New America
With the Bad Bunny halftime show in everyone’s mind, whether you enjoyed it or not, it shows a lot of the changing audience in the US. And like death and taxes, change is inevitable and if we can not adapt, then we will be left behind.
For my fellow colleagues hailing from the predominantly homogenous Midwest, the culture shock of Bad Bunny can be surprising or even overwhelming. In fact, the incorporation of South of the Border culture has been a common place for hundreds of years.
Spanish ads can commonly be heard on TV or the radio here in Washington State and can be found on billboards and Instagram ads in places like California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, etc.
The cultural influence is all around us, giving the US the second largest Spanish speaking population behind Mexico, and the continued immersion should be of no surprise. From Taco Tuesdays at the Bodega with Spicy Margs, Sofia Vergara being a prominent member of the “Modern Family”, and Marty Robbins’ ballads of Feleena, Hispanic influence has and will continue to impact American culture.
As de-globalization and mercantilism take effect, it is prudent for the United States to embrace and join forces with our southern neighbors. Knowing this, Hispanic culture will continue to be socially intertwined.
Knowing this is coming, and its tidal wave is uncontrollable, what can we do about it?
At the end of the day, this comes down to chosen and inherited communities. This cultural influx is a newly inherited community, and like family, we gotta live with it. In ones’ free time, the level of assimilation is at the discretion of the individual. Akin to throwing two pit-bulls in a cage, that line shall not be forced - it needs to be natural and can begin with spicy margs at Rose’s Cantina. Fortunately for us Americans, we have the ability to choose and relocate if we do not want to assimilate.
It is vital to uphold American values at a citizen level. Everyone deserves the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Whether you participate in this cultural influx or not is your choice.
On the other end of the spectrum, new residents and participants in the country, this is America. Everything around us has been built at the expense of our fathers’ blood, sweat, and tears. Respect it. When one comes to America, they are choosing the family that is America, and it comes with all the benefits and negatives. If one wants to promote change, they are more than welcome to; it must not involve bashing of the family, that causes divisiveness and destruction.
Ultimately, with any new group, loyalty is required which leads to respect and inclusion like a group initiation. This stems from participation in the community, politics, public servants, volunteering, etc., establishing and showing willingness to participate in the community.
The change is inevitable, and action is required on both sides. At the end of the day, a majority of people just want to provide for their family and have a vice of their choice to unwind for the day.