LatinaLista — When it comes to politics, it’s understood that it can be a rough sport between the opposing parties. Extreme exaggerations, outright lies, name-calling — and that’s the civil part of it.
However, Republicans have taken politics to a whole new low level. It’s one thing for a party to be against an issue but when that same party goes to great lengths to maliciously ridicule or lie about a particular group then it’s time for concerned party members and voters to draw the line in the proverbial sand and take a stand.
If you’re wondering what could be so bad, it has to do with a particular song that possible RNC Chairman Chip Saltsman included on a CD he gave RNC members back at Christmas. It’s the same CD that had the title track “Barack the Magic Negro,” written by Saltsman by the way.
The questionable song on the CD is titled the “Star Spanglish Banner.”
Now, when it comes to Spanglish, Latinos are the first to embrace the mix of English and Spanish. In fact, we write books and create movies about it.
Yet, the Republican’s “Star Spanglish Banner” had less to do with the skill of mixing two languages and instead chose to ridicule those Latinos who speak with a Spanish accent and rewrite the lyrics to our nation’s anthem to poke fun at the struggle of Hispanic immigrants and the larger Latino community.
The song, its video follows this post, is insulting on several different levels. With it still making the rounds, it’s hard to believe that Republicans are sincerely strategizing to win more Latinos into their ranks.
In fact, if anything, this song serves as the score for recent actions by Republican House and Senate members who are trying with all their might to sow fear and resurrect attacks on Hispanic immigrants and convince the American public that Hispanic immigrants are the cause of the nation’s economic downturn.
It’s such bizarre behavior of a political party that one would think we’re watching the antics of a third world country or a very bad spoof of those “Police Academy” movies. In the latest attempt to scare the public into thinking that undocumented Hispanic immigrants are getting more than they deserve, the Associated Press reported:
WASHINGTON – A top Republican congressional aide says the $800 billion-plus economic stimulus measure could steer government checks to illegal immigrants.
Republican officials are concerned that the Democratic-written legislation makes people who came to the United States illegally eligible for tax credits of $500 per worker and $1,000 per couple.
A House-passed version of the bill and one making its way through the Senate both disqualify nonresident aliens from receiving the credits. But neither requires a worker to have a Social Security number to get the credits.
An economic aid measure enacted in February 2008 that sent rebates to most wage earners required that people have valid Social Security numbers in order to get checks.
Aside from the fact that the majority of the undocumented don’t avail themselves of government hand-outs, otherwise the potential for them to get caught is higher, this allegation from Republicans — the latest in a long line of legislative actions targeting Hispanic immigrants, and it’s only been a week and a half, further showcases what can only be described as persecution of these people.
Yet, what is more startling is that none of the Latino Republican leaders has publicly rebuked their party’s leaders for purposely inflaming the issue. As Latino congressional representatives know as well as any other Latino, nobody can tell with 100 percent certainty who is a citizen and who is not.
So, in essence, the mean-spirited targeting of the Republican Party of undocumented Hispanic immigrants has a side consequence — the targeting of ALL Latinos by the crazy nuts and the ignorant who now see all Latinos as undocumented immigrants.
Think it’s crazy? What’s crazy is the revelation that the killing of an Ecuadorian immigrant last November on Long Island by seven teenagers wasn’t the first incident of these kids hunting Hispanics.
On Wednesday, the prosecutors painted a newly detailed picture of what they said was a yearlong rampage by some of the teenagers, announcing new indictments that accuse the seven defendants in the fatal attack of assaulting or attempting to assault a total of eight other Latino men.
Prosecutors believe that many more teenagers — they are not sure how many — were involved in attacks on Hispanics in and around Patchogue, and are still at large. Investigators believe that there is a separate group of teenagers who roam Patchogue on bicycles attacking Latinos, according to a law enforcement official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing.
For Latinos, the Republican Party is quickly becoming synonymous with attacks on Hispanics. That they don’t wear hoods but suits makes them a lot scarier.
(Hat tip to ndn.org)
Comment(15)
Irma
I am no Republican, but look at what the
Democratic governor of New York just did.
He appointed as Clinton’s replacement
a “Democrat” who is supported by the NRA and has a record of being anti-immigrant.
Now tell me what that means……..
Thomas
There you guys go again. Confusing immigrants with illegal immigration. You people started it with the whole hey lets change American lyrics of their national anthem and sing it in spanish while waving the mexican flag. You people are nothing but hyprocrites. Mexico is a hell hole. You allowed it to happen and now you are doing the same here. Guess its true what they say. Misery loves company.
laura
Irma, I agree with you. Gov. Paterson’s appointment just goes to show that Democrats are not simply friends of immigrants or friends of Latina/os. I hope there will be primary challengers to both the Governor and to the new anti-immigrant, pro-NRA Senator in 2010. I will most definitely send campaign contributions to both of them.
