Shiny Happy People: Latinos pleased with their lot in the U.S.

United Press Int'l ^ | December 17, 2002

[new cruelty]

Latinos pleased with their lot in the U.S.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A new survey by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Kaiser Family Foundation has found most Hispanics have a positive view of their lives in the United States, but it also shows that some of them are concerned with the moral values their children are picking up.

Eighty percent of the Hispanics surveyed said they think Latino children growing up in the United States will get a better education than they did in their native counties, and 76 percent believe they will have better jobs and make more money.

The 56 percent who thought they will wind up with the same moral values they have was well over half, but still down from those who believe there will material success in their future.

The study also shows second generation Hispanics are joining the American mainstream.

"The melting pot is at work, as the survey shows that the children of Latino immigrants are English speakers and express views closer to the American mainstream that the immigrant generation," said Roberto Suro, director of the Pew Hispanic Center.

"Assimilation is not a simple, all-encompassing process, and even Latinos whose families have been in the United States for several generations express some attitudes distinct from whites and African-Americans," Suro said.

The report also said Hispanics don't always agree on important issues, particularly if they come from different Latin American countries.

"A Cuban in Miami, a Salvadoran immigrant in Washington and a third-generation Mexican in Los Angeles may all have roots in Spanish-speaking countries, but their diversity in views and experiences in the United States suggests that people should be wary of generalizing much about Latinos," said Mollyann Brodie, director of public opinion and media research at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

But most Latinos -- 86 percent -- agree that discrimination is a problem, and it keeps Hispanics from succeeding in general. The response showed that 78 percent thought it was a problem in the workplace and 76 percent said it also applies at school.

The survey also reported that 35 percent believe they are treated unfairly because of their language and 24 percent attribute it to their physical appearance.

But they said whites and blacks aren't the only offenders. The survey found that 83 percent found that discrimination within the Hispanic community is a problem and 47 percent said it is a major problem.

Colombians at 61 percent and Dominicans at 57 percent are the most likely to feel that way.

The survey was taken between April 4 and June 11 among 4,213 Latinos nationwide, who were selected at random. The margin of error was plus or minus 2.41 percent.

The Pew Hispanic Center, based in Washington, is a non-partisan research organization supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts of Philadelphia and a project of the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communications.

The Kaiser Family Foundation, based in Menlo Park Calif., is a non-profit independent health-care organization. It is not associated with Kaiser Industries.

[HumanaeVitae]

"but it also shows that some of them are concerned with the moral values their children are picking up."

Yet another reason to debunk the anti-Hispanic immigration paranoia. Socially conservative Christians come to a country sliding towards moral bankruptcy and complain about the culture, and we're afraid of them...I'm for secure borders, but mass immigration by people that still hold and practice traditional values is the least of this country's worries...

[SoDak]

My only problem with them is that the ones across the street from me fly the Mexican flag.

[monday]

"And I suppose they intend to pay back all of the welfare, medical care and subsidized housing they get? I don't think so. To them this is THE gravy train."

Can't blame them for our gov'ts foolishness. If I offered you free medical care and food, you would take it too.

[monday]

"My only problem with them is that the ones across the street from me fly the Mexican flag."

Wouldn't necessicarily take it personally. It is a free country, and Americans have been known to fly US flags in other countries. Doesn't mean any more than that they are proud of where they come from.

[SoDak]

I don't fly a Norwegian one out front. I'm prouder of where I made it too, than where I came from.

[hchutch]

I agree. I really think that when all is said and done, a lot of these "Death of the West" predictions will be proven wrong, just as the predictions about past waves of immigration were proven wrong. I really think that most of those folks are here, and will do just fine.

[american spirit]

Not sure where you live but I'm in the Dallas area and it's obvious that we're inundated with illegals that are here to re-colonize not assimilate. I think that represents a huge
difference between them and other waves of immigrants from
previous generations.

As their numbers have grown I've seen a marked difference in
their attitudes as well as a much cockier attitude on behalf of their boosters in the media and political community. It's always about "the Hispanic community" and never do they convey any allegiance to the American community. Within the
last couple months I've had two situations where they either
cut me off or pulled out in front of me which turned into a screaming confrontation at the next light. Needless to say when they saw a white guy jumping out of the car with a crazed look on his face they took right off!

My point is Sanchez tried to tap into the racist side of Hispanics throughout his campaign and perhaps he was just one election cycle too early....don't know. One racist statement he made during the campaign is paraphrased as follows: " Now, we finally have the opportunity to elect a government that truly reflects the people in the state of Texas". Obviously, he was talking about his Hispanic flavored government that would be in power due to the great influx of illegals into Texas.

[monday]

"I don't fly a Norwegian one out front. I'm prouder of where I made it too, than where I came from."

Yeah, but thats just Norway. hehe,,just kidding. If it makes you feel better most Mexicans don't fly Mexican flags in the US either. It's quite possible that your neighbors have issues. They are your neighbors. Don't you know?

[RobbyS]

Hispanic "community" is not quite the word if one is talking about a population that is partly from Texas, partley from northern Mexico and partly from southern Mexico and Central; America. These people all have different attitudes. It occurs to me that I can often tell a guy who comes from "the south" and one who comes from "the north" simply by the way he looks and acts. Sanchez bothered me because here we have this guy who has been years building a fortune by toadying up to Anglo leaders and then tries to put Morales down because of Morales's imperfect Spanish.

[SoDak]

I'm not certain whether they do or not. I guess I don't know them very well other than to say hi. And I guess it really matters little to me, I'm finishing up building my first home, where my next door neighbor will be 4 miles away. It's nothing that makes me overly upset or anything, just a tweak that I don't need.

[B4Ranch]

Click the link -> Suro

[american spirit]

One thing I would suggest is to study the whole "reconquista" movement in order to truly understand the magnitude of the problems we face over unchecked illegal immigration. Check out www.americanpatrol.com and read the stories that never quite make it to the mainstream news that show how this is a co-ordinated assault on our borders, culture and political community backed by large money interests such as the Ford Foundation. The mainstream "news?" interests continually soft-pedal the whole immigration issue leaving out critical information that would outrage Americans if they knew the truth.

Sanchez was just a foot soldier in the reconquista movement and it was particularly interesting to note that the Perry campaign used commercials that shed light on the Sanchez family bank failures, laundering of drug money and even an attempt to somehow link Sanchez' name to the death of Agent Cammarena (DEA...I think)a few years ago. Despite these serious allegations the Sanchez family issued some tepid denials and the media was largely silent as far as any follow-up stories.....it all blew over pretty quick which was very surprising.

[RobbyS]

My chief reservation about immigration is that it discourages investment. So long as people can get labor cheap enough, they need not spend money on technology. But part of that is the resistance to investment by communities. In Lansing, MI, GM wanted to put in a ton of money but faced opposition. Can't understand that.

[NMFXSTC]

When I read an article that has that many "percents", fractions, ratios and cpmparisons, I quickly lose interest and suspect the credibility of the piece...nuff said?

[new cruelty]

When I read an article that has that many "percents", fractions, ratios and cpmparisons, I quickly lose interest and suspect the credibility of the piece...nuff said?

fantastic, say no more.:)

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I don't fly a Norwegian one out front."

But you could, if you so wanted. And they do, because they want to, and can do so.

Isn't freedom a wonderful thing?

[Luis Gonzalez]

But Cubans are just Cubans.

[RobbyS]

And Puerto Ricans are just Puerto Ricans. They seem to be rare in these parts.

[SoDak]

I never called for a law against it. It's just a one, lonely gripe I have against my Hispanic neighbors. Hell, they're still the least annoying neighbors I have, by a ways.