John Berryman (johfberr@mars.utm.edu) from 192.239.157.123 at 09/26/00 03:12PM
comment
    The thing that is changing most quickly about the South is its cultural make-up. The has been a recent influx of Hispanic immigrants. They come here because poor economic conditions in their countries and because of very good economic conditions in our countries. They find that here, they have a highly prized comodity, cheap labor, while in their home land, they might not be able to find work at all. On both the American side and the immigrant's side, there is profit, so the arangement is economically beneficial. I welcome the culture of these other countries, but I am concerned that the government is actually embracing the other cultures to eagerly. I have heard of certain schools nearer to the border have catered to the Hispanics by teaching in Spanish. Although this is initially much easier on the students, how, in the long run, will they ever adapt to the English speaking American mainstream? By not being forced to learn English, they have been somewhat forced to live in "their corner of town." Instead of being able to enter into the American "melting pot" they are isolated.