I was prompted to write this post because of a recent experience I had when I decided I would venture to post a comment on one of the big named community blogs. The issue boils down to institutionalized racism regarding Hispanic credibility based on my perception in today's society.

What I find amusing is how people on the left cherry pick the articles to blast la raza. These are the same people who will cry out on the mountain tops saying that the MSM is a tool of the corporatist and they lie about anything. But when it comes to minorities and la raza from South of border, they take what the MSM says as the gospel truth. What is worse, no matter what WE say, will always be looked at as questionable. And if we espeak Espanish berry well, pues forget, its not good enough, we must not know what we are talking about.

Considering where I was, I was not surprised to get the response I did.

True leftists dont fit your model.

Don't shit on those who really love you.

While it was just another defensiveness knee-jerk reaction, which I should have let it go, I, however, responded by asking the commenter to define the meaning of a "true leftist."

What bothered me about the comment was the connotation behind it. It is an attitude that is becoming apparent among some who claim to be left of center and happened to be within the Democratic Party. It is the same nasty attitude that used when it comes to dealing with Hispanics and Hispanic issues.

While overt racism and discrimination may not be in full view, it is obvious there is a blatant inequality on who has the right to express their views. When it is expressed, it is often times hidden in some sort of semantic tactic that prevents many white people from being able to really listen and hear what people of color are trying to tell them. The comment made to me is typical of many whites who not only want to deny the existence of racism, but also claim that whites are the new victims of modern American racism.

I do not understand how anyone can declare that I was "shitting on those who really love me" in light of the highly visible signs of white entitlement in America. The comment not only accuses me of trumping up some type of accusation but it also trivialized what I said as if I was going along with some new fad sweeping the country.

What amazes me is the kneejerk reactions that some liberal whites have when racism is being called out. I will take fault using a broad paint brush from time to time, but lately it is becoming harder to start separating "friendly" from "foe."

I am not alone in this mind set either. In a recent survey, Pew Hispanic Center 2006 National Survey of Latinos, conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center, Pew has found that Hispanic support for the Democratic and Republican Parties has shrunk nationwide because many feel "significantly discontented" by both parties many feel there is an increase in discrimination due to the recent immigration debate. What the Pew Hispanic Center found:

Perceptions of Discrimination
82% - say that discrimination is a problem that is preventing Hispanics from succeeding in the US.

58% - say that discrimination is a "major" problem, compared with 44% in the 2002.

54% - say that the debate over immigration policy has made it more of a problem.

Among sub-groups of the Hispanic population, 51% of the foreign born see the debates as the cause of more discrimination, compared with 57% of the native born.

In examining the responses by generation of nativity confirms that Hispanics far removed from the immigrant experience in their family histories perceive the debate as a source of greater discrimination every bit as much as the most recent arrivals. Among the different generations, 51% of the foreign born see the debates as the cause of more discrimination, compared with 47% of the second generation, and 60% of the third-plus generations.

Political Repercussions
Regarding party identification, a majority of (42%) Hispanics still identify themselves as Democrats, however, this has droped from 49% in 2002.

When it comes to which party has more concern for Hispanics/Latinos Issues
37% - say that the Democratic Party has more concern for Hispanic issues
9% - say that the Republican Party has more concern for Hispanic issues
37% - say that the neither the Democrat and Republican Party has any concern for Hispanic issues

Even though there is a feeling of distance from the Democratic Party, the recent debate over immigration has even upped the political interest among Hispanics. Moreover, we do feel politically energized and unified more than ever before, a feeling that has been missing for a long time.

The sleeping giant is finally awakening as we are rapidly reaching the point where we are finally starting setting a few trends for ourselves:
1) As a minority group, we are growing more in population;
2) We are growing more politically aware/powerful; and
3) We are becoming aware of our economic power.

True, no group is monolithic, but it is evident that political blocks are starting to form, as sub-groups within the Hispanic community are beginning to recognize common interests.

At the same time, Republicans are now realizing their base is demographically shrinking, yet thier core strategy still depends on racial resentment and xenophobia to get their voters to the polls.

If the Democrat Party is truly the party of equal opportunity and the defender of civil rights, then the current Party better start showing they are mending those fences to convince the 82% who are also "hypersensitive" like me. Especially, if the Democrats want to utilize the 75% who feel empowered to vote this November.