Comments on: Letter to the Editor http://www.jonparksblog.com/2006/05/26/letter-to-the-editor/ Looking for God in the Ordinary Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:32:00 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jon http://www.jonparksblog.com/2006/05/26/letter-to-the-editor/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Jon Wed, 07 Jun 2006 02:47:00 +0000 http://notesfromjon.the-parks-family.net/2006/05/26/letter-to-the-editor/#comment-13 Thanks. I became intensely aware of the sentiment toward Latinos when I lived in Birmingham - a place that has been racially charged for decades. It's part of the DNA of that area, I think. And since it's no longer politically correct to be prejudiced against African Americans, we'll find a new target - and come up with all kinds of reasons they're worthy of our hatred. I once heard in conversation that a local police force refers to them as "the Hispanic Problem." <br/><br/>It's interesting to me that in the area I live now (rural, farming Virginia), the argument "they're taking our jobs" doesn't surface very often. People who've worked on a farm (or have seen Hispanics working there) understand the simple truth - most Americans simply refuse to do the jobs that Hispanics are doing. <br/><br/>This stems, I think, from a sense of entitlement - "Even though I decided to quit high school, I still deserve something better than flipping burgers." Until we're all willing to do the kinds of jobs they often take, I think this kind of rhetoric should stay out of the argument as well! Thanks. I became intensely aware of the sentiment toward Latinos when I lived in Birmingham – a place that has been racially charged for decades. It’s part of the DNA of that area, I think. And since it’s no longer politically correct to be prejudiced against African Americans, we’ll find a new target – and come up with all kinds of reasons they’re worthy of our hatred. I once heard in conversation that a local police force refers to them as “the Hispanic Problem.”

It’s interesting to me that in the area I live now (rural, farming Virginia), the argument “they’re taking our jobs” doesn’t surface very often. People who’ve worked on a farm (or have seen Hispanics working there) understand the simple truth – most Americans simply refuse to do the jobs that Hispanics are doing.

This stems, I think, from a sense of entitlement – “Even though I decided to quit high school, I still deserve something better than flipping burgers.” Until we’re all willing to do the kinds of jobs they often take, I think this kind of rhetoric should stay out of the argument as well!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.jonparksblog.com/2006/05/26/letter-to-the-editor/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Anonymous Tue, 06 Jun 2006 20:05:00 +0000 http://notesfromjon.the-parks-family.net/2006/05/26/letter-to-the-editor/#comment-12 Jon, I could not agree with you more on this subject! It's ironic... just yesterday I heard someone mention something about "sending the Hispanics back so that we 'real' Americans can have our jobs and land back" and I was frustrated about it all day. The thing that really - REALLY - gets to me is that we aren't even "real" Americans. Technically it is not our land to begin with since we took it from the Indians (and wiped them out). Anyway, it was really nice to read someone else's thoughts on the subject. Especially because you pretty much said exactly what I was thinking. <br/><br/>Thanks for being brave/willing enough to put thoughts like this out there! :)<br/><br/>Emily White Jon, I could not agree with you more on this subject! It’s ironic… just yesterday I heard someone mention something about “sending the Hispanics back so that we ‘real’ Americans can have our jobs and land back” and I was frustrated about it all day. The thing that really – REALLY – gets to me is that we aren’t even “real” Americans. Technically it is not our land to begin with since we took it from the Indians (and wiped them out). Anyway, it was really nice to read someone else’s thoughts on the subject. Especially because you pretty much said exactly what I was thinking.

Thanks for being brave/willing enough to put thoughts like this out there! :)

Emily White

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