a shot back at Marc's adversaries

[Aggrevated Guest]

You know what...I sat and watched the news last night and read all of the articles I could get my hands on regarding the outrage over Marc Levine's comments...and now it's my turn to put my opinion out there...

First of all, I read Marc's post...several times...and I came to this decision, parts of the post were poorly worded, and I can see the reason for backlash.

However the line everyone is focusing on, "There is definitely a very promiscuous flavor in - at least - parts of Hispanic culture." I just don't see as the "blanket racist statement" it's being made out to be. He clearly states that it's in at least parts of the Hispanic culture...not all of it. As usual, selective reading on the part of the criticizers. I could get into my experiences while going through my stint in the restaurant industry and working with a great many Mexican men, listening to them brag about their "machismo"...but I am not about to become the next target of the selective media.

Then of course he used that catch phrase which all advocates and the media love to call out as racist, "these people". So, if he singled out a group, say hispanics, mexicans, dominicans, irish, chinese, black, white, russian, austrailian...I suppose that would have been alright???

As I said, he certainly could have worded it better, and I think he was right in apologizing to anyone who may have taken offense to it, but overall, I don't see that the statement was as blatantly racist as the drive-by media are making it sound.

Let's move on to that drive by media...

First of all, let's point out that the people who were interviewed by print and tv media were overwhelmingly the ones who were against Marc's statements...what ever happened to "fair and balanced"? I know, as Richard Kelsey has said, sex and race sell, and they ran with this one.

But then again, Richard, if the media is so obsessed with sex, I know of at least one woman they interviewed who was upset with Marc's comments who has an incident in her recent past that would have whetted that desire for sexually scandalous behavior. Again...I am not going to get into details here, because I am not going to be the next target, but I am sure many of you know what I am speaking about.

As for everyone's favorite advocate, Frank Freyre...what can I say that hasn't been said in a number of other posts on this web site. There are several on this site that I agree with whole heartedly, those being the ones that speak about how Mr Freyre continues to drive wedges between the hispanic community and the rest of the town, rather then build bridges. I also love the ones that point out how advocacy groups fail to do anything to actually help the illegal immigrants become legal, but would rather keep them in that lower socio economic level so that they can continue to feel good about themselves for "helping these poor people"

Let me sum this up quickly...

Marc, your post was worded a bit harshly perhaps, but then again, only because we live in a society where political correctness has trumped free speech.

Media...you've managed to put out a side to a story without legitimately representing the opposing side because it didn't fit within your agenda...surprise surprise.

Mr Freyre and all of the other advocates out there, I will take you seriously when you start seriously working towards making the people you are claiming to care about, legal citizens of this great country. Until that day, I will consider them law breaking criminals who deserve none of my sympathy or respect, because respect is earned, not just granted.

[aggrevated guest]

FORGOT TO MENTION...

I just wanted to mention that the only reason why Frank Freyre and the other advocacy groups are calling for Marc's resignation or removal is because they know they don't have a snowball's chance in you-know-where of getting him voted out of office.

If anything, they have now "rallied the troops" behind Marc, and he'll get re-elected (should he choose to run again) by a landslide!!! Good work folks!!

[LS]

I wonder how many people actually read the article that he was commenting on... The article was based on statistics from the Federal Census, Pew Hispanic Trust and the Center for Disease Control (2 governmental reports and one Hispanic based institute). It also included a smattering of NY Times articles.

So, Marc's comment was in response to the outcome by someone who researched these various sources.

Here is a one-line excerpt:
"Nearly half of the children born to Hispanic mothers in the U.S. are born out of wedlock, a proportion that has been increasing rapidly with no signs of slowing down."

Is that not a troubling fact. It would have been okay for Frank Freyre to comment on the sad state of the conclusions of that article, but you are a racist if you are not hispanic and reach the same conclusion.

Up is down, down is up. We are all the same, except if we want to highlight our differences. Our diversity is strength, unless it is a weakness. If it is a weakness, keep your d**n mouth shut - you racist.

[zorro]

The FACTS back up what Marc LeVine said. Hispanics just can't stand to hear the truth


www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr55/nvsr55_01.pdf

Page 12

Rates for unmarried women vary widely by race and ethnicity, mirroring the fertility differentials for all women described above. In 2004, the nonmarital rate for Hispanic women was highest, at 95.7 per 1,000, followed by black women, 67.2, non-Hispanic white women, 29.4, and API women, 23.6. These variations have changed little in recent years. Birth rates increased for all groups, by 1 percent for black women, 3 to 4 percent for Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women, and 6 percent for API women (Table 19).

Differences in nonmarital childbearing among race and ethnicity groups are reflected in contrasting patterns within groups by maternal age. Birth rates for unmarried black and Hispanic teenagers are relatively
similar, but at ages 20 years and over, the rates quickly diverge. In age groups 30–34 years and over, the rates for unmarried Hispanic women are about double the rates for unmarried black women. Among age groups under 20 years, API women have the lowest rates, whereas at aged 30 years and over, rates are lowest for non-Hispanic white women.