Posted on 05/06/2004 9:08:36 PM PDT by primeval patriot
One clear message surfaced during last week's three-day Latino Civil Rights Summit 2004: This country mustn't ignore or suppress the needs or economic and political potential of Hispanics.
Jose Angel Gutierrez, a Dallas lawyer and author, said it best as Friday's luncheon speaker: “We are the future of America. Unlike any prior generation, we now have a critical mass. We're going to Latinize this country.”
People who were white, black, Asian American and Native American also attended the “Crossing the Bridge” summit to learn how the growing Hispanic population will affect the nation.
Gutierrez said people from Mexico, Central and South America are not immigrating to the United States. They are simply migrating because this land had been theirs. Spain had held it, and before that it had belonged to the indigenous people. Hispanics should never put up with others telling them to go back where they came from. “You don't have to apologize to anybody,” Gutierrez said. But he urged Hispanics to develop a plan.
“We're talking about crossing the bridge, but is it to get across or is it to come back?” Gutierrez asked. “Is it a one-way bridge or a two-way bridge? You've got to have a plan.”
On Saturday at the action planning session, Gutierrez pointed to Hispanic businesses on Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kan., as examples of America's future. “The potential is tremendous,” he said.
“What we have at the moment is labor power and consumer power,” he said. “We work and we buy. Political power will come later.”
That's because half of the Hispanics in the United States are younger than 21. “We're spectators at the basketball game,” Gutierrez said.
However, that also means that for every one Latino who dies, five white people will die because they are older. But that leaves five empty houses and five vacant businesses, Gutierrez said.
“The vacuum has got to be filled by somebody; otherwise all our economy and neighborhoods will collapse,” he said. More people of color and minority businesses must fill the void for America to remain vibrant.
The third Latino Civil Rights Summit left Hispanics with a greater sense of empowerment than the previous ones. The numbers are in their favor.
In 2000, the nation had 35.6 million Hispanics, representing 12.6 percent of the U.S. population. Census projections show the Latino population will rise to 102.6 million people by 2050, amounting to 24.4 percent of the country's 419.9 million people.
In 2000, African-Americans made up 12.7 percent of the population. By 2050 that will increase to 14.6 percent. Audiences at the summit were told Hispanics and blacks must form more alliances to increase their economic and political strength.
Each must leverage the numbers to their advantage, Rogelio Lasso, a University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor, said at a forum on collaboration. “We are thinking ‘Who is No. 1?' instead of thinking ‘If we are 30 percent together, how are we going to get 30 percent of the pie?' ” he said.
The summit included sessions on education and how the No Child Left Behind Act will negatively affect students of color. Resegregation also is occurring, stranding black and Hispanic children in poor schools, said Ruben Garza, an Austin, Texas, educator.
Patriot Acts I and II keep making life more difficult for immigrants. That's occurring as the nation is enjoying a record 33.5 million foreign-born residents. They are 11.7 percent of the population, Steve Camarota, director of research with the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, said in a telephone interview.
The foreign born represented a record 14.8 percent of the U.S. population in 1890 and 14.7 percent in 1910. “It's very possible by the end of the decade we'll pass the all-time high,” Camarota said.
But Lasso voiced concern about the rise in anti-immigration feelings since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“It feels like it's acceptable in this country to be anti-immigrant,” he said. “I fear if we have another terrorist attack it will affect the immigrants first.”
But our intertwined fates may be our salvation.
“The state of the Latino community cannot be separated from the state of America,” said Elias L. Garcia, executive director of the Kansas Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs. “Our destinies are inextricably tied.”
I hope more people develop an appreciation for that.
Lewis W. Diuguid is a member of The Star's Editorial Board. To reach him, call (816) 234-4723 or send e-mail to Ldiuguid@kcstar.com.
It didn't say GOOD future --- just a latino future and if we want to see what that looks like we should take a little trip down to Mexico --- no real need to go any further than Mexico because that's where the bulk are coming from.
Woohooo, and what bitchin paradise it looks to be!
After seeing this reconquista manifesto published in a mainstream newspaper it looks like you are right on target.
That was his specific intention.
