Is America becoming a Hispanic country? By Ruben Navarrette Jr., CNN Contributor The United States is becoming an Hispanic country. And itâs happening much faster than anyone expected. According to an analysis of newly released 2010 U.S. Census data by the Pew Hispanic Center, the Hispanic population in the United States is growing more quickly and more dramatically than demographers had estimated. In the 33 states for which data has been released so far, there are almost 600,000 more Hispanics than previously thought. Twenty-eight states had more Hispanics than expected. And, while the current count is 38.7 million Hispanics, there is still data coming from 17 states, making it likely that the final figure could surpass 55 million, or 17% of the U.S. population. {snip} One day soon, Hispanics will help define the worlds of media, politics, commerce, fashion, music, entertainment, sports and science. There will be no turning back. But you knew that already. Maybe your first hint was the Latina models on magazine covers. Or that salsa is more popular than ketchup. Or the Spanish-language billboards you see on rural highways. Or that some members of Congress gather weekly for Spanish lessons. Or maybe you figured out that the Hispanic population in the United States was exploding when you saw the quixotic efforts of some to stop the trend by cracking down on illegal immigration andâfor an encoreâtrying to limit legal immigration as well. {snip} Still, for many Americans, changing demographics isnât cause for celebration. Rather, itâs cause for alarm. It brings a sense of fear, anxiety and desperation. They know enough to know that the country in which they grew up is changing, and theyâll do whatever they can to reverse those changes and return the cultural landscape to what it used to be. {snip} Ultimately, you canât fight demographics. Hispanics are already here, and most of them arenât going anywhere. Instead of wishing otherwise, Americans would be better off accepting this new reality. While theyâre at it, they should acknowledge the positive impact to their communities and their country of having a growing population of people who are, by nature, conservative, hardworking, optimistic, patriotic and entrepreneurial. Hispanics arenât a threat to the United States; theyâre an essential component. Visit any military cemetery in the United States and count the Spanish surnames. Youâll see that Hispanics have already contributed so much to this country. And, in the decades to come, they and their children stand ready to contribute so much moreâif we put aside our prejudice and let them. {snip} http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/03/18/navarrette.hispanic.census/index.html?hpt=T2
I don't think it is a surprise except maybe to the political leaders who have ignored increasingly frantic calls to start enforcing our immigration laws and secure our borders. Democrats of course are delighted by the prospect, as tens of millions of illiterate, poor hispanics will flock to their message of take from those who earned it and give it to those who vote for us. Republican leaders are paralyzed, caught between their supporters who demand action and what they see as the oncoming demographic train. It's not too late to reverse this, but it soon will be. There is nothing shameful, racist, nativist etc in wanting to preserve the culture that built our country. Every other country on earth, most particularly Mexico, takes it as a given that their culture should be protected and immigration tightly controlled. It's time we started the same policy.
dont worry, the inability to pay for any of it will soon come home to roost. republicans will be saved by a broke treasury. it wont matter who does what, it'll be game over.