THE GOOD: Hopeful American Dreams in San Antonio’s Suburbs

 

It’s unclear what prompted my nine-year old nephew to halt his action figure grudge-match between masked wrestlers to ask, “Is Martin Luther King’s dream coming true on the day he gave his speech or the day he died?“

It seems hope is alive in America. From a nine year old Latino boy in a San Antonio suburb to the millions of Americans gathered in our nation’s capitol to honor the embodiment of Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream at the inauguration of Barack Obama, America’s 44^th President.

Hope is alive today and has taken hold throughout the country. Eight of ten Americans hold high hopes for Obama according to an ABC poll. Read more. . .

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-01-15-voa57.cfm

 

THE BAD: It’s Still the Economy Stupid!

A new report by the Pew Hispanic Center says concerns about the economy far surpass those about immigration, a topic that got far more attention in Congress and the first half of the U.S. presidential campaign.

“The issue appears to have receded in importance among one of the groups most affected by it — Latinos,” the Pew report says. “Only three in ten (31 percent) Latinos rate immigration as an ‘extremely important’ issue facing the incoming Obama administration.”

Immigration came in sixth on a list of seven policy priorities.

The top issue? The economy. That is, jobs, homes, feeding their children.

These are exactly the same reasons immigrants come into the country illegally and legally. Coming in second and third were education and health care. The study also found Latinos to be optimistic about the future and Obama’s presidency.

Here’s a link to the report, http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=101

From Elaine Ayala’s Latino Life blog,

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/latinlife/2009/01/a-year-and-a-half.html

 

THE UGLY:  Latinos forced to organize their own Inaugural festivities

 

Tony Plana, who plays Betty’s father in the television series “Ugly Betty,” said he was ecstatic about President-elect Barack Obama’s victory. He said an Obama administration could improve the lives of all minorities.

But he also said Hispanics deserved a better spot on the inaugural festivities list.

“It’s a concern this event tonight is not an official event of the administration. It’s a little sad for me Latinos had to organize their own event,” Plana said. He said he hoped it did not mean Hispanics would be relegated to a back seat. The event was organized by the National Council of La Raza and other Hispanic organizations.

 

Read more. . .

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-inauguration-latinos,0,3164709.story