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

The Miami Herald ^ | 03 March 2004 | Andres Oppenheimer

[MegaSilver]

Racists in America must be having a field day: At long last, they have found a world-renowned intellectual -- Harvard's Academy for International and Area Studies Chairman Samuel Huntington -- to rationalize their resentment against America's rapidly growing Hispanic community.

Huntington, whose 1993 book The Clash of Civilizations was later credited for having foreseen the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, says in his forthcoming book Who We Are (Simon & Schuster) that the United States is threatened with national disintegration because of the soaring rate of Hispanic immigrants.

''The single most immediate and most serious challenge to America's traditional identity comes from the immense and continuing immigration from Latin America, especially from Mexico, and the fertility rates of these immigrants,'' writes Huntington, in excerpts of the book posted on the Foreign Policy magazine website .

''Will the United States remain a country with a single national language and a core Anglo-Protestant culture?'' Huntington asks. ''By ignoring this question, Americans acquiesce to their eventual transformation into two peoples with two cultures (Anglo and Hispanics) and two languages (English and Spanish.)'' The magazine website is

www.foreignpolicy.com.

Before I tell you why I think this is pseudo-academic xenophobic rubbish, let's look at Huntington's supporting arguments: He says Mexican immigrants differ from other immigrants in that they are not assimilating into the U.S. mainstream culture, and that they may one day reclaim the territories that Mexico lost during U.S. military invasions in the 19th century.

CAUSES OF ALARM

He is alarmed by the fact that the ratings of Spanish-language television stations have surpassed those of English-language ones in Miami, that ''José'' has surpassed ''Michael'' as the most popular name for newborn boys in California, and that Mexican Americans cheer for Mexico in U.S. vs. Mexico soccer matches.

Huntington sees ''a major potential threat to the country's cultural and political integration.'' Mexico may one day try to ''assert special rights and claims to that territory,'' he writes.

Poor Dr. Huntington. Watching America from his Bostonian observation deck, he is getting real nervous about the erosion of what he defines as America's ``Anglo-Protestant culture.''

But, as seen from Miami, where a majority of adults speak a language other than English at home, his idea that Hispanics pose a threat to America is absurd.

In Miami, many immigrants don't speak English, but their children eventually do.

You saw as many American flags as in any other U.S. city after the Sept. 11 attacks, and the city has become a center of international trade and services precisely because it is bilingual and bicultural.

And where is it written that people are biologically limited to speaking only one language?

Anybody who has traveled through Europe knows that the Swiss, Danes, Swedes and others speak two, three and sometimes four languages.

And Huntington's claim that Mexican Americans pose a bigger threat than Cuban Americans because they are more reluctant to assimilate is simply wrong.

Every time I go to Los Angeles or San Antonio I'm amazed by the number of people with names such as ''Juan Gonzalez'' who don't speak Spanish.

ASSIMILATION TREND

According to a new nationwide study of U.S. Hispanics by the Synovate market research company, the actual trend among Hispanics is toward greater assimilation, despite the new waves of Spanish-speaking newcomers.

Over the past 12 years, the number of unassimilated Hispanics -- those who don't consume English-language media -- has decreased from 40 percent to 26 percent, the study's authors say.

''Most Hispanics, about 63 percent, are bilingual and bicultural,'' says Jim Forrest, the study's director. ``These people are extremely comfortable in both languages. It's a group that has accommodated and has learned how to live in the United States taking the best from their host culture and keeping the best from their home culture.''

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. I assure you that civil rights groups would call for national protests against Harvard University and Simon & Schuster, as they should do in this case.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Good post. What's really bizarre, is some of these folks actually think they are patroitic conservatives. LOL!

[Map Kernow]

What's really bizarre, is some of these folks actually think they are patroitic conservatives

There never was, and never will be, a "patriotic conservative" who advocates disregard of the written laws for partisan political advantage. Which is all these hacks are doing, and nothing else.

[Polybius]

.......the number of unassimilated Hispanics -- those who don't consume English-language media ..........

That's the definition? Someone that doesn't watch the boob tube in English?

[Joe Hadenuf]

You betcha. That's glaring.

[citizen]

...the willingness of a majority of Americans to ignore the rule of law...

Goody! Let's change that and begin to enforce all immigration related laws with vigor. All of them.

That would be good for America, right?

[citizen]

...the willingness of a majority of Americans to ignore the rule of law...

Goody! Let's change that and begin to enforce all immigration related laws with vigor. All of them.

That would be good for America, right?

[citizen]

Sorry for the double, I hit the wrong button.

[citizen]

Here's what I meant to post... :)

...you can't see the deterioration of respect for law and values among our own citizens...

Goody! Let's change that and begin to enforce all immigration related laws with vigor. All of them.

That would be good for America, right?

[archy]

But, as seen from Miami, where a majority of adults speak a language other than English at home, his idea that Hispanics pose a threat to America is absurd.

Our Cuban-American residents offer us the best of both cultures, bring us their heritage and traditions as a gift that's been admirably added to the US cultural melting pot, and who have become as American as any immigrants or heirs to America's many immigrant cultures. That they were first Cuban, then now American, is in no way any detraction or slight on their Americanism.

