Racism is born from fear and ignorance (lack of awareness)

[KaraokeKarlton]

The only way to overcome fear and ignorance is to go straight to those who are fearful and unaware and do something to change the fear and lack of awareness. How on earth would some of those on this site propose anyone fight fear and ignorance by further promoting division through avoidance? The ONLY way to fight racism is to bring people together and find common ground...like education, healthcare, the economy, jobs, housing...all those things EVERYONE shares concern over.

[4323Lopez]

1. Plus my two cents!

My opinion is I would like us to unify as a "Latino" culture that has so many similarities, such as Spanish language, religion(primarily Catholic), foods, drink and holidays. If we would unite politically such as (Cubano, Mexicanos, Puerto Ricans, all groups etc) getting along and joining under one umbrella for the sake of voting that would be great. Because to squabble Dominicans against Mexicans etc. it just keeps us apart. You don't have to say your the same as each other, because no one says you are, just aknowledging that your have more in common than different is enough. Because, as a conjoined, monolithic political power we would do great things for all our nationalitys, cultures as a whole.
Other than that, I think its very important to acknowledge individual cultures/allegiances respectively, such as different feast days, parades, traditions etc. For example, I'm not going to have alot in common with a Florida Cubano, simply because I live in a different part of the US and look toward the Southwest as my motherland not Cuba but even so, it should not be assumed that we are so different... we both have dark skin and speak Spanish so we have more in common than we would with a random white person.

[La_Serpiente]

2. wow, a refreshing breath in all the madness

yes, it would be nice if latinos would all hook up.

I don't think latinos should have to pull together on every single issue -- but there are some commonalities that bind them. The language, the literature, and the things they bring from their homelands.

And also, "most" Latinos share the immigrant experience that I feel most Americans do not understand. I say this only because most anglo, german, other european families have been here for quite some time. Most latinos have come here only recently to the United States.

[4323Lopez]

6. Thanks for the support!

Not to discredit anything your saying but you must remember that there are Latinos in this country, me included, who's ancestors have been here longer than Pilgrims have...its a stereotype that Latinos are all immigrants and aliens.

[La_Serpiente]

8. Oh, I'm sorry

yes, that is true. There were latinos here in the during the mexican american war. During that time, the US was supposed to allow them to own their land, however, they took it away from them.

I just said that because a lot of latinos immigrated here to the US during the 1990s after the peso crashed, and for other factors as well.

[wtmusic]

3. Speaking the language has a lot to do with it

When I learned to speak Spanish I gained a newfound appreciation for Latin culture

[KaraokeKarlton]

4. Oh yes, where culture is concerned

people within various groups have something unique in common. Politically, those cultural differences should NOT divide people or stand in the way of politics. Ultimately, there is only one race that needs to take precedence over all others, and that's the HUMAN RACE. As much as we are all different, we also are all alike. Until we all learn to find that common ground and embrace what makes us the same as each other, we will never fully learn how to embrace what makes us different.

[rudeboy666]

5. correction

"...we both have dark skin and speak Spanish so we have more in common than we would with a random white person."

A lot of Cubanos are white.

This is especially the case in South America.

We are a multi-racial people united by a common history, culture, and language.

[4323Lopez]

7. hehe..

Of course white cubanos are included, don't take everything so literally..:)