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Pesky
Ignorance I was deeply offended by J.K. Larkin's viewpoint "Pesky Immigrants" (5/25). But since I'm Mexican, and we're nothing but "roofers" and "tequila drinkers," it may prove difficult to come off sounding educated enough to have an informed opinion. But we Mexicans are "hard workers," so I'll give it a try.
Larkin's viewpoint lacked coherent arguments and an overall point. Worse yet, Larkin reinforced some of the worst, most damaging and negative stereotypes about Latinos/Hispanics: We are only good for manual labor; we keep General Motors afloat buying "1963 Chevrolet Bel Air low-riders"; we're uneducated, uncultured, we don't read the newspaper and we have no appreciation for the finer things in life such as pinot noir. People like Larkin are one of the reasons that racism and discrimination still exist in this melting pot of a country. I found his statements arrogant, condescending and belittling, as well as simply ignorant. In no way does his racist babble help Eugene or the U.S. progress toward a more accepting social and political system where diversity and human beings are respected and appreciated for the history and experience they bring to this country. Why is it OK to support Mexicans, if that's what he was trying to do, and put down the French? When trying to make a valid and believable point, it's usually best to avoid contradictions. Maybe Larkin was attempting to identify with the plight of the Mexican people in describing his own family's cultural diversity. Oddly Larkin's ancestors are all of Western European origin. In discussing the diversity of his descendents, made less white by his son's Laotian wife, he simply proved his lack of understanding of racial matters. "I'd be proud if the seventh generation Larkin were 1/2 Hispanic, 1/2 Laotian, etc." One cannot be half Hispanic. Hispanic is not a nationality or a race, but refers to Spanish-speaking people of Spanish or Latin American descent. So, for example, a person's racial origins can be part Chilean, Argentinean or Mexican. But you can't be half or a quarter Hispanic. Then Larkin's argument gets really confusing. Is he suggesting that the U.S. should not only invade Baja, but use Mexicans to do all the fighting if they "start misbehaving"? Did he seriously have the nerve to write such an offensive statement implying that Americans own and control Mexican immigrants? Is he again trying to be funny?
If Larkin's intent was to use humor to address the immigration issues that are currently at the top of the U.S. political agenda, it didn't work. Even if "Pesky Immigrants" actually made sense, racism is not a joke, especially to the people who experience it. That some people think jokes and humor hinging on racist beliefs are funny is nothing more than a symptom of how deeply racism is still rooted in American culture. People who aren't racist don't find humor in racist jokes or satire. And racist humor only builds the walls between cultures higher. Racism is a social disease. EW's decision to use precious space to promulgate the ideas presented by Larkin only reinforces and spreads racism, discrimination and intolerance, legitimizing it by the very act of printing it. It's time. It's been time, for Mexicans to be seen as something other than low-rider car fanatics and unskilled laborers. It's time for the French to be seen as something other than wine and cheese aficionados. It's time for African-Americans to be seen as something other than athletes and criminals. It's time for Muslims to be seen as something other than terrorists. It's time for gays to be seen as something other than unnatural. It's time for all of us to open our eyes and really see people, of all races, religions, orientations, etc., for who they really are. It's time that we stand up and stop allowing discriminatory beliefs to be reinforced. Danica Zapata Stiles is the circulation manager for EW. She's Mexican, a college graduate and has never been a roofer, tequila drinker or low-rider car fanatic.
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