DU Group Proposal: Hispanic Group.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

As I watch a lot of the events concerning immigration unfold on TV, I find myself troubled. I understand that American workers are losing their jobs by being replaced with undocumented workers. I understand this view's supporters and their desire for change. I desire change as well. However, as with most movements, there are those that desire the same end but for different reasons. Just as the corporations side with the group for "immigrant's rights" for purely selfish reasons, racists side with the "worker's rights" group for purly bigoted reasons. If you want proof, you just need to look around. I saw a shirt that said "shoot first, ask for papers later". I saw a bumper sticker that said "protect our schools: stop illegals". There are the ubiquitous "Speak English or Get the F**k Out of MY Country" shirts. These attitudes have little to do with undocumented workers, and everything to do with who those undocumented workers happen to be.
I never have thought myself particularly interested in my heritage. However, everytime I see something like those shirts, or that bumpersticker, it disturbs me.

The proposed group would be a place for people to discuss these events, and others which are affecting the Hispanic community. Further, the group would be a place to share cultural information etc.

The purpose of this thread is to see if 10 other people are interested. Thanks for taking the time to read.

Stephanie

[Ian David]

1. I think that's a great idea!

Remember Martin Niemoeller-- Speak out now for the immigrants
Posted by IanDB1 in General Discussion
Mon Apr 10th 2006, 08:53 PM

"First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."

--Rev. Martin Niemoeller

More:
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/IanDB1/346

[intheflow]

2. I also support this group idea.

Though I doubt I'd be anything more than an occasional visitor. But I'll pm RagingInMiami, this seems right up his alley. :hi:

[newyawker99]

3. kick for response

:kick:

[musiclawyer]

4. Don't want to start a flame war but.....

Define Hispanic? There have been lots of threads on this. Until you do so, such a group is hard to start.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. Well...I guess it is the broadest term used to describe

Spanish-Speaking peoples. But really, anyone is welcome.

[Cleita]

20. 'Scuse me but we know who we are.

Like any other ethnic groups we are pretty much self-defined, but we do know who isn't.

[Beausoir]

55. Well, break it down further...my children are Latino/a but I am not.

Can I join?

[RagingInMiami]

57. Of course

Anybody can join as long as they don't start flamewars.

[booley]

5. I think it's a good idea

though i will be honest..I am not hispanic

[SemiCharmedQuark]

8. I'm sorry, of course all are welcome.

Sorry, about the confusion...

[scarlet_owl]

6. I'm all for it.

It's amazing there isn't already a Latino group.

[intheflow]

12. That is hard to believe, isn't it?

I think it's kinda a shame. DU would be much richer with a strong Latino presence. :kick:

[laheina]

19. No kidding! But they are called the sleeping giant for a reason.

I'm in. :)

[BlooInBloo]

56. Yo estaba creyendo el mismo exactamente!

Or something like that - been a loooong time... lol

[RagingInMiami]

9. Wow, this got about as much support

As the idea of giving amnesty to 12 million immigrants did last week.

I am definitely interested. Let's see if this gets off the ground.

[EFerrari]

14. I managed to miss this thread all day. And have sent some

PMs out with the link.

[nonconformist]

10. I think this is a great idea

I've been pretty outspoken here on my support of worker's rights and my concern over plummeting wages. However, I do NOT LIKE the bigotry that this issue is dredging up at all. I'm not Hispanic, but my stepfather (since I was 9) is, as are my brother and sister, step-brother and sister, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. It pains me greatly to see this type of rhetoric.

[roody]

11. Me gusta la idea.

I'm not Hispanic, but I speak Spanish. Will I be Hispanic when I move to South America?

[Cleita]

22. You will be a norteAmericano, which defines

the geography of where you came from not your ethnicity. You will be most welcome especially if you speak Spanish and everyone will try their English on you. I'm originally from Chile although my father too was a norteAmericano.

[laheina]

23. I had a sociology prof once who liked to say that

ethnicity is chosen.

Maybe that could be our first discussion topic. :P

[EFerrari]

13. I'm in.

:hi:

[Maestro]

15. Count me in

Although truth be known, I'm as white as they come. But I work with immigrants daily, mainly Hispanic, and I married a half Mexican beautiful woman. ;) And those slogans me encabronan.

[EFerrari]

16. It's very funny because both I and my husband are

mixed blood and no one would stop us on the street to join a marcha. But, we both identify very much with the Hispanic community. And I didn't even speak English until I went to school. Go figure.

[Cleita]

18. I'm mixed blood too.

Half northern European and half Latina, but I too identify very strongly with my mother's ethnicity.

[RagingInMiami]

27. I'm a half-breed as well

My mother is from Colombia, my dad was a German-American from Virginia. Then I grew up in Miami which can't decide if its a Latin American city or a North American city.

I am an American, but when it comes down to basic human rights issues, I will stand with the Hispanics.

[Maestro]

47. Hey my Irish relatives

with the last name of Clifford went to Mexico to live. Go figure. And now the severely penis troubled Minuete Men are saying, "Build a wall." They will still keep coming.

[Maestro]

46. I guess we can call ourselves

mulatos. ;)

[Cleita]

17. I'm in Stephanie.

Is there a chance we can keep the bigots out so we can discuss meaningful change? I'm weary with the fights. For the first time since I came to DU in 2001, I have a very long ignore list and some are DUers I once considered internet friends.

