Southern California = Quebec?

Slate’s Mickey Kaus on increasing use of Spanish in Southern California:

it's worth worrying about a) the possible collapse of a common language and b)
the possible Quebec-like Mexification of Southern California

I don’t think the analogy between the situation in Southern California and in Quebec is a good fit. Quebec is a culturally and linguistically distinct region within a monolingual English nation. As such, the differences between it and the rest of the county are pronounced. This is nothing like the situation in the US. The geographic fluidity of immigrant populations, mirroring the mobility of the general US population, means there is no extreme cultural demarcation as in the case of Quebec. In the US, the Hispanic population is everywhere. When one thinks of Spanish speaking populations one thinks of New York or Miami, but even in North Carolina where I live there is a significant and rapidly growing Hispanic community. See also the recent LA Times article on the rebuilding of New Orleans. It will likely be rebuilt as a Hispanic city. Imagine how different the Canadian situation would be if the populations of, say, Vancouver and Calgary were each 30% or 40% French speaking. In short, even as Southern California becomes, increasing, a Spanish speaking region, it won’t be isolated from the rest of the country. The changes and challenges that the US faces and will continue to face as its Hispanic population grows certainly are significant. But it seems unlikely that they will be much like those in Canada. I’ll leave speculating on what the change will be for another time but expect new and exciting cultural formations, unlike ones we have seen before.

For more information on Latinos see this study http://www.brook.edu/es/urban/census/citygrowth.htm

Forex Sept 11, 2005

Consumer sentiment and retail sales numbers will not be as far down as might be expected, strengthening the dollar. Giving to Katrina victims and back to school purchasing will fuel steady to good numbers. Long term, these positives are likely to result in an underestimation of the effects of Katrina. Without Bush telling consumers to buy and without the defiant attitude that was key to continued consumer spending following 9/11, retail sales are likely to slow during the fall. Expect gradual erosion in consumer confidence once the natural we-will-bounce-back knee-jerk reaction to Katrina wears off. As for monetary policy, current expectations of continued rate increases by the Fed are likely correct. The inflationary pressure of Katrina related spending and higher oil prices gradually spreading through the economy will encourage Fed increases. In addition, it must be remembered that Greenspan considers the Fed’s primary role to be inflation prevention not maintaining economic growth. As he prepares to leave office he will feel compelled to continue raising rates, realizing that if he stops raising rates his replacement will be in a difficult position where he (or she?) would face political pressure against renewed rate increases.

You’re not an American because I say so!

In a New York Times article on bilingual libraries a spokesman for Representative Tom Tancredo, Republican of Colorado offer up this, "When you have a strong cultural identity and there aren't set incentives to become American, it creates a lot of tension and divides the community.” He is arguing against the creation of libraries that have extensive collections in Spanish that serve growing Hispanic populations. So many things wrong with the premise here I don’t know where to start. First off most Spanish speakers in the US in fact are already American citizens, that is to say Americans. Then the issue of having a strong cultural identity as being bad? Better tell those Italians to cancel their Columbus day parades. While we’re at it we better get ride of St. Patrick’s. In fat we should just have everyone forget where ever they came from so they can be true Americans. Last but not least the idea that having libraries offer Spanish language books will lead to tension and division is just too ridiculous. In a word with racists and religious fundamentalists he is worried about books causing tension and division.

Check out the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/05library.htmlVisit the Congressman’s website at http://www.tancredo.org