Buenos Días Amigos! Hope you've had your cup of Joe and spending time with the familia. So lately, my cousin Ari sent me text messages about her college experience. She just started college and is lovin' it. Being that she's in college, she's going through what we all have gone through. You know the judgment of being shocked or sneered at, simply because we admire the traditional values we were raised with by our parents. Mexican immigrant values and yes...conservative values at that. So, I provided responses to help her respond with reason. You know, it kinda helped me explain my reasoning as well! So, I thought I'd would pass it on to you. In case you ever wondered about us...besides our indulgence in coffee and not being Cubano. ;)My text: So how’s ur major going? So have you figured u’re unique with ur college buds? What do they say when they realize u’re conservative?
Cuz's text: The first thing that comes up is ALWAYS about me being Mexican. I swear...It's like I have 2 prove 2 every1 else how "brown" I am...haha. I know I am "brown" already, but it's like being conservative makes us less "brown"? It's like wowwww...
Here are some responses to questions that come up:
“How can you be Mexican and republican!?”Like most Mexican Americans I was raised by immigrants and taught their values…Old School values. A "do -it-yourself" attitude for work, faith and charity; SELF GOV'T.
“Conservatives are anti- immigrant.”
I am not sure about that because my family runs a business, hires immigrants willing to work, and informs them about cultural movements (countering their traditional values). How is that “anti-immigrant”? We are for the immigrant individual and we are not an exception.
“They don't want to let us in.”Most Americans are pro documented immigration. How is that not wanting newcomers? Look, Mexico has reasons to secure their boarders and I never hear complaints about them. Don’t Americans have a reason to know who is entering our country? Like everyone else I want our immigration improved.
I do know that open boarder activist fight for Mexican immigrants to enter, but then fight their faith based values once they arrive. How is that sticking up for the families of "la raza”?
"Republicans are not for opportunity and the poor man."I just can't relate to that since our family business is able to invest, expand and hire more workers when there are lower tax rates. Should a worker feel more secure to ask for a raise when the boss is paying more in taxes? There are a lot of people (immigrant and non-immigrant) that want to launch their own business. How does higher taxes and regulations encourage growth and an increase of jobs? Look at all the jobs that have left Cali to business-friendly states. I mean, Facebook just opened two new facilities outside of Cali; where it's easier to grow a business and JOBS.________________________________________
A while back a relative commented to me lightly that she could not stand it when someone calls her a “republican”. Now she has every right to be what she chooses, but it goes to show that when American Latinos express their values, those conservative points are quickly recognized by our Leftist friends. This is why ethnic music and art are always talked about, but cultural values…Our Christian faith...not so much.
Like most newcomers, My Abuelito and all my family worked selflessly and
took pride in providing. He worked at a tortilla factory & worked non-stop for decades. He leaned on God to amplify his ethos and relied on himself and my Abuelita to elevate their children. He did not rely on "affirmative action" or “social justice” (gov’t redistribution of the same pay with your neighbor's money). Simply JUSTICE under GOD, E Pluribus Unum (from mutli-ethnicities, yet one people), & liberty ... THE AMERICAN WAY.We hope this explains our family’s reasoning, why we relate more with ideas of self gov't , and it goes without saying that we respect our friends that have different ideas. Hey, speaking of friends, summer is coming up and if your are by our house, come over and we'll crack you open a big-o-Tecate... con límon!
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