WASHINGTON, May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – Lower immigration levels, population aging, and declining fertility rates are driving a decline in U.S. population growth, according to a new Population Reference Bureau (PRB) analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

Between 2010 and 2011, the U.S. population increased by 0.7 percent, after averaging 0.9 percent growth each year from 2000 through 2010, reported Mark Mather, PRB associate vice president for Domestic Programs.  We added just 2.3 million people from 2010 to 2011, compared with 2.9 million from 2005 to 2006, just five years earlier.

The current decline is a “significant departure” from recent trends but “it’s too soon to tell whether it will continue or is a short-term result of the recession,” he said.

The U.S. population is currently projected to reach “majority-minority” status (the point at which less than 50 percent of the population is non-Hispanic white) in 2042. But a sustained drop in immigration levels and fertility rates would slow the pace of minority population growth.

Drop in Immigration: Between 2010 and 2011, net migration was estimated at around 700,000, down from 1.4 million per year in 2000 and 2001. This decline contributes to slower growth in the Latino and Asian American populations, and has been linked to job losses in occupations often filled by recent immigrants, as well as stricter immigration law enforcement.

Population Aging:  Between 2010 and 2011, the number of children declined by 190,000, while the number of elderly increased by 917,000; just a decade ago we added more children than elderly. Also down sharply is growth in the number of working-age adults, including those in prime childbearing ages. With more baby boomers retiring and fewer people of reproductive age, births could decline further, and the United States could start to resemble elderly-heavy, slow-growth European countries, Mather noted.

Declining Fertility Rates: There were an estimated 4 million births between 2010 and 2011, down from 4.2 million at the recent peak of U.S. population growth between 2005 and 2006. The total fertility rate (TFR) stood at an average of 2.0 lifetime births per woman in 2009—down from 2.1 a few years ago—but preliminary data from the National Center for Health Statistics suggest that the TFR could drop below 2 births per woman in 2010. Births among Latina women, a group with historically high fertility rates, could drop below 2.5 per woman in the near future.

The Population Reference Bureau informs people around the world about population, health, and the environment, and empowers them to use that information to advance the well-being of current and future generations.

Contact: Mark Mather, 202-939-5433; mmather@prb.org

SOURCE Population Reference Bureau

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1cpTb)

[Photo by William Heinrich]

Education is the Latino Issue, not Immigration (Fox News Latino):  In this election season, both Republicans and Democrats continue to reach out to Latinos by focusing on immigration, the supposed priority issue for Latino voters. Candidates translate their key messages into Spanish, thinking that we like to hear our native language when we communicate with politicians.

Democrat Gutierrez Would Back Rubio’s Version of DREAM Act (Fox News Latino): Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, the Illinois Democrat who has been a leading force in Congress in support of the DREAM Act, told Fox News Latino that he would support a pared-down GOP version –opposed by many in his party– if it will keep undocumented youth from being deported.

Facebook Goes Public, Updates Its Status Thanks to Its Latino Fans (Hispanically Speaking):  Well it’s official the ‘Libro de la Cara’ or Facebook is officially a publicly traded stock and all grown up due in part to the millions of Latinos living on it, Latin America loving it and Brazilians obsessing about it.

Hate Groups Grow as Racial Tipping Point Changes Demographics (ABC News):  The number of radical hate groups and militias has exploded in recent years in reaction to the changing makeup of America, and new census figures showing the majority of babies born in 2011 were non-white could fuel those simmering tensions, experts who track hate groups warned.

America’s Non-White Majority Won’t Remake the GOP Anytime Soon (Huffington Post):  The ethnic remake of America is already having a huge impact on land use, housing, social services, schools, and industries in countless small and medium sized towns, and rural areas that since the country’s birth have been exclusively or predominantly white. The GOP knows that. And the brutal reality for the party is that more minorities in America’s population will continue to translate into bigger numbers for the Democrats at the polls.

Appeals Court Upholds Key Voting-Rights Law (The Wall Street Journal): An appeals court upheld a federal voting-rights law that requires some local governments to seek Washington’s approval before changing election procedures, rejecting a challenge by an Alabama county.

Marriage policy used in appeals for Latinos (The Boston Globe):  President Obama’s shift to support gay marriage is energizing young Hispanic voters who have been working side-by-side with gay activists in their push for immigration reform. The alliance has been growing nationwide and helping dispel what many say is an outdated notion that Hispanics are less tolerant of gays than the general public.

