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United States of America….talking about a third world country

 According to the New York Times, the presidential candidates have raised more than $330 million for their campaigns to date, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. Mitt Romney leads among Republicans, but President Obama easily topped the field.  It is interesting how candidates “buy” elections, because they don’t really win. Same thing happened in Florida. It is incredible the amount of money used to buy the votes of a miniscule electorate that votes in the United States.

Think about the 330 million when you read these facts:

1. According to Feeding America, there are 48,832,000 people that are food insecure, that have limited or no access to food. 3,609,200 of these live in Florida. (http://bit.ly/LIdvNW)
2. 17.1 percent of Americans have no health insurance.  (http://huff.to/LIcTrE)
3. 636,017 Homeless people in America, 67,495 are veterans. 56,687 homeless in Florida. (http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/4361)

These are just 3 examples that are obvious in a third world country. Now, let’s add to that this humongous amount of money that could easily take help or even take care of these 3 very sad problems. The corruption in politics in general in the United States is worse than in a third world country. The “purchase of government by the big economic interests, the homeless, uninsured and the hungry. Think about it…

United States passes the third world admission test with flying colors!  WELCOME!!

Lesson: NEVER BELIEVE IN POLITITIANS!!

 

See you next week

 

My Way Number 12

When not so good people are wrong…..they are third.

Some friends came to me and told me they heard on CNN of someone saying that the “leading” and “largest” Hispanic group in Hillsborough County are the Cubans. Another one stated at a political meeting: “there are a lot of Puerto Ricans here, but they must understand that the Cubans are the only leaders”. I was also told that one bought their way into a political position, paying others and offering money for candidates to quit running for office.  I really don’t know where they get this.  For the record, I have a lot of Cuban friends, listeners and readers; people for who I have the utmost respect and admiration. For those, please don’t feel offended. 

I do have to mention to these 2 or 3 political fanatics that are not leaders but dictators, those who use politics to sell products and try to manipulate facts and people in order to get there way. These Cubans give the rest of the community, in my opinion, a bad name. It seems they have such limited power over the rest of the community  that in their total idiocy and greed, they have to lie and manipulate their way in order to obtain results. These people should be repudiated by ALL the communities in this County.  These people are part of the reason the Hispanic community is divided; they have no respect for the other communities.

I hope these very few fanatic dictators learn that the ONLY way to obtain results is to work united, with all the communities, otherwise, nothing will be achieved.

By the way, according to the Fact Finder of the 2010 Census, Cubans are the THIRD largest Hispanic group in Hillsborough County. Granted, they USED to be first, but not anymore.

HISPANIC OR LATINO
*****Total population	1,229,226	100.0
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	306,635	24.9
Mexican	65,578	5.3
Puerto Rican	91,476	7.4
Cuban	65,451	5.3
Other Hispanic or Latino [5]	84,130	6.8

 

 

Dictators, show a little respect.

See you next week!

****http://bit.ly/M8Pgs9

The Governor continues to misrepresent Floridians. His latest “screw up” was in Spain. Imagine making comments to King Juan Carlos about his problems regarding the famous elephant hunt for which he had to apologize to all Spaniards (to see the report from Fox News visit: http://bit.ly/KfHddf). Yes, I agree, in these days and we are still talking about monarchy….how ridiculous!! But the Governor showed the first rule of sales: Keep your customers happy! It’s a disgrace to have such an alleged “leader” directing a trade mission with absolutely no knowledge of protocol of diplomatic policy. He thinks he is so above the rest of the people, that he does not have any respect for people from other countries. He has been the “clown” of all the Spanish comedians in the last days. He surely demonstrated that he is not capable of achieving anything off the coast of Key West.  His incompetence has been demonstrated again. I am thinking the business people and officials that traveled with him had a good laugh and a lot of catching up to do if they think that they will do business with Spain. Yes Florida, this is our governor. Next time a mission is out to visit other countries for commercial trades….a word of advice: DON’T INVITE HIM!

