Long running advice columns by Abigail Van Buren and Ann Landers and more recent ones by Carolyn Hax and others clearly demonstrate America's love and need for advice columns on all kinds of issues. On any day, one could expect to see a letter like the one below.
"Dear Abby: My boyfriend of five years says he loves me and wants to marry me some day. But he has never really asked me to marry him. Sometimes he can be cruel. He has called me names in front of his family and other people. He hardly ever takes me with him when he goes out with his friends or go to places or activities he loves most. He says it is because I speak with an accent and my voice embarrasses him. Abby, he is the only person who has ever told me that. I don't know what to do. I want this relationship to work, but I don't know if I should trust him anymore." Confused, North Carolina.
With just a few changes, this could also be a letter written by an Hispanic American about the Republican Party. In it recent "Autopsy" on the party's recent failures in the Presidential Election of 2012, the RNC decided that the GOP needed to be more inclusive. This pledge by the RNC for minority outreach highlighted an Hispanic outreach. But like the letter cited above, their behavior aren't always consistent with their pledge.
Representative Steve King (Republican, Iowa--who also attacked President Obama's young daughters for going on vacation) has introduced legislation that will discriminate against Spanish speaking and other non-English speaking people. Mr King has re-introduced the "English Language Unity Act". This bill will outlaw Spanish and other foreign languages from all official functions of the United States Government. This will restrict the ability of Hispanics to vote among other limitations.
In other news, the Republican governor of North Carolina, Pat McCrory's contribution to Hispanic Outreach begins with him closing the states "Latino Affairs Office". Sweet.
In more news: Representative Don Young, Republican, Arkansas, was unapologetic when he called Latinos wetbacks. Initially, representative Young refused to apologize for the slur. Later, under pressure from both Democrats and Republicans he gave a tepid apology which some saw as no apology at all. Rep. Young said in his apology that he "meant no disrespect" when he said that "we used to hire 50 to 60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes". Really?
These are not the only indiscretions and attacks on Hispanics. Nor will they likely be the last indiscretion or attack on Hispanics. Just like they revealed their true values about women in the GOP's War On Women, their true beliefs and value system about Latinos will reveal itself. This is not the end. It is only the beginning. Some of it will be mean. Some will be funny. Some will be sad. But most of it will be bad for Hispanic Americans. Why? Do you think they like Latinos better than they like other immigrants and minorities? Or revile Latinos any less than they do other immigrants and minorities? Seriously?
Should Hispanics Americans trust Republicans? Since I am not Hispanic, I cannot decide. However, if you are Latino and has the kind of personality needs that require you to write Dear Abby or Carolyn Hax to help you decide if you should remain in an abusive relationship, I will give you the advice you need.
No.