[laheina]

21. We have a good record of keeping disruptors out of

the veggie, vegan, and animal rights group. GD is one thing, but I don't think that the moderators will tolerate too much trolling in our own group.

[EFerrari]

24. That would be nice because the next time someone says

"law and order" to me, I'm going to shoot.

[Cleita]

25. Make sure the law is on your side.

If they threaten you, you can shoot in self-defense. It's the law. Something for those would be law and order types to think about when they try to take pot shots at another human being near the border.

[RagingInMiami]

31. That would be like coming into "el barrio" looking for a fight

Not the smartest thing to do.

[EFerrari]

35. LOL! Sometimes, we're not smart, just human.

Good to read you, hermanito.

:)

[RagingInMiami]

39. Thanks, Adelita!

[WildEyedLiberal]

30. If it's a DU group...

... group rules forbid people coming in to pick a fight. The groups are the most underrated function of DU, IMO - it's SO much easier to have a discussion if you know some troll/disruptor/dumbass isn't going to barge in and start flaming you.

[Cleita]

26. Un zappateado para el burro.

:kick:

[countryjake]

28. I'd be interested in such a group!

Tho I'm neither Hispanic, Latina, or Chicano, I fully support human rights for all in the Americas. I'm glad I came back to find a PM about this post, or I'd have missed it. It's definitely becoming hard to discuss reasonable solutions and any victories made, so it seems that a group would really help develop positive topics.

The Farmworkers Union signed a national contract with Global Horizons last week, up here in Washington state, which should be a bit of help in dealing with the agricultural guest worker visas. Those visas have been a thorn in the side of organizing workers up here...one of the "loopholes" that the anti-immigration crew found convenient to grouse about and the tool that agri-businesses and farm owners used against long-time migrant farmworkers to keep them from unionizing. Hopefully, that problem is now on its way to being solved.

I put a link to this big news into a Dobbzian post this week, so I doubt many heard about it, as even I find it hard to read some of those topics on here anymore and discussion in them simply raises my ire. It'd be nice to have a place here to post such positive gains and not be scorned for feeling it is indeed a step forward for all who choose to work in this country.

[countryjake]

32. Kick for the night shift

[EFerrari]

36. Good idea..

:kick:

[countryjake]

37. And one more time!

[EFerrari]

29. a little patada right here

I think I want to change my user name to "Adelita". lol

[bliss_eternal]

33. Just wanted to add my support for this group--

and state I think it's an important addition to DU! :hi:

[EFerrari]

34. "Si Adelita se fuera con otro --"

I see that DU is finding it's own good solution.

((((((((((((((DU))))))))))))))))

[Bridget Burke]

38. Another Gringa volunteering...

I understand Spanish better than I speak it. But I've lived in Texas most of my life & realize that culture does not stop at The Border. And I had two immigrant grandparents--if the latest theories about the "Black Irish" are true, I may have genetic links to Spain itself.



(The Houston Press is a local free weekly. The cover of the current issue has "Houston Press" printed in such a light gray that it almost disappears. At the bottom: "This land is Mi Tierra." In between, the Stars & Stripes--with stripes of Green, White & Red.)

[RagingInMiami]

40. It was all about the Spanish Armada

And them roving Spanish sailors falling for those beautiful Irish lassies

[EFerrari]

41. visibility patada

[SemiCharmedQuark]

42. Great, I think we have the 10 required...now we just need to do the group

mission statement. Any ideas would be great :) Thanks again, everyone.

[laheina]

53. Mission statement idea:

The Latino/Hispanic Group is intended as a place of informed discussion for issues relating to the Hispanic/Latino community within the U.S., in other countries, or regarding foreign relations between the U.S. and other countries where such a community may reside.

All Latinos, Hispanics, or interested parties are welcome to participate for the purpose of discussion of issues, networking, organizing, or support. This group is intended as a safe forum for the informed discussion, but varying viewpoints are welcome too! :)

[EFerrari]

58. Works for me. Good job, laheina!

:toast:

[laheina]

61. Now, we need to vote on it, so that we can make an official request.

Should we start PMing thread respondents?

[titoresque]

43. great idea! K&R!

[titoresque]

44. well it's kicked...again...atleast

:hi:

[rene moon]

45. Proud Latina here

I am so for this! Count me in :)

Que Viva La Raza!

[GRLMGC]

48. Ooh

I'm in. I was wondering why there hasn't been one (well, sort of, haha)

[GRLMGC]

49. Err

so that's that? I wonder if anything is going to come out of this.

[Swamp Rat]

50. ¡Órale!

Yo soy gumbo (me considero criollo de Nueva Orleans), pero un gran parte es Latino... sou brasileiro no meu coração. ;)

[RagingInMiami]

54. Tenemos que ser unidos

Todo las razas y nacionalidades.

[laheina]

51. Kick! Has anything been done with this? nt

[laheina]

52. Kick

[EFerrari]

59. Kick for peace

[EFerrari]

60. Hey -- look at this thread radio4progressives put up!

One of the people I work for is on this. Whew! lol

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x998268

[Anarcho-Socialist]

62. Yes, a good idea

How about purposefully defining it as a bilingual group too? There could be discussions and links to Spanish language websites.

[GRLMGC]

63. kick nt

[Marie26]

64. What a great idea!

I'd be interested in participating, too, if you all would want another gringa. I'm sort of surprised there isn't a group like this already.