Fishing on the Net

By Bonnie Nelson

National Hispanic Heritage!

Each year, National Hispanic Heritage Month is from September 15 to October 15. It is a time of celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 44 million people in the United States are of Hispanic descent.

Many Hispanic Americans trace their roots to the cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Americas -- including the Arawaks (Puerto Rico), the Aztecs (Mexico), the Incas (South America), the Maya (Central America), and the Tainos (in Cuba, Puerto Rico and other places). Some trace their roots to the Spanish explorers -- who in the 1400s set out to find an easier and less costly way to trade with the Indies. Other Latinos trace their roots to the Africans who were brought as slaves to the New World. Therefore the word Hispanic does not mean a specific It is more of a regional identification like saying "North American." What is a Hispanic? Hispanics come in all sizes and shapes. There are Jewish, Arab, Asian, Indian and White Hispanics as well as brown. (http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson023.shtml).

Here are a few famous Hispanics that have made our country better.

Jaime Escalante (Bolivian descent) is a teacher who has changed the lives of Latino students in poor neighborhoods in Los Angeles. When he first came to Garfield High School, many of his students were failing. Escalante fought for better textbooks and inspired his students to succeed by setting high standards and winning over his tough students. The movie Stand and Deliver is about how his students proved they could succeed by passing a very difficult math test before college.

In 1990, Antonia Novello (Puerto Rican) became the first Hispanic woman to be appointed as Surgeon General, the chief doctor in the United States. As a child, she had a chronic illness that hurt her digestion, causing her great suffering. She never forgot that experience. As surgeon general, Novello especially campaigned for better care for children. She also paid special attention to the problems of alcoholism, smoking, AIDS, and violence.

Raised in a poor family Franklin Chang-Diaz (Costa Rica) studied hard to become a scientist. He also became a U.S. citizen. Chang-Díaz was the first Hispanic person to enter the space program, becoming an astronaut in 1981. He is a veteran of six space missions and has spent nearly 1,300 hours in space.
In 1982, Ileana Ros Lehtinen (Cuba) became the first Hispanic woman and first Cuban American to be elected to the U.S. Congress. When she was 7 years old, her family fled Communist forces in Cuba. Today, the Republican congresswoman strongly opposes Communism in Cuba. She advocates for human rights around the world (http:// teacher.scholastic.com/activities/hispanic/.)
Take a little time this month to check out more Hispanic’s who have helped to make this country better.

Bonnie Nelson is a freelance writer living in Fountain, CO. If you have comments or questions, email her at waltbon@comcast.net

CONTACT THE WRITER • WALTBON@COMCAST.nET

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