I can tell that November Elections are just around the corner.
I am starting to get old emails that have circulated forever. I just got one today written by a husband and wife called Miller. They sent it to the AARP complaining about posting information on their website in Spanish. It happens to be real, but was sent out originally by the Miller's in Sept 2009.
It is their opinion. They travel, but like so many, stay within a closed circle of folks and tend to seek like minded people. Haven't we learned anything in 5 years that we have to keep circulating these old opinions?
My grandparents were immigrants and I only wish I had learned their native language. My parents spoke it fluently. It was the only way they could communicate with people who, like the Hispanics, could only speak their native tongue. It was easier that way for the immigrants coming through Ellis Island.
They had a sponsor here, who spoke their language and helped them moved into neighborhoods where they only heard their native tongue. Whether it was German, Italian, Russian, Polish, Irish, Greek, it didn't matter. It was the same as today where those from Mexico or different parts of South American try to stay within their enclaves or comfort zones.
The 19th Century immigrants were "forced" into their native enclaves where they were supported by others from their original homeland and helped to succeed one way or another. They were also highly discriminated against by those that had been here previously- No , not the American Indians, but the descendants of those that had come before them. The white bread Americans, whose ancestors had originally immigrated from somewhere else in Western Europe, look down their noses at these people that were different from them.
The natural course of things, repeated time and time again: the first generation spoke their native tongue. Some learned English. Their children learned English and spoke to their parents and relatives in their native tongue. My mom learned English when she went to 1st grade. Her younger sisters and brothers learned it much earlier, as the family had been here longer by the time they came around up to 10 years later.
Most of the second generation, their children or me, never learned the language because we didn't grow up in the enclave. We were supposed to embody being an American.
That will and has happened to the Hispanics too. All anyone offering a translation in a different language is doing is making their transition easier for them then it was for many of our ancestors who unlike the English, Irish and Scottish immigrants, didn't speak the "native" tongue. Again, not Navajo or Apache, but English.
Ever travel to a foreign country and see the Airport or train terminal signs in many languages, including English? Are the Miller's upset over that accommodation?
There are exceptions to the rule of course. Ask any Greek American who was brought up with a family who attended the Greek Church regularly. They learned all of the Greek dances, traditions, food and yes, the language.
The Jews tend to learn Hebrew, mostly for religious reasons and some of them learn Yiddish, or at least a few good words that many of the rest of us use.
So if none of you or your parents or grandparents ever experienced discrimination for your heritage or your Religion, like me, than you probably agree with the Miller's.
I'd prefer to keep an open mind, understand that the Hispanic population is the largest immigrant population here in the US and try to come up with solutions for accepting that and making the transition easier.
Come up with a way to make those that WANT to stay get on a track for Citizenship, if they came here illegally. I think, more importantly, come up with a way to allow those that only want to be here for a short while, send money home and return to their families, do so, safely.
However, tax them while they are here and make sure they and all of the other immigrants have access to health care, so that our Hospital Emergency rooms are not overwhelmed by them. No matter if they come from South America, Russia, an Arabic country, etc. treat them all with compassion.
By the way, many Hispanics are citizens. To stereotype all immigrants as illegal is ignorant to the facts.
For those circulating this email who appear to believe in eugenics: Have you never employed an Hispanic because they work hard, are cheap and work for cash? If you haven't employed them, a friend, relative, builder, landscaper, etc. has. Is it OK to use them, and in some cases abuse them and then complain when someone tries to actually accommodate them in some way?
Why must so many of us stick with like minded people with like minded opinions. Aren't you glad I opened your mind to another way at looking at a situation and not taking it as negative but a positive?
If we all thought alike, what a boring life we would all have. So in case you haven't noticed, I disagree with the Millers. But I can respect anyone who has the same opinion as them. That is, as long as they have thought about it, looked at all angles of the issue and most importantly checked their facts.
I'd also encourage people like the Miller's ,who appear to come from Long Island, NY and probably have immigrants in their background, to look at their ancestors first to see what life what like for them.
During this time before Elections, please check all "inflammatory" emails before hitting the Forward Button. Just make sure they are not old or in MANY cases false. First go to www.snopes.com and see the research already done on what you are sending.