Young illegal immigrants coming out of the shadows (The Salt Lake Tribune/Associated Press):  From California to New York, children of families who live here illegally are “coming out” — marching behind banners that say “undocumented and unafraid,” staging sit-ins in federal offices, and getting arrested outside federal immigration courts and detention centers, even in Maricopa County, Ariz., home of the sworn enemy of illegal immigrants, Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Will Population Shifts Alter Immigration Debate? (NPR):  As the migration surge ebbed, the political debate over illegal immigration actually intensified. Several states have drafted or passed legislation modeled after Arizona’s, enacted in 2010, causing a political firestorm and a wave of legal challenges. Controversy over the laws has entered the presidential election. Do these trends mean America no longer needs to corral illegal immigration?

Obama campaign working to counter new voter ID laws (The Washington Post):  President Obama’s reelection campaign launched a national drive Friday to counter new restrictive voter-access laws, which advisers said threaten his electoral chances in November.

Pell Grants plug pulled for thousands of students (San Jose Mercury News):  Among those who will lose Pell Grants in the summer are at least 65,000 new college students without high school diplomas and 63,000 who have spent more than six years in college. Changes in income requirements will reduce or eliminate grants for nearly 300,000 others.

Hispanics, Broadband and the Digital Textbook Revolution (Huffington Post):  The Obama administration’s FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski and Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan recently announced the goal of having every US student using tablets and digital textbooks in school within five years. This coming transformation challenges the entire education system – from kindergarten to college – to identify policies and pedagogy to maximize this resource and align policy to increase education attainment.

Dominican Republic’s Presidential Election Comes Down to Fear vs Frustration (Fox News Latino):  After eight years under President Leonel Fernández of the Dominican Liberation Party, or PLD, Dominicans will decide whether they are ready to give former President Hipólito Mejía, a gaffe-prone populist, another chance in office. Mejía’s four-year presidential term ended in disaster, with a banking crisis that sunk the economy and caused so much misery and scarcity that tens of thousands of people fled the country and voters cast him out of office.

Obama’s Broken 2008 Immigration Promises Create Dilemma For Democrats (Huffington Post): Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), one of President Barack Obama’s most vocal critics on immigration, was sitting at dinner with his family a couple of weeks ago when his youngest daughter began talking about the president’s “terrible” deportation record.

Kansas immigration measure rejected in budget talks (Kansas City Star): A proposal to require government contractors in Kansas to use the federal E-Verify database to ensure employees aren’t illegal immigrants won’t survive legislative negotiations over the state budget.

Immigration permit auction touted as reform that would aid economy (San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times): America’s decades-old immigration system should be replaced with an auction of work permits, says a UC Davis economist who is attracting attention on Capitol Hill. His market-based reform, which is being unveiled Tuesday, would have American companies compete in a quarterly electronic auction to buy permits to hire foreign workers.

Deportation of Hispanic mom from Colorado suspended (Fox News Latino):  The mother of a brilliant student in Colorado was set free after authorities suspended her scheduled deportation for a year, apparently in response to a mobilization by pro-immigrant groups.

Will Arpaio’s popularity continue amid lawsuit? (Times Union/AP): The careers of most politicians would crumble under the heavy scrutiny that the self-proclaimed toughest sheriff in America now faces. But despite a mountain of legal troubles, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio remains popular with voters and has more than $3.4 million in the bank for his November re-election campaign.

Obama to Meet Latino Donors, Speak on Gay Marriage (Fox News Latino): Days after President Barack Obama announced his support of same-sex marriage, a decision that could have an impact on how Latinos vote in the 2012 Presidential election, he will spend Monday in New York City, speaking at a commencement, and holding a major fundraiser with gay and Latino donors, headlined by Ricky Martin.

Obama’s Gay Marriage Stand May Not Sway Latinos (NPR):  President Obama is attending a campaign fundraiser Monday night co-hosted by gay- and lesbian-rights leaders and a Latino nonprofit. The event is being headlined by singer Ricky Martin. Obama maintains a commanding lead over likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney when it comes to support among Latino voters. But those same voters are generally regarded as socially conservative, leading some to wonder how the president’s support for same-sex marriage might affect the Latino electorate.

African American And Latino Clergy On Obama’s Gay Marriage Support (Huffington Post):  Barack Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage triggered a storm of reactions from LGBT, religious and political leaders. Many Jewish groups including the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism came out in support of Obama, as did a number of Christian groups.

