The Quill ah (26953) 1 SFW Posts | 0 Space Comments | Favorites | RSS Feed I grew up in Los Angeles and am no stranger to racial discrimination. I am not from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala or Costa Rica. I am not from Chile, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Peru or Spain. But I am Latino, a proud son of NICARAGUA. And although I am not "illegal," I have felt the slights and stigmas from many angles. Latinos-like other immigrants-are routinely treated in ways that would surprise those who aren't Latino. Yet we have found ways to look away and focus on raising our families without ever letting go of the essence of our culture. Every culture has a solid musical foundation and following, and none is stronger than for Latinos. Many Americans of all backgrounds love Latin music, from Ritchie Valens to Santana, from Los Tigres del Norte to Enrique Iglesias. We are an essential part of being American. The thought that my skin color, language or even the music that I listen to can now be scrutinized and could call into question my Americanness or right to go about my everyday life is, well, un-American. The impact of the new Arizona law on Latin music in that state and throughout our country will be significant. In recent years we have seen a number of great regional Mexican and Central American bands and artists get their break in Arizona, including El Tigrillo Palma, Alegres de la Sierra and Los Pikadientes de Caborca. The new Arizona law could harm all those who have been part of the state's Latin music business or enjoy its unique sound. For years, Arizona was one of the fastest-growing Latino markets. Yet immigration sweeps by local law enforcement officials targeting Latinos have hurt attendance at live shows and dances. That has undercut music sales and limited the reach of many talented artists. Mexican and Central American music combined with America's melting pot has been critical in the creation of the new musical movements that we export throughout, The United States, Mexico, Latin America and Europe. Music crosses cultural boundaries and helps bring people together-constructive and positive events that are stymied if concerts and promotional events are canceled. There is no doubt immigration reform is necessary. I urge politicians to take all aspects of immigration seriously and work together to fix the problem. But they must do so without jeopardizing the creativity that has made the American music scene what it is today-a rich, diverse landscape that has benefited people from all across the country and around the globe. ···· -Special Shout out To Mr. Gustavo Lopez. He is president of Fonovisa and Disa, the two leading regional Mexican labels in the United States. They are part of Universal Music Latin Entertainment. More The Quill ah At: E-NewsCast - Simple News That Help Registered 2010-06-13 13:48:00 Comment Karma: 0 Featured Comments: 0 Member of :