On the other hand, KUDOS to the management of TIA. We now have direct flights to Switzerland, the flights to Cuba and to Puerto Rico are total successes! From Tampa to Cuba, a total of 7,775 passengers arrived and departed from TIA to Cuba. The flights to Puerto Rico are reporting about 500 passengers daily, and more to come. That’s why we have one of the best airports in the nation.  See you next week!

The FCAT “disaster”……stop the politics!

The headline of the week in the Orlando Sentinel read: “Scores on Florida’s writing test dropped dramatically this year, with student essays earning such poor marks that one superintendent called them a “disaster” and many educators demanded that the state study what happened.

The State Board of Education has called an emergency meeting for today to consider a plan to mitigate the impact of the low scores onFlorida’s annual A-to-F school grades”.

Then the State decides to meet and lower the scores…here we go politics! The real meaning of FCAT is FLORIDA CANNOT AFFORD THIS or the FLORIDA CORRUPTION ASSET TEST! We cannot continue to designate professional politicians with no education experience into the system. We cannot continue to support school boards that do no good to our communities. After their last election, now you see them hitting the streets, showing up online, and looking to be invited to every social event. Our education system is based on politics, not on the wellbeing of our children or as Bob Schaeffer, Fair Test group’s public-education director stated: “They show the state’s accountability plans “reflect profoundly political decisions, not objective measures of teaching and learning, How can a measure which fluctuates from 81% to 27% ‘proficient’ in just one year even meet the laugh test?”

Think about it, who are these people that come up with these tests? What are their credentials? Is it just a way to make money from the school system? All these questions bring us to one conclusion: its politics as usual.

It’s time to open our eyes and elect capable people and not politicians to our education positions and our school boards. This year, you have an opportunity to vote on our local school board. Please think and evaluate every candidate. Is it time for a change? How many of the board members have turned the school board into a political career? How many times have you seen your board member in your community? DO you even know who your school board member is? I am sure you will see them this year….for obvious reasons….Lets get politics out of our schools, the politics and politicians are destroying our most important asset, our children.

Sorry I couldn’t write last week…..I will see you next week!

Luis Lopez

miralo aquí……………..http://bit.ly/KN1WS9

A MI MANERA…NÚMERO 9

Hispanos, latinos o lo que sea… ¿nunca vamos a llevarnos bien?

He estado escuchando y leyendo acerca de los interiores de las relaciones entre los grupos en nuestra hispana / latina o lo que sea de la comunidad y, después de pensarlo, tengo que decir…. Estamos realmente jodidos!

No importa lo que tratamos de hacer, hispanos, latinos o lo que sea todavía no entendemos el mensaje. Permítanme presentar algunos puntos que creo que son válidos.