Blacks, Hispanics warming up to gay marriage (The Columbus Dispatch):  As a political issue, same-sex marriage is like playing 3-D chess: Opponents of the idea need to move quickly because the game board is tilting slowly but steadily in favor of the other side.

Barack Obama: Our First Gay-Female-Hispanic-Asian-Jewish President (The Atlantic):  Newsweek’s cover this week declares that Barack Obama is the “First Gay President,” playing on the reader’s knowledge that Obama isn’t himself gay, but his support for same-sex marriage earns him an honorary rainbow halo.

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, rumored VP possibility, criticizes Romney’s immigration strategy (Boston Globe): New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, discussed as a potential Republican vice presidential pick, chided presumptive nominee Mitt Romney when she knocked his immigration strategy in an interview published Monday.

The Rise of Legal Immigration From Mexico (The Atlantic):  Another migratory change has also occurred: of the Mexicans that still come to the United States, many more do so legally. At the start of the twenty-first century, less than 10 percent came with papers. A decade later, it is 50 percent.

Latino Births Deliver New Political Power And Battles In Texas (Huffington Post):  For the first time in the state’s history, a quarter of all Texas congressional races will be held in specially designed districts where Latino voters make up the majority. That’s a figure that is in direct proportion to its share of eligible Texas voters who are Latino.

New York City Becoming Less Dominican, More Mexican, Census Finds (Colorlines):  More Dominicans left New York City than arrived since 2000 while the growth of Mexican immigrants nearly bumped them ahead of South Americans into third place among Latinos in NYC, according to Census data analysed by the population division of the NYC Department of City Planning.

Don’t Sell to Me! Hispanics Buy Brands that Empower Their Cultural Relevancy (Forbes):  There is a growing necessity for brand marketers to provide culturally relevant content and messaging that specifically targets US Hispanics.

Television Fragmentation Continues, Hispanics Are To Blame (Huiffington Post): If you want proof that the growing Hispanic population and its impact will change the way people experience popular culture in a colossal and immediate way – look no further than the big changes happening at the nation’s biggest media players.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Tim Burton has teamed up with Johnny Depp to make a movie in which Depp plays a ghostly pale character who arches his eyebrows a lot, and also Helena Bonham Carter is in it.

No, we’re not talking about Alice in Wonderland. Or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Or Sweeney Todd, for that matter.

No, we’re not talking about those movies because, well, they’re old and talking about old movies is what IMDb and Wikipedia are for. I mean, this is a review, people! And reviews are supposed to be CUTTING-EDGE! Yeah! No one wants to read a review of a movie that’s been reviewed a thousand times before, right? That’s why this CUTTING-EDGE review is about Dark Shadows, a movie so CUTTING-EDGE, I’m not even sure what I think about it yet!

…Which I suppose is kind of a problem.

So let’s start with the basics:

In this dark and quirky retelling of a 1960s vampire soap opera, Johnny Depp portrays Barnabas Collins, a wealthy womanizer living in a mansion in Maine in the 1700s. All is well and good until one day, Barnabas womanizes a bit too much (as womanizers are wont to do) and ends up breaking the heart of a witch by the name of Angelique (Eva Green).

As it turns out, jilting a witch isn’t such a hot idea. Of course, Barnabas finds this out the hard way. Angelique curses him and turns him into a vampire, sets the townspeople against him (“Vampires? Not in my backyard!”), and drags him out into the middle of the woods where he is shoved into a coffin and buried alive. Since he’s a vampire, and thus more or less immortal, it’s presumed that he’s just supposed to kind of hang out there for the rest of time. Talk about getting some “alone time.” Yeesh.

Flash to 200 years later. It’s 1972 and Barnabas is accidentally unearthed by some rather unfortunate construction workers. Now in a world he can’t even begin to understand, Barnabas returns to his beloved mansion, Collinwood, and finds that things aren’t quite the way he left them. His descendants (Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Moretz, Gulliver McGrath) are now living their sordid lives in the dilapidated home with an alcoholic psychiatrist (Helena Bonham Carter) and a governess (Bella Heathcote) who bares more than just a passing resemblance to Josette, Barnabas’ last great love. Determined to restore his family name to its former glory, and to get some measure of revenge against the apparently immortal Angelique, who by this point pretty much runs the town, Barnabas must adjust to this new world and confront the demons of his past. Literally.

So what works in this movie?

For starters, the film is aesthetically beautiful. From the cool, Sleepy Hollow-esque tones of the film’s early scenes, to the more modern, but still distant 1970s scenes, the settings are appealing to the eye and, more importantly, believable. Even the characters are great to look at. Eva Green is, well, hot, and get this, Johnny Depp even LOOKS like a vampire!

