Articles

Color Commentary

I named this section Color Commentary because I wanted to provide a space devoted to a discussion of the issues facing Latinos in the United States. Latinos represent the largest ethnic minority group in this country yet we remain misunderstood, misrepresented, and mute.  To set the tone for this section, I’ve included an editorial from Estylo. I plan to add new columns periodically, or as the outrage strikes me. Comments are welcome and can be directed to me at vmenard@saesaonline.com.
¡Viva la raza!

Little things mean a lot
By Valerie Menard
(published in Estylo, June 2008)

I don’t remember when I’ve seen such an exciting presidential campaign. My first opportunity to vote for president involved Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and John Anderson, an independent candidate. That was an exciting election because it was my first but every election since then has been fairly rote.
This year, Texas figures as a critical primary state, a first in my voting history. As a voter, the prospect of either Democratic hopeful, Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, becoming the first black or female president of this country is revolutionary and that it could happen in my lifetime, is astounding.
Watching the debate at the University of Texas between Clinton and Obama, who have such similar positions on the issues, one thing became extremely clear—little things mean a lot.
One deciding factor for how many Latinos will vote will be each candidate’s stance on immigration. On this night, Obama was the clear winner.
Surrounded by fans, Clinton and Obama articulated their position on issues like healthcare, the economy, education and the war in Iraq—all issues of great concern to Latinos. But immigration has placed an unpleasant spotlight on all Latinos, with very little effort to check the bigotry that the discussion readily elicits.
Even Republican presidential candidate John McCain has shown insight faced with the stronger stance that his party demands on the issue, remarking that the issue involves people and that understanding and charity must be part of the dialogue.
During the Clinton/Obama debate, both discussed whether or not a fence, the construction of which both supported in the Senate, was the answer to immigration. It should be noted that fence construction in Texas has hit a snag. The University of Texas at Brownsville has refused access to government surveyors claiming that the fence, which cuts through 37.5 acres of land owned by the university and Texas Southmost College, would jeopardize safety, cause environmental damage to the natural habitat, and disrupt the historical character of the campus.
Obama and Clinton offered considerate and fair solutions, i.e. build a fence where necessary but improve surveillance and manpower, offer a pathway to citizenship, discontinue the practice of separating families, and crack down on employers. But an “aha” moment certainly registered when Obama began his remarks by saying, “The first thing we need to do regarding immigration is to check the rhetoric out there. It’s become very harsh and hurtful to Latinos and it needs to stop.” Going beyond the approved positions on this issue and taking a shot at its baser core takes guts.
For Latinos voters, who haven’t registered, how can you resist? For those who are, let’s make history. Let’s be revolutionary.

In 2004, the greatest thing we can do is vote
By Valerie Menard
(Published in Estylo, December/January, 2003/04)
    A lot can happen in a year. Perhaps that’s why New Year’s resolutions were invented: to ward off evil spirits with a hopeful little wish for the future? In 2004, we already know that by the end of the year, we will have elected a president.
    This is a huge opportunity for Latinos. No, we don’t have the numbers to elect the next president by ourselves. But as the political pundits have said, we do have the power to sway the election. We can be the margin of victory, or defeat and this year, perhaps more than any other, we need to take that responsibility very seriously.
    In California, we have already seen the power of our votes. Despite predictions by the media, Latinos did not vote overwhelmingly for Arnold. Only 31 percent voted for the Terminator. The majority of Latino voters (55 percent) voted against the recall and for Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante. On a more positive note, Latinos and the majority of Californians soundly defeated Proposition 54, a controversial measure that would have ended racial and ethnic classifications by state government.
    The mass media constantly try to categorize us as Republicans, but if they knew us, they’d understand that the exercise is fruitless. We are predominately Democrats, usually 70 percent. We’re not as conservative as many think. Conservative Latinos may not like this but it’s a fact. In the last presidential election, 70 percent of Latino voters voted for Al Gore. Contrary to what the media would have us believe, George W. Bush did not gain ground among Latinos, even after spouting a bit of español. He received the usual 30 percent, the same as most Republicans. Incidentally, I’m getting a little tired of that lame tactic of speaking Spanish to appeal to Latinos. I agree with Carlos Santana and potential politicians should take note: just because the Taco Bell Chihuahua speaks Spanish it doesn’t mean we’ll vote for him.
    These are our issues and not in order of importance: affirmative action, education, health care, and creating employment, and business opportunities. The Democratic Party addresses these issues in our favor. It’s that simple. In general, Republicans fear the “browning” of America. They fight affirmative action and bilingual education, while they secretly take Spanish classes. Republicans give each other tax cuts while fighting any effort to raise the minimum wage.
    On the other hand, the Democratic Party cannot afford to take Latinos for granted. Democrats cannot assume we’ll be there with 70 percent of our votes. We opposed the recall in California, but not by 70 percent. We supported Cruz Bustamante, but not by 70 percent.
    Next year, the pundits will be out there trying to figure us out, again. The candidates will court us, and we’ll have to think about who will best serve us, en español or inglés. Who will create jobs? Who will defend and protect immigrant rights? Who will support an education system that encourages rather than vilifies our children and the language they speak? Who will support a national health care system?
    According to the National Association for Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), in the 2000 presidential election, 79 percent of Latino registered voters, voted. That sounds pretty good, until you consider that 86 percent of non-Latino registered voters voted. It gets worse. Of the voting age population, 45 percent of Latinos, eligible to vote, went to the polls compared to 61 percent of non-Latinos. Less than half of us are using our power.
    For 2004, our New Year’s resolution should be to get out the vote. We need to ask our family and friends, find out who’s not registered and get them registered. Then, on Election Day, probably before, we need to remind them to vote. Help them find their precinct and if necessary, take them there. If there’s a silver lining to the 2000 election it’s that it proved that every vote really and truly does count. 
    Latinos are a significant population in every critical state in this election—California, New York, Illinois, Florida, and Texas. We must exercise our power. We must send the message that the sleeping giant has awakened. We will defend our country, work in the fields or the boardroom, and most importantly, we will vote.