Posted on 02/23/2006 12:15:19 PM PST by John Jorsett
Dear Mexican, Why do Mexicans call white people gringos?
It was the type of impolite question few people would dare ask in everyday Southern California, much less in print.
"Dear Gabacho," began Gustavo Arellano's answer in the OC Weekly alternative newspaper. "Mexicans do not call gringos gringos. Only gringos call gringos gringos. Mexicans call gringos gabachos."
Arellano went on to explain that gabacho is a sometimes pejorative slang term for white Americans, with "its etymological roots in the Castilian slur for a French national."
"Ask a Mexican," the newspaper headlined it.
The column, published in 2004, was meant as a one-time spoof, but questions began pouring in.
Why are there so many elaborate wrought-iron fences in the Mexican parts of town? What part of the word "illegal" do Mexicans not understand? Why do Mexicans pronounce "shower" as "chower" but "chicken" as "shicken"?
Arellano has responded each week, leading an unusually frank discussion on the intersections where broader society meets the largest and most visible national subgroup in the country: Mexicans.
Nothing is taboo. When asked to explain the inclination of Mexicans to sell oranges at freeway offramps, he fired back:
"What do you want them to sell Steinways? According to Dolores, who sells oranges off the 91 Freeway/Euclid onramp, in Anaheim, she can earn almost $100 per week hawking the fruit. That averages out to more than $5,000 a year and since it's the underground economy, she doesn't pay taxes!"
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Yikes! I guess you got a point when you put it that way..Maybe I should think like that when someone says hey wanna crispy creme?
Oh well I am somewhat of a risk taker....Just play it safe during the week so I can partake in weekend pleasures!
Because they pronounce it "Chebby"
I think the rule is "sh" before i except before b...
Common across the third world. Its done in the Philippines and was done as far as I know in Thailand and Vietnam.
In other words, nobody knows.
This guy seems to know that these questions do not require historically accurate answers, just funny retorts.
To keep out the cholos.
(from the Daily Texican):
"U see a lot of people call me a cholo and frankly i dont think im, so maybe i put a little too much starch on my dickies but thats just the way i waz raized cuz I waz born in los angeles but I got shot twice in a drive by 2 years ago and move to houston with my mom Ive never been in a gang but even though the people at school got me on lockdown asking me about anything that happens and i hate it cuz they be judging me just cuz im brown and my step dad dryves a lolo i hate this pinche gringos so what i mean by this is that if wear starched kakis and drives lowridaz it doesnt mean that u are a cholo im thirteen years old and these people think im gonna jack their cars as soon as they turn around."
Ah, here we go:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cholo
1. cholo link send redefine 327 up, 76 down
A cholo is term implying a Hispanic male that typically dresses in chinos (khahki pants), a wifebeater sleeveless teeshirt or a flannel shirt with only the top buttoned, a hairnet, or with a bandana around the forehead, usually halfway down over the eyes. Cholos often have black ink tattoos, commonly involving Catholic imagery, or calligraphy messages or family names.
Cholos often drive low riders.
A farcical example of a cholo from the movies is Cheech, from Cheech and Chong.
Many, many more at link.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Chicano
Basically, they say a Chicano is a Mexican-American - a person whose family is from Mexico, but who was born in the US.
Many more at link.
True...but if they used that same font and all caps...I couldn't tell the difference between O'Malley and Juarez. ;)
This is so you don't walk off with the bottle (and they get stuck paying the deposit).
I've seen the same thing in other countries.
Now, why baggies instead of cups? No idea, unless they are cheaper than cups.
I've been readin through the back columns of "Ask a Mexican" and that issue is actually addressed here:
http://www.ocweekly.com/component/content2/view/%a1ask-a-mexican%21_2005-10-27/
basically claiming it's a prison culture thing ...
Many local high schools banned Raiders garb a long while back for similar reasons. Still, lots of "sportswear" is donned by folks who could give a rat's a$$ about organized sports intending to identify themselves in another manner ... or, alternately, to blend into a foreign culture. It's been a sport o' sorts for some time now to chat up those so attired on public transit about their team's prospects, the odds, last night's game, etc.
Well...now that he mentions it...it does seem a bit familiar. LOL I think I was better off just thinking it was a poor artistic choice.
A long ago a friend of mine used to buy the best-tasing tamales from a street vendor in Amarillo Texas. After some years the vendor was shut down on account of the tamales' canine and feline ingredients. "But they sure were good!"
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