Comment

Comment by Wilmer Christopher Rivera on February 12, 2009 at 9:09am

I think also this is where it comes in terms of Leadership. Hispanic Leaders that can motivate, and bring about change. In the community, in schools, in church.

Comment by Wilmer Christopher Rivera on February 8, 2009 at 10:06pm

If they're native Spanish speakers, than it makes big difference! They understand it fully, they know it more, and feel more confident not only about what is being said, but about the speaker as well! It makes a big difference! Spanish is a huge connection to people especially that are 1st generation or only speak it. If they're second generation, than they're most likely bilingual, and spanish or english is fine, as long as they understand it. A lot do, but some, only know english, and understand spanish, or only can speak english, and know very little spanish, some don't know it at all and some are the opposite and understand it completely! (As you can see there is a wide variety among just this one group!) For these people, and I'm going to assume that they can understand both, I would say that that if a political leader simply knows the language of Spanish that that is good, but it's not going to be a crucial factor. What they are looking more for is issues, what is being done about them, and what is this political person going to do? Some may argue that he is not hispanic because he may not speak it, but in the end what they're really looking for is what is he going to do, will he do it, and know about the issues going on, everything. So I would say for 1st generation it makes a big difference, for 2nd and 3rd it's more about issues.

Comment by James Nored on February 8, 2009 at 9:29pm

Wilmer, how much difference does it make to Hispanics when political leaders speak their language?