I saw this interesting piece in the NYT this morning about how the most popular soccer team in the U.S. is Mexico. Given the firestorm that erupted yesterday over the American flag wearing students, this article struck me.

It could be seen as evidence that Mexicans are not assimilating into the American culture, but instead clinging to their own culture and nationality.

I guess the equivalent would be if Americans in England, cheered for the American team instead of the English team. Or maybe I am just making too much of it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/sports/soccer/07soccer.html?ref=todayspaper

Multiculturalism is a great thing at the individual level and on the community level. The problem is when governments become involved, see the case of the political ad by I believe a standing governor or running for governor in Alabama saying no more catering to those who cant speak the language and getting drivers liscense test in multiple languages. Governements, including schools should not be in the game of encouraging or discouraging cultural values on its citizens.

The problem is that we pride ourselves on being an open and free country to a fault. I am not saying come down on different ethnicities, but rather saying heres where it stops, language for instance. Hell I dont care if they want to make the stinking national language Spanish or Chinese, but lets pick one and stick with it ! lol

Immigrants were once forced, not by government but by society to assimilate, while keeping their heritage alive and well. Now, wheres it to come from, if you say something against a minority no matter what your stance, you are sometimes labeled a rascist! lol

ptown_trojans_1 wrote: It could be seen as evidence that Mexicans are not assimilating into the American culture, but instead clinging to their own culture and nationality.

You need evidence that Mexicans are not assimilating? Not speaking English, marching in our streets with Mexican flags, etc. hasn't proved it to you enough?

Post removed for racial slur- LJ

If I ever see the Mexican soccer team out and about I swear to God I will throw a plastic bag filled with urine on them.

And anyone else we see who looks like a person of hispanic descent. Not to mention the blacks and the jews.

Everyone knows us gringos suck at soccer.

On a serious note the article that Ptown posted speaks to the fact of the amount of disposable income those that inhabit our nation have available to them. You can love soccer all you want, but you still have to pay the bills and put food on your table. No one loves sports more that providing for themselves or their family.

The first generation to immigrate are always the most 'connected' with their original country. After all, this is their new home, not their home since birth. As the generations pass, the children become much more associated with the U.S. as their home and only see their ancestral home as just that. Just like you may remark that your family is part German, English, Scottish, Irish, etc. You really don't have any other link than that.

I know if I moved permanently to another country I would still root for the U.S. National Team in competitions. Would seem weird not to still stick to your roots.

Sykotyk

Sykotyk wrote: The first generation to immigrate are always the most 'connected' with their original country. After all, this is their new home, not their home since birth. As the generations pass, the children become much more associated with the U.S. as their home and only see their ancestral home as just that. Just like you may remark that your family is part German, English, Scottish, Irish, etc. You really don't have any other link than that.

What you say here is quite accurate. That is the tendency of first generation immigrants. Both legal and illegal. But there are quite a few differences between immigrants from other countries and immigrants from Mexico in the American southwest.

They did not cross the great expanse of an ocean or great land mass to get here. Their ties to their homeland lie just across the border. Those ties are more easily maintained just because of the geographical proximity of their migration.

The American southwest was once a part of the sovereign state of Mexico. Taken by force of arms by a foreign power (the US government). They teach in Mexican schools that the American southwest was stolen by US imperialists. It is even happening in schools in the southwest. The Arizona state legislature just passed legislation intended to put a stop to this.

http://www.natallnews.com/printer.php?id=9325
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/30/arizona-legislature-passes-banning-ethnic-studies-programs/

The new bill would make it illegal for a school district to teach any courses that promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, promote resentment of a particular race or class of people, are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group or "advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals."

This is no joke. How many other states feel the need to pass legislation making it illegal for school districts to teach courses promoting the overthrow of the US government. The people of Arizona understand what is occurring. They are trying to stop it.

I am not saying that everyone wanting to immigrate from Mexico into the US is of this mindset. Many want to become a part of this country, remember their heritage, and divorce themselves from the Mexican government and become Americans. The only way our government has a chance to discover their intentions for entering this country is for them to enter legally.

majorspark wrote:





The American southwest was once a part of the sovereign state of Mexico. Taken by force of arms by a foreign power (the US government). They teach in Mexican schools that the American southwest was stolen by US imperialists. It is even happening in schools in the southwest. The Arizona state legislature just passed legislation intended to put a stop to this.

That isn't entirely untrue...much of our westward expansion could easily be construed as imperialist in nature...especially in regards to the subjugation of the Native Americans throughout the west...what else do you call it when a government takes a territory by force of arms from another government? Seems imperialist to me...i don't think anyone would deny that the entire process of westward expansion was nothing short of empire building...

cbus4life wrote: That isn't entirely untrue...much of our westward expansion could easily be construed as imperialist in nature...especially in regards to the subjugation of the Native Americans throughout the west...what else do you call it when a government takes a territory by force of arms from another government? Seems imperialist to me...i don't think anyone would deny that the entire process of westward expansion was nothing short of empire building...

I agree. If I was born in Mexico I would feel the same way. The point I was making is the differences between Immigrant populations of the past and the Mexican immigrants in the southwest. The motives of some is they are repossessing Mexican territory. If we do not put a lid on this and try to find out through legal immigration what an individuals intentions are for entering the country, we will one day see a "Balkan" type situation in the southwest.

With these recent stories in the news we can already see it beginning. Browse local media in the southwest. School kids ripping flags down, threats, fights etc. One day these kids will be adults. If the immigration situation in the American southwest is not brought under control soon, I guarantee it will eventually descend into violence. History of the world is full of examples of this very thing that is occurring in the southwest. We are by no means immune to the ways of the world.

So the most popular NHL stars have been from other countrys. Everyone loves a winner.

ccrunner609 wrote: US soccer=ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz

soccer without cute girls = ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

You mean, like this?



http://digitalcypher.com/random/soccer-girls.jpg

Sykotyk

ptown_trojans_1 wrote: I saw this interesting piece in the NYT this morning about how the most popular soccer team in the U.S. is Mexico. Given the firestorm that erupted yesterday over the American flag wearing students, this article struck me.

It could be seen as evidence that Mexicans are not assimilating into the American culture, but instead clinging to their own culture and nationality.

I guess the equivalent would be if Americans in England, cheered for the American team instead of the English team. Or maybe I am just making too much of it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/sports/soccer/07soccer.html?ref=todayspaper

You are making too much of it.

When we played Honduras in World Cup qualifying at home there were more than twice as many Honduras fans as there were US fans. It's because soccer isn't popular here.

The Mexican-American population is one of the larger immigrant populations in the US. The Mexicans like soccer. Hence, Mexico is probably a pretty damned popular team as far as soccer goes in the US.

Not a big deal, don't read anything into it.