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Friday, May 9, 2008
MALDEF angry at Rush Limbaugh
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is angry at Rush Limbaugh.
Limbaugh made the comment on his radio show.
In a letter to Limbaugh, MALDEF President John Trasvina said the characterization “speaks volumes about your view of America and the role or status of people who do not fit your preconceived notion of what an elected official should be.”
He added: “Perhaps as our community continues to increase its presence as the teachers, lawyers, professionals and civic leaders that our country depends on, you will finally move beyond your outdated mindset which attempts to exclude an entire American population from being the leaders of this nation.”
Latino groups have become more aggressive about objecting to rhetoric in the media.
Several Hispanic organizations recently complained about a report on the CBS Evening News about immigrants who give birth to children in the United States. They said the segment was unfair and one-sided.
In addition, several Hispanic groups started a Web site — www.wecanstopthehate.org — to monitor what they called “hate speech” in the media.
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Tancredo calls for fence on the Canadian border
Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican famous for his fight against illegal immigration, said this week that the United States should build a fence along the Northern border with Canada.
A Canadian government watchdog group found that the agency did not have contact information for 41,000 of the 63,000 people it had tried to expel from the country. Most were rejected refugee applicants.
“Considering that the U.S. and Canada share 5,000 miles of unguarded border, it is imperative the Canadian government track down these individuals,” Tancredo said in a letter to the Canadian Ambassador to the United States. “Our open borders present a serious danger to our citizens and I am calling again on our government to build a fence along our northern border as well as our southern border.”
Read the full Tancredo press release here.
Read more about the watchdog report here.
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Latino museum bill signed into law
President Bush on Thursday signed into law a measure that could lead to the creation of a National Museum of the American Latino in Washington.
The museum would focus on the artistic, cultural, and historical contributions of Hispanic Americans.
Under the measure, a 23-member commission will be charged with bringing together experts, policy makers and other interested parties to discuss the museum’s viability and establish a fundraising plan.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the bill’s passage and signing “helped bring long overdue recognition to the vital place that Latinos have in our national mosaic.”
The effort is spearheaded by Rep. Xavier Becerra, a rising star in the Democratic Party, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Flo., the fist Hispanic woman elected to Congress.
“If progress is measured in baby steps, I think it’s fair to say that the president’s pen today has brought this important project into its adolescence,” said Becerra. “It is my hope that the commission will begin its work soon so that this vision, this dream, will further mature into full reality. It is truly an incredible day.”
Read more here.
