“On the one side, the Mexican side, Mexican peasants are tantalized by the American possibility of change. On the other side, the American side, the tyranny of American optimism has driven Americans to neurosis and depression, when the dream is elusive or less meaningful than the myth promised. This constitutes the great irony of the Mexican-American border: American sadness has transformed the drug lords of Mexico into billionaires, even as the peasants of Mexico scramble through the darkness to find the American dream.”

— Richard Rodríguez

Darling: A Spiritual Autobiography (2013)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "On the one side, the Mexican side, Mexican peasants are tantalized by the American possibility of change. On the other …" by Richard Rodríguez?

Richard Rodríguez 127

American journalist and essayist 1944

Related quotes

“The kitchen was the United States; the living room was Mexico…One side was struggling with all her might to make me an American boy, and the other side, with all of his might, was trying to keep me a Mexican boy.”

Luis Alberto Urrea (1955) Mexican-American poet

On feeling like a border wall ran through his childhood home in “Mexican-American Author Finds Inspiration In Family, Tragedy And Trump” https://www.npr.org/2018/03/05/590839936/mexican-american-author-finds-inspiration-in-family-tragedy-and-trump in NPR (2018 Mar 5)

“Chicano" was a bad word when I was coming up. At least that's what the elders said. The word referred to a Mexican born in the U.S., so by that definition, I'm not Chicano. I was born in Tijuana, but the Mexicans didn't see me as Mexican and the Americans didn't see me as American. I'm a man without a flag. When I started working among Chicanos as an adult, some accepted me, but some didn't. On either side [of the border] I was the "other"; I've always been the other. Later on when I had a bit of success, people on both sides were much more enthusiastic about embracing me. The word "Latino" seems meaningless to me, and "Hispanic" is just wrong. These days, I just tell people my nationality is "Writer.”

Luis Alberto Urrea (1955) Mexican-American poet

On finding his niche as a writer in “AN INTERVIEW WITH LUIS ALBERTO URREA” http://www.bookslut.com/features/2011_12_018440.php in Bookslut (December 2011)

“In 2015, Trump launched his own campaign for President with another racist lie. He described Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals. And he accused the Mexican government of actively sending them across the border. None of that is true. Oh, and by the way, Mexico’s not paying for his wall either. If it ever gets built, you can be sure that American taxpayers will be stuck with the bill. Since then, there’s been a steady stream of bigotry.”

Hillary Clinton (1947) American politician, senator, Secretary of State, First Lady

Presidential campaign (April 12, 2015 – 2016), Speech in (August 25, 2016)

“Can't take sides? — — —! These were American journalists, and they can't take sides? That attitude illustrates the haughty arrogance of people in the news business.”

Rush Limbaugh (1951) U.S. radio talk show host, Commentator, author, and television personality

“I think all that has to be vetted in a way that errs on the side of protecting the American people. If there's a chance that someone may be inclined to be an enemy of the country, then I think you have to err on the side of caution.”

Ron DeSantis (1978) Florida politician

Rep. Ron DeSantis on refugee debate: 'Err on side of protecting the American people' http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2015/11/27/rep-ron-desantis-on-refugee-debate-err-on-side-protecting-american-people.html (November 26, 2015)

“I'm honored to be at the side of Michele Bachmann. She is a great congresswoman. She is a great human being, and she is a true American patriot.”

Jon Voight (1938) American actor

On Capitol Hill, November 5, 2009 http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=827929&catid=14

“There's a gullible side to the American people. They can be easily misled. Religion is the best device used to mislead them.”

Michael Moore (1954) American filmmaker, author, social critic, and liberal activist

The capped crusader, The Guardian, 4 October 2003, Gary, Younge http://www.guardian.co.uk/michaelmoore/story/0,,1055591,00.html,
2003

“As both sides debate the path forward on reforming our immigration system, the BE SAFE Act provides a constitutional answer that guarantees funding for our needs on the border without taking away from other priorities or increasing the burden on American taxpayers.”

Rand Paul (1963) American politician, ophthalmologist, and United States Senator from Kentucky

4 March 2019 https://votesmart.org/public-statement/1331191/dr-rand-paul-introduces-be-safe-act-to-fund-border-security
2019

“I may not have facts on my side, Hank, but I still think I'm right. That's the American way.”

John Green (1977) American author and vlogger

Brotherhood 2.0: May 18: How to Write a Book Proposal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7GOut8eO2g
YouTube

“The vastness and the free sweep of our concentrated wealth on the one side, the independence, intelligence, moral vigor, and political power of the common people on the other side, promise a long-drawn grapple of contesting forces which may well make the heart of every American patriot sink within him.”

Walter Rauschenbusch (1861–1918) United States Baptist theologian

Source: Christianity and the Social Crisis (1907), Introduction, p. xi-xii

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Richard Rodríguez 127

Related quotes

Related topics