Rep. Elvira Reyna is highlighted in this San Antonio Express story about the difficulties of being a Hispanic Republican in the Texas House of Representatives. Elvira, who originally comes from the Valley, is the only Hispanic Republican among the 181 members in the Texas Legislature. Evira's circumstance is even more unique in that she represents a district in Mesquite that's 72 percent Anglo.
It should be understood that there will be many more Elvira's in the future. Some may chose to demonize the circumstance others will accept the realities of the situation. Like it or not Hispanics, like other people, have conservatives in their population. Probably more than you would expect.
Demographers tell us that in the not to distant future Hispanics will be not only be the majority of Texans but a sizable part of the American population. I would expect that with time more and more Hispanics will be part of the Republican elected official ranks. At this present moment in time, because of unfortunate aspects of our history, some may find her circumstance to be unique or at odds with the realities of life as they see it.
All should learn that varieties of human thought and experience should have a voice in our government. From our perspective we may have difficulty in understanding a different perspective, but we are all richer if we exude tolerance in the public debate of ideas. In the end when we fail to listen or understand another perspective we are failing to listen to an aspect of our very nature.
May God bless my dear friend Elvira Reyna.
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