Race is the common denominator
-
7/31/2007
I will not sugarcoat my view of Los Angeles with the politically-correct restraint seen in so many of the letters written on this site. If you're one of those star struck out-of-staters who is considering a move to L.A. and don't want your Hollywood dreams shattered about how "wonderful" life is here, please don't read what I have to say.
I've lived in L.A. my whole life and have witnessed first hand the steady decline of quality of life for the last 30 years. The the biggest reason for this is, unequivicably, the influx of illegal Mexican immigration (I told you not to read on if you didn't want to hear the truth). As a product of Italian immigrant grandparents I am in no position to criticize the necessary influx of immigration into America. As the saying goes, "Immigrants built this country." Mexicans (and I qualify this by stating that other Latino groups such as the El Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Cubans are in a completely different league. In fact they thumb their noses at Mexicans and are deeply insulted if assumed a member of that culture).
The biggest problem is that our political leaders, including our Mexican American mayor, have not only turned a blind eye to to the problem by not enforcing the laws, they've actually encouraged the wave of new illegals (which now outnumber 51% to 49%the caucasion, black and Asian ethnicities combined).
Many Mexican activists are hellbent on "reclaiming" what they believe was stolen from them 150 years ago (The truth is though that the U.S. duly compensated Mexico $30 million California through the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo).
The Mexicans are catered to and given incredible advantages never offered to earlier immigrants. Everything is provided in Spanish eliminating the need for assimilation. The data shows that children of Mexican background score far below whites (Middle Easterners), Asians, and Asian Indians. Over 70% can't pass a 6th grade high school exit exam. Graduation rate is barely 50%. The overwhleming majority of crimes, pervasive graffiti, and gang involvment comes from this particular Latino group. They truly believe that their immigration situation is unique and somehow different than that of other cultural groups. They insist they are more entitled to retain their old world culture than other immigrant groups. Interestingly, other ethnic groups like the Koreans have no trouble maintaining their language and culture but at the same time integrate themselves beautifully into the m
Bp | Los Angeles, CA