Racists will love new 'Hispanic threat' book [GAG ALERT]

The Miami Herald ^ | 03 March 2004 | Andres Oppenheimer

[MegaSilver]

Typical left-wing ignorance.

When you can't refute your opponents, you have two options: a) lie/distort/ignore facts (argumentum ad mendacium), or b) use a catch-all term like "racists" to paint your opponents in a negative light (argumentum ad hominem abusive).

[My2Cents]

the United States is threatened with national disintegration because of the soaring rate of Hispanic immigrants.

No, we're disintegrating because of the soaring rate of lawlessness, both among immigrants and the natives.

[prion]

Racists will love new 'Hispanic threat' book

They probably love donuts, too, but that doesn't make crullers racist.

[alex]

Funniest part is that Mr.Oppenheimer agrees with Samuel Huntington on all points except the exact vector of social developments in Hispanic community. Mr.Oppenheimer thinks that Hispanics are mostly assimilating and Mr.Huntington believes that it is not. Otherwise, there were no difference in the opinion.

But Mr.Oppenheimer meanwhile does not hesitate to call Mr.Huntington racist.

[Pontiac]

If you are wondering whether Huntington's arguments are just misguided, or plainly Hispano-phobic, I suggest doing this little exercise: replace the term ''Hispanic'' in the text with ''African American,'' or ''black,'' then ask yourself what would be the reaction of the black community.

What a crock! African-Americans almost exclusively speak English. They may have a distinct dialect all there own but understand standard American English when they hear it.

African Americans have been integrated and assimilated for at least 100 years.

And yes I have heard of segregation. They may have not been accepted by the Anglo majority, but they were part of the society as a whole regardless.

[Map Kernow]

No, we're disintegrating because of the soaring rate of lawlessness, both among immigrants and the natives.

No kidding? The same rate of "lawlessness" among immigrants and natives? Sure about that little gem of politically correct moral equivalence? You including those "illegal" immigrants in that comparison, or am I being "racist" for bringing up that little distinction?

[El Conservador]

Your gag alert is uncalled for!!!

Andrés Oppenheimer is anything but a leftist. He's a strong opposer of the Fidel regime, HE'S AN EXILE, FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!

If whatever "Dr." Huntington said was true, then I wouldn't be writing this in English.

If you want to see assimilation, you should come to our house: We see more English TV than Univision or the news from our home country. My mom sometimes mixes English words when speaking in Spanish at home. My sisters barely speak Spanish, and feel no attachment to Colombia whatsoever.

Huntington may be right about most Mexicans, who certainly don't assimilate completely if at all, but to lump all Hispanics as people who refuse to be American is intellectually dishonest. Not racist, but intellectually dishonest and ill-intentioned.

Maybe if Oppenheimer hadn't included the word "racist", his argument wouldn't been that unpalatable, but he's right on the money.

And before you say every Hispanic is a liberal, you should see the voting trends on the Cuban-American community: Solidly Republican since the mid-60's, when the felt betrayed by JFK and his sloppy handling of the Bay of Pigs.

And about the dissolution of American society, if whatever Huntington said had been historically true, then America would be divided in a nation for the British, one for the Irish, one for the Germans, and so on.

Finally, for those of the "conservatives don't need to pander to racial minorities" or the "we don't need the minority vote" crowd, it's you who discourage minorities from becoming conservative Republicans and keep the liberal Democrat monopoly on minority vote. It's you that guarantee that Trent Lott-like scandals will repeat themselves over and over again.

[El Conservador]

And now, I'll put my flame-retardant suit on...

[El Conservador]

So, natives are incapable of commiting crimes all of a sudden???

[Joe Hadenuf]

No, we're disintegrating because of the soaring rate of lawlessness, both among immigrants and the natives.

Let me get this straight, your saying American citizens commit just as many crimes than those that are committing crimes just by being here? And what do American citizens have to do with millions entering the country illegally?

[dmzTahoe]

BIG, BIG difference between Cuban immigrants and those coming into the US from Mexico and Central America. The writer fails to recognize this.

Cuban immigrants make a quick transition from Cubans to Cuban-Americans to Americans...one generation usually accomplishes this, much like the Poles, Irish, Italians et al of the early 1900's.

The immigrants from Mexico never make a transition from Mexicans to Mexican-Americans to Americans. They are stuck somewhere between Mexicans and Mexican-Americans and have no incentive to complete the transformation.

Samuel Huntington is absolutely right on this issue...surprising for a Harvard Prof.

[PRND21]

Finally, for those of the "conservatives don't need to pander to racial minorities" or the "we don't need the minority vote" crowd, it's you who discourage minorities from becoming conservative Republicans and keep the liberal Democrat monopoly on minority vote.

Bump

[Joe Hadenuf]

Mexican Americans cheer for Mexico in U.S. vs. Mexico soccer matches.

Correction: The also cheer for "Osama, Osama, Osama" during games with USA.

But hey, who cares about minor, meaningless details.

[MegaSilver]

BIG, BIG difference between Cuban immigrants and those coming into the US from Mexico and Central America. The writer fails to recognize this.

Agreed.

Cuban immigrants make a quick transition from Cubans to Cuban-Americans to Americans...one generation usually accomplishes this, much like the Poles, Irish, Italians et al of the early 1900's.

What I don't get is why Mexican immigrants often don't when Cubans and Europeans do.

[monkeywrench]

Someone posted the Huntington article a few days ago. It was really very good. It wasn't anything to be offended about.

I agree about not lumping all latinos together. All the politicians seem to do it.

[Joe Hadenuf]

What I don't get is why Mexican immigrants often don't when Cubans and Europeans do.

Why should they, we have the President all the way down to the local government sellouts doing backflips to pander to these peoples every whim.

[PRND21]

What I don't get is why Mexican immigrants often don't when Cubans and Europeans do.

They do in my neighborhood.

[My2Cents]

Yes, I think a good chunk of Americans are lawless, or have little respect or concern for the law. Consider the hysterical support for gay marriages, performed in violation of state laws which only define marriage as between a man and a woman. That's just one example. Isn't that the whole problem with the Clinton years? -- the willingness of a majority of Americans to ignore the rule of law and refuse to condemn clearly illegal acts by the President of the United States, simply because "the economy was good"?

[PRND21]

But hey, who cares about minor, meaningless details.

You do, and those like you. A few dozen soccer fans don't reflect all Mexicans.

[Map Kernow]

So, natives are incapable of commiting crimes all of a sudden???

Oh, si, senor! Precisamente lo que dije! Listen, compadre, do you think we need to add to native lawlessness in this country by continuing to permit the massive levels of legal and *illegal* immigration in this country? No we don't, no cabe duda que NO. Claro asi?

Say, why don't you boys read Huntington's article before you make snap judgements? Go ahead and read it online here. Couldn't hurt, right? No one's gonna call YOU a "racist" for reading it, right?