Dear Sir,
Sorry but I find Ed Tasca’s rant in last week’s edition about what people should or should not wear pretty offensive.
I feel very confident that, no matter what I choose to wear, no one will mistake me for a Mexican and it sounds to me that appearing to look Mexican is his goal.
So be it, go for it. While most would agree that wearing socks, especially black socks with sandals looks terrible, like the Pope says: “Who am I to judge?”
Bob Dale, Ajijic
Dear Sir,
It is with sadness and shame that I am moved to write this letter. Last Thursday, in front of the Seven-Eleven in Riberas del Pilar, Chapala Mayor Javier Degollado and his staff spoke to a crowd of local residents about their concerns and expectations regarding community infrastructure. He and his staff indicated and agreed that the problems facing the residents were serious and required change.
Several times in the midst of speeches by the authorities, a loud voice in English interrupted the speakers. A participant was trying his best to translate the speakers but this man, an obvious expat from north of the border, kept up his tirade.
As an immigrant from Canada to Mexico, I was embarrassed by his intrusion. We are living in Mexico, a friendly and welcoming country, where the language is Spanish. I was struck by the tolerance of many Mexicans in the audience who said not a word of protest. If a person in a similar gathering in the United States or Canada demanded to be spoken to in any language other than English, the speaker would be pelted with stones.
In a similar vein is the widespread use of the U.S. dollar to sell and buy real estate and goods. This is Mexico and the currency is the peso. The two issues are related in that it appears that some people believe they have not left the United States.
My hope is that this incident is an isolated case of a person under the influence who obviously did not know better.
Ken Koyama,
Riberas del Pilar