Dear Readers: Since it’s the end of the year and the Mexican is on his eighteenth tamal (made by the mujeres in his family, of course), behold some letters from angry readers (and one fan), along with my answers. Enjoy your champurrado, gracias for a great 2013, and may your…
Dear Readers: Behold your favorite Mexican’s annual Christmas gift guide, where I give shout-outs to some of my favorite books that deserve your money this holiday season! And for once, I won’t recommend my books — ¡Ask a Mexican!, Orange County: A Personal History, and Taco USA: How Mexican Food…
Dear Mexican: You mocked and didn’t answer the legitimate questions raised in a letter to you a couple of weeks ago, about the guy who didn’t see a rosy future for a Mexican-led America. The writer correctly referred to serious problems in the Hispanic community such as poor academic performance…
Dear Mexican: My father and mother were able to come to the United States because once the “yellow scare” was over, no one seemed to mind that Chinese were coming here by the boatload. Since my parents were given visas and green cards pretty easily, my father was able to…
Dear Mexican: Could it really be possible for a terrorist to sneak into the U.S. through the southern border, or is that just more fear-mongering from the conservatives? Not Crazy about Quds Dear Gabacho: Of course it’s possible, but we’re really not going to know until we find out, right?…
Dear Mexican: I’m a pocha immigration attorney. I have so many questions for you that I’m thinking I should just hire you as a consultant. Why do Mexicans seem to want me to lie to them, steal their money, and tell them they can become residents even when it’s hopeless?…
Dear Mexican: My home town of El Paso is getting a new AAA baseball team. The owning group just announced the name: The El Paso Chihuahuas. Reasons given? The origins of the dog and the city’s location in the Chihuahua desert, and that it was family-friendly. Many in this city…
Dear Mexican: I was surprised, on a trip to Mexico earlier this month, to find the holiday referred to as just “Día de Muertos,” whereas in the States, I’ve only heard it referred to as “Día de los Muertos.” I’m curious as to why there’s a difference north/south of the…
Dear Mexican: My wife and I are looking to buy our first house. Being young (-ish) and hip (-ish), we’re looking into buying in Santa Ana. It’s amazing how much house and land you can get for $350K compared to the two-bedroom stacked crackerboxes in south OC. My question is…
Dear Readers: The Mexican is taking the week off because his home paper is preparing its fantabulous Best Of issue. (Download the Best Of app, por favor, which also gets you access to my sister papers!) Behold, then, an oldie-but-goodie column that Art Laboe would approve of. Enjoy! Dear Mexican:…
Dear Mexican: I’m a Mexican-American Catholic who is really upset about something I saw after Mass last night. As I waited for my son to come out of Confirmation class (I had already attended Mass myself), I noticed a grocery cart parked by a curb. It was odd, because it…
Dear Mexican: With the current state and federal prison systems spitting out even harder criminals due to overcrowding and gang activity allowed to a certain degree by the ‘system,’ and considering the small percentage of inmates who actually make it out and live a positive life, why have some legislators,…
Dear Mexican: Can I “Ask a Mexican” why El Tri sucks so much? And why a little stadium in Columbus, Ohio, was louder and more passionate than Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which seats over 100,000? Can I also ask why a country that lives and breathes soccer/fútbol always freaks…
Dear Mexican: I have a Mexican friend at work, and we happened to get in a discussion that started off fine, but I believe that I offended her as the discussion progressed. We were talking about an upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebration, and I asked if she knew the true…
Dear Mexican: I have read (the usual suspects and a few Know Nothings) that illegals can say a few magic words to get temporary, pending-review asylum status. The reports say the illegals can claim asylum from drug gangs. My understanding is that fear of crime in one’s home country has…
Dear Readers: The Mexican wants to beat you to the carne asada case this Labor Day fin de semana, so behold two oldies but goodies I amazingly haven’t yet passed off as new in this columna. The first one is extant and one of my favorite questions ever; for the…
Dear Mexican: You inspired me to rediscover my culture, my pride as a Mexican and love for my people (though it’s hard to love my people at times). I’m writing a college paper on Latin American issues — more specifically, on Mexican apathy, which is deeply rooted here in my…
Dear Mexican: This pregunta has been simmering in my brain for a while, like slow-cooking birria, and the recent question about whether saying “Viva la Raza” is racist reminded me to ask you. According to José Vasconcelos, the Mexican people are La Raza Cósmica (Cosmic Race), which to me seems…
Dear Mexican: My co-worker was driving to work this morning when she realized she was being followed by a Mexican in his vehicle. He followed her for at least three miles on the road, and during this time he waved at her, smiled when she frowned, and even puckered his…
Dear Mexican: I’m curious as to the meaning of the term “Viva la raza,” which I have often heard expressed by my friends and family. I know what it translates to, but I don’t know why we say it. I happen to be what some call a “half-breed,” and therein…
Dear Mexican: I had a conversation today with an eighteen-year-old female Mexican co-worker that completely blew me away. She has a three-month-old baby with her nineteen-year-old (also Mexican) unemployed boyfriend. They have just found out that she is pregnant again. After listening to her sob about it, I asked her…
Dear Mexican: I walked into Carl’s Jr. the other day and gazed at the dozen middle-aged women of Mexican descent hustling and bustling around the kitchen. A flawless performance, yet I couldn’t help but think of my days as a youth and the responsibility I learned from my first job…
