Maine's chance to "merge"
OBL Propaganda stuff...
Quote:
maybe one day we can say, "We are citizens of the world."
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COMMUNITY VOICES: Manuel Orantes-Alvarez
Maine has chance to merge 'Latino Wave' with 'the American Dream'
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/vi...mmvoices.shtml
Three years ago, presenter Jorge Ramos from the television network "Univision" wrote a book with the title, "The Latino Wave and the American Dream." Now, three years later, that phrase comes to my mind.
It comes to my mind because of all the great contributions of Latino-Americans in the American society; from musicians in New York, writers in Washington D.C., "soneros" (Cuban salsa singers) in Miami, to the latest, the first Hispanic-Latino attorney general of the United States, Alberto Gonzales.
Indeed, this historical event is a precedent not only for the Hispano-Latino community, but for the society as a whole as well, regardless of any political passion.
To understand this new wave, we need to understand our motivations for living in another country such as the United States. They include opportunities, education, jobs and security, particularly for Hispano-Latino immigrants. Almost all Latino American countries have suffered and inherited years of corruption, all the way from Mexico to Argentina.
To understand this new wave, we have to understand each other as a society (whites, blacks, Latinos, people from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, India, indigenous peoples, etc.).
Now, more than ever, we need understanding, comprehension and help. Thanks to the Internet, we now live in a small world. In just one click we can be in Russia or Guatemala in seconds.
To understand this new wave, we are trying to understand that we live in a new society, progressive, pluralist and complex, which even has a different scale of values.
We are trying to understand that democracy is possible on a certain level and that we can make a difference too. We understand that it is possible to have representation in a homogenous society if the society as a whole is willing to give us "the benefit of the doubt" to show our values and diversity as well, that we bring here to our new life.
To understand this new wave, the society should know that in underdeveloped countries, where most of the new immigrants are coming from, they are facing extreme poverty that does not allow them to have access to education and other basic development.
We need to understand that society has a priority to face these challenges, from the governor to the average citizen, in order to create a bridge between us and avoid segregation.
We in the Hispano-Latino community need an open door of understanding to create a healthy society here in Maine, and more specifically here in Portland. The city has the opportunity today, with this generation, to create an inclusive community for all in unity.
Perhaps one day this city can be an example of understanding and inclusiveness for all (the new ones, the old ones, the young and the elderly).
The American dream is changing because the new immigrants today are bringing not only their traditions to the United States, but their language as well.
According to the magazine "Demographics," these changes in society are changing the way people live.
The American dream can be possible if the society is aware of this and the immigrants are willing to accept their new way of life, and all the customs and traditions of the American society as well.
The new wave of people coming can be very positive if we find the right approach. We do not have to look far back, maybe 15 years ago, to realize all the changes that Portland has experienced, and the United States too.
Today more than 15 different languages are recognized in the city of Portland. They are the native languages of the residents of the city.
The future is in our hands today, not tomorrow - maybe one day we can say, "We are citizens of the world." Maybe one day we can have a level of understanding of each other as a whole, including everyone in the world.
It is our responsibility to know our neighborhoods; it is our responsibility to learn, educate, progress and work for ourselves and for the community that we live in, as well.
People of Maine, help us to create a better society here. We need your help. Perhaps together we can avoid segregation between communities and create a truly diverse community that includes everyone.