1. Hay millones de nosotros en los Estados Unidos. De Puerto Rico. Colombia. Cuba, Ecuador, Venezuela, Perú, y otros. Algunos se consideran a sí mismos latinos, algunos no lo hacen. Algunos hablan un español perfecto, algunos no hablan una palabra o tienen miedo de hablar en español. Algunos bailan a la música reggaeton, y algunos no saben cómo bailar salsa, merengue, bachata o el jarabe tapatío.
2. Debido a nuestras diferencias culturales y los sistemas políticos en nuestros países de origen, no podemos asumir y no se debe suponer que los latinos deben llevarse bien porque hablamos español o por escuchar música similar. Los latinos tenemos problemas para unirnos porque estamos compitiendo por los mismos recursos con antecedentes diferentes. Un “latino o hispano” de Chiapas, México tiene poco en común con un “latino o hispano” de Buenos Aires, Argentina, al igual que un “latino o hispano” de Sao Paulo, Brasil tiene poco en común con un “latino o hispano” de San Juan, Puerto Rico. Usted ve, los términos “latino o hispano” son problemáticos. Sirven para agrupar un conjunto diverso de personas, con diversas lenguas, etnias y culturas. Eso no nos da poder, nos debilita.
3. El problema es que todo el mundo quiere tener su propio “pedazo del pastel”, bajo sus propios términos. Debemos comenzar por reconocer las diferencias mutuas. Si empezáramos por ahí, se puede coexistir de manera más armonizada. Esto es lo que realmente nos separa.
4. Mientras esto sucede, las personas que viene de trasfondos de países en opresión o dictadura,  tienden a tratar de “imponer” un estilo de liderazgo, mientras que otros utilizan métodos más tradicionales, como los sobornos con el fin de obtener un puesto, otros que vienen de otros países y son muy floridos en el idioma español utilizan a veces una “verborrea” inusual, como si fueran realmente elocuentes, pero no pueden hablar una palabra de Inglés. Un consejo: Si eres joven, trabajar o estudiante, o si usted no lo sabía…. en este país la gente habla inglés y si no están dispuestos a aprender el idioma, tendrán que sentarse en un rincón…. y se quedan atrás. Algunos vienen de países muy obstinados, estos son divertidos, porque hablan tanto de todo, sin embargo, no han sido capaces de resolver sus propios problemas. Otros vienen de países más liberales, y se les critica por no ser lo suficientemente fuertes. ¡Y todo esto es entre nosotros mismos!

5. Algunas organizaciones que tienen la intención de encontrar un terreno común están teniendo problemas tratando de permanecer juntos por el ambiente político y la “falta de entendimiento cultural y de posesión” entre sus miembros. Una vez me dijeron, “No hay nada que se puede hacer con esta comunidad. Ellos son su peor enemigo “. Yo tiendo a diferir.
Creo que es hora de dejar las “pendejadas”. Vamos a dejar de ser tan tontos.

Un extracto de un blog no podría decirlo mejor:

Lo que los hispanos, latinos o lo que sea no entienden es que para los americanos blancos – para que el gobierno y el censo –  es que todas las minorías, todos somos descendientes de españoles y todos hablamos el mismo idioma, sea que lo pronuncia correctamente o no. Cuando las iniciativas nuevas se desarrollen para los latinos o hispanos, el gobierno no separa a los puertorriqueños de los cubanos o los salvadoreños de los mexicanos, o los profesionales de los menos educados. En su lugar, nos ponen juntos como los hispanos o latinos porque no ven ninguna diferencia entre uno y otro. Sin embargo, nosotros no separamos a nosotros mismos todos los días por nuestra ignorancia y nuestra arrogancia.

Imagínese lo que nuestra comunidad sería como si tuviéramos una comunidad que se une como hermanos y hermanas, ayudando y apoyando a los demás. Mejor aún, si fuéramos a tomar las riendas y  demandar que se nos trate con igualdad y justicia muchas cosas cambiarían. Imagínate si fuéramos a celebrar nuestras similitudes y abrazar nuestras diferencias. Y en vez de mirar hacia abajo o bajar uno al otro nos mostramos un amor genuino por los demás.

No nos podemos quejar de cómo nos tratan los americanos blancos, si no hemos aprendido a tratar a los demás. ¿Cómo podemos conseguir el respeto de ellos si no hemos aprendido a respetarnos a nosotros mismos?  Así que la próxima vez que usted se encuentre acusando a un blanco americano de ser racista, pare, piense y reflexione, porque usted también puede ser considerado como uno dentro de su propia comunidad.

¡Nos vemos la semana que viene!
Luis López

 

 

MY WAY …NUMBER 9

Hispanics, Latinos or whatever…will we ever get along?

I have been listening and reading about the inner-relationships between groups in our Hispanic/Latino or whatever community and, after thinking about it, I have to say….WE ARE REALLY SCREWED UP!

No matter what we try to do, Hispanics, Latinos or whatever still don’t get the message. Let me make some points that I think are valid.

