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Livin' the Latin life

Arizona Daily Wildcat

Did you watch the MTV Music Awards last Thursday? If so, you surely saw the ever-popular Ricky Martin and the tantalizing Jennifer Lopez, two artists who are wooing their contemporaries and helping to "hispanicize" the pop culture. Ricky Martin is doing more than furthering his career and entertaining millions of Americans. He is a force that is impelling pop culture to integrate more and more elements of the Latin culture, which has political implications.

He, along with other pop culture icons such as Jennifer Lopez, Oscar de la Renta, Marc Anthony and Adolfo are beginning to inject a dose of the Latino culture into the mainstream. The rhythms, styles and moves of the Latino culture are becoming much welcomed elements of pop culture thanks to individuals such as these.

Through the decades, we've had other Latino artists that have introduced us to elements of their culture, such as Santana, Richie Valens and Gloria Estefan, but due to timing problems outside of their control, the Latino elements never caught on in the pop culture with any staying power.

The times, they are a changin'. Latinos and their influence are here to stay, and they will be far more than just a latent culture. Latinos currently comprise 11 percent of the population and soon will surpass the size of the Black population (12 percent) to become the biggest minority group in the United States.

Given the rate of growth, soon the 11 percent will be 15 percent and 17 percent, a sizable minority group.

Latinos are becoming more powerful and prominent in society and soon the politics of this nation must begin to likewise reflect their presence. In fact, the politicos of this country are beginning to realize the benefits of harnessing this population.

George W. Bush and John McCain, two Republican presidential hopefuls realizing the importance of Hispanics, are two national figures beginning to give them their due recognition.

But where do Hispanics belong politically? Historically, the Democrats have claimed them as their own. Hispanic affiliation with the Democratic party has much to do with the fact that the Democrats have given them more attention than the Republicans. But now that the Republican party is beginning to pay more and more attention to them, the tide will slowly begin to shift.

As the Republicans begin to reach out to Hispanics and begin to emphasize their strong similarities, a realignment becomes more and more conceivable.

When Hispanics begin seriously to reconsider their party affiliation, they will realize that the GOP perhaps better reflects their culture and values.

Barring the exceptions, here are the similarities between Hispanics and the GOP: Hispanics are very religious. They place a high value on God and spirituality. They are a community that is very likely to support prayer (moments of silence) in schools. Furthermore, their religious beliefs and their recognition of the sanctity of life do not incline them to such institutions as abortion.

Given the historical fact that they have always received lower quality education, which is a fundamental factor which explains their socio-economic position, they are very keen to the idea of school choice and "voucher" systems. Under such systems, they would no longer have to send their children to useless public schools; they could choose worthy public or private schools that would help their children realize brighter futures.

Hispanics are known for the value they place on family and community. They are a group in which relatives, friends and neighbors come to each others aid in times of need. Hispanics look to themselves before they look elsewhere.

Like Republicans, they understand that one must first look to family and community for help before the government and society.

Still today, Hispanics face subtle and institutionalized racism and hostility from whites. All Hispanics are opposed to arming whites with further opportunities to discount them and their abilities. Thus, many Hispanics oppose such programs as affirmative action , which just gives whites another reason to believe that Hispanics are less competent. As Hispanics achieve greater prominence in society, their opposition to affirmative action will increase.

As the political and social climate begins to change and Hispanics are given greater attention by the politicos, the historical bonds between Democrats and Hispanics will begin to break. In a time when the very moral fabric of this nation is disintegrating, it will become obvious to Hispanics which party values God and life, advances greater educational opportunities and emphasizes family and community.