Most are coming from Mexico --- I would describe them as Mexicans --- and any others by the countries they come from --- and I do not make the assumption that someone immigrating from Chile or Costa Rica is exactly like someone from Mexico. I definitely do not think someone whose family has lived in the SW USA for many generations has much in common with someone from the country of Mexico --- I don't see much in common at all other than Spanish last names and a few traditions that might have originated in Spain. Many of the people in New Mexico I know don't like Mexico much, they'll be the first to let you know they've never been to that country, never will go to that country, and their ancestors did not come from there --- and yes most are very patriotic Americans --- I've never heard of any uprisings by the people of the SW against the USA or any wish to break off and join up with Mexico. The writer of this article certainly isn't one of these people.
This charming feudalism which led to the desperation of so many millions is the starting point in the disaster known as Latin America. The progression is like this:
Encomienda --> Repartimiento --> Debt Peonage --> Ejidos.
One long, disgusting line of human misery for 5 centuries capped off by the idiot Ejido system which is now impoverishing the ever-over-reproducing Campesinos.
Some one should do a TV show about this! Why, the ratings would be just ducky -- people's eyes would fall out at the horror show, and the border with ANY Latin country would be sealed for fear that the disease could spread. But of course, it already has, and like you say, soon we will have grimy jerks like Jose Angel Gutierrez grunting about "communal ownersheep of de lahnd por todos campesinos" or some such nonsense.
The Dad of a murdered Deputy in LA just stated, "I don't know why we don't invade Mexico".
His son was executed at close range by an illegal alien.
They went on to say that Mexico harbors more people that have murdered and maimed U.S. citizens than died in the 911 attack.
He stated he was told by law enforcement officials in Los Angeles there are approximately 1000 from California *alone* that have fled to the safety of Mexico after murdering American citizens.
They estimate the well *over* 3000 people have been murdered in this country, and their killers have fled to safety of Mexico, where many of them remain untouchable. More than were murdered in the horrific 911 attack.
Where they are regarded as Beeg Men for having offed a Gringo. You get bonus points for the offee being a Gringo cop.
But those are mostly the descendants of the Spaniard settlers in 1609 near Santa Fe. Far more in southern New Mexico and Albuquerque are now either Mexican or one generation away. And most of them since 1970; in the early 70's, Deming, Lordsburg and even Las Cruces were still majority Anglo.
Then why does the average "Hispanic leader" in this country label anyone who suggests containing the invaders as racist? Why do they refuse to draw a distinction between Americans of Hispanic origin and the Mexican invaders when discussing policy? Why is every Cinco de Mayo an excuse for a criminal brawl in Denver replete with Mexican flags displayed everywhere?
I think the division is very often less than you imply.
FReegards
Neither are nations. To date, not a single civilization has lasted more than 500 years or so years, counting the various incarnations of ancient Egypt. Civilizations fall not from external conquest, but from internal rot.
The reason for this is simple: wealth is created by intelligent, hard working people. This wealth attracts entire populations to relocate, ranging from the highest scientific jobs to the lowest manual laborers.
For a period of time (ie centuries) nation-states can thrive and can even dominate regions and/or known worlds. Unfortunately, the geometric reproduction strategies of the lower tiers (starting from an already larger base anyway) eventually overwelhm even the strongest economies.
The US had a good run, just like Egypt, Greece, Rome, & Europe before. I'm not sure where the next version of Western Civ will emerge over the next 100-200 years, but my guess is Australia.
That's often done for certain reasons. Actually many of the people of Spanish ancestry in the SW have little identity with Mexico because the SW states which are now part of the USA were only territories of Spain and had little control by Mexico City. The types of Spaniards who would travel so far north --- far from the civilization centers of Mexico were more like the types of Anglos who would travel so far west so the two groups intermarried and mixed quite well. The SW and West has it's own culture somewhat but the culture fits better with the USA than with Mexico. That's one reason there were people with Spanish names fighting at the Alamo against the troops coming up from Mexico.
Because many of the the so-called Hispanic leaders are either from Mexico or born to people directly from Mexico. Who is one "hispanic" leader whose family has lived in what is now the USA for 5 or 6 or more generations? Cesar Chavez was not an immigrant and he was not for open borders at all --- in fact he and his UFW went to the border to help keep the invaders out. He called them "wetbacks" or "scabs".
Perhaps the issue is confused because the bad guys are redefining the words. The complaint isn't about immigrants, or "hispanics". It's about ILLEGALS.
Immigrants ? Welcome !
Illegals ? Deport them all immediately !
I think the division is actualy pretty wide -- but they American hispanics are also being outnumbered quite fast by the people moving in from Mexico. I see it daily since I live in such an area --- the hispanics are moving out just as fast as the non-hispanics and they gripe just as much or more about the way this area is starting to look.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.