The music for the film is also a strong point. This one utilizes a mix of era appropriate tunes from Black Sabbath, Elton John, and even Barry White (SEX SCENE. HINT HINT) and a wonderful original score from none other than Danny Elfman.

Oh, and also Alice Cooper makes a cameo. (Note: Maybe it’s the dark makeup around the eyes, but Alice Cooper apparently hasn’t aged a day since his cameo in Wayne’s World. With all this talk of vampires going around, I’m starting to get suspicious…)

Another thing that this film has going for it is that Depp certainly has a knack for playing these fish-out-of-water types and, as always, he nails it. He’s funny and charming, although at some points it feels like we’ve seen him in this role before.

In reference to the many characters he’s played in Tim Burton films over the years and his current role as Barnabas Collins, Depp had this to say:

“There is some kind of thread between all these characters. Though, I liked the    idea of this very elegant, you know, upper-echelon sort of well-schooled gentleman who is cursed in the 18th century and is brought back to probably the most surreal era of our time, the 1970s… How he’d react to things, how radically different things were, not just through technology… but items of enjoyment. You know, pet rocks, fake flowers, plastic fruit, Troll Dolls…”

Despite that, at some points this movie seems to lack focus. At times the movie has all the markings of a classic love story as a supernatural love triangle develops between Depp, Green, and Heathcote, a telltale sign of the film’s soap opera heritage. However, at other points, the movie seems to completely abandon that theme for what seems like hours at a time in favor for horror scenes that aren’t particularly scary, jokes that get a little tired by film’s end (coming in at around 2 hours, the film runs a little long for a comedy), and action scenes that just seem to come out of nowhere.

That being said, at the end of the day, this is a fun movie. A refreshingly classic take on the vampire genre, Dark Shadows has no shortage of intrigue and entertaining scenarios for the audience to get wrapped up in.

For Tim Burton/Johnny Depp fans, fans of vampires who aren’t “sparkly,” and folks who could think of worse ways to spend 10 or 15 bucks, I’d say this film is worth the price of admission. Just don’t go in expecting anything more than a fun, yet somewhat flawed film, or you may just leave the theatre feeling a bit sucked dry.

The Young  Folks: We are a website in which we review music, movies, books, concerts. For young people by young people.

Not All Latino, Black Clergy Oppose Marriage Equality (Lezgetreal): GLAAD today issued a press release in which they highlighed a variety of different Latino and Black clergy who support same-sex marriage.

Will Obama’s support of same-sex marriage cost him Latino votes? (SCPR): That’s become one of the burning questions since yesterday’s announcement by President Obama that he believes same-sex couples should have the right to marry, made a day after North Carolina legislators voted to outlaw same-sex marriage in their state.

Gay marriage issue will not alienate Hispanic voters, experts say (Fox News Latino):  The historic and politically risky announcement by President Barack Obama supporting same-sex marriage comes at a time when the largely Catholic Hispanic community is also evolving its opinion on the matter, experts consulted on the subject on Thursday told Efe.

 House OKs money for jailing illegal immigrants — with caveat (Los Angeles Times): Incarcerating illegal immigrants is expensive, and local and state governments have for years insisted that the federal government help foot the bill. Congress appears poised once again to keep the money flowing.

Rubio met with Hispanic Democrats to pitch DREAM Act vision (The Daily Caller): Rising political superstar Marco Rubio courted three high profile Hispanic Democratic lawmakers last month in an attempt to gain support for his alternative DREAM Act proposal, legislation which his spokesman told The Daily Caller would include a path to permanent residency and citizenship for some illegal immigrants.

Roaring Fork Valley fights Immigration on plans to deport Basalt woman (The Denver Post): When Norma Galindo Gonzales was awakened by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at her Basalt home early May 1, a valley with a history of opposing perceived unfair immigration enforcement also was roused. People rallied against the action in Glenwood Springs three days later.

Immigrant Mothers To Be Deported Beg ICE To Let Them Stay In US With Their Children (Huffington Post): There may not be anything more painful than a mother having to say goodbye to her child. And yet that is the predicament that many mothers, including Carmen and Maria, are facing. After both women pleaded with immigration officials to be allowed to stay with their children, Maria was granted an extension but Carmen was ordered out of the country.

