Los Trumpistas Better Watch Their Language!
It's difficult to believe that in the midst of his all-out campaign to deport Latino immigrants, the unpresidented one is also throwing around the rhetoric of Yankee imperialism against Mexico. It's as if he has no clue how emotionally fraught certain ideas and concepts are to our brothers and sisters to the South. I don't give him credit for doing this intentionally; we all know that this man is what is now euphemistically referred to as a "low information" person (previously known as "ignorant!") But this sloppy use of loaded language diminishes the possibility of meaningful discourse, particularly when the power differential between the two parties is so vast. Here are some of my thoughts on a few of the linguistic tropes that have recently emerged in the media coverage of this hateful xenophobe, who is now los E.U.'s presidente.
1. First of all, 45's assertion that Mexico is
"taking advantage of" the United States is patently absurd. Mexico, its people, and its natural resources have been exploited by Norteamericanos in innumerable ways.
For example:
American intervention on behalf of the pro-US
Porfirista regime during the Mexican Revolution
Gringo investment and control of Mexican industries such as mining, agriculture, and petroleum.
Confiscation of 1/3 of Mexico's territory in the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo following the US/Mexican war.
Flight of Mormon communities to regions south of
La Frontera in order to continue their practice of plural marriage after the US made it illegal.
Growth of American owned ranches and plantations in Mexico in the decades following the Civil War such that the hacienda took the place of the Southern plantation and the system of debt peonage became a source of unpaid labor that replaced African enslavement.
The 1950's Bracero program, which brought Mexican workers temporarily into the US and essentially deported them when they were no longer needed.
The NAFTA phenomenon of the "
maquiladoras" created to bust American unions and pay vastly lower wages to predominantly female Mexican workers to assemble US made products under sweatshop conditions imbued with a culture of sanctioned sexual harassment.
Relying on undocumented immigrants to serve as docile, underpaid (and frequently
unpaid) workers in the agricultural, construction, and other industries that Northamericans have come to depend on.
The frequenting of border towns and resorts that serve as playgrounds for US elites who want to practice their vices and party on the cheap without bothering to have any meaningful contact with the people or culture of the nation that hosts them.
Promulgation of the unfounded popular beliefs that Latinos in the US don't pay taxes, exploit the social welfare system, and profit from, rather than contribute to, the Northamerican economy.
These are just a few instances that come to mind.
2.
Use of the language of invasion and militarism to terrorize and intimidate minority communities. "45" has threatened to send the National Guard to intervene in African American uprising and has described the current indiscriminate deportation sweep as "military" in nature and effectiveness. Several weeks ago he couched in what he pretended to be a teasing comment to President Pena Nieto that the EU government would invade, "send in the troops," or something of that sort, if Mexico did not comply with his poorly considered and ineffective border wall initiative.
Mexicans don't find this sort of talk amusing!
3
. Stupid attempts to use the Spanish language, primarily to promulgate anti-Mexican racist stereotypes. 45 is very fond of the phrase, "bad hombre
s" to describe Mexican immigrants--presumably he picked this expression up from some outdated TV Western or maybe a John Wayne movie. However, anyone with even a passing knowledge of Spanish can tell you that he mispronounces the word "hombre" (which means "man") so that it sounds more like "hambre" (which means "hunger.") I think that the "bad hungers" are those of the capitalists on the Northern side of the border, Donaldo! Try taking a few lessons in basic Spanish and you may find that your effigy becomes a bit less popular as a character for piñatas! (But not much....)
And what the heck is "Mar-a-Lago" supposed to mean, anyway? Sounds a bit like those fake-Spanish names they used to give car models back in the sixties--you remember--"Gran Torino", etc.
OK, I've gotten a few things off my chest here! Please forgive the randomness and lack of citation of sources. Those guys say whatever they want, so I'll do the same!
Que viva la resistencia,
Emily
