Occupy movement could be a glimpse into future Latino turmoil
As I watchthe Occupy movement make national headlines, I see the foreshadowing of another potential political upheaval on the horizon – one that will put Latinos at the center of the turmoil. Let me explain why.
The Occupy phenomenonspreading across the U.S. underscores an often-ignored fact about political movements:Revolutions are rarely instigated by the downtrodden. They are usually createdby affluent, educated young people.
Examine politicalupheavals present and past and the trend is inescapable. This year's ArabSpring… China's democracy movement culminating in Tiananmen Square… theoverthrow of the Shah of Iran… Castro's revolution in Cuba… In all of thesediverse societies, and many others, the rebellions were led by disaffected youngpeople motivated more by ideology more than personal need. Fact is, the poorare usually too concerned with survival to worry about abstract notions like justiceand equality. My personal history bears testament to this insight.
My father was a young man with rootsin Cuba's working class, the first of his family to attend college. The educationhis parents worked so hard to provide for him opened my father's eyes to theinequity and corruption of Cuban society during the reign of strongmanFulgencio Batista. Ironically, my father's role in Castro's revolution led tohis divorce from my mother and brought me to the United States.
How does allthis connect with Latinos? I think by now you may be getting the picture.
One of everyfour children under age five in the U.S. today is Hispanic according to the Census Bureau. By the time this cohort reaches their late teens, most will be fluent inEnglish and well steeped in U.S. ideals. Many will have grown up seeing theirparents struggle to make a living in a nation that tells them anything ispossible. If present trends continue, these young people will also reach their teensin a political climate that puts all Latinos in the crosshairs thanks to abacklash against illegal immigration – and the thinly veiled racism thatmovement has engendered.
Will theseyoung Latinos reach their volatile late teens meekly accepting their fate? Orwill they follow a pattern seen in scores of other cultures and lead arebellion? One thing is certain. We will not prevent this turmoil withrepressive laws that alienate Latinos like those adopted by Arizona, Alabama and other states.
Illegalimmigration is an issue that conservative politicians are using to pander votesfrom the ignorant, the fearful and the bigoted. But this short term political gain may have longrange consequences. The Occupy movement may one day be seen as the harbinger of amuch more turbulent future.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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The Occupy phenomenonspreading across the U.S. underscores an often-ignored fact about political movements:Revolutions are rarely instigated by the downtrodden. They are usually createdby affluent, educated young people. Examine politicalupheavals present and past and the trend is inescapable. This year's ArabSpring… China's democracy movement culminating in Tiananmen Square… theoverthrow of the Shah of Iran… Castro's revolution in Cuba… In all of thesediverse societies, and many others, the rebellions were led by disaffected youngpeople motivated more by ideology more than personal need. Fact is, the poorare usually too concerned with survival to worry about abstract notions like justiceand equality. My personal history bears testament to this insight.
My father was a young man with rootsin Cuba's working class, the first of his family to attend college. The educationhis parents worked so hard to provide for him opened my father's eyes to theinequity and corruption of Cuban society during the reign of strongmanFulgencio Batista. Ironically, my father's role in Castro's revolution led tohis divorce from my mother and brought me to the United States.
How does allthis connect with Latinos? I think by now you may be getting the picture.
One of everyfour children under age five in the U.S. today is Hispanic according to the Census Bureau. By the time this cohort reaches their late teens, most will be fluent inEnglish and well steeped in U.S. ideals. Many will have grown up seeing theirparents struggle to make a living in a nation that tells them anything ispossible. If present trends continue, these young people will also reach their teensin a political climate that puts all Latinos in the crosshairs thanks to abacklash against illegal immigration – and the thinly veiled racism thatmovement has engendered.
Will theseyoung Latinos reach their volatile late teens meekly accepting their fate? Orwill they follow a pattern seen in scores of other cultures and lead arebellion? One thing is certain. We will not prevent this turmoil withrepressive laws that alienate Latinos like those adopted by Arizona, Alabama and other states.
Illegalimmigration is an issue that conservative politicians are using to pander votesfrom the ignorant, the fearful and the bigoted. But this short term political gain may have longrange consequences. The Occupy movement may one day be seen as the harbinger of amuch more turbulent future.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
[image error]
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