Question?

[demosincebirth]

How can we get more young men and women of our culture to vote! What a difference they can make in states like Ca, Tx, Az and others with large latino populations.

[Lost-in-FL]

1. also here in FL.

There's a large PR community who does not take advantage of their US citizenship for God knows what reason. My belief is that they feel somehow excluded.

[demosincebirth]

2. I think there is too many other distractions for them.

Parents, also have to instill in their children that being active, like voting, is very important and should not be taken lightly. Until an issue that directly affects them, comes up, they will remain indifferent. We need to change that.
Education is the key in our community, and until the parents understand that, sadly, thing will remain the same

[Cleita]

3. Considering that the Spanish speaking media has been able

to muster the recent demonstrations and unionization of workers in previous years, I think they are the ones we are going to have to petition to promote voting on their airwaves and television. The sooner the better. Anyone out there with any connections to Telemundo and the rest?

[EFerrari]

4. I have no connections but am used to contacting media.

If we ask or suggest something specific, there is a good chance of gaining someone's attention.

Remember, during the marches the slogan was, "today we march, tomorrow we vote".

Maybe one first step is to find out who is already working on this?

(Working right now, but will check in al rato.)

[kpete]

5. Mucho Gusto...

A Latino Forum - Right on!

[EFerrari]

7. First our own forum, then the world.

lol

:)

[Cleita]

6. Yes, even if the young people aren't listening, abuelito and

abuelito are and will probably pass the need to vote message on.

[EFerrari]

8. My mom is over 70 and I wouldn't say "no" to her.

:scared:

[Cybergata]

9. Well, I'm a teacher and...

I've worked hard to get my students, not matter if they are Hispanic or not, to care about voting. So many of them are discouraged because of the last election. They feel it doesn't matter who they vote for, they always will get some white, old, rich dude. I tell them that the most important elections are the local elections. Those are the ones where they can make a difference in. Our State Legislature is full of Hispanics and we need more Hispanics in are city government. We may never be able to have a say in national elections, but we can make a difference in the local ones.

I went to a demonstration against Bush and our Congresswoman Heather Wilson :rofl: :rofl: a week ago, and was very proud to see some of my former students there, who also just happen to be Hispanic... I say that because I don't care what their heritage is, I just always thrilled to see former students. One of them was planning on studying political science next year at college. Another reminded me of another thing we can do to get the young to vote, and that is be an example ourselves. One of the reasons I was so thrilled to vote the first time was that my father was always exited about voting. Another former student reminded me of how I fought to get Television One (I think that was what it was called) out of my school. I'd totally forgotten about that, but he remembered.

[demosincebirth]

10. Dios te bendiga, hija.

I know you are making a difference and we need more like you teaching our children. Teachers, now a days, are very under appreciated (and underpaid).

I am glad you were able to see some of the fruits of your labor.

[Cybergata]

11. Sure, we are underpaid, especially in NM, but...

there is nothing like the feeling one gets when their students "understand" or "put the pieces together." I love learn learning, and it can be very exciting to pass on that love.

[RagingInMiami]

12. I was talking to a black friend of mine who lives in Liberty City

And he is a very well-read person. Has books from wall-to-wall in his house. But he decided he is not going to vote anymore because of what has happened in the last two elections, especially against black voters down here.

I had to tell him that I expect them to steal this election as well, but I will continue voting to not make it easy for them because that is what they want us to do. Just give up and hand them the election.

I told him that we need to keep voting because when the time comes that the rest of the country wakes up, it might be 2006, it might 2008, it might be 2010, we need to be able to take to the streets and say our vote was stolen. If we don't even vote, then we really have no claim.

So he told me he's going to think about it.