Labels: Americana
Postmodern Sass is not going to be herself for a long time.
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9 Comments:
Hey, I'd like to know if the leering unemployed Mexicans would be okay with you if they were employed. Or if they were unemployed but white.
Dear Anon: To answer your questions, (1) Men who leer are never okay with me; (2) If they were employed, they wouldn't be hanging out on the streets all day, leering at me or anyone else; and (3) If they were white, they would be white, but they're not. They're Mexican.
Well, you always were one to tell it like it is. Will America ever be "home" to you? You might spend the next 20 years there.....
I just wanted to clarify, because you said you didn't like unemployed Mexican men leering at you -- I would think if you had meant men, you would have said men. But okay.
Also, how do you know they're Mexican? Couldn't they be from just about anywhere? Might they not even be U.S. citizens?
Anon: I'm referring to their ethnicity, not their citizenship. I didn't ask to see their passports. I know they're Mexican because they speak Spanish (California used to belong to Mexico), and when I approach or walk past a group of them, their tone changes. I can't understand what they're saying, but I know they're commenting on me. And it creeps me out. They are rude and creepy, and they make me feel uncomfortable walking in my own neighbourhood. That's why I hate them.
And I'm not going to publish any more anonymous comments. You don't have to include your email address, but at least state your first name.
Genie: The only way I'm going to be spending 20 years here is if Jack proposes. Which is about as likely to happen as Halley's Comet returning early.
So "speaks Spanish" + "lives in California" = Mexican. Got it. Gosh, this is enlightening. I thought there might be Spanish-speaking people from Chile or Ecuador or El Salvador or fuck even Spain living in California but I guess not. I thought Spanish was more widespread than just Mexico. I'll have to look that up on Wikipedia.
Actually, speaks Spanish + lives in California + looks Mexican and yes, by George, I think you've got it!
And if you don't think it's a reasonable assumption that a Hispanic-looking, Spanish speaking man in downtown San Jose who hangs out on the street during the middle of the day, looks grubby, and has no social manners is an unemployed Mexican, then you are simply being disingenuous.
This is my blog, Ingrid. I get to have the last word. I don't like the rude, dirty, unemployed Mexicans who hang out in my neighbourhood. If you don't like my opinions, that is your right.
I think *possibly* their point is that you could just have easily said "men" rather than naming their apparent origin, like it matters. You didn't tell us what shoes they were wearing, or if they had watches. Or glasses. You chose ethnicity - hell, you didn't even choose that. "Mexican" isn't a race, it's a nationality.
I have a friend named Robert, who is of Korean ancestry. When people ask him where he's from, he says "Portland", because that's where he's from. If someone you knew started referring to all white people as "Europeans" regardless of where they were from, wouldn't you look askance at that? Particularly if they were bringing it up as part of an apparent laundry list of reasons not to like them?
You get to have the last word, sure, but what's the point when it is defensive, sulky, and rude? If you don't want your choice of words questioned by the general public, perhaps the internet is not the best place to put your thoughts.
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