Mexican Philatelic Faux Pas

[Azred]

The news story may be found here.

From the article...

MEXICO CITY - The Mexican government has issued postage stamps depicting an exaggerated black cartoon character known as Memin Pinguin, just weeks after remarks by President Vicente Fox angered U.S. blacks. The series of five stamps released Wednesday depicts a hapless boy drawn with exaggerated features, thick lips and wide-open eyes. His appearance, speech and mannerisms are the subject of kidding by white characters in the comic book, which started in the 1940s and is still published in Mexico. The Mexican government defended the stamps, saying that like Speedy Gonzalez - a cartoon mouse with a Mexican accent that debuted in the United States in 1953 - the Memin Pinguin character shouldn't be interpreted as a racial slur.

They're really not going to win many friends this way. This will also serve to hinder any Hispanic candidates running for office here in the United States, especially with black voters.

[Larry_OHF]

It does not make it right to counter bad with bad, but he has a point. I hear crap all the time making fun of Hispanics on radio and TV.

Thanks for the article!

[Azred]

What is going to be really interesting to see is if all the people here (in the US) who push so hard for "cultural awareness" and "cultural sensitivity" are going to accept this stamp and its featured character as a facet of Mexican culture or if they are going to wail about a "racial stereotype". [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img]