Ot-please Read!!
 

To whom it may concern:
This petition is to request a formal apology from Vanity Fair and Dame for the offensive article regarding Latinos and the Spanish language
which appears in the February 2003 issue of Vanity Fair. In the meantime, please boycott Vanity Fair magazine, and urge others to do the same. If you are offended by the word-for-word transcription below, please copy (rather than forward) this email in a new message, sign it at the end of the list, and send it to all of the people whom you know. If you receive this list with 100 names signed, please send it to the Editor at: vfmail@vf.com <mailto:vfmail@vf.com> and copy maldonadowendy@hotmail.com
wendy@hotmail <mailto:wendy@hotmail>
Thank you!------------------------------------------------------------
Excerpt, Vanity Fair (February 2003), p. 116, Ask Dame Edna:
Dear Dame Edna,
I would very much like to learn a foreign language, preferably French or Italian, but every time I mention this, people tell me to learn Spanish instead. They say, "Everyone is going to be speaking Spanish in 10
years. George W. Bush speaks Spanish." Could this be true? Are we all going to have to speak Spanish? Torn Romantic, Palm Beach
Dear Torn:
Forget Spanish. There's nothing in that language worth reading except Don Quixote, and a quick listen to the CD of Man of La Mancha will take care of that. There was a poet named Garcia Lorca, but I'd leave him on
the intellectual back burner if I were you. As for everyone's speaking it, what twaddle! Who speaks it that you are really desperate to talk to? The help? Your leaf blower? Study French or German, where there are a t least a few books worth reading, or, if you're American, try English.
Dame Edna
----------------------------------------
Dear Editor,
I was infuriated at Dame Edna's response to Torn Romantic,, Palm Beach (Vanity Fair, February 2003). Dame Edna could have chosen any number of amusing responses; however, she responded using cheap, two-dimensional stereotypes of Latinos and Latin Americans, revealing not only her racism but also her profound ignorance of who we are. We are not just 'the help' and the 'leaf blowers'. We are architects and activists, journalists and doctors, governors and athletes, scientists and business people. We are Nobel Prize Winners and Rhodes Scholars. We speak Spanish, but we also speak fluent English, and many of us speak
other languages as well. As of last week, we are officially the largest minority population in the United States at 37 million and 13% of the population.
Without us, the economy of this nation and the Americas, and consequently the world, would come to a complete standstill. If Dame Edna were even remotely cultured or educated, she would have read and lost herself in the exquisite writings of Nobel prize winners Octavio Paz, Gabriel Garcia-Marquez, and Pablo Neruda. She would know that Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz was one of the first feminists and poets in the Americas. She would admire Isabel Allende and Sandra Cisneros for their passionate prose and vibrant spirits. And of course, if it had not been for us, the world would not know chocolate! And everyone knows life would not be worth living without chocolate. Finally, I would like to point out that Dame Edna would have NEVER written such blatantly offensive material about African-Americans or Jews, for obvious reasons. It seems that Dame Edna AND the Editors of Vanity Fair believe that Latinos and Latin Americans cannot read, and even if we could, we would never be Vanity Fair readers. For the life of me, I still
cannot figure out why you chose to feature Salma Hayek on the cover and in an article celebrating her success immediately following such an offensive piece.
I demand an apology in print in the next issue of Vanity Fair from the Editors and from Dame Edna. In the meantime, I will be mobilizing everyone I know to boycott and protest Vanity Fair. By the way, I am a 31-year old Mexican-American woman, with three Ivy League degrees, working in New York City at a major firm. I sure as hell am NOT the leaf blower or the help, and I think all of you need to go to college.

