¡Ask A Mexican! for Jul 30, 2009

Reconquista: Theory espoused by Chicano and conservative kooks insisting that Mexico is trying to take over the southwest United States, the territory the Yankees took from Mexico as spoils after the 1846 Mexican-American War.

One man's take on his culture's stereotypes

By Gustavo Arellano

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Special Houston Edition

I’m curious about your take on English versus Spanish. I am an obviously Mexican-American woman, but sometimes I get angry at people that come up to me and assume I speak Spanish. Oh, and when they find out that I don’t, I get foul faces, rude comments in Spanish (which I can pretty much figure out what they’re saying). I’m a third-generation Houstonian and grew up in the suburb of Spring-Klein (not too many of us out there when I was growing up).I believe because I’m an American and I do live in America, I speak English.Don’t get me wrong: I really wish I did speak Spanish fluently. I am not ashamed of my heritage! So I will be taking a summer course in español this year; it just gets to me sometimes. --Coconut in the City

Dear Wabette: Don’t get mad people assume you speak Spanish: in this country’s psychology, once a wab, always a wab. If it’s a Mexican who’s giving you grief, they’re just insecure pendejos who wished they spoke English or were more Mexican. And the best way to learn Spanish? Los Tigres del Norte.

I’m a Mexican from Houston with great admiration for Latinos in the film industry and I’m looking for my big break. Do you think there is a lack of Hispanic/Latino movie directors, and how can we change this? --Wrapping More Tamales and Less Movies for a Living

Dear Wab: Si, and you can find out how to change Hollywood’s brown-out by visiting the National Association of Latino Independent Producers website at nalip.org.

I work at an ice cream shop in Houston, so we get all kinds of Mexicans; from border jumpers who need to have their kids order for them, to upper-class güeros who moved from Lomas de Chapultepec to be closer to an emporio Armani. A common thread I’ve noticed is that Mexicans order butter pecan much more than any other group an I can’t figure out why. Please explain the Mexican affection with the nuez. --Gabacho Heladero

Dear White Ice-Cream Man: Because it’s bueno. And porque Tapatío nieve has yet to be perfected. Next!