Thread: USA TODAY COMMENTARY : Latinos: Can you hear us now?

Commentary by Raul Reyes
Fri Dec 29, 6:43 AM ET
USA TODAY




In my East Los Angeles high school, dividing lines among student groups were common, even among Latinos. Gang members were known as Lowriders, Spanish-speaking kids were called Beaners, and assimilated Hispanics like me were derisively referred to as Coconuts - brown on the outside, white on the inside.

The only thing we had in common was that we all looked down on another group: our immigrant classmates who occupied the bottom rung of the social ladder and were practically invisible.

How times have changed: 2006 was the "Year of the Immigrant," driven by a fierce national debate over what the country should do about 12 million undocumented immigrants. The subsequent restrictive policy proposals were not surprising. But the massive pro-immigrant marches were astonishing, and invigorating.

As the grandson of an illegal alien, I was proud to see so many aspiring Americans coming out of the shadows and participating in democracy. The debate motivated Hispanics to flex their political muscle. This summer, the Pew Center found that 75% of Latinos believed their ethnic group would be more likely to vote in the fall elections, and two-thirds thought the protests could lead to a new social movement. But a majority also reported seeing a rise in discrimination. Maybe the nascent immigrant rights movement came on too strong. Was it the Mexican flags at rallies? Or the Spanish version of The Star-Spangled Banner?

Of course, not all Hispanics support the rights of undocumented workers. Like other Americans, we're split on the issue. But by fall, the intolerant tone of conservatives only served to remind us of our own roots. So did passage of several restrictive local laws aimed at illegal aliens, as well as congressional approval of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

So in the congressional elections, Latinos deserted the party of The Fence. According to national exit polls, 69% of Hispanics voted Democratic, while 29% went Republican. This was a significant shift for Latinos, who in 2004 gave President Bush 44% of their votes. Democrats now have the challenge of retaining a Hispanic constituency that is increasingly complicated. No doubt, the immigration issue will not fade. But for me, hope arrived Oct. 17 at 7:46 a.m. in New York, where Emanuel Plata was born. Heralded as the 300 millionth American, he's a perfect symbol of his time: born to Mexican immigrants, in Queens, the nation's most diverse county, with lingering questions about his milestone status. But Emanuel will come of age in a society where Hispanics have more influence and visibility than ever. That's because in 2006, Latinos emerged in force and made sure their voices were heard.


Raul Reyes is an attorney in New York and a member of USA TODAY's board of contributors.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200612 ... uhearusnow

That's because in 2006, Latinos emerged in force and made sure their voices were heard.

And ignorance is bliss! If the voices of the American people mean nothing then why do they think their voices mean anything? They are puppets being used to destroy America and Mexico. They are destroying the only hope they would have ever had by doing what they are doing.

Originally Posted by Skip

So in the congressional elections, Latinos deserted the party of The Fence. According to national exit polls, 69% of Hispanics voted Democratic, while 29% went Republican. This was a significant shift for Latinos, who in 2004 gave President Bush 44% of their votes.

Not only did hispanics support the democrats in huge numbers many many republicans simply sat at home because they felt disenfranchised. The budget soared under Bush, he betrayed republicans on the illegal alien issue, and many others simply don't support his position on the war.

It's a good thing that republicans control the USSC because it may be a generation before the republican party recovers from the Bush presidency.

Hawkeye wrote:

Not only did hispanics support the democrats in huge numbers many many republicans simply sat at home because they felt disenfranchised. The budget soared under Bush, he betrayed republicans on the illegal alien issue, and many others simply don't support his position on the war.
It's a good thing that republicans control the USSC because it may be a generation before the republican party recovers from the Bush presidency.

Very true!!!!

I question just exactly how "assimilated" he really is. If he were truly assimilated, he would be thinking in terms of being an American, not a "Latino" and about what was good for America as a whole, not just Latinos.

And as for all the Mexican flags and the national anthem sung in Spanish--GEE, YA THINK???

BRB, I'm gonna barf.

2006 was the "Year of the Immigrant,"

Didn't he mean year of the illegal alien?

Dixie

Love how Yahoo has stopped comments from being posted after incendiary opinions are written. Reyes would have been blown out of the water in responses which used to be available right under the articles. This is the second article written along these lines since they started revamping their forum section.

Originally Posted by noyoucannot

I question just exactly how "assimilated" he really is. If he were truly assimilated, he would be thinking in terms of being an American, not a "Latino" and about what was good for America as a whole, not just Latinos.

And as for all the Mexican flags and the national anthem sung in Spanish--GEE, YA THINK???

Yes a good reply. Thats the first thing you hear out on many of their mouths "latino" not American.

In my East Los Angeles high school, dividing lines among student groups were common, even among Latinos. Gang members were known as Lowriders, Spanish-speaking kids were called R*****R, and assimilated Hispanics like me were derisively referred to as Coconuts - brown on the outside, white on the inside.

The only thing we had in common was that we all looked down on another group: our immigrant classmates who occupied the bottom rung of the social ladder and were practically invisible.

As the grandson of an illegal alien, I was proud

Mr. Reyes shows us that you can take the boy out of a tribalized LA, but that you can't take the LA out of the boy. He demonstrates that you can decriminalize criminals and their offspring, but create only people with their roots in criminality.

How times have changed: 2006 was the "Year of the Immigrant," driven by a fierce national debate over what the country should do about 12 million undocumented immigrants. The subsequent restrictive policy proposals were not surprising. But the massive pro-immigrant marches were astonishing, and invigorating.

The year of the socialist/communist illegal alien insurgency invigorated him. Surely he was resting within his racial/criminal identity while viewing a display of anarchy that was a danger to America and her existence.

Of course, not all Hispanics support the rights of undocumented workers. Like other Americans, we're split on the issue. But by fall, the intolerant tone of conservatives only served to remind us of our own roots.

Reyes tries a little spin here that attempts to include himself in a group known as Americans. The calls for law enforcement and an end to anarchy hit home as a reminder of his criminal roots. It's not surprising that he falls short of being an American here and sympathizes with the invaders.

Democrats now have the challenge of retaining a Hispanic constituency that is increasingly complicated.

Hardly, it's same simple old racist, illogical, ethically challenged self serving victim constituents they're used to serving.

But Emanuel will come of age in a society where Hispanics have more influence and visibility than ever. That's because in 2006, Latinos emerged in force and made sure their voices were heard.

It's not fair blaming Latinos for the actions of illegal alien advocates. We have some here that could take you down a peg. Hopefully, Emanuel doesn't have criminal roots, and all won't be associated with the voices of the anarchist advocates that make you so hopeful. The challenge of the future will be to "separate the wheat from the chaff" while they're being baited into your racist agenda. You suck.