"family Values. Latino Style", In East Wind, West Wind, Msu-mankato, Summer 1994

SUllllller Special '94

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Equipment for the Future

A CULTURAL DIVERSITY FORUM MANKATO STATE UNIVERSITY

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MSU Box 65, Mankato, MN 56002-8400 (507) 389-2812 Editor Vann Phan

East Wind, West Wind An MSU Cultural Diversity Forum Summer Special '94"

Staff Writers Victor Philips Samurai Ph an Cover Design Mario Quintero Photography Victor Philips Duc Nguyen Typesetters Duc Nguyen Vanna Nguyen Contributors Kris Haacke Damisha Walls Eric Dollershell Francisco 1. Gonzales Noronirina Andriantiana Chanda Thammavongsa Angi Montgomery Tarsh'a Jackson Roslyn Harmon Betsy Walton Zainab Ali

'Equipment for the Future'

TAB.LE OF CONTENTS From the Editor

pg. i

Accomplishments in Recruitment and Retention

pg 1

Family Values, Latino Style

pg 2

Rape in Marriage: What's Really Going on?

pg 3

Poems by Noronirina Andriantiana

pg 8

There Should Be More Programs like this PCSI

pg 8

Unveiling Islam

pg 10

What You Can't Miss

pg 13

To Maria and the Office of Multicultural Affairs

pg 17

Picture News: Cultural Diversity Activities

pg 19-20

Profile: Gregorio Mendez-Ortega

pg 25

The Vietnamese Society under Communism

pg 27

East Wind, West Wind News

pg 35

Welcome Returning and New Students

pg 39

Acknowledgments

.inside back cover

Quist, to President Bill Clinton, all talk ofthe importance of the family and the need for solutions to the problems that result in the loss of values and disintegration of the family. The media also in influences our perception of the changes in family structure and values. TV shows like "Roseanne" portrays a somewhat dysfunctional twoparent family, "Murphy Brown," a professional single mother, and "Grace Under Fire," the problems of a blue-collar single mother, to name just a few.

I---~~_-------------------CROSS-CULTURAL

ISSUES

However, all these different media portrayals and discussions among political, social and religious leaders tend to focus mostly on the White/Anglo family. The problems and strengths of the family structures among people of color are only discussed, it seems, by other people of color. And if the media and the mainstream politicians deal with our family values, theirversion of the issue is only in the distorted context of crime and welfare. In the United States there are between 25 to 30 million Latinos, all sharing a basic language (Spanish), culture and social organization. The !irst thing that must be pointed out is that the definition of "family" is different, for Latinos, compared to white population.

By Francisco J. Gonzalez

The traditional white family is the "nuclear family," formed by a married couple and their children living in theirown house apart from other relatives. In contrast, the traditional Latino family is the extended family formed not only by the married couple and their children, but also by other close relatives, all living together. These relatives are most frequently the parents or grandparents of the wife or husband in the couple.

Editor's Note: Since its Spring 1994 issue, East Wind, West Wind has been presenting viewpoints on some crosscultural issues or issues related to values that are held in high esteem in other countries. As Mankato State is the center of many cultures brought in by thousands of international students from all over the world, the column may serve as a forum for writers who wish to present their viewpoints on matters concerning values they consider worthy of being shared by people from other cultures.

There is also great respect for the elderly whose experience and knowledge are always sought as they are an integral part of the decision-making process in the family. The elderly also help to raise the children, allowing both parents to work, and raise largerfamilies. Also, they transmit the culture and traditions to the new generations in the process.

East Wind, West Wind sincerely hopes that, through thfs column, the exchange of cultures among people of different backgrounds in our community could be carried on, and the ideal of cultural diversity will be served. In this Summer Special '94 issue, Francisco Gonzales, a contributing writer for the MSU Cultural Diversity newsletter, will be presenting his viewpoint on ""Family Values, Latino Style."

Latino children, like children in any other culture, are greatly cherished and loved by their family. Common to other cultures, but absent from White/American culture, are rites of passage, ceremonies or landmarks that signal the transformation of a child into an adult. For Latino girls, it is the "quinceanera" the celebration of her 15 years. This is an elaborate series of public events in which the young woman is officially introduced

In the last couple of years, a new term has entered the American vocabulary: Familyvalues. Politicians of all ideological orientations, from former Vice-President Dan Quayle and Minnesota's radical right leader Allan 2

to society as an adult. Most "quinceaneras" attend a Mass or similar religious service, this followed by a dance and other festivities. For boys, there is no specific ritual. A boy is generally considered a man when he attains some community-defined standard for what a man is supposed to be. These standard vary according to the social, geographical an economic background of each community. For example, a boy can "became" a man when he gets his driver's licence (if he lives in an urban area), or when he ventures alone into the sea to fish (if he belongs to a fisherman's family that lives in a small. coastal town). Religion is another very important value for Latinos. For historical reasons, most belong to the Roman . Gatholic Church. In the U.S., close to half of all Catholics are Latinos. The religion practiced by Latinos, both Catholics and Protestants, is based on a personal relationship with God. The figure of the Virgin Mary is the vehicle used by most to converse with God. In Mexico, the Virgin of Guadalupe is specially revered, and Mexicans ask her to intercede before God so that he assists them in their troubles.

despite all their attacks. As they say in Los Angeles, we Latinos !"somos un chingo, y pronto seremos mas"!.

Another crucial family value is that of "ganarse el pan con el sudor de la frente" (earn your bread with the sweat of your brow), or working for your living. For male heads of families, it is specially important as failure to supp·ort your own family is considered a disgrace, and the man be branded as an inadequate parent. This is also why many Latinos, unable to find work to feed their families, migrate to the U.S., often risking their lives in the process. To conclude, the Latino community have strong "family values" based on a deep and long-standing cultural background that stretches for 500 years. The value of the extended family, the respectforthe elderly, a deep religious faith, a profound love for their children, and the importance of honest and hard work are all part of our common heritage. Some factions of the so-called radical religious right in the United States, while claiming to work for the protectionH of. these same "family values", want to destroy our distinctive Latino culture, our Spanish language and our ethnic pride, by calling it "unAmerican" and a "threatto traditional American values". These people must understand that it is our culture that gives meaning to these values that they want to preserve. We cannot have one without the other, and we are determined to preserve our culture and values 3