DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Ernest Rodriguez speeches, 1976-2006 | Mexican Independence Speech by Ernest Rodriguez Page 4

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Ernest Rodriguez speeches, 1976-2006

Mexican Independence Speech by Ernest Rodriguez Page 4

We no longer are swayed to vote for a Anglo politicians who promise the moon and all the cheese we can eat. We are saying that we are tired of promises. We are tired of being spectators of a democratic process which ignores our social and economic needs. The spirit of independence is driving us to become participants of the democratic process. We know we are qualified to hold political office and accept political appointments. Anyone can making the same dumb mistakes we see our political leaders make today. 

Many Hispanics are being elected and reelected to political offices all over the country. Hispanics are being elected in Davenport, Iowa, Silvis, Illinois, Chicago and other parts of the Midwes not to mention the East and Southwest. We are entering a new era of political awareness and activism. 

Another political issue which concerns us very much is the funding of bilingual education programs. Bilingual instruction is an educational tool to insure that Spanish-speaking children do not fall behind their peers 2 and 3 grades before they start learning anything. Bilingual instruction teaches the child in his own language at the same time teaches him English. This provides the Spanish-speaking child a smooth transition into an English-speaking school system. A well-known Mexican American leader once said, " Education is freedom and freedom is every body's business." Does it make sense to discourage a child's retention of his mother tongue when we are so desperately in need of bilingual ambassadors and State Department workers in the Spanish speaking countries of Latin America?  Why don't we capitalize on this valuable resource in the education of bilingual children. Understanding the cultural and political differences of a people is made much easier if you speak their language. It has been said that language is the spinal column of of a person's cultural heritage.

Another issue which confronts the Mexican American today is jobs. The depressed economy we are experiencing has had a tremendous impact on blue collar workers working in manufacturing industries. The majority of Mexican Americans work in these impacted industries. We need out government to implement programs which will spur the economy of this country. People can't support a family washing dishes, waiting tables and working at other minimum or near minimum wage jobs.

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We no longer are swayed to vote for a Anglo politicians who promise the moon and all the cheese we can eat. We are saying that we are tired of promises. We are tired of being spectators of a democratic process which ignores our social and economic needs. The spirit of independence is driving us to become participants of the democratic process. We know we are qualified to hold political office and accept political appointments. Anyone can making the same dumb mistakes we see our political leaders make today. Many Hispanics are being elected and reelected to political offices all over the country. Hispanics are being elected in Davenport, Iowa, Silvis, Illinois, Chicago and other parts of the Midwes not to mention the East and Southwest. We are entering a new era of political awareness and activism. Another political issue which concerns us very much is the funding of bilingual education programs. Bilingual instruction is an educational tool to insure that Spanish-speaking children do not fall behind their peers 2 and 3 grades before they start learning anything. Bilingual instruction teaches the child in his own language at the same time teaches him English. This provides the Spanish-speaking child a smooth transition into an English-speaking school system. A well-known Mexican American leader once said, " Education is freedom and freedom is every body's business." Does it make sense to discourage a child's retention of his mother tongue when we are so desperately in need of bilingual ambassadors and State Department workers in the Spanish speaking countries of Latin America? Why don't we capitalize on this valuable resource in the education of bilingual children. Understanding the cultural and political differences of a people is made much easier if you speak their language. It has been said that language is the spinal column of of a person's cultural heritage. Another issue which confronts the Mexican American today is jobs. The depressed economy we are experiencing has had a tremendous impact on blue collar workers working in manufacturing industries. The majority of Mexican Americans work in these impacted industries. We need out government to implement programs which will spur the economy of this country. People can't support a family washing dishes, waiting tables and working at other minimum or near minimum wage jobs.