Mitt Romney Gets Testy After Gay Marriage, Immigration, Pot Questions (Huffington Post): Mitt Romney got a touch testy with a local Colorado reporter on Wednesday after fielding several successive questions on social issues and immigration policy.

Ted Cruz, U.S. Senate candidate from Texas, reports bounce from Sarah Palin’s endorsement (ABC News): Call it the Sarah Palin bounce: Hours after the 2008 vice presidential nominee endorsed Ted Cruz, a Republican candidate for U.S. senator from Texas, on Thursday morning, the staff at Cruz’s headquarters in Austin reported a swift and positive reaction.

Justice Department Says Alabama Immigration Law Disrupts Access to Public Education (Immigration Impact):  While eyes remain fixed on the Alabama legislature’s effort to revise their immigration enforcement law, HB 56, the U.S. Department of Justice informed state officials in a letter last week that the state’s immigration law has resulted in significantly higher absence rates among Latino students.

Alabama senator’s move to kill immigration law fails and most commenters cheer (al.com): Alabama senators killed Wednesday a move to repeal the state’s immigration law. Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton asked senators to bring up his bill to repeal the 2011 law in place of legislation that would merely rewrite the law, Birmingham News writer Kim Chandler reports.

Census: Foreign-Born Population Reaches Record High (Education Week):  The U.S. Census Bureau reports today that the population of foreign-born people living in the United States has reached 40 million, an all-time high. That figure—from the 2010 American Community Survey—comprises about 13 percent of the total population in the U.S., which is roughly 312 million people.

When Teachers Overcompensate for Racial Prejudice (The Atlantic): A new study suggests that educators are wary of critiquing minority students — and in the process, actually undermining children’s self-esteem.

Programs needed to encourage Latino males (San Antonio Express-News):  (The) choice between immediate gain and action with more long-term benefit is one of the key reasons that Latino males are lagging in economic and academic achievement.

Best Latino Actor at 2012 MTV Movie Awards (ONDT): Zoë Saldaña, Diego Luna, Demian Bichir, Penélope Cruz and Harmony Santanaare the nominees for Best Latino Actor at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards, which will be held June 3, the MTV, Musica y Mas television channel announced Monday.

U.S. sues Arizona sheriff for discrimination (Chicago Tribune): The U.S. Justice Department sued an Arizona sheriff on Thursday for civil rights violations, alleging he and his office intentionally engaged in racial profiling and unlawful arrests of Latinos in violation of their constitutional rights.

Mixed Numbers for Same-Sex Marriage Support Across Country (ABC News): After Barack Obama came out in favor of same-sex marriage on Wednesday in an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, Republicans fired back, putting out a statement that the president was “playing politics” with the issue.

Obama won’t lose Latinos and Blacks because of gay marriage (San Francisco Chronicle): One key point conservatives made in today’s story about President Obama backing same sex marriage is that it would drive away conservative Latino and African-American voters. That’s what folks like conservative activist Gary Marx told us.

Opinion: On gay marriage, Latinos agree with Obama (CNN): President Obama is indeed a profile in courage. He has made history yet again with his announcement that he supports full marriage equality for gay and lesbian Americans. Bravo, Mr. President.

George P. Bush Lifts Up GOP With Youths, Latinos (Real Clear Politics): George P. Bush’s efforts to energize young conservatives around the country is starting to pay off in monetary bumps to some of Capitol Hill’s most prominent and established Republicans — and in Bush’s visibility within the national party.

Analysis: Not Courting Minorities May Doom GOP (National Journal):  Demographics are destiny. This much, in American politics, is true. But we rarely appreciate the pace of the racial and ethnic change happening throughout the country. To step back and see the broader, long-term picture is to recognize that, while we’re an evenly divided country now, we may be close to a tipping point after which the entire landscape will change.

Blacks, Latinos Stopped, Frisked More Than Anyone In All Boroughs (WPIX): It’s a controversial NYPD procedure being carried out with much greater frequency in recent years, a fact that has increased its controversy, even while overall crime in the city has decreased. New detailed analysis shows that stop-and-frisk affects certain neighborhoods and certain groups of New Yorkers far more heavily than others, and that’s got some city leaders calling for change.

City’s Hispanic Makeup Shifts as Dominicans Leave and Mexicans Arrive (The New York Times): Reversing a trend for decades, more Dominicans left New York City than arrived since 2000 and a surge of Mexican immigrants nearly bumped them up into third place among Hispanic groups, a new census analysis has found.

US Probes Civil Rights Complaint Against TUSD (Hispanic Business): The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has opened a second investigation into the Tucson Unified School District’s treatment of Latinos.

