Pull together, not apart
by Rychie Orellana Schwinn
Following the horrific events that transpired on September 11 in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, I was on my way home listening to the car radio. Naturally, all the radio stations were buzzing with the terrible event that had just occurred.
One of the radio personalities was commenting on how Americans from all over the country were volunteering to help in any way that they could, and how they were sticking together through anything that may arise from this cowardly attack on the United States of America. It made me feel so proud to be an American and so glad that I live in this wonderful country of ours.
I was deep into this feeling when by chance I changed to a Kingsport radio station, where people were calling in expressing how they felt about the events. One caller said "I don't know why America allows foreigners to live here, this country is for Americans only." Another caller said "We have to get rid of all the Hispanics; they are the cause of all our problems in this state; they take our jobs, never pay taxes and get loans from banks without paying any interest for 10 years, but us 'white folks' can't get a loan for a car without paying high interest, besides paying taxes, so I say, send all the Hispanics back to here they came from."
This information is wrong, of course. Hispanics cannot get loans with no interest at any time. Just like everyone else they need Social Security numbers and credit. The only way they can get loans is if they get financed from individuals who do it on their own. And they do pay some kind of interest. I don't know where people get this from.
Now, if you think that made me proud to be an American, you are mistaken. It made me ashamed! The people who this misguided soul wants to get rid of are most definitely Americans! They are not "Hispanic" and they are not "Latinos" although they speak Spanish fluently, they work in the tobacco fields and are paid a small wage for the privilege of working at a job no one else wants to do, with a broken back and sunburned skin they support a large family and when the work is done...they move on. YES! THEY ARE AMERICANS.......
What makes an American? If you live in and love the U.S.A. as well as work and pay taxes, you are an American!
Does it really matter where someone was born or how they arrived in this country? We are all immigrants excepts for the Indians. If you check into history, the Hispanics were the first Europeans to arrive in this country. As far as California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, etc. it was part of Mexico before it was conquered or bought by the United States. I would also like to mention that there is an organization which helps people such as the Americans I just mentioned. It's called "Latinos Unidos."
Latinos Unidos is an organization of Latinos, primarily recent immigrants from Mexico and other Central and South American countries. The goals of Latinos Unidos are to work for dignity and justice for ourselves and other oppressed people. We want to change the balance of power so that everyone of any race, gender or creed has a voice in their communities. We want to make sure that all immigrants have good incomes, quality education, decent housing and good health care by holding public and private institutions accountable for providing the services, respect and decent treatment that everyone deserves. Presently, there are four local chapters of Latinos Unidos: Dayton, Johnson City/Erwin, Morristown and Knoxville. We will be organizing new chapters in the very near future.
Latinos Unidos is a program of the Southern Empowerment Project (SEP). SEP's mission is to stand with the oppressed challenging racism and social injustice. Latinos Unidos is hosting a concert/dance on Oct. 27, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the I-75 Expo Center. The band Karizzma will perform a variety of music, from Cumbia and Merengue to Salsa. This event is a benefit for the tragedy that happened on September 11, with proceeds going to Red Cross. A small portion will go to Latinos Unidos so we can continue to help the Latinos in Tennessee.
If anyone would like more information or would like to sponsor or donate you can contact: Southern Empowerment Project at 865-984-6500 or Rychie Orellana Schwinn at 423-231-0020/423-317-7199.
October 18, 2001 * Vol. 11, No. 42
© 2001 Metro Pulse
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