The GOP and Latinos...

               HEADS UP:

This posting may have some elements of politics… That being said; It is NOT my intention to offend anyone. I am not like that. This is strictly my opinion based on my observations….

I am going to make some explosive statements here; but they are informed explosive statements. I will attempt to explain everything in due time when an avenue makes itself convenient.

I am a true American. I am a mixture of many cultures/heritages. I have grandparents from Spain, Mexico, Italy, and The United States. I have great-grandparents from even farther away.
I grew up in a small unincorporated area of Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley. Pacoima, California; is where I called home.
When I was little, and moved into my neighborhood on Louvre Street (we pronounced it loo-ver), sometime around 1968. It was a nice little neighborhood. Predominantly Mexican families made up the neighborhoods of the area. As time went on, I and my family lived our lives and existed in our little house in Pacoima, California. I am the product of a private education; primarily in Catholic School; but then private colleges as well.
I didn’t have a lot in common with the kids in my neighborhood and as a child I was sickly so I didn’t go out too much. I didn’t have many friends in the neighborhood, except for a few that lived down the street, who attended Catholic School also, but a different one. In retrospect; they weren’t really friends, but I didn’t know the difference. The thing we had in common was that none of us fit in with the other neighborhood kids. We didn’t go out and ride bikes and stuff like that. We didn’t play tackle football on the asphalt. We didn’t take off at all hours to see what kind of trouble we could get into.
Believe me; there was lots of trouble to get into, even in the mid 70’s. Now all of this info is going to lead to a question that has been asked quite a bit since the Presidential Election a couple of weeks ago.
The Republicans, GOP, has been asking themselves and everyone else, how do “we” reach out to the Hispanics? Good question… is there an easy answer; no.

I think the greatest problem for the GOP to overcome is that they are trying to lump all people of Latin decent together. That can not be done. When one uses the term Hispanic, they are trying to describe a group of people, usually of darker skin from Latin America. Latin America will be considered Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Cuba, Panama and Chile’. There are also other countries that I am sure I have not mentioned. All of these people have some things in common, but not enough so that they can all be counted together.
Truth is, most of these peoples, don’t even like each other. There is no kindred spirit, or feelings of brotherhood amongst these cultures. You see, most Latinos’ are very macho and consider themselves to be better than everyone else. Don’t ask me to explain this, just take my word for it.
This is just a snip-it; a bit of a look at these diverse cultures.
Now for the message for the GOP; you can’t lump everyone together when trying to reach these groups. Education is the key. Unfortunately, most of these individuals are not products of higher education, for those that are, I believe that they lean to the left; in vast numbers. So, how does a group get the attention and loyalties of these people? First, you have to understand these people as a group and as individuals. Most of them, in all the cultures, care about what happens in their four walls. They are very family oriented, predominantly Catholic or other denominations of the Christian sect. They care about leaving the world a better place for their children. They want to insure that their children have a better life in a better place than they did.
This, for the most part has occurred; however, not by much. Now, I invite anyone who wants to get the attention of these cultures, to come into their neighborhoods; live amongst them, get to know them. Get to know their heritage, their philosophy on life; get to know their food; their street food, the holidays they celebrate and how they celebrate. One thing you will find is a great sense of family. You will find a sense of pride for what they have been able to accomplish in their adopted land.
I think, mostly you’ll find this amongst the elders of the families. A number of the younger family members, you will find; are struggling to find out who they are. I don’t know that the younger members of these cultures are comfortable with their lives. They don’t identify with elder people of their cultures. They hang in the fringes of hip hop and would rather seek acceptance amongst the African American culture. Of course, we know that this group leans heavily to the left. I don’t want to give the impression that there is great camaraderie between these cultures; there isn’t. However, when finding a group to identify with; people of Latin descent ally themselves with other minorities.
Again, drive through and visit the areas that these people live in. It is a dire place, a place that most of us wouldn’t want to have a flat tire or break-down in.
I came from one of these areas. When I was little, it didn’t bother me; I didn’t know any better. However, as I started getting older and spreading out into other areas, I saw the difference between the area that I lived in and the area that my new friends were living in. My parents encouraged me to stay with my own type of people. I didn’t. I couldn’t identify with the people in the barrio. I was different. Not better, just different. I watched the news, immersed myself in artsy pass-times. My hobbies were of a different nature than of those I lived around. I didn’t sit on the corner and sniff glue. I didn’t indulge in drugs or imbibe liquor at a young age. I still don’t. I went to movies with my friends, spent Sundays on the lake in our boat. I went to Disneyland and Magic Mountain. I spent a lot of time at Universal Studios. I was a person of fun. My father was a working man, and made a very good living. That didn’t really drive him to want to move out of the area we lived in. I think he identified with a lot of the individuals that we lived around. That is a topic for another writing.
My father was not political. He couldn’t care less who was in the White House because he believed and I believe, rightly so, it didn’t affect him. He had a skill. He was a brilliant automotive electrical engineer. He worked nearly everyday of his life; until he became too ill to work.
Dad was a great spotter of someone whom one could label a bull-shitter.
He wasn’t easily swayed. Many in the Latino cultures are. They are easily roused up and will follow anyone who makes sense; in some cases, anyone whom they can blame for their ills and lack of success.
In order to understand the beliefs of these peoples; one has to live in their shoes for a while. Most come from an impoverished place in their countries of origin. Mexico, for instance, has some beautiful, lush, wealth riddled places; but those are far outnumbered by the areas that are nothing more than shanty towns on the fringes of society. I understand why the people that come legally come to our country; it is for the opportunity for a better life. For those that come illegally; they undergo horrible experiences, which can include rape, starvation and death; just for the opportunity to come to this land of plenty we live in. These people don’t trust their elected officials, nor should they. I remember as a child, my grandfather (Grandpa Pete) would tell me about the vastness of resources in Mexico and the corruption that occurred there. He believed that Mexico, should they ever get a decent leadership politically; would be one of the richest nations in the world. I believe that. Unfortunately; those in power are easily corrupted.
That leaves us in our current dilemma; how do you reach a people that don’t trust politicians or leaders in a society? For one; these individuals who want to reach these people so badly, need to establish a presence in their midst.
Not just on weekends, during election seasons; but a ever present presence in their neighborhoods where they can get to be recognized, known and trusted individuals of a community. The GOP isn’t very good at that.
I know it may sound like I lean to the Right; I don’t. I consider myself to be a moderate; and from those I discuss my beliefs with; they think I’m a libertarian. I don’t really see that; but I guess anything is possible.
I usually don’t vote the party; I vote the man. I believe that we need a strong leader in the white house with unwavering beliefs and courage. In this last election; both candidates had flaws; after all they are only human. I believe, as I have stated again and again; that the greater of the evils was victorious.
I believe that government spending needs to be reigned in; government handouts, to other undeserving nations; needs to be abolished. I don’t have a problem with entitlements as they are being called, except in a couple of instances.
I believe that everyone should have health care; I believe that those who truly need help; should have it. I do have a problem with those on the dole simply because they refuse to take a job that is beneath them; or because they can’t find work because of a criminal record.  I think these people need to get off their lazy duffs and get out there and work.
Latino peoples aren’t lazy for the most part; they take pride in their work and they are hard workers. Most don’t want a handout; but if the opportunity presents itself, why not?
The GOP needs to re-invent themselves; maybe to a new named party like the Party of The American People; or maybe the New American Republican Party; something like that. Reaching the members of a Latino group has to start with two factions; the elder and the younger. I believe that reaching the middle members of the group; such as the 21-34 year olds; will be difficult. Education is the key. It is time for the GOP to cast away all of their shadows and embrace the heritages of those they so desperately need to reach.
Again, there is a way. I will repeat my ideas on this;

