Dear Mexican,
Mexicans are angry that the United States might protect its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into this country and, once here, to stay indefinitely. Let me see if I correctly understand the thinking behind these Mexicans. Let’s say I break into your house. Let’s say that when you discover me in your house, you insist that I leave. But I say, “I’ve made all the beds and washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors. I’ve done all the things you don’t like to do. I’m hardworking and honest—except for when I broke into your house.” According to the Mexicans:
•You are required to let me stay in your house!
•You are required to add me to your family’s insurance plan!
•You are required to educate my kids!
•You are required to provide other benefits to me and to my family (my husband will do all of your yard work because he is also hardworking and honest, except for that breaking-in part)!
•If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my RIGHT to be there!
•Oh, yeah, and I DEMAND that you to learn MY LANGUAGE!!! So you can communicate with me.
Why can’t people see how ridiculous this is?! Señor Mexican: I respect your opinion on most things—unless you’re screwing it up with all of your angry racism. Well, cabrón: you got the frijoles, ¿o qué?
Denver Dimwit
Dear Gabacho,
“Angry” racism? My racism is rather jovial, Dimwit. And not only do I have the frijoles to answer your question, I have a whole olla. If I earned a peso for every time one of your amigos forwarded me the above riddle, I could finally sneak in my last 86 cousins. Everyone can see that the scenario you presented is ridiculous because its main suppositions are all wrong:
•Mexicans will never do a job without prompting or prior negotiating, so your theoretical Bueno Samaritan arranged your house with your implicit approval.
•Nowhere in your narrative did I see evidence of you rejecting the labor the Mexican offered. Did you undo your beds and gunk up the dishes in protest? On that note, I’ve yet to hear about gabachos forsaking the cheap produce, the late-night janitorial services, and the many other pleasantries of American life brought forth by the sweat and strain of illegal labor.
•Mexican illegals are more than willing to pay for the services you cited, but your Republican amigos won’t allow them to pay all the taxes citizens do—until then, have you unmade your bed yet?
•And who says you have to learn Spanish? According to you, those protesting Mexicans made their demands in English.
A plea to all Know Nothings: Spare us Aztlanistas your mixed metaphors, mangled clichés, Homeric similes, and all the other folksy bullshit ustedes use to boil down a complex issue into forwarded e-mail claptrap—and stick to stats.
