Posted on 04/14/2006 7:35:08 AM PDT by LouAvul
"The Great American Boycott" is spreading south of the border, as activists call for Mexicans to boycott U.S. businesses on May 1.
The protest is timed to coincide with a May 1 boycott of work and shopping in the United States that also has been dubbed "A Day Without Immigrants." The boycott, which grew out of huge pro-migrant marches across the United States, is designed to pressure Congress to legalize millions of undocumented people.
Mexican unions, political and community groups, newspaper columnists and even some Mexican government offices have joined the call in recent days.
"Remember, nothing gringo on May 1," advises one of the many e-mails being circulated among Internet users in Mexico.
"On May 1, people shouldn't buy anything from the interminable list of American businesses in Mexico," reads another. "That means no Dunkin' Donuts, no McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, Sears, Krispy Kreme or Wal-Mart."
For some it's a way to express anti-U.S. sentiment, while others see it as part of a cross-border, Mexican-power lobby.
In some cases, advocates incorrectly identified firms as American -- Sears stores in Mexico, for example, have been owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim since 1997.
And ironically, the protest targets the U.S. business community, which is one of the strongest supporters of legalization or guest-worker programs.
"At the end of the day, boycotting would only hurt corporations that are backing what people want done in the immigration bill," said Larry Rubin, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico. Rubin is encouraging people to write to their legislators instead of boycotting.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Gringo is not a particularly friendly term in Mexico, but becomes generally less perjorative the further south you go. In Chile it's a term of endearment for North Americans and Europeans alike.
They need us more than we need them
Seal the border now.
Increase legal immigration for every country in the world EXCEPT Mexico, until the 12 million Mexican illegals are either repatriated or have somehow made amends.
Enlist the voices of all of the Africans, Haitins, Indians, Chinese, Brazilians, Eastern Europeans, Southeast Asians, etc. who have not been able to get in and are follwoing the rules and make this happen NOW.
are they requesting then that we end NAFTA?
Because we can do that.
Yes, but did you apply to the Cuban Consolate, and get your visa legally; or did you just slip over the border? < /sarc >
My understanding of the term GRINGO is that it originated from a misunderstanding of a song. Mexicans on the south side of the Rio Grande were listening to some Cowboys on the north side of the river as they sang around an evening campfire. They were singing the song, Green Grow the Lilacs, and the Mexicans just started calling them gringos. It is not a term of slander nor a term of endearment, just a term of misunderstanding. If my understanding is mistaken, I welcome enlightenment.
I agree with you. You also were an AMERICAN when you legally left one state for another state in the USA. These illegals are here, breaking our laws, taking social services and causing a huge amount of problems here.
We need to fine every company hiring an illegal immigrant $100,000 per illegal worker. Right now the American tax payer is underwriting the costs for the illegals to be here -- paying for welface, school, jail and other social services. MEXICO would never pay for Americans to enjoy services there -- we should treat Mexico as Mexcio treats the USA. MEXICO is NOT OUR FRIEND!
The harder you hit 'em the more English they perform.
In retaliation, I will refuse to eat Mexican food on May 1. That means I'm serious about this, man.
LOL. This one day boycott will be as productive as the one day gasoline boycotts that are Emailed around every so often.
Mexico is our largest source of imported oil - 1.7M barrels per day.
Currently, the policy aim of many posters here seems to be to get as many of the countries supplying our energy needs as pissed at us as possible - a project, if it succeeds, which will eventually lead us to discover if we can ran our cars on bile.
We are a huge net energy importer, we have an society and and economy highly dependent on a reliable supply of reasonably priced imported oil, we are doing almost nothing to change this situation, and now we should do our best get ourselves in a pissing match with our largest supplier?
IMO, that's just nuts.
Why don't we just have all Americans boycott Mexico by refusing to go there for the next 12 months. Have everyone go vacation somewhere else. Their tourist dollars would dry up and their economy would go into a tailspin.
I fear that it is far too late now for this beloved country burdened by these unthankful cretins and their liberal enablers to restore its quickly-fading nobility.
How are they going to access the Internet?
I guess that on Cinco de Mayo I'll be enjoying Newcastle beer, again, and boycotting Corona. So sorry....
Maybe it's just me, but if we have the people, shouldn't we also have the land that goes with them?
I propose we just march across, raise our flag, and tell the people, "quit running, you made it, welcome to the USA" and them hand them all IRS 1040 forms, in Spanish. Then, we start pumping all of that Mexican oil across the boarder for zero $$$'s.
I understand wanting a better life. I want the same thing. What would make my life better is gas at $1 a gallon.
Not that I think one day boycotts do anything, maybe, just to make a point, we should reciprocate on Cinco de Mayo?
I call on all Americans to observe May 1st as "A Day We Mow Our Own Lawns and Wash Our Own Dishes".
I can't wait to notice NO DIFFERENCE on May 1st!!!!!!!!!!!
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