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Racism & immigration
Sunday, July 1 at 2:00 PM

Edward H. Hawkins of Denver writes:

Every time I read about the illegal aliens sneaking across our southern border with Mexico, someone plays the so-called “race card,” implying, of course, that “Latino/Hispanic” is a separate race and those who campaign against the lawlessness of people coming into our country illegally are “racists.” To all those I say – as clearly as possible : Repeat after me...
“Latino/Hispanic is not a race.” Again: LATINO/HISPANIC IS NOT A RACE, it’s a national culture and language.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannia and the World Book Encyclopedia – two great sources of information – leading anthropologists have identified three basic races: (1) Caucasoid, (2) Negroid, and (3) Mongoloid. The peoples generally identified as “Latino or Hispanic are those who speak the Spanish language, but are not a race. Latinos or Hispanic persons in the U.S., for the most part, are descended from Caucasoid Europeans of Hispanola/Spain combined with those native persons of North and South America and the Caribbean which anthropologists place in the category of the Mongoloid race comprising Siberic (Siberia), Sinitic (China), and western hemispheric types: Pacific Forest, Andean, Brazilian, and Patagonian. As a result, it is difficult, if not impossible, to justify ANYONE’S accusation of “racism” about the illegal intrusion of Mexican nationals into our country or that immigrants learn the language of our country, which is essentially a North American adaptation of English. It is no slur against Spanish speaking immigrants – or any other immigrant – to suggest that they learn the language of the country in which they live and work. When I worked in Switzerland a number of years ago, I discovered that the Swiss have three main languages: French, German, and Italian. But they learn and use English for international business transactions. Thank goodness I spoke English with a fair degree of proficiency, as I didn’t speak any of the other three languages very well. When a Swiss friend from Geneva chided me for not speaking French, I didn’t accuse him of racism. I found a good language school! In doing so, I learned the beauty of Italian, the expressiveness of French, the preciseness of German, the value of English, and a new appreciation of all four.

This letter has not been edited.


READER COMMENTS

Yes, the American middle class citizen is being used, and direspected. Enforce immigration law!

Posted by Carol on July 1, 2007 03:54 PM

If you wish to see racism and in your face ethnocentricism, look no further than LULAC and the Council of La Raza.

Posted by Timothy on July 1, 2007 03:57 PM

What's so sad about all this is that the very people you elected to represent you in Washington are also calling you a racist.
It makes you wonder about the education level of the people you elected and whether they understand the consequences of such an action?
We will se over the next two elections.

Posted by I'm not fooled on July 1, 2007 04:50 PM

It is the only defense they can come up with. After all, they are illegal and broke our laws coming here. Plus the newspapers like to jump on it when you cry "racist" or "bigot". It makes it sound like it is a equal rights movement for justice. What it really is, is a cover up for law breakers.
Plus most of our elected officals are the lawbreakers, since they do not enforce our immigration laws...........

Posted by gary on July 2, 2007 06:52 AM

Its always nice to know that when American Citizens do stand up against the onslaught of illegal aliens coming into this country ILLEGALLY that everyone uses the "race card". If wanting illegal aliens deported and our borders secured (no matter where the border is) is being RACIST, so be it. They have passed to many bills regarding AMENSTY and securing the border, isn't funny that the only thing that has ever taken place is the AMENSTY, amazingly there is never any funding for Securing the Border and enforcing businesses to quit hiring cheap illegal alien help. If this government does not want to follow its own immigration laws than why not start demanding... Press 1 for English, Press 2 for Spanish, Press 3 for German, Press 4 for French and so on. If this country is founded on legal immigrants than should we not be coddling all and just the uneducated?

Posted by Pam on July 2, 2007 07:55 AM

What a great letter! Only three races! Thank you Edward H. Hawkins for submitting it. Remember when the pit bull ban went into effect someone said it was "dog racism"?

People sure do play fast and loose with words, don't they?

Posted by Perry on July 2, 2007 08:03 AM

Homeland Security director Michael Chertoff said yesterday that the Federal Government can't do anything about illegal immigration. To me that is the same as the FEDS saying to the American public, "forget you, we want the 50-100 million illegal aliens in the country and if you don't like it, too bad". If you are opposed to the official statement of Mr. Chertoff, you are nothing more than an ignorant racist. So there.

Posted by on July 2, 2007 08:26 AM

Hey pro-illegal polticians, activists, and racists,

We are not even close to being done with you yet. You will NOT shove this down our throats. The people have spoken. And we will continue to fight this every inch of the way. Count on it.

Posted by truthy on July 2, 2007 10:51 AM

Hey pro-illegal polticians, activists, and racists,

We are not even close to being done with you yet. You will NOT shove this down our throats. The people have spoken. And we have will continue to fight this every inch of the way. Count on it.

Posted by truthy on July 2, 2007 10:51 AM

Wait till Ken Salazar tries to run for re-election. He will see how many people supported his amnesty bill.

Posted by [I"m not fooled] on July 2, 2007 08:18 PM

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