Wendy Maldonado


1. Wendy Maldonado, Jackson Heights, NY
2. Jasmine J. Friedman, New York, NY
3. Angelique Jewell, New York, NY
4. Paula Cserei, Houston, TX
5. Monica Cardenas, Houston, TX
6. Denise de la Cruz; Houston, TX
7. Ana Aguirre, Houston, TX
8. Elisa Mendez, Fort Lee, NJ
9. Elizabeth Vidal, Orlando, FL
10. Mirta Fernandez, WNY, NJ
11. Jessica Feria, North Bergen, NJ
12. Jeannie Feria, North Bergen, NJ
13. Barbara Perez, North Bergen. NJ
14. Angel Perez, North Bergen, NJ
15. Angelina Deleon, Flemington, NJ
16. Rolando Deleon, Flemington, NJ
17. Nilo Calichs, North Bergen, NJ
18. Alicia Calichs, North Bergen, NJ
19. Casey Perez, North Bergen, NJ
20. Dean Perez, North Bergen, NJ
21. Myrta Gonzalez, Miami, FL
22. Ramiro Gonzalez, Miami, FL
23. Patty Villoldo, Miami, FL
24. Evette Santana, Miami, Fl
25. Gina Lopez, Miami, FL
26. Javier E. Baena, Miami, FL
27. Annette Navarro, Miami, FL
28. Lucy Moreno, San Antonio, TX
29. Hector Rodriguez, Dallas, TX
30. Jesus Galvan, Dallas, TX
31. Robin Lopez-Gibbs, San Antonio, TX
32. Enrique Covarrubias, San Antonio, TX
33. Mary Gomez, El Paso, TX
34. Arturo Gomez, El Paso, TX
35. Seney Gomez-Sowles, El Paso, TX
36. Gustavo Lozano-Verastegui, Cd. Juarez, Chih., MX
37. Claudia Lozano-Verastegui, Cd. Juarez, Chih.,MX
38. Omar Islas, Dallas, TX
39. Alberto Ramirez III, Dallas, TX
40. Nora Sandoval, Dallas, TX
41. Patricia Tellez, Dallas, TX
42. Alex Toedtli, Dallas, TX
43. Carlos A. Gonzalez, Fort Worth, TX
44. Ana Docasar, Fort Worth, TX
45. Carlos Navarro, Fort Worth, TX
50. Valerie Hope, Dallas, TX
51. Carlos Arroyo, Allen, TX
52. Francisco Reyes, Tuscaloosa AL
53. Jorge Castillo, M.Sc., Huntsville AL
54. Javier Lopez, Huntsville AL
55. Jean Pierre Mourre, Lima-Peru
56. Melissa Gothie, Morristown, NJ
57. Nadine Salemi, Dover, NJ
58. Carrianne Salemi, Newark, NJ
59. Quetcy Ortiz, Parsippany, NJ
60. Lucy Torres, Dover, NJ
61. Lillian Castro, Lawrence, Ma.
62. Delma Gomez, Queens, N.Y.
63. Brenda Morales, Bronx, NY
64.Licette Mercado, Bronx, NY
65. Olga Alcaraz, Queens, NY
66. Jennifer Calderon, Queens, NY
67. Clarisa Linares, Brooklyn, NY
68. Giovanni Restrepo, Union City, NJ
69. Jessica Colon, Mahwah, NJ

ummmmm......

you DO know who "Dame Edna" is, don't you?

Does not belong in this forum. Moving to chit chat...

Re: Ot-please Read!!
 

What are those obvious reasons??

-Rudey

Thanks for moving, thats why I put ot=Off Topic. Anyway, no I dont know who Dame Edna is an to be really honest, and trying really hard not to be rude, I dont care. I am a LATINA, and I found the statements to be offensive.

Hey it's really awesome that she owns three ivy-league degrees (PS - you know that's an athletics conference, right?)

Also sweet - she works at a major firm . . . I don't know what this firm does, but I bet it's major.

This response is absolute garbage - this is WAAAAAAAAY up there with any other piece of internet spam I get every day. Rudey was on the right track, and I'll take it to the next level - this is ridiculous.

Although I will apologize - it must be true, because I read it on the internet.

"Dame Edna" is not an actual person. She is a character created by British comic Barry Humphries. In other words, this is kind of like writing a letter to a character on Saturday Night Live and criticizing them for their behavior.