1. Get to know the peoples that you are trying to reach. Spend a lot of time in their neighborhoods. Set up establishments, offices, information centers.
Invest in some after school programs, offer tutoring, mentoring, think tanks to help these people solve the problems that they face on a daily basis. Don’t solve their problems; but help them attain the tools they need to do it themselves. These are a proud people. They don’t want handouts; just thoughts on solutions and resources to be more independent.

2. The GOP needs to be inclusive; embrace the people that are here. Don’t chastise those who are not here legally. Instead, offer ideas on how to help them attain citizenship. Encourage these individuals to not hide, but to get out and promote a sense of community. Encourage these people to learn English, to find ways to share their heritage with the other people in the community. Encourage them to take pride in themselves and the area they live in.

3. The GOP needs to target young Latinos; sit and meet in round tables and listen to the needs and ideas of these people. Encourage them to have community/neighborhood meetings amongst themselves. This will enable them to discover what they need and maybe come up with an idea of how they can self-attain what is needed again, solving immigration issues with the elder members of the community. Instill a sense of civic pride; so many of these peoples live in run-down areas of society. I think that a beautification committee would allow people to get involved; and again, the GOP could take a co-leadership role in this endeavor. I will say it again; walk in their shoes; live in their community. Invest in the future of these peoples; legal or not; they are Americans.
There is a strong sense of family and religion with this culture. Spend time in their churches, schools and neighborhoods. Get involved in their celebrations, embrace, promote their culture and assure them that they are a cherished part of society. This isn’t hard. It just takes the desire… the ganas, like Jaime Escalante so simply stated.

The Democrats claim to do all this; but nothing has come from it for these peoples. They see that; so, being ignored by one side; they chose to ignore both sides, especially the side they perceive to be white, wealthy and out of touch. It’s way past the time to sit with and embrace these people.

The GOP needs to start a grass-roots campaign to bring these people in; like YESTERDAY. The GOP has so many things in common with the Latino people. They need to find this common ground and invite this community to build on it. They need to cultivate this society’s heritage and let it flourish for the entire nation to see; everyone has something to offer. Good Luck, Republicans… you’ll need it.