Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: American as the outdoors

Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003 | 8:25 a.m.

TEN YEARS AGO THE FORD FOUNDATION funded "The Latino National Political Survey" which resulted in some head scratching by people who don't know these Americans. The Americans of Mexican, Cuban and Puerto Rican descent didn't fall into the popular stereotypes many fellow Americans had placed them.

The survey showed that they think of themselves only as Americans. This prompted me to glean bits of information for a column.

Yes, those surveyed believed in bilingual education but did so because they viewed it as a way to better learn English. They wanted to be more effective in the use of the English language.

How did they feel about immigration? They didn't support increased numbers of foreigners coming into our country. And most of them considered themselves as politically moderate. They believed, as do most of their countrymen, in increased spending for health, child services, fighting crime and protecting the environment.

They didn't want to be put into a single "Hispanic" or "Latino" cluster by their fellow Americans. Especially, they didn't like to be called Latinos. They wanted to be identified by their country of origin.

Are they successful as Americans? The 1993 survey showed that the poorest and least educated members of the surveyed group were born abroad and speak mostly Spanish. This rapidly changes with those who were born in this country. For example, almost 63 percent of those of Mexican ancestry who were born in the United States use only, or mostly, English at home.

A prominent Mexican-American in Las Vegas wasn't surprised by the poll results. John Mendoza remarked, "If they want to see how these people love the United States, they should check the high number who have received the Medal of Honor."

Because that first survey showed that these Americans supported environmental issues, a recently completed article in Wilderness magazine caught my attention. It was an interview with Sergio Bendixen of Bendixen & Associates of Miami. The company had just completed a survey of how Hispanic registered voters in California, Arizona and New Mexico view the expansion of wilderness areas. The approval of wilderness expansion was 81 percent in California, 75 percent in Arizona and 72 percent in New Mexico.

When asked why they are so supportive of wilderness protection, Bendixen answered: "First of all, going on a picnic over the weekend with family and friends is a very important part of the Hispanic culture, so they value wilderness and green space. Protecting such land is a way for them to keep in touch with the people they care about. In fact, a major discount chain asked us to do a study to identify items not available in their stores that might attract Hispanic customers, and the number-one item ended up being picnic baskets.

"There is a religious basis, too. More than 90 percent agreed that '... wilderness areas are part of God's creation, and we have a moral responsibility to ... protect them.' "

More than two-thirds of the survey respondents agreed that "if we don't protect the wilderness now, ... beautiful natural areas will disappear before our children and grandchildren have a chance to enjoy them."

Like other Americans, the Hispanics polled were influenced by where they live. Bendixen told Wilderness, "More than 70 percent of the citizens we spoke with indicated that they go camping or hiking at least a few times a year. In contrast, less than a third of those surveyed in California and Arizona said they ever go fishing or hunting. Of the New Mexico respondents, 55 percent said they do fish or hunt, which I believe reflects the fact that they are a more rural population than Latinos in the other two states. Very few of the people we contacted have any interest in motorized recreation in these places."

As I have written before, Spanish-speaking people in our country are as American as apple pie and baseball. Come to think about it, their skill as baseball players makes some of them very special Americans.