Thursday, June 20, 2013

Not very useful data except that most "Hispanics" here were born here.


From the Pew Research Hispanic Center

Most Hispanics in the United States were born here. Incidentally, I speak Spanish after six years living in Latin America and many trips to Spanish speaking countries, but I am not counted as a Hispanic.

Country of Origin

The "country of origin" is a strange concept. The implication is that if one him/herself or one's ancestors came to the United States from Mexico, then one's country of origin is Mexico. Of course, most people in Mexico have Spanish as well as Indian ancestors, and many have ancestors from other European nations. (e.g. Anthony Quinn "was born Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca in Chihuahua, Mexico, during the Mexican Revolution. His mother, Manuela "Nellie" Oaxaca, was of Aztec ancestry. His father, Francisco (Frank) Quinn, was also born in Mexico, to an Irish immigrant father from County Cork and a Mexican mother.")

So what? I would be more interested in some kind of breakdown on language ability in English and foreign languages. The nationality of our ancestors is so mixed, and so distant that I don't see any meaningful way to utilize it. It might be useful to know whether a person him/herself was born in the United States, and perhaps whether his/her parents were born here, but does anything carry over from two generations back?

What is really of interest to me is what energy, knowledge, skill and ability does a citizen, resident or immigrant bring to the USA. What can s/he contribute. "Hispanic" doesn't cut it!

Report: Diverse Origins: The Nation’s 14 Largest Hispanic-Origin Groups

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