Latinos more prone to kidney failure (KOB.com):  Dr. James Cevallos says Latinos are not only more prone to developing Type 2 diabetes but according to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 8 kidney failure patients, are Latino.

National science test shows only slight improvement (The Washington Post): The tests showed that black and Hispanic students had made slightly more progress than white students, making a small dent in persistent achievement gaps between the racial groups.

On Saturday (May 5) night, Miguel Cotto lost his WBA Junior Middleweight title (via a unanimous decision) to Floyd Mayweather Jr., the man many consider the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

Though Mayweather was heavily favored to win (he was a 7-to-1 favorite), Cotto’s performance far exceeded many people’s expectations. Saturday night’s fight showed that Cotto has in fact shed the demons from his 2008 loss to Antonio Margarito. But most importantly, the performance showed that Miguel Cotto still has plenty left in the tank.

So we ask the natural question after his valiant effort: What’s next for Miguel Cotto?

Remember that in boxing, it isn’t enough just to be a great fighter; you must generate interest from the public. At the moment, Cotto has a lot of things going for him. For starters, he’s Puerto Rican, which is one of the main reasons why he’s the third biggest pay-per-view draw. Though he doesn’t have a ton of punching power, he’s always been an offensive fighter, and his fights rarely disappoint. At 31, he still has some years left in his boxing career. And after last night, you could argue that his stock has never been higher.

There are many good possible fights. Here are the ones that I think are the most attractive for Cotto (in descending order):

5. Sergio Martínez

4.  Julio César Chávez Jr.

3. Timothy Bradley

2. Winner of Victor Ortiz/Andre Berto rematch

1.  Canelo Álvarez

Now, you have to be very careful if you’re Cotto. I believe his next fight must be two things: (1) a win and (2) a “big money” fight. In other words, he’s not going to fight a guy who’s not going to help him generate significant buzz, but he also needs a win coming off the loss. Either of these options would be a “big money” fight, but some are riskier than others.

This is why he won’t fight Martínez. “Maravilla” is the best boxer on the planet not named Pacquiao or Mayweather, but he’s nowhere near as popular. Why risk a loss if the other guy isn’t going to generate as much interest?

In regards to Ortiz/Berto and Bradley, a lot hinges on how they look after their June fights (June 23 and June 9, respectively). So if either of these were to happen, it won’t be decided until late June/early July.

A fight against either Álvarez or Chavez would generate huge interest. Imagine a fight against either on Mexican Independence weekend. Chavez fights at 160 lbs., and I don’t see Cotto moving up or Chavez moving down, though they could fight at a catch-weight of 157 pounds.

That leaves us with Álvarez, which is what I think the fans want. Though Álvarez’s promoters want to protect him, the prospect of this mega-fight may be too good to pass up.  Assuming Álvarez doesn’t fight James Kirkland in September (which is very likely), I think we could see a September 15 match-up of Cotto and Canelo.

Still, this is boxing, where logical things rarely happen. Keep that in mind if you read this two months from now.

This article first appeared in Being Latino.

Cristopher Rubio was born in McAllen, Texas to a Mexican mother and Salvadoran father. He taught high school mathematics for three years in southwest Atlanta. Although he has a passion for education, he’s just as passionate about writing, especially when it involves his community. He wishes he could spend less time watching basketball, fútbol, football, boxing and rooting for his beloved Arsenal, but some things can’t be helped.

[Photo by SportsAngle.com]

There’s a part of me that’s glad Cinco de Mayo is over and done with for this year. I tried to avoid the sombrero and cerveza hoopla as much as I could, and I succeeded, as long as I avoided mass media and kept myself within the confines of dark spaces under large rocks.

I’m not complaining, that would be as futile as trying to avoid the over-the-top Cinco de Mayo marketing barrage – it’s useless.  What I’m saying is mostly self-congratulatory, like reaching the end of a marathon without passing out. The difference is that a marathoner chooses his torture; mine is not self inflicted. I don’t like Cinco de Mayo, as it’s now done here in the U.S.

I won’t bore you with esoteric history about the true meaning of the date and about how the Mexican army triumphantly defeated the French forces at Puebla (no one mentions how eleven months later the French literally walked into Mexico city, after the politics and dynamics within Mexico dramatically changed).  But I will say this: it nags at me that Cinco de Mayo is supposed to be a celebration about people like me (who look like me, with whom I share a heritage) and yet it has absolutely nothing to do with who I am.

