If you paid careful attention to the GOP Presidential debate in Las Vegas, it was evident that the candidates are playing it safe when it comes to Hispanics. When a Hispanic audience member specifically asked what the candidates would do to serve Latino voters, all of the candidates felt uncomfortable. There was uneasiness in the air and while there were efforts made by Ron Paul, Herman Cain and Rick Santorum to address the issue - they all failed. The GOP candidates have decided to ignore Hispanic voters until they get closer to the finish line. They lack an understanding of the cultural nuances of the Hispanic community and they don't want to learn about them either. In their minds, it is a dangerous territory that would derail the momentum of their candidacy.
The Hispanic voice must be heard. Our passionate, entrepreneurial spirit wants to be understood. We are a hungry community that wants to make a difference. But when the Hispanic community has no real agenda or authentic Hispanic leadership voice that wants to support our advancement, it makes it difficult to change the perception of Hispanics in America. Hispanics must step-up because if we don't - we will lose our voice, our language and the hope for leadership influence in the future. We are at risk of permanently losing our authentic identity.
Today, the Hispanic community is being set-up by candidates that just don't understand them. In the meantime, we are left on the sideline waiting to be heard. The intentions of the GOP candidates toward the Hispanic community are not malicious. They are just ignorant about how to communicate to a community that lacks collective focus and an objective voice that speaks to the issues that require attention and action in America.
Last week, I served as the opening keynote speaker at the National Society for Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) conference in Anaheim, California. There was unbridled enthusiasm amongst attendees - young Hispanic MBAs that are looking to be relevant contributors to the future of America. But they are looking for answers, a roadmap of reasoning about themselves and how they can best fit. These Hispanics MBAs are anxious to unleash their distinct Hispanic leadership voices that come with a powerful immigrant's perspective on how to reinvent America. This is why Latina's have become the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs in America!
True to the roots of our cultural promise, our future Hispanic leaders are confused about how to create impact and influence in the workplace when the Hispanic voice is being ignored; not taken seriously. What will they tell their children one day? This is why young Hispanics that make up over 25% of schoolchildren are having a difficult time in advancing in school. They are not being inspired and seek leadership attention both from within the Hispanic community and from mainstream voices. We are both at fault.
The GOP Presidential Candidates need to be careful. While they are being strategic about what to discuss - they must stop ignoring the future of America. Every time they do not genuinely address the Hispanic community - they are slowly weakening our nation. They are fueling the identity crisis that exists amongst a community that represents 16% of our country today and 30% in the next 19 years. While candidates may want to dread carefully around how to address Hispanic voters, they are being extremely irresponsible. They have a tremendous opportunity to empower a community that needs leadership attention and an anchor of hope to help them pursue the America dream. An important cog in the wheel that can stimulate the U.S. economy and our overall global competitiveness if given the opportunity to be heard.
As the GOP candidates get closer to the finish line, they should be responsible enough to give the Hispanic community an opportunity to reveal their agenda for a better America: a voice that allows Hispanics to own their vote. In the end, I hope these candidates don't use political tactics that force Hispanics to sell their vote for a price that will cost them their identity and potentially their future.
For Hispanics, this means that we must be ready to showcase our agenda when called upon. It's time to prepare ourselves for this moment!
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Thats the attitude why the latino community gets no respect from majority of the country. You come here and think you own the U.S. we'll be sure to remind you otherwise and sooner than later.
If you think you are our future, you are clearly mistaken. In the year of 2012 will be moment America gets serious about our country and believe this: there will be gradual reductions of the immigrant population, legal and illegals. This has been a big mistake on our part. No way 12-30 million indigenous from Mexico or Latin Amerrica will set the course for America, going forward. You guys are out of your minds.
This country is still firmly in the hands of: Whites, Blacks, Irish and Asians. The Latino population we do have will be welcome but you will never be the majority.
I do agree with you in one sense. The U.S., like any other country in the world, has the right to say 'enough' and limit illegal immigration (obviously) and legal immigration when the country can't accommodate any more legal immigrants. But as long as there are commercial and business interests that demand a constant supply of illegal immigrants, and politicians who do the bidding of commercial and business interests, there will never be any real effort made to stop illegal immigration.
And why is it that when someone uses their very American right of freedom expression, which is guaranteed in our constitution, the knee-jerk reaction of people like you is 'leave the country'? I don't know you, but I'll assume that you do not hate our constitution or our freedoms, so why do you react as if you did?