[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...

[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

[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.

[MegaSilver]

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.

Yes, if that were true, it certainly would be. But consider this quote from the article: "And Huntington's claim that Mexican Americans pose a bigger threat than Cuban Americans because they are more reluctant to assimilate is simply wrong." Even Oppenheimer seems to imply that Huntington isn't lumping all Hispanic immigrants together.

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

He might have been had the article not lacked coherence and not omitted important information. The article implied that there is no serious problem of non-assimilation of immigrants, and that's simply untrue.

Like the author, I live in Miami, and while its bilingual status has its benefits, there are sections where one is presumed--if not expected--to speak Spanish. I'm locked up on my college campus, so I don't see much of the radical stuff, but I hear stories of U.S.-born Hispanics who proudly proclaim their first allegiance (sp?) to their parents' countries. That's where the problems are. And they are due in no small part to our government's refusal to enforce immigration laws.

To be sure, the people I know of Cuban origin or descent are, for the most part, dedicated, loyal Americans. And the same is true of many others who trace their roots back to Latin America. It is, however, the large number of Latin American immigrants (mostly Mexican) who AREN'T willing to assimilate that Huntington seems to be talking about, and that are a cause for concern.

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

Don't bother. You have a right to your opinions, especially speaking as a member of a Colombian American family that HAS assimilated.

[Missouri]

Andrés Oppenheimer is anything but a leftist.

Your right, he's no leftist. I don't know why he'd start playing the "race card". Hispanics shouldn't be lumped into one group but we do have a big problem with illegal immigration mostly from Mexico. The folks at LaRaza and MECHA could be called racist, too. Being called a racist means nothing.

I would guess Mr. Oppenheimer may be a President Bush supporter. If so, this would be a bad time to start a battle within the Republican/Conservative opposition to Kerry.

[MegaSilver]

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

All right. My mistake. However, when someone plays the "racist" card, that's usually an indication of leftism, hence why it rubbed me the wrong way.

[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.)

[cyborg]

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.

***You are not alone in your observation...It's the truth.

[Free Vulcan]

What I don't understand is why Latinos from every other part of Central and South America seem to fit in and thrive in America, speaking two languages or no, while the Mexicans are so resistant to assimilation. Curious if you could explain it.