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Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 | 2 a.m.
What's Your Vision?
One of the most noticeable changes that will occur in the next 10 years will be the increase in the number of Latino children in the educational system.
Right now, about 40 percent of the students in Clark County schools are Latino and we’re going to have continued growth of Hispanics to the point where they will be the majority. That’s posing a lot of problems for the school system and the community, especially in terms of the large number of students for whom English is not their first language.
To address the problems this will bring, there needs to be a shift in the way we view Latinos in the community. As you look across the valley, realize it was largely built by Latino hands. It’s frustrating that Latinos have been instrumental, especially in the past 20 years, to build Las Vegas into what it has become, but there’s no attribution or recognition of their contributions.
Unfortunately, I think the Hispanic community in Nevada has something of a stigma to it. We do not have the political power that other groups have. Right now, most politicians are afraid to embrace Hispanics; I’m astounded by the comments I see in the paper with regard to the brazen hatred that’s directed at our community.
But I’m an optimist, and I see a lot of progress in the community.
The Latino culture’s work ethic is unsurpassed. You have people who are here to work and have a better life. We need the opportunity to lift ourselves up. The progress has to come from the community itself, and today I see more individuals running for political office, which is good.
I think one of things we are going to see, hopefully, is we will have more political representation, in the Legislature and on the Clark County Commission and city councils and so on. And that’s essential if we’re going to have the opportunity to lift the community up, because the Latino community, and the minority community in general, faces a lot of challenges — higher unemployment and dropout rates especially — and all of those have effects on the entire community.
Part of it is political. The other part is Latinos working to create their own nonprofit organizations, their own businesses and their own charter schools over the next couple of years so they can lift their own community up.
Part of what has to happen in Nevada is for the Latino community to mature. And we have much to learn from the African-American community in Las Vegas. They have gained political power, established their own organizations to help people. I think over the next couple of years you’re going to see a maturation in the leadership in the Latino community where in our own organizations through our own political empowerment and our businesses we will be able to make our own place better and to help ourselves and to help others.
I’ve spoken to many Latino families and the parents will tell you: “We need to learn English, our kids need to learn English.”
That will be critical in the next 10 years. I think that as the well being of the Latino population goes, so goes the well being of Las Vegas.
Rene Cantu Jr. is the Nevada State College vice president of multicultural affairs and vice chairman of the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce.
Chances are if you are "Latino" (a term dreamed up by our corrupt government decades ago to describe the bean-eating Spanish speaking group) and you don't speak English you are an illegal alien. Illegal aliens are criminals and parasites, one and all. Their very presence here and practically everything they do on U. S. soil is illegal. They need to be ferreted out, rounded up like cattle, punished for their numerous crimes, then booted back to whence they snuck in from with such extreme prejudice that they will never, ever think of violating our sovereignty again. Enough is enough.
The article says that in the future the latino community will dominate. Well, du-u-uh. When we don't have a government that upholds immigration laws, that's a no-brainer!
The amazing about legal Hispanics is that, as they assimilate into our melting pot, they have fewer children. And that is the key to their future, as well as ours. Popping out 4-6 children probably means you will be poor, Mommy can't work, and Daddy's money only goes so far.
Illegals, on the other hand, do have excess children. Therein lies the problem. How to fix it, I have not a clue. It would seem we are going to have the illegals and their ESL problems forever. But keep in mind, rednecks, they suffer, too. But I guess they're better off than being back in the Motherland. I guess...
The fact that our government is not enforcing our federal immigration laws is a crime in itself. Instead of bringing in immigrants legally to fill the gaps in our labor needs, assimmilate to our laws and customs, as the visa card program and the greencard program were created to do, with the help of politicians businesses are getting visa card holders for a lower wage. Our citizens can't compete against these immigrants because of the fact that we have to be paid a minimum wage, as per our governments labor laws. This puts we the people at a disadvantage from the start to where we can't even compete.
Businesses with our governments help are without fear of being jailed or fined, and able to work illegal immigrants, who also, for the most part, have been granted immunity against being prosecuted for breaking our federal immigration laws.
We now as american citizens are forced to assimmilate to the way our law makers and law officers are not upholding the laws they have written and the laws they have sworn to uphold.
It appears Mr Cantu Jr. is just another husler using race to build a fortune and a political power base. Latinos in the valley should embrace the culture, language and customs of the country they have chosen to live in and succeed in. Their future is in this country not where they came from. All immigrants must look into the rear view mirror, smile and move forward. Workers built this valley not ethnic groups and someone promotes race like Mr Cantu Jr. makes me suspicious of his motives.
We all know the valley is full of illegal aliens who bring misery to all of us including legal immigrants and citizens. We are paying the bill for the crime, education and health care of those who violate our laws and disrespect our country. Until this stops their will be no peace, security or prosperity for anyone. Perhaps Mr Cantu Jr. should be promoting enforcement of the rule of law for all and forget the race baiting...
I think it is a disgrace to come to this country and fly a mexican flag. If thats what you are go home. Also how can their political clout grow when a large uneducated percentage of them came here illegally. Do us a favor and learn about birth control. Sorry, thats just how i feel. I know its probably not popular but oh well.