With the current state and federal prison system spitting out even harder criminals due to overcrowding and gang activity allowed to a certain degree by the “system,” while considering the small percentage of inmates who actually make it out and live a positive life, why are some legislators, government officials,…
I have a Mexican friend at work, and we happened to get in a discussion that started off fine — but I believe that I offended her as the discussion progressed. My intention, of course, was not to do such. We were talking about an upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebration,…
I have a Mexican friend at work, and we happened to get in a discussion that started off fine — but I believe that I offended her as the discussion progressed. My intention, of course, was not to do such. We were talking about an upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebration,…
I have read (the usual suspects and a few Know-Nothings) that illegals can say a few magic words to get temporary, pending review, asylum status. The reports say the illegals can claim asylum from drug gangs. My understanding is that fear of crime in one’s home country has never been…
For this Labor Day fin de semana, behold two oldies but goodies that I amazingly haven’t yet passed off as new in this columna. The first one is still current and one of the favorite questions the Mexican ever got; for the second respuesta, I’ve added some thoughts at the…
In a nutshell, you inspired me to rediscover my culture, my pride as a Mexican and love for my people (though is hard to love my own people at times). I’m writing a college paper on Latin American issues — more specifically, on Mexican apathy, which is deeply rooted here…
This pregunta has been simmering, like slow-cooking bírria, in my brain for a while and the recent question about whether saying “Viva la Raza” is racist reminded me to ask you. According to José Vasconcelos, the Mexican people are La Raza Cósmica (Cosmic Race); which, to myself at least, seems…
My co-worker was driving to work this morning when she realized she was being followed by a Mexican in his vehicle. He followed her for at least three miles on the road, and during this time he waved at her, smiled when she frowned, and even puckered his lips. She…
I’m curious as to the meaning of the term “Viva la Raza” that I have often heard expressed by my friends and family. I know what it translates to, but I don’t know why we say it. I happen to be what some call a “half-breed,” and therein lies my…
I had a conversation today with an 18-year-old female Mexican co-worker that completely blew me away. She has a 3-month-old baby with her 19-year-old (also Mexican) unemployed boyfriend. They have just found out that she is pregnant again. After listening to her sob about it, I asked her whether she…
So, I walked into Carl’s Jr. the other day and gazed at the dozens of middle-aged women of Mexican descent hustling and bustling around a kitchen. A flawless performance, yet I couldn’t help but think of my days as a youth and the responsibility I learned from my first job…
I live in La Habra, and I’ve noticed that the local Mexicans have a real affinity for palm trees — the more, the better. Some houses have more than 50 planted in a 10-by-20 frontyard, so many you can’t see the house. What’s up with this? Is this some kind…
My columna a couple of weeks ago about whether Aztec savagery influences violence in Mexico today drew muchos responses, both bueno and malo. Here are two: I enjoy reading all your replies and was thinking about the last reply you wrote about the violence/Aztec blood question posed to you. I…
I’m a U.S.-born Mexican who grew up part of my life in Tijuana. Why do Mexican-Americans from Santa Ana and South Gate always think they’re harder than the rest of us Mexicans, yet their neighborhoods are like a hundred times better than the colonia I grew up in? I mean, they…
Recently, a co-worker turned me on to a website that features many videos of unspeakable atrocities the drug cartels are committing in Mexico, many graphically displaying murders and beheadings. I just recently saw one of a woman getting her head cut off with a knife! Now I wish I had…
In Philadelphia, where I live, there are three Spanish-language stations on regular broadcast television. None of them offer English subtitles. I bet plenty of people of all heritages would like to check out Spanish language television, or the news from Central America or whatever, if we could get subtitles. I…
U.K.’s spectacular Guardian newspaper has asked me to field questions for its readers as part of the paper’s summer travel package — turns out Brits want to know more about Mexican food! Let’s be benevolent toward those buggerers: Their idea of what our comida constitutes comes solely from their gabacho…
I went to a Los Angeles Dodgers game today and noticed that they now have Doyer Dogs, which are fucking disgusting and covered in nacho cheese, jalapeños, and chili. Not that it doesn’t have potential, but this is Dodger Stadium here, not a food truck. But my question: Do you…
Like many Americans, I’ve heard about the “Fast and Furious” scandal, in which our own ATF was shown to be guilty of supplying guns that ended up in the hands of the drug cartels. Now, if I say any more, I might be talking about facts that I don’t know,…
Where did the notion of adding an -o to the end of an English word and assuming it makes it a Spanish word come from? Juanito “Anglos have long held power in making Spanish and Spanish-speaking culture invisible,” writes University of South Florida assistant professor of foreign language education Adam…
Why is it that people from Chihuahua and Monterrey are such jackasses? They come from pinches ranchitos and talk about their haciendas, They cross the border and act as if their cagada does not stink. Why do pinches chihuahuenses act as if they are better than us American citizens? They…
Although I’m familiar with your column, I don’t read it regularly. But today, I was struck by something you said in a recent column about how Mexicans can make Americans like Mexicans. So I quote: “We called ourselves Spanish, we considered ourselves white.” I’m Mexican, and I consider myself “white” because…