1. Puerto Rican. Colombian. Cuban, Ecuadorean,  Venezuelan. Chicano. Mexicano. Dominican, Peruvian, Panamanians and others…There are millions of us in the United States. Some consider themselves Latino, some don’t. Some speak perfect Spanish, some don’t speak a word or afraid of speaking Spanish. Some dance to reggaeton music, and some do not know how to dance salsa, merengue, jarabe tapatío or bachata.
2. Due to our different cultural backgrounds and political systems in our native countries, we cannot assume and should not assume that Latinos should get along just because we speak Spanish or listen to similar music. Latinos struggle to unify because we are competing for the same resources and we are from vastly different backgrounds. A “Latino” from Chiapas, Mexico has little in common with a “Latino” from Buenos Aires, Argentina, just as a “Latino” from Sao Paulo, Brazil has little in common with a “Latino” from San Juan, Puerto Rico. You see, the very term “Latino” is problematic. It serves to lump together a diverse set of people, with different languages, ethnicities, and cultures. That does not empower us; that weakens us.
3. The problem is that everyone wants to have their own “piece of the pie, under their own terms. We should start then by acknowledging each other’s differences. If we start there, we can coexist more harmoniously. This is what really divides us.
4. As this happens, people who come from oppressive or dictatorship backgrounds tend to try to “impose” a style of leadership; others use more traditional methods like bribes in order to obtain positions, others that come from other countries and know a great deal of Spanish use unusual verbiage, like if they were really eloquent, but can’t speak a word of English. A word of advice: If you are young, working or studying, or if you did not know….in this country people speak ENGLISH and if you are not willing to learn the language, go sit in a corner….you will stay behind. Some come from extremely opinionated countries; these are funny, they talk so much about everything, yet they have not been capable of taking care of their own problems. Others come from more liberal countries, and they are criticized for not being strong enough.
5. Some organizations that intend to find common ground are having problems trying to stay together because of the political atmosphere and this “lack of understanding “between its members. I was told once, “There is nothing that can be done with this community. They are their worst enemy”. I tend to differ.

I think it’s time to stop “las pendejadas”. Let’s stop being so foolish.

An excerpt from a blog could not say it better:

What we fail to understand is that for White Americans–for the government and the census–we are all minorities; we are all of Spanish descent and we all speak the same language whether we pronounce it correctly or not. When new initiatives are developed for Latinos, the government doesn’t separate the Puerto Ricans from the Cubans or the Salvadorians from the Mexican, or the professionals from the uneducated. Instead they clunk us together as Hispanics because they see no difference between one and the other. Yet we separate ourselves everyday by our ignorance and our arrogance.

Imagine what our community would be like if we were to unite like brothers and sisters; if we were to help and support each other. Better yet, if we were to take charge and demand that we are treated equally and fairly. Imagine if we were to celebrate our similarities and embrace our differences. And instead of looking down or putting down each other we would show genuine love for one another.

We can’t complain about how white Americans treat us if we haven’t learned how to treat each other. How can we get respect from them if we haven’t learned to respect our own? So the next time you find yourself accusing a white American of being racist, stop, think and reflect, because you too may be considered one within your own community.

See you next week!

Luis Lopez

 

 

 

REF:

http://www.beinglatino.us/uncategorized/latino-drama-cant-we-all-just-get-along

http://www.rochesterlavoz.com/site/index.php/component/content/article/34-columnists-opinions/200-racism-among-our-own

 

 

YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE IT…BILINGUAL PEOPLE ARE SPECIAL!!

 There are a lot of stupid supremacists that don’t get it. Other idiots s cry “bilingual discrimination” (maybe that is why they are idiots in the first place). This nation is changing to a bilingual nation, like it or not. Yes, we speak English in this country, but let’s be realistic; you can’t and won’t stop the growth of our diverse population, especially Hispanics. According to a 2010 survey from CareerBuilder and USA Today, employers are looking to hire a diverse workforce in the interest to appeal to an assorted consumer base. Job candidates who are bilingual in both English and another language prove to be appealing to broadening companies, and many of these jobs have bilingual pay differentials, which, according to Salary.com, range between 5 and 20 percent more pay per hour.