AS for the Republicans, I think their racism is too ingrained. Even for the sake of political advantage, they can’t let it go. It is kind of amazing. I think what we will see over the next few decades is withering away of the Republican party, as Southern and Western white men become a small electoral minority. There will be conflict inside the Democratic party instead of between Democrats and Republicans.
It is interesting in a political-science kind of way. For example, I wonder where my Christian fundamentalist immigrant friends will go politically. If there is a comprehensive immigration reform and my undocumented friends acquire US citizenship, many of their views would incline them towards the Republicans, for example on gay marriage. But after the brutal violent racism of government agencies like ICE, and after the racist rhetoric of the Republican party, there is no way they could vote Republican. I don’t know how my evangelical Christian friends will define themselves politically.
I just know the Republicans – and right-wing Democrats – still have time to tear apart many families, and destroy many lives, before they finally become irrelevant. Our job today is to save as many families and individual people as we can.
Thomas
Wow Laura calling the republicansd racist yet the dems who created the KKK gets a pass. Our goal should be to look after our people first and not be a burden to the American tax payer. Look at the woman in California. With the 8 kids. She already had 6. Lives with her parents. Economy is so bad that the mother’s father has to go back to Iraq to fund money to take care of the grandkids. Each kid will cost 1 million each for 2 months hospital stay. In 43 billion dollar debt ridden California. What is it with you people. Think money grows on trees. Hope you like soup for breakfast lunch and dinner. With the way the dems are leading us right now. We will soon have soup lines. This is a depression being created by our own government no less.
laura
Thomas my friend, you are correct. This depression was created by 8 years of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and all their friends in Congress – among whom are some Democrats. They spent 4 billion dollars a month for 6 years in a war to grab another country’s oil resources. They gave their best buddies – the war profiteers and oil men – huge tax presents. They funneled money directly from taxpayers’ pockets into their buddies offshore bank accounts through no-bid contracts and through massive theft and graft. The trillion dollar deficit they leave behind is not going to go away anytime soon, especially since there is no way out of the catastrophe they created except for the state to take on more debt.
Yes, they have friends among the Democrats. People who would have felt right at home in the old Ku Klux Klan. Except these days, it’s more fashionable to lynch Latinos. And it happens not just in Alabama but also in Pennsylvania and on Long Island.
Thomas
Laura when the dems took over in 06 the debt was 8 trillion. Now its 10 trillion. How did the dems spend so much. No with this so called stimus and these bailouts. Wemwill borrow more money and increasing our debt. We are printing like there is no tomorrow. Laura you are selling out your children’s future and your childrens children. Obama stimus is making threats of a trade war. Thats the last thing we need right now is a trade war with other countries. Thats why he is being presuured right now not just by the dems but countries around the world about his stimilus plan. The country is finish.
Horace
“Except these days, it’s more fashionable to lynch Latinos. And it happens not just in Alabama but also in Pennsylvania and on Long Island.’
As much as you would like us to believe your lies, Laura, and make the Latino illegal immigrant the replacement for the negro lynched by the KKK, you’ll have to cite one case of Latino lynching to make your case credible.
laura
Why don’t you research this yourself, “Horace”? I already cited two cases: Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, in July 2008, and Patchogue, Long Island, in November 2008. Two immigrants killed by lynch mobs of high school boys. These boys were incited to their killings by the kind of rhetoric you and your kind favor.
Sandra
Laura, there is no “rhetoric”, just the facts. If the “facts” incite some loonies to commit crimes are you suggesting that the facts be kept hidden and freedom of speech restricted?
There is no “rhetoric” in the fact that there are millions of illegal alien latinos in our country. There will always be nutcases in our society, nothing we could do or say or not say would stop them.
Horace
Actually, Laura, I believe the persons in question were beaten to to death. If being beaten to death is equivalent to lynching, which is death by hanging, then I suggest you can apply the same to the blacks who are knifed and slaughtered in Los Angeles by MS-13 illegal aliens. You trivialize the civil rights movement when you lie. I’m certain that as the historical facts come to light, far more blacks have been murdered by Latin American “lynch mobs”, to use your term, in Los Angeles, than have been Latin Americans “lynched” (actually beaten) by citizens. I’m certain that you’re using the term “lynching” instead of the truth in order to turn an issue that should be discussed sanely, into one which foments riots. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Lea Ortiz
You are wrong. I am not ashamed to tell you that you are wrong either. This culture you are speaking of does not embrace America, or American thinking. You cling to your Spanish and force your children to speak it. Don’t tell me you don’t because I know better. You refuse to assimilate to our culture you cling to your Hispanic culture. You think we should do what you want. Amazing isn’t it?
