Yep...reminds me of the fellow years back, a politician in NY I believe, that used the word "niggardly". Means cheap or stingy. Still in the dictionary. He appologized in public, then resigned...sigh...
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We old dogs can learn new tricks. We just may not like performng them. TJ
Wow. I really dont know what to say to this. On the one hand the people who made the ad should have known better. On the other hand, if you are Hispanic and you don't feel like that term applies to you then you ignore it and move on with your life. At the same time, if you're Hispanic, then you know it's a derogatory term used to minimize people of your culture. What should be done about it? I don't know.
[QUOTE=TexasT;347483]At the same time, if you're Hispanic, then you know it's a derogatory term used to minimize people of your culture. [QUOTE]
I've got several Hispanic friends who call illegals "wetbacks", they are as P.O.'ed about them breaking our laws as everyone else is. If they don't want to be called a wetback, then they should avoid becoming one.
May I point the ad out again? Note how it is capitalized and punctuated, then consider it again
"Are you tired of Wet Backs?" Then ask for our new Linclon Mercury Air Conditioned seats!
Note that it did not say Wetbacks, but Wet Backs. Clearly the intent was to refer to getting Wet Backs from hot car seats and nothing to do with illegals!
__________________ "You can have my Freedom when I'm done with it!"
I don't have a problem with it but on the other hand like it was said they should have known better. If I say Firearm and Fire Arm they may have different meanings but since a Fire Arm is pretty uncommon language you would think firearm. Why didn't they say "Are you and your family tired of having wet backs?..." Because they want'ed you to notice the pun, find it funny and remember their ad. I don't think it was right they get ride of the guy but then I also don't condone racial slurs and try to not use them myself.
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I realize the guy who came up with the ad was trying for a play on words, involving a pun on part of an ethnic portion of this country. But in this day and age it just isn't smart to to it anymore, at least not in public.
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Those who forget History are condemed to repeat it.
I realize the guy who came up with the ad was trying for a play on words, involving a pun on part of an ethnic portion of this country. But in this day and age it just isn't smart to to it anymore, at least not in public.
You're right,use discretion or pay the consiquences,that's just the way it is.
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Resident Curmudgeon
We have been and still are being sold out.
So where's the ACLU storming in to protect this guys' freedom of speech? We are AMERICANS, we should not be forced to coddle the ILLEGAL aliens who are taking over our country. They, and they alone, are the only ones' who should be worried about it and they don't have to worry unless they are criminals who trespass onto U.S. property. This guy should sue the dealership, everybody who filed a complaint, and the gov't of Mexico for allowing this epidemic to begin with.
I have no doubt the ad writer knew exactly what he was doing; it was a deliberate play on words to get the reader's attention. No one in Texas could possibly write or see the words "wet backs" without thinking of illegal aliens, capitals or no. I'm sure he thought people would do a double take, then laugh when they re-read it.
Too bad for the General Manager that his bosses didn't share his sense of humor...I'll bet the ad brought in more business than it ran off.
Look, "if I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times; " when an individual, a people or a country lose(s) the ability to laugh at itself then that individual, people, etc has lost a precious commodty.
Down hear in "Cajun" land we laugh at ourselves a lot. But we take seriously what needs to be taken seriously also.
From what I've seen, most of the world takes itself far too seriously and has lost the ability to make fun of itself. A sad lost IMO.
I find this as a case of entirely way over the line of reason of sensibility or common sense! It's just freaking fine that ethnic minorities can slander and use these very same slurs against their own and members of other minorities and every stinking one they can find for causcasians and never a hurt feeling do you hear of but let one dang caucasian say something that in anyway possible can be taken out of context or twisted that they can point to as a slur or insult God help the person uttering it!
__________________ "You can have my Freedom when I'm done with it!"
I find this as a case of entirely way over the line of reason of sensibility or common sense! It's just freaking fine that ethnic minorities can slander and use these very same slurs against their own and members of other minorities and every stinking one they can find for causcasians and never a hurt feeling do you hear of but let one dang caucasian say something that in anyway possible can be taken out of context or twisted that they can point to as a slur or insult God help the person uttering it!
You're coming at it from the wrong direction, Earl. You should feel reassured and complimented, because the guy on top is always the biggest target, and the one the others want to drag down.
Personally, I won't start worrying until no one bothers to come after us anymore...