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by dasvics from California

Last Post 1 day, 8 hours Ago


Shoving Mexican culture down my throat- Not a good idea
Mar 6, 2008 | 8:09 AM
Category: Political
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I'm in the process of trying to understand what's happening to our country, so please bear with me.

I've been paying close attention to what's happening in my city and surrounding cities, and through the years I've noticed how there’s been a shift, a change of sorts. I've noticed that stores used to carry mostly American products for the convenience of Americans and their culture. Now, there's an effort to provide Mexicans with Mexican products for their convenience & culture. American culture is being transformed, no, replaced by Mexican culture. That obviously upsets many people, including me.

My point is that just like the "Si se puede" marches last year, this too will backfire. It's one thing for us to willingly conform to a different culture if we so desire, it's quite another to have that culture shoved in my face and rammed down my throat. It wont go down smoothly. Top that off with the fact that Americans are speaking up against it, no, screaming at the top of their lungs against it, trying desperately to hold on to their American culture and way of life, well, it becomes an unpleasant situation.

The last time my husband and I went to the movies we drove past the Mexican agency Tu Hermandad that empowers Hispanics and helps them by providing them with information and assistance they might need, and instead of the Mexican flags they've always had hanging outside their office, we saw American flags waving instead. Good for them, that's the way it should be. WE - the immigrants - are the ones who should conform and assimilate to the AMERICAN culture & lifestyle, not the other way around.

Government leaders and members of the media please take notice and listen to what your constituents & viewers are yelling, if Americans express their views and opinions only to be ignored, it's going to create a hostile & uncomfortable situation for all us. These blogs have been an example of that hostility, how many times have we argued with each other over this issue? How upset have we become discussing this situation?

I hope we find a resolution to this problem soon because Americans shouldn’t have to be inconvenienced or upset or move to another state just because they want to live as an American.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 60
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SEALTHEBORDER read my blog view my photos
Mar 6, 2008 | 9:06 PM

Great blog!!!
samo714 read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 8:57 AM

well from what i notice, each part of town has it's own culture thing going on. i notice if i go to lil saigon, i'm gonna get vietmanise products, if i shop in santa ana, i'm gonna get mexican products, and if i decide to shop in the tustin area, their are american products. so i guess just shop at a different location where they will cater to your needs.
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 9:23 AM

That's true Samo, and I love the diversity from every culture. But what I'm talking about isn’t diversity, it's about one culture predominantly replacing another. That’s what’s happening to entire CITIES, it's not just a few blocks. In Artesia for example, there’s a lot of Indian stores and restaurants on Artesia Blvd. In Cerritos, I think or it might be Artesia still, there’s a lot of Korean stores and restaurants...but, it's not predominant in the entire city. What I see happening is that most of our English speaking, American product caring, grocery stores, are being replaced with Spanish speaking Mexican product caring ones. And its Spanish you are asked to be transferred to, not Korean or Indian or any other language. Everywhere I call now, its press one for English or Spanish. So where’s the diversity? Mexican culture's establishing itself as the dominant culture in the cities I live in. That’s my point.
samo714 read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 9:40 AM

first thing is i can't believe i'm not on your fav. blog. 2nd is that the hispanic group is the 2nd biggest group in the nation. so it would only come naturally that they would have a spanish selection. i'm starting to see asain selections on atm machines in some places too. that's just the way it goes, you know. hispanics can't stop/hold back reproducing. lol. can you really blame me for my latino heat??? lol. j/k. anyways, your just in a state where it's mostly like that. but i'm sure the east coast or the mid states aren't so spanished out. you know. we just live next to the border.
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 9:53 AM

ha ha..you're too funny Samo, ok, you're my most favorite blog, I'll make a post on my blog about it...too cute.

I get what you're saying, but why do you think that I'm referring to you? You say, "my Latino heat"...you're an American, you're not Mexican. right? And even if you where, it's nothing personal against anyone at all, I'm talking about the situation in general. But just like a couple of my friends and o0lux0o, are you saying you're Mexican?
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 9:55 AM

My favorite blog:

http://community.myfoxla.com/blogs/samo714

everyone....check it out!!! especially the sweet post on Samo's Lizzy...so cute :-)
sebar read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 10:09 AM

You its bad when Spitshine for a Nickel re-emerges, but then what did you expect. I mean the problem my friend is that I too have Latin blood though that isn't the problem. Rather you are correct. Industry in this country has abandoned Americans and adopted everyone else. This is because of the President and his Administration and to a bit lesser extent the Republican Party followed by the Democratic Party. Just like NAFTA for 8 years, 6 dollars a gallon by next year for regular, unsafe food across the board, a dying commercial infrastructure, I blame Bush first. He may have gotten the initial Iraq invasion right, at the start, but almost everything else this guy has done has been a dismal failure, including the incoming great Depression II that is on the horizon. Terrorists come through our borders and he keeps them open same with congress. He adopts drug dealer illegals and throws border patrol agents in jail or at least refuses to pardon them. This president is a piece of crap and so is both houses and parties of congress.
o0lux0o read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 3:08 PM

I agree with all of you guys on different things. Sebar makes many great point.

