Posted on 06/30/2005 9:49:46 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
MEXICO CITY (AP) - U.S. activists called on the Mexican government to withdraw a postage stamp depicting an exaggerated black cartoon character known as Memin Pinguin, saying the offense was worse than recent remarks about blacks made by President Vicente Fox.
Mexico defended the series of five stamps released Wednesday, which depicts a child character from a comic book started in the 1940s that is still published in Mexico.
But the Rev. Jesse Jackson said President Bush should pressure Mexico to withdraw the stamps from the market, saying they "insult people around the world."
"The impact of this is worse than what the president said," Jackson noted, referring to Fox's May 13 comment that Mexican migrants take jobs in the United States that "not even blacks" want. Fox later met with Jackson and expressed regret but insisted his comments had been misinterpreted.
The character on the stamp, hapless but lovable, is 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.
Mexico said 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.
"Just as Speedy Gonzalez has never been interpreted in a racial manner by the people in Mexico, because he is a cartoon character, I am certain that this commemorative postage stamp is not intended to be interpreted on a racial basis in Mexico or anywhere else," said Rafael Laveaga, the spokesman for the Mexican embassy in Washington.
But NAACP Interim President Dennis Courtland Hayes countered that "laughing at the expense of hard-working African Americans or African Mexicans is no joke and it should end at once."
The NAACP - the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - called the stamps "injurious to black people who live in the United States and Mexico."
Jackson also said Mexico should "issue a complete and full apology."
Activists in Mexico said the stamp was offensive but not unexpected.
"One would hope the Mexican government would be a little more careful and avoid continually opening wounds," said Sergio Penalosa, an activist in Mexico's small black community on the southern Pacific coast.
"But we've learned to expect anything from this government, just anything," Penalosa said.
Carlos Caballero, assistant marketing director for the Mexican Postal Service, said the stamps are not offensive, nor were they intended to be.
"This is a traditional character that reflects part of Mexico's culture," Caballero said. "His mischievous nature is part of that character."
However, Penalosa said many Mexicans still assume all blacks are foreigners, despite the fact that at one point early in the Spanish colonial era, Africans outnumbered Spanish in Mexico.
"At this point in time, it was probably pretty insensitive" to issue the stamp, said Elisa Velazquez, an anthropologist who studies Mexico's black communities for the National Institute of Anthropology and History.
"This character is a classic, but it's from another era," Velazquez said. "It's a stereotype and you don't want to encourage ignorance or prejudices."
Laveaga, the embassy spokesman, countered that "if you look closely at many of the cartoon characters in U.S. pop culture, those who try will be able to find something offensive."
But, he noted, "the vast majority will see a cartoon character, which is what Memin Pinguin is."
The 6.50-peso (60 cent) stamps - depicting the character in five poses - was issued with the domestic market in mind, but Caballero noted it could be used in international postage as well.
A total of 750,000 of the stamps will be issued.
Ben Vinson, a black professor of Latin American history at Penn State University, said he has been called "Memin Pinguin" by some people in Mexico. He also noted that the character's mother is drawn to look like an old version of the U.S. advertising character Aunt Jemima.
The stamps are part of a series that pays tribute to Mexican comic books. Memin Pinguin, the second in the series, was apparently chosen for this year's release because it is the 50th anniversary of the company that publishes the comic.
Publisher Manelick De la Parra told the government news agency Notimex that the character would be sort of a good-will ambassador on Mexican letters and postcards.
"It seems nice if Memin can travel all over the world, spreading good news," de la Parra said, calling him "so charming, so affectionate, so wonderful, generous and friendly."
Welcome to the club. That's not only how I feel about Mexico's government, it's also my opinion of the U.S. government.
"This is a traditional character that reflects part of Mexico's culture," Caballero said.
Oh, my mistake. In the spirit of multi-culturalism, I salute you. /sarc
"When I was a kid we used to say "Einnie Meenie Minie Moe"."
One of the PC lines was "catch a tiger by the toe."
Don't you remember a flight attendant said over the loudspeaker a couple of years ago, "Einnie Meenie Minie Moe, take your seat we gotta go." Two negros took offense and sued the airline and WON a modest cash prize. So without even using the old line, people were offended. I'm more offended that they sued and won, can I sue them?
"When I was a kid we used to say "Einnie Meenie Minie Moe"...."
Mexico may very well be the most racist country on the planet. Their population is predominantly mestizo, but you would never know that by watching Mexican TV. They rival apartheid-era South Africa in that regard.
And you're absolutely right. His trying to make it GWB's problem is disgusting. Even though I don't agree with GWB about his dealings with Fox, he's right about this. The White House says it's an internal Mexico issue.
"Their population is predominantly mestizo, but you would never know that by watching Mexican TV."
Their loss, our gain.
Salma Hayek is also half-Lebanese (not lesbian!). ;-)
The stamps are not nice, but blame Fox. Not Bush.
I'm tempted to slip across the border into Mexico just long enough to mail Jesse Jackson several "donations" in envelopes bearing these stamps.
Jackie Gleason did a reprise of "Amos 'n Andy" that became "The Honeymooners."
Good comedy lost to P.C.
“Amigo, this kind of thing may have been somewhat amusing about 1940. Even then it was not entirely in good taste, even if innocent and juvenile. It was, and is EXTREMELY racist.”
There is an important thing that has not been considered: There is American culture and there is Latin culture not to mention all the other cultures in the world.
What may be offensive and racist to an American, may not be offensive and racist to Mexicans and Panamanians such as this comic book.
There is no such thing as politically correct speech in Panama or in Mexico. What may be offensive to both these Latin countries may not be considered offensive in the United States. What may be offensive to Americans is probably not offensive in Panama or Mexico. One can't continue applying American values to other countries. It doesn't work.
There are folks who make themselves victims of being offended. I don’t have time for them.
OK how about we quit adusting American values to a massive influx of goddamn mezicans. Maybe we just keep them on their side of the goddamn border and then we don't have to worry about it much. OK Amigo?
OK how about we quit adusting American values to a massive influx of goddamn mezicans. Maybe we just keep them on their side of the goddamn border and then we don't have to worry about it much. OK Amigo?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.