Cinco de Mayo in the U.S. is a caricature. I heard it described as the Latino Halloween, and I didn’t find that insulting, because there’s a huge piece of truth in that. It’s so incredibly and purposefully misguided and misdirected that it’s lost its connection with its original meaning. It’s misguided because the general belief is that Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s independence – and we all know that’s not true.  I’ll reiterate the obvious: Mexico’s independence is September 16th. But somehow, someone other than people of Mexican heritage have taken over that false premise, built a “fiesta” around it and used it as an emblematic celebration of their idea of what people of Mexican heritage should be – replete with piñatas and sombreros and  streamers and beer – thank you very much. My sense of compassion rises for those Latinos who are not of Mexican heritage and who get lumped-in to the Cinco de Mayo morass.

I understand the cultural expression of all things Mexican in the U.S. that surrounds the celebration of the day.  I understand the historic significance of the Tejanos who volunteered and fought along with the Mexican troops who defeated the French. I’m as proud as anyone of my history and my heritage.

But that doesn’t mean I have to like the Mexican Halloween.

On the other hand…there’s this: the guys who’ve made a mockery out of Cinco de Mayo did so taking advantage of a false belief that it represented Mexican independence; these are the same guys who’ve cheapened the Fourth of July through kitschy marketing and blow-out sales. As an American of Mexican heritage I should be doubly insulted. But, if I can rise above the July Fourth marketing mire to celebrate the true meaning of the day, I should be able to do the same for Cinco de Mayo.

I resent the caricature, I don’t buy into it, I don’t like it, but I understand where it’s headed. When I see a picture of one of those novelty celebrities (the one’s who are celebrities for celebrity’s sake – enter your reality star du jour here) wearing a sombrero, holding a bottle of tequila in one hand and maracas in another, I’ll know we’ve arrived.

[Photo bygusdrinks]

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Justices Taking Up Arizona Immigration Law (The Wall Street Journal): The Supreme Court on Wednesday is set to take up a case at the heart of the political dispute over immigration policy, with the justices weighing Arizona’s tough measures against illegal immigrants.

High Court Can Bring Bush Immigration Plan Back From Dead (Bloomberg):  President George W. Bush rightly championed comprehensive reform that would have legalized much of the undocumented population over time while increasing border security. Regardless of how the court rules on Arizona’s law, that is still the right approach.

Arizona anti-immigration law already felt in state’s Hispanic communities (The Guardian): Hispanic communities in Arizona are living in a state of virtual siege, civil rights activists in the state are warning, as a result of little-noticed provisions in the harsh anti-illegal immigration law SB1070 that have already been allowed to go into effect.

Immigration officials offer to shelve 7.5 pct of deportation cases under review (AP/Washington Post): Immigration and Customs Enforcement has agreed to temporarily suspend deporting roughly 16,500 people after reviewing more than 70 percent of the immigration cases pending as of mid-April, according to statistics released by the agency.

Democrats plan to force vote on Arizona immigration law if it’s upheld by court  (Washington Post): Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) will announce the fallback legislation at a hearing on the Arizona law Tuesday, a day before the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a suit to determine whether Arizona had the authority to enact the 2010 state crackdown.

Poll: Americans overwhelmingly support Ariz. immigration law, think court should uphold it (The Daily Caller): A Quinnipiac University poll released Friday asked 2,577 registered voters nationwide whether they support Arizona’s immigration law, S.B. 1070, passed in 2010. Sixty-eight percent of respondents said they approved of the law while 27 percent said they disapproved of it.

Economy, Not Immigration, Is Key Issue for Latinos in 2012 (U.S.News and World Report): Resurgent Republic just released a study based on focus group data that addresses this very point. Talking with independent Latinos who all voted for Barack Obama in 2008 but are undecided about how the will vote in 2012, they found some very interesting things—like the fact that these voters are “primarily concerned about the direction of the economy and finding quality jobs.”

However Supreme Court rules on immigration, numbers favor Obama (Los Angeles Times): Just as the U.S. Supreme Court begins to hear arguments about Arizona’s hard-line immigration law, a study pops up that says illegal immigration from Mexico is a diminishing problem.

Rethinking the Hispanic Vote (The Journal): Democrats have counted Hispanics as a pivotal part of their coalition, but there’s no guarantee that as first-generation immigrants assimilate, they will remain reliable partisan voters.   Indeed, a complementary Pew Hispanic Center study, released last month, showed immigrants becoming more Republican the longer they’ve been in this country — a similar narrative to other first-generation ethnic groups.