The thing is, we live in Los Angeles, a place where a lot of immigrants come to live and so you get all kinds of cultures coming together. For example, NY and you'll see tones of Italian Pizza shops, Irish pubs, as well as Dominican and Rican places. Or even here in LA, You have Glendale, tons of Armenians and Armenian places, China town, Korea town, little Armenia, and Westwood has a large Persian population. I mean it seems we have districts for just about everyone and other places where certain people just flock to (Glendale, East LA, Westwood, etc.). Here in Whittier where I live you have a lot of Mexican food, Persian food, Thai food, Italian food, etc.

I don't think its so much a bad thing, but I do agree American products are under represented. Unfortunately its not just here, its across our great nation. NAFTA needs to be stopped!

P.S. Samo, actualy Florida has a lot of Cubans, and NY has a lot of Dominicans and Puerto Ricans so... lol

P.S.S. If he has Mexican blood, of course he's Mexican, like me (your comment about Samo). I have Mexican, Italian, and Spanish blood in me and I'm very proud of it. My moms maiden name is German too so I might even have German blood lol. That doesn't make me less of an American though, because thats what I am first and foremost (American that is lol)!
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 3:42 PM

You're right o0lux0o about the many different shops, restaurants, and cultures throughout our beautiful country, I'd like to say that is one of the reasons why I absolutely LOVE this country!!!! I love different cultures, foods, lifestyles, countries, people, I love people. I really do, and food, ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell ya I'd eat a bug if it tasted good. I also get bored easily, so I love learning new things and experiencing them, not just reading about something, but actually living it.
That's not what I'm saying I have a problem with, I'm saying the complete opposite. I'm saying that Mexican culture, meaning the language, foods, & lifestyle are replacing ours. For example: There's one Cajun BBQ restaurant in our area, compared to many Mexican food restaurants that I love, but that’s not the point.
Even Carls Jr, McDonalds, and others have begun selling burritos. That makes me laugh, burritos??? at Mcd's? But we already have Del Taco, Taco Bell, etc…. not to mention countless mom & pop Mexican restaurants.
That's just in the food industry, then you've got the public schools issue. Would anyone like to tell me why it is that I get school notices in Spanish? only? Even though I've asked that they mail mine in English?
And how many companies have Spanish speaking employees to help you? Even if you don’t know Spanish, they talk to you in Spanish and then you have to look through the store for an English speaking employee. (that doesn’t happen to me, I know both languages..ha ha..but it happens to my husband)
Our State's beginning to look and feel mo
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 3:42 PM

..... more like Mexico to me than America. I'm not saying that's something horrific, I'm saying it's an inconvenience for me, I don't like it, and it hurts to see American language and culture deteriorate. At this rate who’s to say it wont completely vanish? That's what I think is wrong. Our language or culture shouldn‘t disappear, specially if it’s the one of the country we’re living in. That's just nuts.
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 3:51 PM

As for the -American issue. Sorry but that’s just silly imo. Samo & I where joking about it earlier. I mean, you say you’re German as well right? Then are you a Mexican-German-American? C’mon. Am I an Argentine-Spanish-Italian-American? Its so silly. I’m an American. Period. Besides, why should I refer to myself as anything other than an American, when America’s the only country that’s protected me, taken care of me, and has given me the freedom and lifestyle I enjoy?
o0lux0o read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 5:33 PM

Well the fact that American companies like McD's and Taco Bell are selling horrible tasting wannabe Mexican food isn't the fault of Mexico or Mexicans. And lets be honest, its mostly people of non Mexican decent buying that stuff. Most Mexicans including myself hate that stuff, its gross.

Yeah sure you can say its silly but again, it is what it is. And no thats doesn't make me Mexican-Italian-Spanish-German-American, it makes me Mexican-American. It's your immediate ancestry followed by your country. The fact that you feel its silly is besides the point. That would be like me feeling it's stupid for people from our country calling them selves Americans and insisting they call themselves USAians or something (Yeah I know, stupid lol). My point is, just because you think its stupid doesn't mean you have to fight with people over it.
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 5:48 PM

I'm not fighting with anyone over it, YOU brought it up and accused me of being ashamed of my heritage or something...I didn't say anything about it. So how can you say I'm fighting, when YOU'RE the one who brought it up and questioned me in the first place???
I've said many times that I couldn’t care less what anyone calls themselves. What I find hilarious are people like you that make comments about those of us that call ourselves "-American-" and love our American culture. Why did you feel the need to accuse me of being indifferent towards my heritage? So what? What does it matter? Is there a law that says I have to embrace my ancestors past???? oh please.
How about I embrace MY present and love MY country and MY culture??? Is that OK?
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 5:51 PM

