The myth of a "Latino Monolith"

[jaxexpat]

There is no Latino voter.

There are Mexican Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, Cuban Americans, Central American Americans, South American Americans (some who don't even speak Spanish). Just as there is no voter group called Europeo or Asio.

There are African Americans, but woe to that politician who claims to wield their power without their love and respect. In the land of diversity, governance of/for all is a rare gift. The givers loan their support, their passions shaped by their experiences. Loans require repayment, a clear understanding of the currency and an appreciation for the value. Democrats seldom conclude that contract with a clarity which is adequately sensitive to the diversity of expectations. (Though, not nearly as ham-handedly as Republicans.)

This time the misread was in south Florida where the Cuban community proclaimed their refusal of any transaction based on commonality with the general population. They refused to be treated as just another facet in the Latino Monolith. Theirs was a proclamation, a warning, to all who presume to divine the will of precariously perched minorities. Marco Rubio holds their loyalty at this point. He waves the flag demonizing socialistic progressivism. He lies to them but they trust his lies more than they trust the promises of Democrats. Their expectations, like their experiences, are their own.

The interests of Mexican Americans in the southwest are light years from south Florida. Though their time has also come for them to confidently follow their own political leaders with their loyalties and alliances. The white man's dominance there is being eclipsed. The region is like a re-birthplace, dominated by the passions of folks who've endured much and are probably not prepared to take "it" anymore. It is, unfortunately, unclear how the native American's interests will play in this. They may outlast us all. That would be beautiful justice.

Just my reflection on the nature of a couple of dogies in the cobbled-together herd of cats which is the Democratic party.

[intheflow]

1. Thank you!

I've been posting this all over twitter and facebook for two days. In my city, we have huge populations of Puerto Ricans and Dominican-Americans - do NOT confuse the two if you want to make friends. These two cultures are so very different from the Mexican-Americans I knew in Colorado. It drive me crazy when the MSM talks about "the Latino vote." Like, racist much?

[jaxexpat]

2. I once had a crew: black dude from rural N. Georgia, 2 Mexican green card holders and.......

a Puerto Rican fellow.
This agri-rural W. Kentucky rube learned a few things.
First lesson, let THEM decide to listen to me.
Second lesson, don't expect them to do best when planning cooperatively.
Third lesson, take time to appreciate the insights available through their differences.
I'm retired now and still consider my experience being with them the most personally enlightening in my career. I was the lucky one.