There are a lot of things we think we know. Life requires constant decision-making and judgment calls, and sometimes we have to make those calls on less knowledge than assumption. A lot of us probably think we know about America’s current relationship with immigrants, in particular Hispanic immigrants. Next Saturday we have an opportunity locally to deepen what we actually know about that relationship. Knowledge is empowering, so take it.

Newberry’s Unitarian congregation, Clayton Memorial, is hosting a forum on Hispanic immigrants, and stocking the panel with people from the region who connect with that population in various ways (see today’s front page article). This is a rare opportunity for most of us to take a genuine glimpse into a part of our local world that is usually closed off. Separated by language and culture from the majority, nevertheless, this is a growing segment of our community. And there are many reasons to care, and to familiarize ourselves, with the issues that affect local Hispanic immigrants—not the least of which is the influence that our Hispanic neighbors have on the county and the country.

Clayton Memorial puts the numbers at one in 10 county residents being Hispanic. Census takers are sure that the count for this group is habitually low, and our census numbers are old with another coming up. That right there is one reason to care. The more this part of Newberry County’s population can be convinced to stand up and be counted along with everyone else, the more accurately we can collect our share of federal and state aid, or gear our social services.

More philosophically speaking, it’s our heritage as Americans to bring people of different cultures into our melting pot (or tossed salad) and figure out how to bring the best flavor from all the ingredients. We can’t do our best work honoring that heritage when we make decisions out of ignorance.