Cherríe Moraga: "You're Not Really Mexican, Are You?"

[MrScorpio]

[Baitball Blogger]

1. This is why it has become so much harder now for minorities to "blend" in.

The right-wing has raised the bar on what it means to be "white." You now have to talk the hate talk to show you don't like minorities, in order to fit in.

That's why Republicans will never capture the Latino vote.

[Quantess]

2. Oh, come on now.

The right-wing has raised the bar on what it means to be "white." You now have to talk the hate talk to show you don't like minorities, in order to fit in.

You might have a point if you're talking about fitting in with teabaggers, but who wants to fit in to their lousy club? Besides, there's no good reason to care what teabaggers think of you, since they are becoming more and more marginal.

But you are right that republicans will never capture the latino vote.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Not all of us live in diverse, metropolitan areas.

Some of us are fighting in the trenches of red-leaning communities. Someone has to remind them that America is for everyone.

[Quantess]

7. Point taken.

I'll take your word for what you have experienced, since I have always lived in moderate-to-progressive areas, and also, I'm lily white.

Just remember that not everybody is that way, and not everyone values teabaggers' shitty, ignorant opinions. Far from it.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. When their is a corrupt connection between the city and community leaders

that continuously defile the Fourteenth Amendment, then you know that "everybody" is subject to geographical location.

They find a number of ways of reminding you that they are in control. Including showing up to you kids' sports events at school, when they don't even have any children enrolled. It's creepy.

[Quantess]

10. That does sound creepy that some asshole teabaggers with political power are doing that.

It's really extreme to say that every outwardly white appearing person in your community is in on the game against hispanics, though. If that is the case, I would recommend moving away as soon as possible.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. That's ridiculous to take it to that extent. But it is difficult to find like-minded individuals.

Perhaps many of us have learned to blend into the woodwork, or they have taken your advice and moved away. I'm surprised you would recommend that. I'm surprised the Democrats don't take these red enclaves more seriously, since they are prone to break the laws repeatedly, and generally have strong political ties throughout the state. Not even Democratic candidates want to cross them.

Someone has to stand up to them.

[Quantess]

13. No really, I don't know what it's like to live there and I sure as hell wouldn't want to.

What do you mean these red enclaves are prone to break the law more repeatedly? The politicians, or what?

All I'm saying is that the situation sounds extremely oppressive. You can go ahead and "be surprised" that I recommend moving away from lousy places, but I'm telling you that it (moving away to a new place) has usually helped. Life is too short.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. Do you remember that movie,

Slumdog Millionaire? Remember that point when all the experiences of his past just added up to that one moment where he was answering those questions?

I think many of us who grew up during the Civil Rights Era were mentally preparing to take up the banner, if it was ever needed. I look back now and recognize the classes that I took, decisions that I made that all lead up to this moment. At 55 it's time to finish what someone else started.

Democrats should be concerned about these enclaves because they play dirty here. I wouldn't trust their elections. And I've known at least one Democrat who went to the dark side. Steny Hoyer and Nancy Pelosi had a run in with him.

No one likes dirty Dems, but red enclaves have a way of corrupting everyone that plays their games. In Florida, we call them old guard Dems.

You clean up these red enclaves, you may even be able to clean up the Florida Dinos.

[Xipe Totec]

3. A cousin of mine went on a blind date with an Indian guy

From India, the country.

Well off, well educated, he seemed nice, until he opened his mouth.

He told her how attracted he was to her; that she didn't look Mexican at all. Then he proceeded to tell her how much he resented it when people thought he was a Mexican by his appearance.

My cousin who is blond, blue eyed, and can trace her ancestry in Mexico back over three hundred years, was furious and she let him have it with both barrels. That she was Mexican, that she was proud of it, and that he should feel honored to be confused with a Mexican.

Needless to say, there was no second date.

[southernyankeebelle]

4. I lived in El Paso TX years ago early 60s. I lived with my family on a military base. I went

to a civilian school. I don't get all the hate towards Mexicans. I never ran into any that were mean or hateful. They weren't different from me and am white. My mother was from Italy. I kinda of felt we had similar backgrounds on families. They love life and family. I don't know why there is such hate. They want to make things better for their own families just like the rest of us.

[fjlovato]

5. Been There

I am 73 years old and when I was young and growing up in Texas I tried to hide my Hispanic roots so others would not look down on me. When I got older and more assured of myself, I decided that if my pioneer ancestors had lived in northern New Mexico for three to four hundred years, why was I acting as if I were ashamed of them. They not only survived but successfully thrived leaving a culture that still exists to this day. Actually I was so proud of my parents and my entire family I became ashamed of what I had been doing. I reversed my actions and very proudly declared who I was and where I came from. This advice is not just for Hispanics but for everyone. Be proud of who you are while completely avoiding putting down any other ethnic or racial group because you know exactly how it feels.

[Half-Century Man]

8. Never understood it

Do not understand it. It makes no logical sense. Never has, never will.

Mexicans are people who live in Mexico. They have Mexican passports. The same way the British have United Kingdom passports. The general classification for people from foreign countries who retain the name of their respective country is "tourist".
People who have moved their lives to the United States are Americans (BTW, Mexico is in America, North America. Our country is named the United States of America); Americans (to use the colloquial) of foreign birth. Anyone, everyone who moves here with no intent of returning to live in the country of their birth is an immigrant, regardless of formal or casual entry into our borders. The argument that the persons of vague citizenship are a drain to the economy is stupid, considering the solution is so simple: get them full citizenship, get them on the public rolls, and tax them.

The actual name of "anchor Babies" is children.



Good G*D, do I have to think of everything??? (snark)

[LuckyLib]

11. I often inform folks that the entire weste/southwest of the US was Mexico.

Yes indeed, even the California state constitution was written in both Spanish and English. There are generations of Mexican (and Spanish) ancestry Americans who go back before the Mayflower. So many folks have no knowledge of history, geography, or the great legacy that our (Mexican, Irish, French, Spanish, Chinese, etc., etc., etc., etc.) ethnic heritage is to this country.