The 'Gringo Mask' and Political Correctness

By David Paulin

Get a load of this story from the Palm Beach Post on the "gringo mask," with one of the most interesting graphs being this one, below, with its subtle racism toward Arizonans:

"So, you don't look the way you should in Brewer's and the police's eyes? No problem! Because here's the solution, free of charge and readily available to anyone: the Gringo Mask!

Whether you are a man or a woman, now you can boast of a perfectly acceptable image for Arizona -- you know, light skin, blond hair, blue eyes -- without having to resort to expensive bleaching creams like Sammy Sosa or Michael Jackson did, or cumbersome Joan Rivers-type plastic surgery."

One of the readers' comments, in reaction to this story, was right on:

"Where's the outrage over this "gringo mask," like there was over the illegal alien Halloween costume. Oh that's right, tolerance only goes one way. Once again another example how whites can be discriminated against and nothing happens!!"

According to the ad agency's web site:

"We understand from your responses that some people might equate the word "Gringo" with an ethnic slur. We do not. It is simply a slang term used to describe Caucasians, and we don't assign any negative connotations to it."

In Austin a number of months ago, on the other hand, two radio DJs were suspended from their morning talk show for using the word "wetback" during some wide-ranging and lighthearted banter about illegal immigratoin and the politically correct language associated with the problem ("undocumented workers," etc.)

Thomas Lifson adds:

The idea that "gringo" is not an ethnic slur doesn't pass the giggle test. Who do they think is going to buy that?