Being a Conservative Hispanic In the Class of 1997

This letter is in response to the article "Being Black in the Class of "97" (Feb. 2, 1994).

Amidst all the diversity at Harvard, I think my situation is unique. From about 1,600 students in the freshman class only 3.2 percent are Other Hispanics. And of these 50 or so non-Mexican, non-Puerto-Rican Hispanics in the class of 1997, I may be the only dedicated conservative.

Being minority among minorities is rather interesting and can be amusing when people sometimes assume I am a socialist. However, overtly anti conservative comments and accusations of being tool for the oppressive white male make being a conservative Hispanic freshman a sometimes arduous experience.

At first, I was surprised to discover that my roommates had never met a conservative Hispanic, but since neither was from Miami, I can understand how they would not meet one. Still, I feel slightly uncomfortable to be a person who my roommates did not think could exist.

Because of my ethno-political status, I have had to deal with many other experience here at Harvard. One day, I went into the Coop looking for some boots while wearing my Harvard Republican Club T-shirt. A sales person asked a couple of Hispanic girls if they required assistance, to which one answered, "No but you can help that sell-out over there."

After hearing a comment like that, think to myself, "Is there something wrong with me? Is there a genetic disposition for Latino liberalism? Am I, then, some kind of political deviant, phony Hispanic, a mutant of sorts?"

Sometimes, I start feeling lonely and paranoid. Who do I sit with in the Union? Sitting with conservative Anglos is supposed to deny me true Hispanic hood, but sitting with other Latinos usually ends up in political discussion when I just want to eat.

And if there were a conservative Hispanic table, I would be by myself. Moreover, when I do sit next to some one, I get this gnawing curiosity not knowing if they are a radical or not.

Although most of my ethno-political struggles have been on the purely verbal level, I have had some physical encounters.

On the way back to my room after band practice one evening, two Liberal women from my dorm accosted me. Though I usually like being attacked by females, the punches, scratches and cries of "Die, Republican dog," were all too excessive. They though it was a good joke, but it became a good look into the face of modern liberalism (and it wasn't pretty).

The hard truth is that being ethno-politically incorrect is difficult no matter where you go. I have had to learn many important lessons.

In Indiana, I grew up as the only Hispanic, conservative or otherwise, in my town. My parents, who are form Honduras, raised me with American ideals. The most significant of these is to look at other as individuals rather than as cardboard stereotypes. So just because my last name ends with a vowel does not mean I have to be a Democrat.

In the end, being a conservative Hispanic in the class of 1997 means being what I want to be instead of what others expect me to be. Jose Mauricio Padilla '97    Member, Harvard Philosophy Project