[] Not-Hispanic

I want to start out this post by stating that I am the most non-racial person alive. I was raised by a Hispanic step-dad and all my brothers and sisters are half Hispanic. Having watched true prejudice been displayed towards my family from a young age has reinforced to me the benefits of liking or disliking people on their own merits. Honestly, I don't tend to like many people; so if you wanted to, you could consider me a person or human bigot. But when it comes to race, religion, nationality, or sexual preference I couldn't care less.

But . . .

The last year or so it has been hard to miss the fact that Austin's Hispanic population has grown tremendously. If an employer asks if you are bilingual; they only want to know if you speak Spanish as well as English. Steve was actually on an interview where he had checked bi-lingual. When the interviewer found out his 'other' languages included German and Sign-Language, he was told, "Those don't count."

When I go to the grocery stores in this area, 1/3 of all items on the shelf have labels in Spanish as well as English. Half the service providers (waiters, sackers, cashiers) in South Austin, don't speak enough English to have a transaction with comfortably.

Twice, I've called a government agency or city office and listened to their message in Spanish, only to eventually get the following message, "For English, press one."

Still, it didn't really hit home until I began to prepare Will for school. The first time I went, "Whoa!" was when I stopped by the heath department to get his shots. They handed me forms in Spanish and when I tried to give them back, they tried explaining to me in Spanish how to fill them out. I finally did get one in English. During the three hour visit, and rotating door that let in no less than twenty families, I saw one other non-Hispanic family.

When I complained to my friend, she told me how upset she had been when her son had been taught the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish during the last school year.

The forms that I had to fill out to enroll Will in school were numerous, but half of them were inapplicable. Did we come form a migrant working background? What was the primary language spoken in our house? What nationality was our family? They went on and on, duplicating the same questions in different ways. And every form was printed on English on one side and Spanish on the other.

Will attends the early class because that is the English speaking class. When I mentioned this to my friend, she said that was a good thing. At least he's not being held back or bored by having to learn English this entire year.

Steve and I attended 'back to school' night at Will's school a few days before the official start day. Every other parent that appeared in Will's teacher's class room was Hispanic or had a Hispanic partner. His teacher is Hispanic. After greeting us briefly at the front door, she retired to sit with the Hispanic parents and talk in Spanish. We probably spent a combined time of 20 minutes in her room and were spoken to for less than two of them.

Will tells me every day about the other names his class mates call him. And it's not bad names, it's just incorrectly pronounced versions of Will or William. I have to explain to him why they don't say it correctly and that it's not wrong and they are not being mean.

Every week since Will started tending school he has brought home additional forms from the school for us to look over, fill out, and sign. They are ALWAYS about nationality. In fact, I signed one tonight that says it all. The first option for you to check is 1. Hispanic or 2.Non-Hispanic. Further down the form, they list the options for race and in order they are: Hispanic, Indian, Asian, Black, Hawaiian, White.

Steve has been facing the same issue where he works. He is asked to deliver cabinets or doors to work places that hire only Spanish speaking men. Half the employees at his company are first generation Hispanic and have trouble communicating or following directions causing dangerous situation to pop up all the time.

It bothers me. And it's not about Hispanics or the Spanish language. I have nothing against either. I think that Hispanics are very hard working, extremely family orientated, and approve of their drive to better themselves and their family. I've often wished I spoke Spanish, it's a beautiful language. I've also wished I spoke German, French, and Russian.

But, I don't expect to have to speak them to stay and live in the same place five generations of my family have been able to speak English and get by just fine. (Okay, some version of English. LOL)

An overwhelming need to not raise our son where he is a minority and discriminated against is one of the main reasons we are considering moving out of state. Somewhere the Pledge is still recited in English and we never have to check 'not Hispanic' again.