Hispanic dropout numbers soar in Ariz., U.S.

WASHINGTON - The number of Hispanics who dropped out or never attended high school surged by over 50 percent in the 1990s, especially in Arizona and other states in the South and West, where many schools struggled to accommodate the fast-growing Spanish-speaking population.

The body of illiterate hispanics will continue to grow. At least they can all run off to Oregon in anticipation of a socialized medicine financed by exorbitant taxes. They won't have to worry about earning the money to cover those benefits either. It is "free for all"....except for the employed residents of Oregon. People with the means to leave Oregon are heading for the hills. The socialized medicine is going to tack another 17% income tax on top of the state income tax (around 9%) plus the federal income tax. Sweden and Britain are going to start looking good in comparison to Oregon.

Not all Hispanic groups are alike.... and they don't necessarily get along with each other, either.

I lived in Miami from the time I was about 10 until I left at 19. The Cubans, at least the first few waves of them, were mostly educated, some were professionals, and they valued education. Many of their kids did very well in school. In other words, most of the Cubans I knew in Miami were *not* blue-collar or dropouts.

It is true that some of the older Cubans refused to learn English (I think they may have thought they were going to return to Cuba one day--the mother of a good friend of mine had this attitude), and it is also true that in many areas of South Florida (especially Miami), one hears mostly Spanish spoken. However, most of the Cubans *can* speak English.

I also remember that in high school, I was surprised to learn that not all of the Hispanic sub-groups got along. One friend was Peruvian, and she disliked Cubans. Out here, I find that Cubans and Mexicans don't like each other particularly. Who ever said that only whites were "prejudiced"?

Here, in Southern California, I have some neighbors where there are white females married to what I think are Mexican guys (and the names on the mailboxes are Hispanic). They seem to live at a higher decibel level than the rest of us. They are offended that I don't like to hear their fighting and screaming at 1:00 a.m., whether I am awake or not (I usually am, since I work nights).

All of them look down on me for working at home on my computer a lot and not being a housewife and fussy about the housekeeping (one of them, Miss Chunk-Style herself, told me I ought to "get off my fat ass and get some exercise." Can you say pot-kettle? I knew you could).

Frankly, I'd rather earn a living, I have bills to pay, I don't have time to be a white-glove housekeeper, I absolutely hate housework, and I can't afford a maid yet. But I am independent and earn my own living.

Most of the Mexicans I have seen here in Southern California or in Colorado (where I lived for a couple of years) seem much lower-class to me. Many of them don't seem to give a rip about education or speaking English. They seem content to do nothing but blue-collar labor for generations.

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