This has not been a place where I usually bring up my politics but today I make a change.  I have become so accustomed to blogging about what my boys do and say that I have forgot to mention the process I go through to do it.  First of all there is a lot of translating that happens when I write about JT because JT speaks Spanish.  That’s right.  I became aware a couple of weeks ago that I’ve never talked about the language situation in our home.  With some of the political goings on in our country these days I think this is a good time.  Well here it is.

 

Mami and I are both bilingual.  We were both born in the United States but were lucky enough to be brought up fluent in Spanish and English.  After Q was born we made the decision to share the gift of language with him. 

 

We have friends who have tried to teach their children Spanish with mixed success.  It can be a challenge depending on the level of Spanish that the parents actually speak.  Some friends have let Spanish be taught through grandparents who might be the native speakers, while others have tried one parent speaking Spanish while another speaks English.  Our decision was to speak to Q exclusively in Spanish until he started school.  It turned out to be both easier and more challenging than I had expected.  But wow what a blessing.

 

Both Q and JT only spoke Spanish until they were 2 years old.  Q, who is now 5, started toddler school exclusively as a Spanish speaker.  JT, who is now 3, started the same way although he understood more English because Q was speaking to us in English more and more by then. 

 

Today, JT still speaks to us in Spanish 95% of the time but navigates school well in English.  The boys maintain their relationship in and out of Spanish.  For those who are concerned about children picking up English, both boys picked up their English in 4 to 5 months.

 

We have taught our boys Spanish because we think it is valuable.  It is part of our heritage and because we want our boys to feel pride about all aspects of their person.  This includes their Mexican as well as their American culture.

 

I’d like to write more about our experiences with language in a later post.  My reason for bringing it up has more to do with the political climate we are experiencing these days regarding immigration and new legislation in Arizona .

 

As I’m writing this there is a group of children from the local preschool are coming into the coffee house where I’m sitting.  They are singing a “starflower song” and giving flowers to people in the shop.  One of the parents is speaking to her daughter in what sounds like Ukrainian.  I think it’s wonderful.

 

Ironically, this is what I’m writing about.  It is very unlikely that someone is going to walk up to this parent and question whether they are in the country legally or to detain them until they can prove it.  Not so in AZ.  I am deeply saddened and angered by the trends in Arizona regarding the right to detain individuals suspected of being in this country illegally, until they can provide acceptable proof (even in light of recent amendments made to the law).

 

How many of us carry our birth certificate with us to prove our citizenship?  Well in Arizona , Latinos (and I’m talking about those who are citizens and non-citizens) should be prepared to make it a habit because I don’t think a driver’s license is going to be enough. (http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/Man-says-he-was-racially-targeted-forced-to-provide-birth-certificate-91769419.html). 

 

Anyone who does not see this as racial profiling is kidding themselves and those who say racial profiling is necessary because it’s obvious what “kind” of people are most likely to be undocumented,” should be very careful about the ramifications of their words.  There are light skinned Mexicans too.  Should officers ask every American for proof of citizenship in order to make sure laws are enforced evenly?  Somehow I don’t see this happening.

 

Markers such as skin color, language, accent and even behavior will be taken into account when assessing whether someone is potentially undocumented. 

 

And as if the “show me your papers” law wasn’t enough, AZ has now passed a law eliminating Ethnic studies in the public schools.

 

The Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction has for years pushed to ban ethnic studies classes.  In 2007 he wrote an open letter to the residents of Tucson outlining objections to a Mexican American studies program in a local high school.  He even went so far as to invoke Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. by saying that people should be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. (LA Times, May 8, 2010).

 

What a self serving misrepresentation of Dr. King’s words.  With all due respect to Rev. King, don’t talk to me about the content of our character while states like Arizona are allowed to diminish the character of children in America who will learn that some people are less-than.  Even Latino children who are citizens or legally her in the U.S will be taught that modern day separate-but-equal legislation will apply to them or their parents because of their appearance.  (And I say this regardless of the nice words spoken by the Governor of Arizona about no racial profiling.)  And don’t speak to me about judging people on the content of character when a state can sanction the stained-character of a few truly biased individuals who can use the law to practice their own brand of harassment.

 

To dismantle programs aimed at empowering students who have historically been disempowered and diminished (see above paragraph for examples) is disturbing.  The inability by supporters of these two legislations to see the inherent contradictions between them is truly remarkable.  The “ethnic studies” legislation claims to combat courses that create resentment of any particular ethnic group and to discourage ethnic solidarity.  At the same time the “show your papers” legislation works to do just the opposite; it promotes resentment of a particular ethnic group (while creating reasons for ethnic groups to be resentful) and promotes solidarity among individuals working against diversity in the name of “be like us.” 

 

I am raising my children to be proud of the “Latino-ness” they carry as Americans.  Not because I want this to be Mexico but because it is part of what makes them the wonderful individuals they are.  Who they are is part of what they offer this nation and what will make this nation richer.  I refuse to support or condone anything that diminishes who my children or America ’s children are so that others will feel better about themselves. 

 

We are part of the diverse fabric of this rich nation.  Our family’s rights should not be qualified based on how we look or speak.  We are equally protected under the Constitution of the United States and I resent and denounce Arizona ’s modern day “separate but equal” legislation.  Shame on Arizona and on those individuals promoting or considering similar legislation in their state.

 

--DiggyDaddy