Looking for answers on Arellano

IN Agustin Gurza’s Culture Mix column [“Don’t Ask This One About That Mexican,” May 19], he wonders why, in “this post-Imus world,” nobody “calls” Gustavo Arellano for revisiting stereotypes in his “¡Ask a Mexican!” column. The simple truth: Arellano is funny, and Don Imus is about as funny as the Trail of Tears.

The practice of using humor to rob bigotry of its portent is as old as it is effective, but it’s always been contingent on the individual’s ability to actually be funny. In a city blighted by bad comedians stealing and rehashing ancient Mexican jokes, you might want to direct your ire at a more worthy target.

JULIEANNE SMOLINSKI

West Hollywood

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I was thrilled to read Agustin Gurza’s commentary on the cheap satire of Gustavo Arellano. He’s just not funny. And “educational”? Give me a break.

Don’t worry, it’s not an age thing. Thoughtful Mexicans, and other Latinos for that matter, of all ages regard his writing with disdain. Why haven’t more of us protested in the past? Because his writing isn’t meant for us. It’s meant for Orange County clubgoers who don’t mind reading an article bashing Mexicans between the breast enhancement and strip club ads of the OC Weekly.

RENE M. CASTRO

Long Beach

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AS an L.A.-born Chicano, now 65, I still can’t help reacting to ethnic slurs and stereotyping. They’re cheap shots. I once stopped talking to a good friend because he jokingly called me a “beaner.”

But in defense of Gustavo Arellano and his preemptive brand of humor, I believe stereotypes need public airing. If they stay private and only part of in-group discourse, then we all promote hypocrisy. I also believe mainstream media easily embrace Arellano because his barbs barely prick the non-Latino audience. But that’s our price of entry onto the wider public stage. Yes, let’s defuse stereotyping by bringing it all out in the open, even if it hurts, makes us wince, or just groan at a silly wisecrack.

RON ARIAS

Hermosa Beach