday is Chile's anniversary. In recognition, the White House issued a news release Wednesday, saying President Barack Obama's administration would celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, through events that showcase the impact of Hispanic culture on American life.

"As the largest and fastest growing minority group in America, the Hispanic community's ability to thrive is vital to the future of our nation and is critical to our out-educating, out-innovating, and out-building the rest of the world," Obama said in a statement. "In this spirit, the theme of Hispanic Heritage Month 2011 will be 'Renewing the American Dream,' and will feature a weekly focus on key issue areas including jobs and the economy, healthy communities and healthy families, an education for the 21st century, and celebrating the heritage and contributions of Hispanics to the fabric of America."

Acceptance of fellow Hispanic residents hasn't always come easy. As more people who claimed Spanish as their first language moved into the area, other issues came with them. Immigration, in some instances illegal immigration, divided the cultures. The small businesses that cropped up to serve them initially served predominantly Spanish speakers. Crime and gangs also have been concerns.

It cannot be denied, however, that the growth of the Hispanic population has changed the local workforce and economy, and has added a richness to our area's diversity.

"It's evolved to where their needs have changed," said Darryl Buck, a member of the Hispanic Community Council of N.E.W. "Because Hispanics have become more integrated into the community, we can focus more on the growth of the businesses they're running."

Attendance at the council's information fair in 2010 was down from previous years, Buck said, an indication that fewer Hispanics are seeking the basic needs that they once sought.

Buck said more Hispanics are becoming homeowners instead of renters.

"We're seeing people establishing themselves financially," he said. "Now we're teaching the Hispanic market to reach into the Anglo community."

We cannot ignore that this dominant ethnic group in our area, as a whole, has strengthen our neighborhoods, schools and businesses.

The 2010 U.S. Census showed a 90 percent increase in the Hispanic population in Green Bay and a 107 percent increase in Brown County. For the first time, non-Hispanic whites in the city represent less than 75 percent of residents.

The culture adds an important dimension to our community and that is a reason to celebrate.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/art ... RONTPAGE|s

Buck said more Hispanics are becoming homeowners instead of renters.

With the grants they get from HUD and first choice on the forclosed homes.

Every time I see the word Diversity I remember this phrase:

DIVERSITY = DISPLACEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

Hispanic Independence Festival offers chance to celebrate Hispanic heritage

"People Suck!"

The festival is a time for non-Hispanics to get to know their Hispanic neighbors, learn more about their culture"

This goes two ways. If they really wanted to get to know us they would speak ENGLISH!

Originally Posted by Mayday

The festival is a time for non-Hispanics to get to know their Hispanic neighbors, learn more about their culture"

This goes two ways. If they really wanted to get to know us they would speak ENGLISH!

This is why they don’t speak English, because they have no intentions of "knowing usâ€