[Dialogue] Re: Lamm's talk

[LAURELCG@aol.com]

Dear Colleagues,

I have been a bilingual teacher for 25 years now, and have been disturbed at 
the backlash that Lamm's speech exemplifies.  I deleted it right away, so 
can't even make a point-by-point response, but I don't believe it was cultural or 
linguistic diversity that caused the fall of the empires he named.  All things 
pass away.  The U.S. will also.

I think it's rather clever that Mexico is peacefully taking back the region 
that was taken from it by force in 1850.  The treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo 
guaranteed the Mexican people of California, Arizona and New Mexico the right to 
practice their culture and religion.  

I recommend the movie "A Day Without a Mexican," in which all the Mexicans in 
California suddenly and mysteriously disappear.  Everything, of course, falls 
apart, since they harvest the crops, clean the hotels, serve the restaurants, 
etc., etc., etc.  Not to mention the 20% of elementary teachers, many 
doctors, lawyers, entertainers.  But of course I'm not telling you anything you don't 
already know.


The author of MEXIFORNIA is from this area.  He lays out the situation.  What 
is the problem?  Our country's largest export is U.S. dollars going to 
support villages all over Mexico.  Not government aid, but money earned at 
low-paying jobs here.

Sorry for my wandering thoughts.  I have come to appreciate my students and 
their families very much.  So, let's follow John Epps' advice, and celebrate 
diversity.  The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.  (And drugs.  And 
gangs.  Sorry, I'm evidently in an altered state.)

Blessings,
Jann