Cinco de Mayo

[SteveStromberg]

The Invaders are Whinnig again.

Latino group pushing boycott
Other organizations not part of new effort

By STEPHEN WALL, Staff Writer

Its name means "We Are United' in English, but Estamos Unidos is struggling to unify Latinos to support an economic boycott today and Thursday.

The Ontario-based group is urging Latinos not to shop, buy gas or eat in restaurants to show the economic muscle of the nation's fastest-growing ethnic minority.

The protest coincides with Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday commemorating Mexico's defeat of a better-equipped French army in 1862.

It is the group's third boycott in seven months. The first boycott on Oct. 11 and 12 received limited attention. The second one on Dec. 12 generated more publicity, but was criticized because organizers encouraged Latinos to keep their children home from school that day. The event also drew fire because hundreds of people who were encouraged to skip work reportedly lost their jobs.

Estamos Unidos is not advocating children missing school or workers staying home this time around.

However, the new boycott is suffering from infighting and bickering among Latino organizations that share similar goals but promote different means to achieve them.

The Mexican-American Political Association and Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, two advocacy groups that played a key role in the Dec. 12 boycott, are not on board with the new effort.

Nativo Lopez, who heads both organizations, said Estamos Unidos should have reached a consensus among Latino groups before launching the boycott.

"These are tactical decisions that should result in building organization among the people in a permanent way,' Lopez said. "When you do something just for agitation's sake, it's the height of irresponsibility.'

Jesse Diaz, the leader of Estamos Unidos, disagreed.

"They are against it because they didn't initiate it,' said Diaz, a graduate student at UC Riverside. "If people don't want to work with us, that's their choice. We'll work with anybody.'

Diaz said the boycott is aimed at drawing attention to Latinos' purchasing power and encouraging politicians to support immigrant causes such as allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain California driver's licenses.

Latinos in the United States spent $580.5 billion in 2002 and are projected to spend $926 billion in 2007, according to the University of Georgia's Selig Center.

The country's nearly 40million Latinos eat more fast food, buy more cars, trucks, shoes and furniture, and go to the movies more often than non-Latino groups, according to a study commissioned by the Telemundo television network.

Companies such as Blockbuster, K-Mart, Sears, Hallmark and McDonald's are increasingly targeting Latino consumers, Diaz said.

"We're here and we're here to stay,' Diaz said. "We just need to get people to accept that. We pay taxes like everybody else, but we're unable to take advantage of the same privileges available to everyone else, like getting driver's licenses.'

Libreria Del Pueblo, an immigrant advocacy organization in San Bernardino, distributed about 10,000 fliers urging local residents to honor the boycott.

"We as Latinos have to be united,' said Patricio Guillen, executive director of Libreria Del Pueblo. "I think this is a good test to see how much of an impact we can have on the economy and to see how much solidarity there is among us.'

Diaz said many supporters of the boycott will participate today in a march on the state capital and a rally at San Francisco City College in support of driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.

He said the December strike was the catalyst behind President Bush's guest worker proposal that was unveiled in January.

While he is hoping the boycott prompts similar action at the state and federal levels, Diaz is realistic in his expectations.

"If five or six or 10 people don't buy tomorrow, it's a success,' he said.

[dd74]

So Steve, are you mad or glad about this? Not to belittle your point, whatever that is, but in my view, who cares?

[Zeke]

I think Steve's point is embodied in the article. Rather than earning a respected place in society, assuming that they believe the Latino population doesn't already have that, they will call attention to their population with a negative action. Typical ignorant move.

Reminds me of the 3 idiots that parked their trucks on the freeway and walked away. Now that's a good way to gain my respect. How about you?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Wait....the French military actually won a battle?

[Hugh R]

"Latinos in the United States spent $580.5 billion in 2002 and are projected to spend $926 billion in 2007, according to the University of Georgia's Selig Center."

Its not how much they spend, its how much in services (like education) for their kids that they suck out of the system. If you have two kids in public school in CA, the state pays $7,300 per kid or $14,600 in taxes to educate your kids. If you only make $20,000 per year, you aren't paying enough taxes to put your own kids through school, let alone paying your "fair share" of taxes for police, fire, roads, etc. The social services to illegals are what is breaking California financially.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Social services IN GENERAL is what's breaking Kalefornia.

Pay as you go, I say.

