Oops, did I just say that out loud?

February 14, 2003 1:47 AM

Bill O'Reilly refers to Mexicans as "wetbacks." Let's see if we can keep our ideological mitts off, for a second, and think about this. I was appalled, but maybe I'm out to lunch and the word lost its nasty racist edge somewhere along the way. But to the point that one might, say, name a movie that? When did this become acceptable public usage? (Via anildash.)
posted by adamgreenfield (15 comments total)

this was already discussed somewhere, can't remember where...
posted by lazaruslong at 2:12 AM on February 14, 2003

Here, lazaruslong.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 2:16 AM on February 14, 2003

I'm guessing it's reasonably OK because unlike other stereotypes, "wetback" is actually an honest description of illegal immigrant Mexicans?

It doesn't look like he was referring to anything other than illegal immigrant Mexicans...

It'd be like someone calling a WASP who drinks gin by the pint a "Cracker". It only makes sense.
posted by shepd at 2:25 AM on February 14, 2003

I'm not Mexican, but if I illegally entered the U.S. by crossing the Rio Grande river, I would be a wetback too. There goes the "racist" angle. Plus, "Mexican" is no more a race than "American" is.
posted by hama7 at 2:25 AM on February 14, 2003

A lot of Americans who manage to live in Europe without official resident status - there are many thousands - jokingly refer to ourselves as "wetbacks."
posted by zaelic at 2:45 AM on February 14, 2003

Fine, hama7. What would you call an epithet lodged against someone due to their nationality?

Please.

Apologies, however, for a redundant thread. I searched, honest Injun I did.
posted by adamgreenfield at 2:57 AM on February 14, 2003

It's wonderous how selectively you use logic hama7.

If only you were a Mexican living in America, a wetback if you will, you might not have had the opportunity to write that. What with all the vegetable harvesting and all.
posted by crasspastor at 3:09 AM on February 14, 2003

Fine, hama7. What would you call an epithet lodged against someone due to their nationality?

Silly. Like "cheese eating surrender monkeys" or "canucks".

But this term is not really an epithet and refers to persons illegally entering the U.S.

How about "Felons"?
posted by hama7 at 3:10 AM on February 14, 2003

If only you were a Mexican living in America, a wetback if you will

That's your leap of faith. A legal immigrant is, or can become, an American citizen, and abides by immigration laws.
posted by hama7 at 3:13 AM on February 14, 2003

Why haven't your corporatist superheroes implemented such a plan then? They're who profit off the illegally cheap labor of the wet man's back. Where is their outcry?
posted by crasspastor at 3:18 AM on February 14, 2003

Sounds as if BOR was using the term with "air quotes" -- using the vernacular to describe them, as they are often described by non-journalists/broadcasters, simply in order to give a sense of how said "wetbacks"/border-crossers are perceived and referred to.
posted by davidmsc at 3:20 AM on February 14, 2003

Is "jailbirds" offensive? Gosh I hope not.
posted by hama7 at 3:21 AM on February 14, 2003

You know full well hama7 that is no response to my question.

I'll ask again.

Why haven't your corporatist superheroes implemented such a plan then? They're who profit off the illegally cheap labor of the wet man's back. Where is their outcry?
posted by crasspastor at 3:25 AM on February 14, 2003

Last I checked (thirty seconds ago ;-) the Rio Grande flows from New Mexico, maybe with its headwaters in Colorado? Arizona and California share a waterless border with Mexico.

Must be all that sweat.
posted by Dick Paris at 3:30 AM on February 14, 2003

Where is their outcry?

Report them to the local immigration office, then. They're felons. Don't ask me, I'm not a "corporatist" (whatever that is).
posted by hama7 at 3:31 AM on February 14, 2003