On Sunday mornings with my coffee, I like to sit and relax and catch up on community news by reading my local community's paper
The Sentry. It's not the greatest paper around, but it contains updates on news around town that I can't get anywhere else. Before I get to my outrage, here's a little background.
I've lived in California all my life, and one of the best things about living here is the cultural diversity (growing up, there was a real balance of different races in my neighborhood) and progressive values (in most cities, anyway). We have friends of all backgrounds, and that's what's so great about living here. Having Mexico directly to the south, there have also been major influences affecting California--like amazing Mexican food, countless cities and streets with Spanish names ... it's an important part of the state's heritage. One of my best friend's parents are Mexican immigrants. They came here to make a better life for their kids, and they succeeded: Their kids have successful careers and beautiful homes today (and have just started on the next generation!).
But getting back to The Sentry, I was totally disgusted to read the following "letter to the editor" printed in the most recent edition, and I definitely want to write something back. I'm putting my response together, but thought in the meantime I'd share with the Kos community to see what thoughts you guys have on this. Here's an excerpt:
During the past 15 years I have observed many extreme cultural changes in our community. None more evident than what is taking place as you exit the 55 on Chapman Avenue and drive east on Chapman Avenue. As I drive up Chapman Avenue towards Orange Park Acres I suddenly feel as if I have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico. So many store front signs in Spanish. Window advertisements in a language I just do not speak. So many people just standing around these shops and street corners...
Please do not misunderstand me; I implore [sic] cultural diversity. However, I do not feel it is in any specific culture's best interest to change the language of the area. The English language should be the mainstay of our community and our storefront signs and should reflect our values. All other languages should be appreciated and placed in smaller lettering. Now that the Vons store has closed yet another store front sign dominates in Spanish. Ultimately, this has an adverse effect on our community and will reflect such in our property values. Is there any reasonable way we can continue to embrace our Spanish community yet retain our own culture? ... When can we expect to see a sign at the exit of the 55 and East Chapman which simply states "Little Tijuana E. Chapman exit?"
This letter was signed "Joyce McBroom, North Tustin."
Now I have lived down East Chapman since 1997, so I know this area well. True, there are a lot of pedestrians down Chapman. But it made me sick the way she talked about them--not seeing them as people, but seeing them as "Little Tijuana."
Here's what I see through my eyes: Drive down Chapman on Sunday morning, and you have whole families--grandparents, parents and kids--dressed in their Sunday best, walking to church. In the evenings after work, I see adults with grocery bags walking to their homes or pushing infants in strollers. They are out and about in their local neighborhood shopping and doing errands, and many of these people live down all the multiple side streets along Chapman, which I'm sure Ms. McBroom has never even driven down. Not everyone can make enough to live in a wealthy area of North Tustin like Ms. McBroom, and I'm sure plenty of the people she refers to in this letter are just getting by. It's also pretty likely some of these pedestrians don't have cars, but even if you did, if you could walk a block or so to the store, why would you drive? It's better for a person's health and environment to walk!
And Ms. McBroom is totally exaggerating the store front signs in different languages. Yes, Vons closed--but now there's just an absence of a sign, not, as she said, "yet another store front sign dominates in Spanish." I agree there are some signs like that, but they don't dominate and most are also in English. And I can bet you Ms. McBroom doesn't shop in the little El Metate Market, which has great Mexican cheeses, homemade tortillas and the like. I'm sure she wouldn't be caught dead in that place! My husband and I go there sometimes, and I really could care less if it had an English name or not.
And I'm sure Ms. McBroom hasn't ever bothered to introduce herself to the manager of the Mexican fast food franchise on Chapman. He's Mexican and also a really nice guy with a family. My husband and he have become friends (my husband is a friendly guy and knows everyone). But my point is, these people are mothers, fathers, small-business owners ... these are people, Ms. McBroom!
Many of the little businesses along Chapman (which Ms. McBroom probably doesn't shop at) do target the local area's heavily Mexican population, but they're just reaching out to who shops there. It's smart business! And I really wish people like this woman would open their eyes and see there's a lot to learn and to gain from getting to know people who are maybe not exactly like her. We met one of our best friends in the world when he was passing out flyers for his little Mexican restaurant down the street. After chatting with him we decided to check it out and the food was amazing! My husband and I got to know him over time after going there so frequently. Fast forward a few years later, and my husband was a groomsman in his wedding, and we have attended several family parties and the like since then. He's a dear friend, and we never would have met him had we not decided to support the local businesses holding up the local economy.
I'm just outraged that people feel this way and it's upsetting. I picture other local residents opening up The Sentry and reading her hurtful and ignorant letter. I hope my letter back to The Sentry can communicate that plenty of us do not feel the way Ms. McBroom does.