[john70t]

"yeah/yeegh/yaugh/yeag! The european country defeated the french for control over our mexico/central america. I'm sure the spanish will treat us much better."

The economic competition in the south-west states is what slows massive immigration.

"Slows" is the key word. U.S. economics ensures that 8-children families who work for peanuts become sucessfull/dominant. That's been the history, and latinos are as diverse/smart as euro imigrants.

Unfortunately, "the ones who have the most babies win" situation seems to be the standard these days. Hopefully there will remain sufficient land/natural filters in the following centuries to sucessfully sustain us fat americans.

[RickM]

It does appear that thinks are very scattered.

First off what is a "Latino". ?????

My mother was (God rest her soul) a blue eyed blond from Northern Spain. I wouldn't classify her as a "Latino". Nor did she celebrate Cinco De Mayo, which is a Mexican only holiday. So, is that spend number for people of hispanic decent?

Hugh, your comment assumes all "Latinos" are Illegals.

Also, I believe the latest info points to Asians as being the fastest growing "minority" group in te US....or was it Nascar fans?

[SRISER]

You would think that a Latino would be from a latin country...but no. Somehow, we have lost the use of the word Mexican, Columbian etc. What is wrong with that? It is like using the silly word Hispanic which means nothing...it is a word that the US government made up. Where are these people from, Hispania?

I am of the firm belief that all legal residents of the US should be called Americans. No hyphens. Just Americans.

[RickM]

What pisses me the most is when a misguided business has Hispanic as a race on an application form. A person of hispanic decent can be black or white. Or of Islander / Indian background.

It's like calling all people of color Afro American.

BTW, aren't all countrys in the Mediterranean "Latin"?

[Hugh R]

"Hugh, your comment assumes all "Latinos" are Illegals."

Two different statements, and I should have been clearer. The $'s spent by Latinos, Hispanics, Mexican/Columbian/whatever-Americans, is a so what statement, what about how much money Scotish-Americans spend. If your illegal, you probably suck more out of the system than you'll ever put back in.

[GrindingGears]

Originally posted by Hugh R
If your illegal, you probably suck more out of the system than you'll ever put back in.

Yeah, but if they weren't around (working for nothing) you and I would be picking our own artichokes... or paying $4 dollars for them...

[RickM]

Here's some Cinco de Mayo trivia questions http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/features/2549439

For a little bait here's one of the answers.......

Quote: "A ragtag collection of Mexican soldiers defeated the larger, better-equipped French army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862."

[SteveStromberg]

Actually the Atrichoke havester was invented in the60's at UC Davis as were many other Harvesting machines. We really do not need to use manual labor to harvest crops.

[Hugh R]

I'd make that argument that then my taxes would be lower, but I know the politicians would find something else to spend my money on.

[SteveStromberg]

Be very careful driving this afternoon. See below

http://www.vdare.com/walker/dui.htm

[bbq_duck]

BTW... cinco de mayo is mainly celebrated in the U.S. - not Mexico... Its just another reason to drink excessively... oh yea, and eat mexican food too

[vash]

Originally posted by SRISER
You would think that a Latino would be from a latin country...but no. Somehow, we have lost the use of the word Mexican, Columbian etc. What is wrong with that? It is like using the silly word Hispanic which means nothing...it is a word that the US government made up. Where are these people from, Hispania?

I am of the firm belief that all legal residents of the US should be called Americans. No hyphens. Just Americans.

hispania! that is my arguement since my highschool days. if you think about it, it is the opposite of what gets all us asians ruffled up (not me, i could give a rats...)

"oriental?!! i am not oriental! a rug is oriental, we are asians!"

but in the "hispanic"culture, you dont hear that. you hear, "mexican?! i am not mexican, food is mexian, i am HISPANIC!"

we should be eating hispanic food with our mexican friends. right? i dont get it, i cant find Hispania on any map. me i am american, and my parents were both born in china. nuff said.

[RickM]

Quick Cinco story.

Downstairs, paying for lunch and one of my co-workers casually mentions to the cashier that he hopes she enjoys Cino de Mayo.
She, being of Columbian descent, looks at him and asks, in broken english, "What do you mean? We don't have such a holiday"

He looked at her with an equally puzzled expression and was at a loss for words. He thought she was pulling his leg.

[SteveStromberg]

If you live near the border the FBI needs your help. Be on the look out for these suspects.

http://www.narctip.com/