One man's take on his culture's stereotypes

It's the Law in Indian Wells, CA: It is illegal for a trumpet player to play his instrument with the intention of luring someone to a store.

One man's take on his culture's stereotypes

By Gustavo Arellano

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Dear Mexican: Why shouldn’t the U.S. adopt the same type of anti-illegal immigration laws that Mexico keeps on its books? Illegal aliens in Mexico are felons – so why do Mexicans complain if the U.S. wants to do that as well? Mexico deported over 200,000 Central Americans last year – so why do illegal aliens from Mexico complain if the U.S. deports a few? Foreign nationals in Mexico can’t stage massive marches in the streets of Mexico waving the flags of their home countries – in fact, Mexican law prohibits such tactics under penalty of jail time. So how does “The Mexican” respond? --Very Hypocritical

Dear Gabacho: Why in God’s good name would Americans ever want to follow Mexico’s example? Mexico experienced boom times when it welcomed immigrants, and much of what passes for Mexican culture today came courtesy of these late 19th – and early 20th-century influxes – banda and norteño music (German and Czech), al pastor meat (Arab), Frida Kahlo (Jews), calling all Asians chinos (chinos). But once Mexico began cracking down on immigration after the drafting of the 1917 Mexican Constitution, which forced every foreigner to “strictly comply with the conditions established for him in the immigration permit and the dispositions established by the respective laws,” this once promising country stagnated. A more liberal immigration policy is one of the things that distinguishes the United States from Mexico – that and flushable toilet paper. Like France, Mexico worries about the “purity” of its “national identity”; our Founding Fathers understood that immigrants enrich us with their customs, numbers and, sure, cheap labor. We agree on one thing: like Mexico, we should deport more Central Americans. The Guatemalan menace must be stopped at all costs.

SHOUT OUT TO: The Flagstaff, Arizona City Council for passing a resolution to sue their state over the reprehensible SB1070 bill. Another city to put on your buycott list…

NO CORRECTION ON MY PART: Many Know Nothings have insisted I erred in stating two weeks ago that SB1070 allows for racial profiling. They all point to a provision thrown in that bans it. HAHAHAHAHAHA! If you honestly believe that will deter Arizona law enforcement from stopping Mexicans for “looking” illegal, then I have a puente in Brooklyn to sell you…