Too many take “myths” for fact

I’m giving my commentary a rest for the day. I’ll be back Friday. Those of you who need to read something should take a look at this commentary from The Reporter newspaper of Fond du Lac, Wis.

It purports to be a list of “myths” and “strengths” about the growing Latino population in that Wisconsin community of 43,020 people, but it is one that literally could be applied to just about any community.

THEN AGAIN, THE community of Fond du Lac may well be like many other municipalities across the country. The city experienced only a 2 percent population growth during the past decade. Yet the number of Latinos who live either in Fond du Lac or the surrounding county went up by 120 percent.

My favorite point on the list might well be that “we don’t speak Mexican,” mainly because I have lost count of the number of times throughout the years that I have had to argue with ignorant buffoons who want to insist that I am wrong when I write about people speaking “Spanish.”

Some people want to live in their own clueless world, and don’t like having their ignorance pointed out to them. Which is what I’m sure will infuriate them about this particular list.

It ought to be interpreted as a light-hearted observation. But some will take it extremely seriously, and as a slam against themselves. Because their own ridiculous slams will be called out as cheap rhetoric.

THEN AGAIN, ONE of the “strengths” of the Latino community on the newspaper's list is one that ought to be applied to all – regardless of ethnic background.

“We believe that life is to be enjoyed. There has to be a time for work and a time for enjoyment,” according to The Reporter. I’d hate to think that Latinos are the only people on this planet with enough sense to realize the truth of that statement.

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