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Nobody likes change, but like death and taxes change is inevitable. Change is constant. We are creatures of habit and when those changes affect us, we often become fearful. We either try to fight against them, hate them, roll with the punches or embrace them. Having worked for state government in the prison system, I learned how politics influenced change both good and bad. Every time a new Governor was elected you could expect changes. If a new Warden took over, there would be changes. All you could do is accept what you could not change and go with the flow. It made life a lot less stressful.
In today’s America we are seeing a number of government policies and major social changes which many people cannot accept and are fearful of, especially the extreme right wing of the Republican Party. Some of the issues have polarized the country. The Affordable Care Act, immigration/border issues, gay marriage and of course the black man in the White House come to mind. Barack Obama was the first non-white male to be elected President of the United States. It seemed to make some Republicans weep. No wonder they went into shock when they heard the news in 2008 that by the year 2050 it is expected that minorities will out number whites in the United States. Hispanic immigrants both legal and illegal were the fastest growing immigrant population although they have now been surpassed by Asian immigrants.
Non-Hispanic whites in four states are already now the minority. The states are Hawaii, Texas, New Mexico and California. Inter-racial marriage continues to grow. It is no wonder that states like Arizona passed anti-immigrant legislation like Senate Bill 1070 although a major reason for the law included making money for the private prisons that would house illegal immigrants. Then politicians began painting pictures of Mexican and Central American immigrants as drug smugglers, armed criminal invaders, and disease carriers. Republicans called for more border security and even wanted to build a border fence.
Build a fence, build a wall it won’t stop them from coming. Like gay marriage, the browning of America is inevitable. Don’t fear it. They are not going to force you to speak Spanish, eat menudo or watch Telemundo, although they will remember those politicians who looked down on them. The Hispanic/Mexican culture is already established in the U.S. so what more is there to worry about?
Many of us won’t be living to see it happen but I would bet that down the road of time your sons and daughters, grandchildren or great grandchildren will meet someone of a different color and ethnic background. They will have a child that may be part white, black, brown, or Asian but all American. Then maybe the fear and hatred will subside.
Author’s Note:
I have been given the opportunity to express my opinion and viewpoints on politics, national, state, and local issues as well as life in general. I hope to inform you as well as entertain you, make you smile or make you mad. I will use humor, sarcasm and occasionally anger to express my views. My intention is to hold politicians accountable sometimes bringing some heat on them and if my views make you angry or hot, remember that like my humor, it is a dry heat. These opinions are entirely my own and do not reflect the views of Copper Area News Publishers.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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