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The
Future of Young Latinas
When the September issue of Hispanic came in, the
first thing that caught my eye was not the talented
Paulina Rubio but this headline: “The Uncertain
Future of Young Latinas.” As an 18-year-old
Latina getting ready to head off to her first year
at the University of California, San Diego, I was
intrigued. After reading the article I had to write
and say THANK YOU to Carolyn Curiel and Hispanic.
I just graduated from Ramona Convent in Alhambra,
not far from Ramona Opportunity High School in East
L.A. Needless to say, I would get some pretty strange
looks when I told people I went to Ramona. But your
article wrote about Ramona Opportunity High and
its students in a different way, the way it should
be seen as: an opportunity. That is also what you
have given young Latinas by publishing an article
on this issue. I am a first-generation college student
in my family and I know that there will be major
challenges ahead of me; especially once I have to
enter the professional workforce. I am proud of
my Hispanic heritage and if articles like these
keep raising awareness, the opportunities for young
Latinas such as myself can only expand.
Jessica Vargas
Monterey Park, California
This
morning at breakfast I read the article in the September
2006 issue about Carolyn Curiel’s speech at
the Latinas of Excellence Luncheon. I found it a
very moving message. I hope it can be shared widely,
for it tells a story of hope and success in spite
of humble beginnings. The image of Ms. Curiel’s
mother looking up at the nun and supporting her
daughter is burned in my memory. The description
of her early life in Gary, Indiana and subsequent
accomplishments is inspirational.
J. Herman Blake, Ph.D.
Beaufort, South Carolina
I
would like to say thank you for your choice of including
Carolyn Curiel’s Call to Action in the Hispanic
Heritage Special. Yes, special it is. It showed
that as Latinos, whether Mexicans, Puerto Ricans,
Brazilians, etc., we are faced with a variety of
adversities. While society has neglected us, poverty
has welcomed us with despair, that’s a fact
of life. So, it is up to us to set examples for
the new generation, [and show them] that where there
is life, there is a chance; where there is dignity,
there is hope. It’s up to us to teach our
kids to be optimistic and ambitious despite the
struggles ahead. We are our children’s role
models—we are their first hope, so let’s
not be their first failure. Once again, thank you
for the Hispanic Heritage Special, it was a wonderful
choice.
Hector Huertas
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Up
Front
Congratulations to Mr. Navarrette for the recent
Up Front [A Tall Order for Mexico’s President-Elect]
article. This article and previous articles written
by him reflect the feelings of first, second and
third generation Mexican Americans. Our parents
left Mexico because they could not make a living
there. So, they came to this country, which offered
them a job and an opportunity to give their children
an education. As Mr. Navarrette says, and I quote,
“my family and my children’s family
no longer have a stake in Mexico. That goes double
for Mexico’s presidential elections.”
I am a combat veteran that fought for this country
and I owe my allegiance only to this country. The
article reflects the feelings of a lot of the native
Mexican Americans living in this country. Mexico
still works for the light skinned, educated and
rich! So, we look south of the border and say que
les vaya bien.
Fernando Martinez, P.E.
Pasadena, Texas
More
Bipartisan Bashing
The biased Tipping the Balance article under Politics
in September’s In The News, section should
at least include both sides of the story. It should
read something like “Notwithstanding negative
talk on right wing AND MAINSTREAM LIBERAL MEDIA
(such as CNN), House Republicans threatening legislation
that would make the undocumented felons, AND DEMOCRATS
RUNNING AN AD EQUATING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WITH
TERRORISTS, the National Council of La Raza’s
convention drew speakers ranging from Bill Clinton
to Karl Rove...
Pablo Schneider
Dallas, Texas
A
New Hispanic Holiday
It is high time that the entire nation should commemorate
the birthday of Mexican American social justice
icon,
César Chávez. He was known as the
Gandhi of the fields as he peacefully fought on
behalf of overworked and underpaid farmworkers and
migrants who toiled amidst toxic insecticides and
pesticides. César Chávez was also
an environmentalist and a vegetarian who denounced
bullfighting, dogfighting, cockfighting and all
forms of cruelty against animals. He advocated universal
nonviolence and racial and ethnic reconciliation.
César Chávez had reverence for all
life and his humane philosophy could inspire millions
of people to emulate him. This is why it is imperative
to have a national holiday on March 31, César
Chávez’s birthday.
BRIEN COMERFORD
Glenview, Illinois
Send
us your comments!
Address mail to: Hispanic, Letters to the
Editor, c/o Page One Media, 6355 N.W. 36th
St., Suite 401, Miami, FL 33166 or e-mail
us at hispeditor@page1media.com. Letters should
include writer’s full name, city and
phone number. Not all letters can be printed,
and those chosen for publication may be edited
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