When laws are broken there are consequences, face it. I am an American of Mexican descent.
Creating subcultures in America does not bring this nation together, and what are doing here is dividing it all the more.
Oh but I do recognize illegal aliens when I see them. No they don’t speak English, their children speak for them. They remain in a self imposed bubble.
You are doing no favors by trying to bring down another group of people that are Americans. It is plain that you don’t appreciate being here, by demanding rights you as a non citizen don’t deserve.
As far as lies and name calling. I have gone face to face with these illegals saying I am a racist, me of Mexican descent because I want our borders secured and our already burdened financial situation to stop being depleted by illegals.
Amazing that you will come here and use our freedom of speech. Will you do the same and fight for this country? Will you lay down you life for this country? OR will you continue to help with these advocacy groups to help more illegals to find out how to get aid to feed their children, get food stamps and how to send money back to other countries and how to bring more of their families here and continue this crazy cycle. This country is suffering financially. Can anyone figure out why?????
This kind of propoganda and seeking a sympathetic ear just angers me. It angers a multitude of Americans as well.
Marisa Treviño
Lea, I hope you take the time to read out loud what you have written. Obviously, you don’t know the U.S. Hispanic culture as well as you say. Otherwise, you would see that assimilation has and does take place. Look at you. As far as subcultures, they have always existed until those generations are born that no longer feel as strong a tie to the proud heritage that was a factor in their ancestors’ pride of who they were and what they could contribute to the United States.
LeaOrtiz
I have not seen the assimilation, not until the the children have left the ways of another culture. For the most part there is no assimilation. As a matter of fact when a child does not continue in speaking Spanish and keeping that so called Heritage, that child is prodded to do the right thing and only speak Spanish in the house.
No don’t look at me as I am not of illegal descent, nor are my parents. I am an American, born here, of an American woman, in America. I don’t claim to be who you are. I am not a victim of a political party.
This proud Heritage you speak of I decided to try to embrace for my children and finally let go of when I saw for myself the nationalism that goes on within the Hispanic culture. I want more for my children of Mexican descent than division. I want for them freedom and safety and not the ridicule that will be imposed on them by a subculture.
I know the Hispanic culture a lot better than you think I do.
Trying to use race and blaming others for problems not brought on by others is something I have not taught my daughters. No, I have taught them to be strong women and look past race, as we are all people.
Why not let’s stop this enslavement of the illegals and enforce border laws. Human trafficking, and enslavement are very real here in America, and until our government does something about it, nothing will change. By being an advocate for the groups that have ties to these illegals you are condoning this slave entrapment.
I will continue to stand up and fight back and to try to push back people and groups like you.
Grandma
Bravo Lea Ortiz.
Vida
Lea is wrong as wrong can be. I really can’t stand ignorant people who think the definition of being an American is to speak English and assimilate to ‘American’ thinking. What the hell is that? Is Lea the one who is going to define what it means to be an “American”.
I adopted an African American child from social services. I adopted him at eight and a half years of age. He is going to be twelve years old in October. His mother was ALL AMERICAN. Black American woman with drug problems. She spoke English only and grew up in the states. But her lifestyle sure sucked. Meanwhile my husband and I are Puerto Rican. And if this blog had a microphone I speak English with absolutely no accent at all. Like Walter Cronkite. But my first language is Spanish. I write it perfectly, and I read it all the time and I speak Spanish perfectly. Like the native speaker that I am. I was born an American citizen because ALL Puerto Ricans are born USA citizens. But they don’t like the idea of giving up their Spanish because some fools who are lazy and don’t want to be MULTILINGUAL in this world don’t like it. HAHA.
What am I teaching my son? I send him to an International Studies school. They FORCE him to speak three languages and he has to work hard to learn to speak, read and write three languages before graduating from high school. He protests how hard he has to work. But since his father and I speak three languages a piece perfectly he doesn’t have an excuse of “I am an American. I want to be monolingual.” No, you are not an American who is dumb. Who thinks speaking only one language is the way to define your Americaness.
The reason why the nation is in a financial crisis is not because some Latin American immigrants have invaded America via illegal entry. It is because dummies like many out there in America don’t hold any of these thieves with a license in Wall Street accountable for their thieving ways. And having a bunch of chicken hawks in charge in Capitol Hill who are prostitutes and sell their ‘principles’ to the highest bidder. People like to scape goat the ‘foreigners’ for their troubles. The ones that sink their societies are always the rotten from within. But that is too much for the fools who blame the ones with no power to speak for themselves.
If you want to improve your life Lea. Get your daughters to study advanced science, mathematics and speak a whole boat load of languages. Because the EASY way is to be lazy and have the rest of the world learn many languages and have them only speak English.
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