Art was happily reading the Sunday paper and showed me an Associated Press column about Puerto Rico. There was a joke circulating that Trump, who is touting America First probably didn't even know that Puerto Rico was a U.S. territory and that citizens living there were American citizens. They pay most of the federal taxes.
Well, it turns out that according to a New York Times poll, more than half of the mainland population did not know that those victims of Hurricane Maria are definitely Americans.
I can most certainly relate to this.
When I arrived in Illinois in 1974, I remember people thinking of us as somewhat exotic.
When I started teaching in 1985, most parents assumed I had to be the ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. One parent told me her son was upset because he thought he was put in the wrong room.
Parents asked if I lived in a "normal" home. They assumed I had been living in a grass shack in Hawaii. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
One person even assumed I was only hired for diversity and nothing else.
When the principal was hiring a new teacher, he privately told me that there was a candidate from Hawaii who was highly qualified and she would definitely be considered because... well... she spoke English like me.
I'm glad I didn't roll up my eyes. I had to grin and bear it a lot in those days.
Just recently someone from the mainland said they were coming to Hawaii and asked us if they could use American money here. Sigh...
The Puerto Ricans are Americans and they need help badly. Trump says getting help to Puerto Rico is difficult because, "it's on an island in the middle of the ocean."
I got this from MSNBC.
And by the way, we are the 50th state, we use U.S. currency, we speak English and we live in homes similar to Florida or California. We sent our donations to The Hispanic Federation and hope others will aid those Americans suffering in Puerto Rico also.
Well, it turns out that according to a New York Times poll, more than half of the mainland population did not know that those victims of Hurricane Maria are definitely Americans.
I can most certainly relate to this.
When I arrived in Illinois in 1974, I remember people thinking of us as somewhat exotic.
When I started teaching in 1985, most parents assumed I had to be the ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. One parent told me her son was upset because he thought he was put in the wrong room.
One person even assumed I was only hired for diversity and nothing else.
When the principal was hiring a new teacher, he privately told me that there was a candidate from Hawaii who was highly qualified and she would definitely be considered because... well... she spoke English like me.
I'm glad I didn't roll up my eyes. I had to grin and bear it a lot in those days.
Just recently someone from the mainland said they were coming to Hawaii and asked us if they could use American money here. Sigh...
The Puerto Ricans are Americans and they need help badly. Trump says getting help to Puerto Rico is difficult because, "it's on an island in the middle of the ocean."
I got this from MSNBC.
"Not to put too fine a point on this, but Puerto Rico is in the Caribbean. The U.S. territory is not around the corner, but from Miami, it’s about 1,000 miles – roughly the distance from the White House to the president’s Floridian golf resort. Puerto Rico is obviously an island, but it’s not “in the middle” of a “very big ocean.”This is really spooky because Hawaii is much more so in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a very big ocean. We've been told that we need to always be prepared for a hurricane. We're told to keep a week's worth of emergency supplies. Maybe we need enough for a month?
And by the way, we are the 50th state, we use U.S. currency, we speak English and we live in homes similar to Florida or California. We sent our donations to The Hispanic Federation and hope others will aid those Americans suffering in Puerto Rico also.
The level of ignorance in our country is pretty scary to me. I am amazed that you went through that as a young teacher. I am more upset by the injustices I never knew about because of my own ignorance. I wish we would treat all people with respect. :-(
ReplyDeleteTrump is way too ignorant to be president. He's as ignorant at George W. Bush. Maybe worse.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely need Civics in our school systems.
I still cannot believe he said that. We don't support the local Red Cross here, but we do support the Salvation Army. We know they are there.
ReplyDeleteGood post Kay.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experiences Kay. Growing up in an all white middle class Okie city, I didn't even go to school with blacks until college; and a college roommate was Catholic, which was a "spooky" unknown religion to my parents. Hence, those not seeking education or enlightenment walk around with a bucket of blatant ignorance. I'm thankful you gave a better example of your heritage in order to quietly correct people's ignorance. Biases are never-ending, but always leaving room for much re-education. Those who are truly ignorant will never want to know otherwise, hence remains the base for Trump's supporters. Sigh... As usual, the people of Hawaii can teach the whole world a lot of Aloha! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteThe cruelty of this country, both ignorant and knowing, is crushing.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at how many misconceptions there are. I had no idea of the ignorance you had to face.
ReplyDeleteI think one thing keeping Trump at the slow pace is that while Puerto Rico is an American Territory and they pay taxes, they do not have the right to vote. You suppose that could have some bearing?
On the other hand, Puerto Ricans can vote in the Presidential primary elections, but not the general. Also, if they move to the mainland, they can vote. So weird...
DeleteTrump will be coming to Hawaii in November. It will be very interesting. Actually I had a booth at a collectible show yesterday and it was rather surprising to me that several people were in full support of Trump. Full. They even thought that he should keep tweeting because it is his way of communicating what he truly thinks.
ReplyDeleteThe man is the President of the United States. With that title comes responsibility and the realization that he represents an entire country. His opinions should be shelved for conversations with friends. There are too many unhappy people. These are times of discord and disasters. I don't watch the news anymore, or subscribe to the newspaper. Trump is just icing on the cake.
I knew Trump would drop the ball when it came to PR. Most are not really white and speak Spanish, is anyone not surprised?
ReplyDeleteThe Peurto Rico situation is bad all around. It's too bad there is so much ignorance. Yes, Americans wonder if we have snow all year and live in snow houses and a whole lot of other dumb things like you get in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteYou do have to wonder if he knew, and certainly many did not.
ReplyDeleteIt's that same kind of ignorance that got Trump elected.
ReplyDeleteAmazing the number of people on the mainland who know only about those who are just like them. They often reject, and fear all others it seems. Brave of you coping with what you encountered and may still in some quarters yet today though I hope not.
ReplyDeleteEverything you tell in this post saddens me, Kay. But one thing makes me smile! Is that really what a grass hut looks like? No windows? Did people live in houses like that? Wow.
ReplyDelete