I think it is important to consider Salinas’ remarks and her speaking spanish in context with her connection to the university. As she alludes to in the video posted by the NYT, she funds a scholarship at the school. Given that connection, I do think even more that her comments are appropriate in making some comments specifically to hispanics and specifically to journalism students. It is an area of importance to her that she puts money where her mouth is. I think that is an important fact to consider when judging her remarks.
From the college’s website on graduation speakers:
“Salinas’ namesake scholarship has been awarded since 2000 to Hispanic journalism students interested in pursuing a career in Spanish-language media. She is also one of the founding members of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and sits on the boards of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the International Women’s Media Foundation.”
I just don’t know why people insist on calling out specific groups. Can’t we all just be Americans? I thought we’re supposed to be a melting pot. Everyone is acting like individual pebbles in stone soup.
However, the market for journalism does appear to favor that which has strong agendas. For example, the relatively centrist CNN is in third place, behind the more obviously ideological Fox and MSNBC. And lots of people (both right and left leaning) tend to consume media primarily of the same political alignment as themselves, creating an echo chamber effect.
This is absurd. I wouldn’t feel alienated if everyone speaks spanish while visiting Mexico. I would never dream of insisting that they speak english for me. Instead, I would run for a spanish dictionary trying to learn spanish. Why are you in a foreign country if all you do is remain who you were?
“Salinas’ namesake scholarship has been awarded since 2000 to Hispanic journalism students interested in pursuing a career in Spanish-language media. She is also one of the founding members of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and sits on the boards of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the International Women’s Media Foundation.”
Then it would have been more appropriate for her to deliver her speech at the event awarding that scholarship.
Many speakers address topics that are relevant to some portion of the assembled group. I see nothing wrong with that. Salinas has a professional and personal interest in Hispanic students in journalism and was invited to speak to a group that included a large number of such students. What seemed like a “large chunk of her speech” to some was not an issue for others.
If students had an issue with the politics then they probably should have been more involved in the selection of their graduation speaker. Normally, I’d say partisan politics should probably stay out of conversations that are being addressed to a mixed demographic group. But I’ll make an exception this year.