Let’s be honest, related to news, so far this year has not being great. The economy? Technically the recovery is on, but at a lethargic pace! The arrival of the new economy with bigger and bigger players and new but diffused rules, does not encourage the creation of optimistic scenarios. This is, the rich countries are getting older and therefore less creative or innovative, meanwhile the new forces (China, India, etc.) won’t turn overnight into the classic shine over the hill.
The second Obama Administration seems to be even more anticlimactic than his first 4 years in the White House. In the Middle East the Syrian Government use of chemical weapons against their own people was a real tragedy, although an expansion of the war was averted.
For Latino immigrants in the U.S. the Immigration Reform approved in the Senate last July ended as a big no-news story, thanks to the extremist forces inside the Republican Party that still have the ability to block the much needed fix of the system. So, no news there, which means bad news for our people and for the borders security and for the economy and the nation’s future.
Long ago, Jorge Luis Borges wrote that the newspapers made their living from the myth that everyday something really new happened in the world. Truth to be told, the very weak performance of the news business this year (so far) only shows how what is really transcendent not necessarily make it into the 11 pm news report (not even the Twitter frenzy). Talking about immigration in the Unites States, the real big thing is already happening: in a little more than a decade, the nation is healing itself from the serious illness of xenophobe, racism, and a deep fear industry created around the infamous 9-11 events. Now it is very clear to everybody –with the exception of the professional haters and radicals from the right– that immigrants are good for the country. Latino immigrants in particular is synonym to youth, hard work, outstanding work ethics, and determination to succeed. No matter what happens (or not) in the House of Representatives in the in the next weeks, Latino immigrants agenda keeps moving forward. Soon enough Latinos will be one third of the population. Today they have a buying power of $ 1.3 trillion and a proven voting power that has changed and will continue to change dramatically the political map of the country.
Latino immigrants already belong here. Business community knows that. Evangelical churches know that. Mainstream public opinion knows that. And even more relevant, most communities across the nation appreciate the values and cultural richness of the newcomers and therefore welcome them in their daily life.
Even more, despite radical voices around the world -and some are very nasty across the Atlantic, the international community recognize the great value of those 220 million immigrants the United Nation has identified. Among them we could count that humble Argentinean priest this Spring move all the way to Rome to become Pope Francisco, without doubt our Man of the Year.
For us, at Tambien Somos AMERICANOS, your magazine, for helping newcomers become Americans, this 2013 has been an extraordinary year. One of clear commitment of old dreams becoming real. Also of lot and lot of learning and even some sacrifices. About the 2014 there it’s much to be told, much to witness and more to improve. For now may be enough with one compromise: it will be better than the 2013. Please enjoy the holidays and share our magazine, listen our Podcast at iTunes and watch our YouTube channel.
December 2013
