Separate But Equal Ain't - Autobytel in Spanish - Why?

Something about separate but equal bothers me, and I would hope that it bothers those of us in the United States that have Spanish speaking ancestors or background as well.

Separate but equal is the rational of bigots and separatists, and has been shot down by the Courts that represent the law and morals of the citizens of our country.

So what gives with the Hispanics, aren’t they U.S. Citizens…shouldn’t they be able to go to Autobytels web site (in English) and get jerked around like the rest of us?

Why does this group need their own Autobytel?

Is an Irish only or Whites only or Blacks only (fodder for another rant) or a Catholic only or a Jewish only or French only or a German only or a Men’s only or a Women’s only or a Russian only version of Autobytel necessary to sell cars to these groups?

I can understand native language media that is aimed at newly arrived immigrants or cultural education for the young…so they don’t FORGET their ethnic or religious heritage…but hey, Hispanics have been in the U.S. quite a while, and I thought they mainstreamed but I guess I am wrong.

I know, I know, folks like to be able to read about and be entertained in their native tongue and vernacular…but I thought that English was the native tongue here in the United States and buying a car is not an enculturation experience to me.

There is an obvious push to continue to segregate a portion of US citizens by keeping them a separate group, with their own TV networks…newspapers … radio stations and now their own on-line auto lead generating services.

The advertisers that spend money in these segregated media only help the segregationists reinforce the differences between “them and us”…continuing to keep the separation going.

All the other immigrant groups found out that they and their children would be better off socially and financially when they became part of the mainstream. Hispanic publishers, communication companies, and other exploiters seem to benefit by keeping their constituency a separate and distinct (market) segment

Every immigrant group is proud of their heritage, but they all made it their business to fight to join the mainstream and become English speaking Americans, they also have the right and ability to speak the native tongue at home to keep it alive, but only Hispanics have been presented with the means to live separate lives in America.

This is ok if that’s what they want, but any downside from this way of life falls squarely on their own shoulders.

There cannot be any complaining about discrimination if a group chooses to continue to reinforce and even expand their differences.

How can English truly become our common language when corporations profit from our differences and not our commonalities?

I have always believed that if you were a US Citizen then English would be your language, and if you wanted to buy a car you could get screwed in English like the rest of us.

Bob Gordon Co-Publisher The Auto Channel