Neither has their leadership demanded the control of 5 or more of the United States to foreign Cuban control, as the socialist proponents of *Aztlan* and Mecha have. Accordingly, the immigrants coming to the US from the Southwestern border are not potential immigrants with the character of the Cubanos, but foreign agents and invaders.

We have Nicaragua, soon we will have El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Mexico. One day, tomorrow or five years or fifteen years from now, we're going to take 5 to 10 million Mexicans and they are going into Dallas, into El Paso, into Houston, into New Mexico, into San Diego, and each one will have embedded in his mind the idea of killing ten Americans."

--Thomas Borge, Nicaragua Interior Minister as quoted in the Washington Times, March 27, 1985

[citizen]

Election note: I didn't vote Tuesday morning, I forgot.

Same in the evening + I forgot my glasses in the truck. But I simply had to get dressed and go do it just because of my 'Vote for Tancredo' tagline.

There was only two things on my ballot: Select President Bush (only choice) and choose the state flag (both are boring, the flag many want is deemed unPC).

So I got there and tested the practice electronic voting machine for the way to write-in a cnadidate's name. It worked fine.

But to my surprise on the actual ballot there was no place to vote for a write-in candidate! I inquired of the precinct staff and they said write-in voting was disallowed. Something about having to ask for in writing a special ballot sort of like an absentee ballot I guess.

Kind of reminds me of voting in old Iraq for Hussein - only one candidate allowed to be voted for, 100% for the incumbent. Strange isn't it?

[txdoda]

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

Care to address the *fact* that our own govt (at all levels) is also disintegrating ?? I am one native that is sick of a gov't that creates, yearly, a multitude of *new laws*/fines to be enforced against citizens (& legals) while for years, gov't has *selectively* enforced US immigration laws against illegals & the TAX CHEATERS that employ them.

Standard EXCUSE....we don't have the funds.......However there's always plenty of *funds* to educate, house feed, medical, jail, translate, etc., all these illegals. (I won't go into the 'pork' bills DC enjoys yearly).


Care to address, why this author, & some fellow Americans, calls anyone seeking immigration law to be enforced, & borders closed, a *racist* ??.........yet somehow *always* omit the fact that (RACIST) mexico has their own southern border guarded/closed & indeed DEPORTS the illegals in mexico?? (unless you have enough $$ for the right palm!!)

[citizen]

Your post deserves a bump, right on.

[txdoda]

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 >>>>>>>>

Usually when I see (or use) the term 'pandering' it's in association with 'illegals', 'drivers licenses', 'tuitions', etc. To me it means, yet another *reward* for someone breaking our laws. I also know many mexicans that have been here, or came here legally, that are also against our invasion of illegals. Also know that some of them are also Pubs.

If GWB said he was 'pardoning' all 'cons' Nov. 1st, I would indeed think he was 'pandering' for the 'ex-con votes'. (& I'd be against this type *reward* also.)

[dagnabbit]

When Hispanics stop demanding "affirmative action" preferences, they will be assimilated. Until then, they are not.

[txdoda]

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, >>>>>>>

Yes *some* are supporting GM's, however most are NOT, either way, *supporting* is not illegal.


performed in violation of state laws which only define marriage as between a man and a woman. >>>>>>>>

PERFORMED in violation of state laws, BY OUR POLITICIANS !!!!! (IF the LEADERS don't abide by the laws, eventually the FOLLOWERS won't either.)


the rule of law and refuse to condemn clearly illegal acts by the President of the United States, >>>>>>>

Sorry, I've written GWB & all the reps re: the FACT that they are 'aiding & abetting' the ILLEGAL invasion of the USA by their refusals to enforce US immigrations laws, *simply* 'because illegals need jobs'.

I might also point out, we are at war, NO ONE *knows* who's crossing our borders, while tax-dollars are spent to strip search 'granny' at the airport.

[txdoda]

Get your head out of wherever it's crammed!>>>>>>>>

Please pass your advice to those in DC.

What good is a heavily funded "Homeland Security Dept.", while a MILLION, UNIDENTIFIED, a year, *simply* walk-in across our borders ??

[He Rides A White Horse]

Some of you folks are so hyper-paranoid about illegal aliens, you can't see the deterioration of respect for law and values among our own citizens. Get your head out of wherever it's crammed!

They are not illegal aliens......they are invaders, and should be treated as such.

[He Rides A White Horse]

....you've got a lot of nerve speaking in such a manner.

Apparently you don't see why your home state of California has turned into such a socialist dump.........anything goes in California; foreign invaders roam at will, mayors break the law as they see fit.

Good ole lawless California, liberal paradise.

[txdoda]

We have Nicaragua, soon we will have El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Mexico. One day, tomorrow or five years or fifteen years from now, we're going to take 5 to 10 million Mexicans and they are going into Dallas, into El Paso, into Houston, into New Mexico, into San Diego, and each one will have embedded in his mind the idea of killing ten Americans."

--Thomas Borge, Nicaragua Interior Minister as quoted in the Washington Times, March 27, 1985

---

BIG BUMP.......

1985 !!!!......Then our 'leaders' followed this speech with the 'blanket amnesty of 1986'...

[txdoda]

thank-you........;o)