So, if you want to get ahead, maybe you need to learn a second language. But, let’s look at on the bright side, according to an article from Academia21.com, learning a second language has many other advantages:

Aside from the general travel and career advantages that can come with a person’s ability to speak more than one language, there are particular psychological and linguistic benefits that are simultaneously found. These include enhanced cognitive flexibility (including divergent thinking and the ability to think conceptually), as well as improvements in verbal abilities and reasoning.

Additional benefits of learning another language are:

• A heightened sensitivity to language
• Greater flexibility in thinking
• An improved ear and propensity for listening
• A greater understanding and appreciation of the native language
• Greater exposure and insight into other cultures

 

So, there is only one way to go, you must accept the fact that learning another language is for your own good. Otherwise, you will stay behind. Its time you open yourself to the reality of a global market, be smarter, and unleash you potential. Believe me, it works!!

See you next week.

A NEW TIME FOR UNIONS?

As you well know, every week we try to make you think about the important things that happen around us.  Very few have commented about this, I think it’s important…

Did you know that on April 30^th (this date could change), a new rule for all businesses that fall under the National Labor Relations Act (including states like Florida) must display an 11 x 17 inch poster that states that employees have the right to form unions in order to obtain fair benefits. Think of this, unions have been a fixture of our “supposed democracy” for decades. They have somewhat faded, especially in the South, but apparently, things are about to change.

In this era of supposed freedom of speech, of religion and others, we now have added to the freedom of assembly the right to form unions. This could represent a whole new way of seeing business and how hiring and firing procedures, as well as other matters will be managed in the future.

Does this mean that the big labor unions will take over workers everywhere, even those that do not want to be part of it?  Think about it…is this good or bad?

My 2 cents on this matter: I believe that unions are formed due to management greed, there lack of capacity and poor management. If you as a business owner are fair and just to your employees, promote teamwork, treat them with respect and benefit all equally, you have nothing to worry about it. If you are a selfish businessperson, greedy, disrespectful and only believe in your personal gains and never in the other families you help support;  good luck negotiating with the unions or get ready to close your doors. It’s a matter of self-justice to all and others, not only to you.  For more information, visit www.NLRB.gov.

See you next week.

My way….number 6

 

THE NEW DEFINITION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE CONSTITUTION…

YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT…….BUT BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU SAY?

It looks like we have to start changing the Constitution in terms of freedom of speech in this country. Apparently, expressing your opinion can cause a national catastrophe. You know what I am talking about. One of the best things of the Constitution is our freedom to speak, in favor or against anything; this is guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States. That said, we all recognize that a lot of people say stupid things, as it happened some weeks ago. The wrong words came out in the wrong place. That is a given. But, suggesting that someone should loose there livelihood for expressing an idea, no matter how stupid or idiotic, is even more stupid and it is a violation of the most important principle: LIBERTY OF SPEECH. Yes, you can agree or disagree, you can express you opposition to something that was said, which is the beauty of living in a democracy. Apparently some people don’t understand this and are so blind sighted that they are willing to put in front of a firing squad anyone that doesn’t agree with them. This is sad. When we come to this land we have an expectation of liberty, progress and the right to pursue happiness.  That we must respect at all times and without considering where we come from.  We should respect dissident opinions, or just ignore them. But one thing is clear, this country guarantees freedom of speech no matter how stupid or out of line, and if some of us cannot understand what that means, maybe we don’t deserve to live here.

Just think about a world where you only have to have it you way…….doesn’t that sound stupid?

Yes, try not to be offensive, but say what you want and respect the liberty of others to say what they want…even if you don’t agree with it. So, do you think we need to amend the Constitution? I think not.

So where are you in all of this?   See you next week.

Luis Lopez