Poll: Obama Leads Romney In Youth Vote, But Has Trouble Too (U.S.News and World Report): President Obama has widened his lead among voters age 18-29, according to a survey released Tuesday by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics. Nevertheless, said the institute’s director Trey Grayson, “The president continues to struggle with key segments of the millennial demographic.”

The Young And The Restless: Can Obama Re-Charge The Youth Vote?  (ABC News): A recent Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll found that while the president enjoys a substantial, 60 percent to 34 percent lead, against Mitt Romney, among young voters, Obama’s “enthusiasm has taken a nosedive,” according to The Hill newspaper.

Hurt by Arizona immigration law, Hispanics organize (Chicago Tribune): As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares on Wednesday to hear Arizona defend its crackdown on illegal immigrants, Hispanics in the state are responding to the 2-year-old measure with a surge of activism ranging from civil rights classes to a revved up effort to get out the vote this election year.

Marco Rubio Is This Election’s Sarah Palin (Slate): As a possible vice presidential pick, he is popular with the grassroots. He is an envoy to a key part of the electorate and has crossover political appeal. He has successfully bucked his party establishment, and those who have seen him work say he’s skilled. He’s an easy and talented campaigner, and he’d wow them in Tampa the way Palin did in Denver. He is also fundamentally at odds with his potential running mate’s message and criteria for his vice president.

Calderon Says Mexico Reduced Net Migration to U.S. to Zero (Bloomberg): Mexican President Felipe Calderon said that better education, more job opportunities and broader health-care availability in Latin America’s second-largest economy have cut net migration to the U.S. to zero.

Denver political leader, businessman Paul Sandoval dies (Denver Business Journal): Paul Sandoval, a Denver political leader and businessman who helped steer city politics for a generation, died Tuesday at age 67.

Undocumented Immigrant Worker Plan Backed by Kansas Tourism Group (Fox News Latino): The trade group for travel and tourism businesses in Kansas threw its support behind an effort to start a state program aimed at placing undocumented immigrants into hard-to-fill jobs like farm work.

I avoid this topic like I avoid heavy traffic – sometimes it’s impossible. Sometimes, like when the Pew Hispanic Center does a study on it and releases the results, you have to deal with it.  My reluctance has to do with the fact that I resolved this issue for myself a long time ago, so  I’ve lost an edgy interest in it. And if you look closely and deeply at the Pew results many American residents of Latin American descent are at the same place I am. We’ve long since figured out, for ourselves, who we are and how we identify. The Pew study categorizes it, underlines it and puts a period at the end, for the sake of expediency.

Here’s a quick recap of the Pew findings:

• 51% of those surveyed say they identify with their family’s country of origin
• 24% identify as Latino or Hispanic
• 21% identify as American
• the remainder identify as other

Exactly. That makes perfect sense to any Latino, Hispanic, etc.  But it irritates the bejeezus out of everyone else.

Forty years ago the U.S. Government decided it would build a box to stow all persons who, according to the the Pew study summary, “ trace their roots to Spanish-speaking countries.” The mandate was to use the terms Hispanic or Latino. The problem was that the government decided what the terms would be, decided that the terms would fit, then imposed the terms.

Another problem is that the government doesn’t do this with non-Latinos. I consider this important. Many non-Latinos accuse Latinos of hyphenating their identity and of being un-American. But Census forms don’t ask whether respondents are Slavic, Mediterranean or Nordic.  They all get bundled in a big “white” box.

So after 40 years of what many Latinos feel is a false choice, they identify as they feel more fit, and not by the choices they’re given. We can do this survey again in 10 years, and if the choices don’t change the results won’t change either.

I understand the need, for scientific purposes, to classify ethnic and cultural groups, I understand why people should be allowed to self identify within those groups and I understand the need to establish controls and differences between groups.  So I’m sure social scientists are giddy with the data.

But the boxes and controls and differences set up for the experiment have caused frictions and sparked differences – and posts that raise questions with no answers. There’s an important part of this conversation that’s missing, an implication that cuts two ways: if I’m Latino why do I have to hyphenate the fact that I’m American? Why is it that only African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans need to iterate the fact? And why is that used against me, like some sort of loyalty litmus test.

See, if you ask me to chose a culture, race  or ethnicity, I will. But if the choices don’t fit, I’ll make my own. And in the end, if you ask me whether I’m American, I’d say yes. But then, why would you have to ask?

[Photo by joewcampbell]