And could someone answer me this:


Why should I refer to myself as anything other than an American, when America’s the only country that’s protected me, taken care of me, and has given me the freedom and lifestyle I enjoy?
Makala84 read my blog
Mar 7, 2008 | 5:57 PM

I agree with most of what everyone here is saying. I hate seeing signs on the side of the freeway with Spanish writing on it. A lots of places I go nowadays are all in Spanish. English is our national language and it should not be tolerated in any part of the united states as a second language. I'm originally from Hawaii. There we have just as much Japanese and the Hawaiians aren't complaining about them as much at Californians are about the Mexicans. The reason is because almost every Japanese sign in Hawaii has it translated in English also. That is all were asking for here in LA. It is a start for lessening the tension of immigrant movement.
Makala84 read my blog
Mar 7, 2008 | 6:04 PM

I believe that everyone who wants to live here should respect our traditions and our culture. They can enrich our culture with parts of their culture but the main thing is that they respect ours. I hate it when immigrants come here and insult our culture. Like Dasvics said earlier, American culture is being replaced by the Mexican culture. It seems to me as if some Mexican Americans are ashamed to call them selves plain Americans or anything with American in it at all. I dont really care what they call themselves as long as they show some sort of respect to America.
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 6:15 PM

Hallelujah! That's exactly what I was trying to say.
It's not that I don’t like other cultures, I love them, I just don't want one to replace ours.
First of all, because...THIS IS OUR COUNTRY!??
Second, if we want diversity, then lets have diversity, but everything Mexican is not having diversity.
And third, like Makala84 said, call yourself whatever you want, all I'm asking for is a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T for my views, my country and my culture.

I love Aretha Franklin too...R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me :-)
o0lux0o read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 6:45 PM

Actually you brought it up, you mentioned in a reply and I answered it. But whatever the case is, I didn't mean to say you weren't proud of your heritage, those were not my intentions. You say that you don't care if people call themselves "-American" than why did you bring it up in the first place when someone called themselves "-American"?

I totally agree that things should be in English first and foremost. But unfortunately Makala84, English isn't our national language but it should be. English is only out de facto language.

Mexicans aren't entirely responsible for the culture shift in LA. It's in large part American business men and women who are changing things to attract consumers.
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 7:19 PM

Really? Wrong. This is how it started:


DfDeportation
Mar 2, 2008 | 12:12 AM
Hey guys, dasvics isn't fat. And Argentines, I'm learning, are pretty cool people....


dasvics
Mar 2, 2008 | 12:15 AM
oh so I'm not an American, I'm an Argentine?


DfDeportation
Mar 2, 2008 | 12:17 AM
dasvics is an American. Not Argentine/American....American. She's a great mom and I like her...she's good people...

dasvics
Mar 2, 2008 | 12:29 AM
Thanks DfD, that’s very nice of you to notice. Regardless of where I was born, I love THIS country, I don’t consider myself anything other than an AMERICAN. period. Not an Argentine-American or a Hispanic-American or an anything-American..NO MATTER WHAT. I am an American. I love the English language, I love American culture, and I’m sorry if some of my views on how to speak about illegal immigration offends some of you, but no matter how hard I try, it seems that someone always gets pisst off at me from either side of the issue. But I’m trying to -not- piss anyone off.
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Mar 7, 2008 | 7:22 PM

Show me where I said that it's wrong for anyone to call themselves anything, that I care or that it bothers me. ???? Truth is you wont find it because it's not true, nor was it said. What was said was that "I" am an AMERICAN. period. Not an Argentine-American or a Hispanic-American or an anything-American..NO MATTER WHAT. I am an American.

However...that must have offended you because you wrote: "And to answer dasvics question, yes I was born in the US. And I'm Mexican-American and very proud of that. I don't understand why you chose to suppress your heritage? I think Mexico is a beautiful country. But the US is my country and I would never dream of living anywhere else. Its where I was born, where my heart is, and where I want to stay. Does that mean I can't embrace my blood lines and the culture behind it? Of course not. Thats what made this country possible in the first place. The combined cultures of The Natives, England, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Cuba, China, Japan, India, etc. Argentina is a beautiful country as well, one I hope to visit some day. I also love the Spanish language and I speak it fluently. Is that so wrong?

Here's a quote for you guys to think about that I like:

"What do you call a person who speaks 3 languages? Trilingual. What do you call a person that speaks 2 languages? Bilingual. What do you call a person who speaks 1 language? American."

It's an interesting quote to think about. Are we really that self centered that we don't even care to learn different languages and cultures? Those are the spices of life and the roots of our co
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dasvics

I’m 36 and I don't live in sunny SO. Cali anymore :-) ***GO MCCAIN!*** "I don't think there's anything in the world I despise more than unfair and generalized discrimination against anyone -- whether because of color, religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, etc." Ms. Leelila Strogov

Member Since: 4/6/2007


 

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