A really interesting article in the Dallas Observer (every now and then they have a true gem of journalism that actually reveals something honest and unpolished about DFW, something the Dallas Morning News NEVER does) about Mayates, titled ‘Gay Cabelleros‘. Not exactly like the African-American phenomenon of the ‘down low’ (Straight married men hooking up to have sex with each other), but similar.
The article’s interesting on several levels. It’s interesting to see how differently another modern culture handles ‘gay’ behaviour. (The activo, or top, is not considered gay). This makes it very hard for HIV groups to reach out to these people (gay friendly ads don’t work as they’re not ‘gay’, but the ads can’t just say ‘are you straight but have sex with guys?’).
Secondly, it gives a glimpse into the life of illegal immigrants in America, particularly Mexican immigrants in Texas. This is a huge situation, but it is below our everyday radar. It’s an invisible America. Socio-historically speaking, invisible groups like this are what cause upheavals. One day white suburban SUV-driving America is going to wake up to a a country that is made up of a huge number of illegal, undereducated, impoverished immigrants who don’t speak English. I guess what I’m trying to say is, this situation, good or bad, is a fact. Public policy, the media, and society need to address it and not pretend like it isn’t there. Everything needs to be bilingual in Texas. Heck, Texas students should be literate in Spanish.
And this leads me to my last observation from the article. This type of situation is exactly why abstinence-til-marriage-only health plans like those supported by the current administration don’t work. To a lot of these people, this isn’t cheating on a girlfriend or wife. And, it’s not something that’s going to change any time soon. Like I said above, we can’t move forward as a society with blinders on viewing only what we want society to be, we have to get our hands dirty with the parts of the world around us we may consider imperfect, ugly, or wrong and interact with them, work with them, and help them within the context of their own culture.
Thanks for mentioning this article - I haven’t picked up the Observer in a long time but used to read it regularly. Your comments about the “head-in-the-sand” syndrome are dead on.
January 14, 2005 @ 1:34 pmI check out their site every now and then and read the cover article. Plus, they usually have some neat restaraunts they review that I would otherwise never come across.
January 14, 2005 @ 1:38 pmactually, I would say you’re exactly wrong. The LAST thing that needs to happen is that everyone down here be bilingual.
Not even 100 years ago if you came to the country and couldn’t speak English, you were lucky if you found work before you starved to death. You probably worked on a dock and got pointed to a lot and you KNEW the only way it would get better would be to learn English and educate yourself.
That attitude is gone. now they know they can come here and just let the system fail and then bitch about its the system’s fault so we end up taking care of them.
This isn’t about making society be what we want it to be in this instance, its completely about another culture that REFUSES to learn/take part in our culture and then claims discrimination when we don’t learn/partake in theirs.
January 14, 2005 @ 3:36 pmWell, somebody has an opinion!
Glad you do…everybody needs one.
I see your points. If you come to America, I would hope/think you should try to learn English and merge your culture with ours. And, a number are illegally here.
I guess I believe in a multi-pronged approach:
*If we’re serious about immigration limits, we need to strictly enforce our borders, and deport illegal immigrants.
*If there are huge numbers trying to come from another country (Mexico), we need to look at the bigger picture and help out down there. I’m never one to say the U.S. should be the world’s father, big brother, police, etc., but, for example, we could spend a tenth of the Iraq war closer to home and improving Mexico’s schools, utilities, etc. and they would have a better life and not as many would come over.
*But, they are stil here. We need to treat them with respect and dignity, and reach out to them. Even if you can act like a little child and run to the other room saying “I won’t work to learn their culture since they won’t learn ours”, you always have to take the high road and act better/more mature than others (one of those lessons of life that is so easy to quote but all of us rarely live by it!)
And Jai, in this case, I have to say I think you’re wrong. We strongly need to be bilingual or trilingual. In every modern European country (and in most other countries), people learn at least two languages (often their native tongue and English), and often times more. Back home in the ol’ US of A, fat, happy, and wealthy, we don’t even bother.
“Our culture” isn’t one I want to overly associated with. It’s a white heterosexual Christian wealthy male dominated society that is bland and pasty in comparison to the rich culture and traditions of most people. The hodgepodge of American cultures, where different towns and people have influences of their native people mixed with Americana is what makes this country rich. That American culture I’m ok identifying with.
Steve Martin said it best:
If I had one wish that I could wish this holiday season, it would be that all the children to join hands and sing together in the spirit of harmony and peace. If I had two wishes I could make this holiday season, the first would be for all the children of the world to join hands and sing in the spirit of harmony and peace. And the second would be for 30 million dollars a month to be given to me, tax-free in a Swiss bank account.
January 14, 2005 @ 4:01 pm