OK, I do know who Dame Edna is and I can appreciate the satiracal nature of "her" response. The Man of LaMancha thing was pretty funny. However, I do have to agree with essenceofomega on the "help" and "leaf blower" part. I mean, come on. Is that really nessecary? Especially in an issue that celebrates Salma Hyack who notes that she was once told by a Holloywood producer that she would never be a leading lady because every time she opened her mouth poeple would be reminded of their maid.

I guess I'm saying, don't jump on the bandwagon of boycotting Vanity Fair if you don't want, but don't belittle essenceofomega for being offended. I think Dame Edna's response was a little bit much in some of its humor...just my opinion

facetious

adj : cleverly amusing in tone; "a bantering tone"; "facetious remarks"; "tongue-in-cheek advice" [syn: bantering, tongue-in-cheek]

yep.. I definately agree with xo_kathy. I think sterotyping all Spanish-speaking people as "the help" or the "leaf blower" is way out of line.


As far as boycotting Vanity Fair, I never even read it anyway. I find Fortune and PCWorld more interesting.

I agree that it is offensive, and maybe it's just supposed to be funny... but it's not. It wouldn't be appropriate to stereotype African Americans, so why do people think it's okay to stereotype hispanics? I have never read Vanity Fair anyway though, so I've got the boycotting thing covered!

good lord:rolleyes:

people are so quick to scream racism:rolleyes:

i always read the dame edna columns and think they are generally pretty funny and TONGUE IN CHEEK.

Thanks xo_kathy and others who can see why I was offended. For all others, you will never understand how I feel untill you have walked a mile in MY shoes or any other hispanics shoes for that matter. What it is for others to think that all you can be is a maid or THE HELP. I never said boycott Vanity Fair, hell I could care less about the magazine, I just put this out there so that others can read it. And NO, its not about being quick to scream racism, but to destroy the stereotypes that exist. Have a nice day.

I'm sorry, I guess I had a different perception of the joke "she" was attempting to make. I saw it as a tongue in cheek reflection of those in a rarified socio-economic class being so wrapped up in their self absorbed world that a snobbery and cultural insensitivity is developed. I saw it as the writer taking a jab at certain people who may actually think this way from under the guise of a character that is being played.

Now, I'm not sure it was actually funny... but that's another discussion.

I'd agree with most of you, this is a parody, satire type thing. She/He's making fun of people who are really snooty and have narrowminded views.

I wouldn't be so quick to say that someone would NEVER make a joke about african americans or jews like that. I can think of plenty of satirical articles in magazines that play off of racial/religious stereotypes to make something funny. Whether or not its funny is another topic, but when something is parodying something or someone else, I don't think anyone's safe.

And not to bitch, but why do people always back up a complaint with "until you've walked a mile in my shoes...."???? I'm sorry but we all have problems, everybody has stuff to deal with in their life, regardless of what race or ethnicity you are.

AXJULES, no one is bitching or complaining. This is MY OPINION and MY FEELINGS toward it. Everyone is entitled to their own. I agree everyone has their own issues and problems to deal with and these happen to be mine, ignorant people who must degrade others to amuse the public. An NO you will never understand how I feel and I dont ever expect you too. Only those who have gone through can TRULY understand.

What I'm wondering is why Dame Edna has a column. I don't get it.

essenceofomega, I agree with your principle that this humor went too far; as it is totally inappropriate in this day and age to perpetuate such offensive racial stereotypes. But you might want to edit one of your posts--you *did* in fact call for a boycott. Consistency helps when making this kind of point......

Adrienne

Another thing that irritates me is people making comments like "oh why is everyone so quick to scream racism." Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but like essenceofomega, I too have dealt with rude stereotypes personally because of my hispanic heritage. I guess it must be nice to not have anyone ever say anything hurtful about your heritage. It's true, you can't really understand how it feels unless you've been through it. If it's not directed at you in any way, of course it's easy to say "oh it's no big deal, get over it." Well, anyway, I'm going to shut up now before I say something I might regret. My point really is that I'd appreciate if people could just respect other people's feelings.

Hey stupid, you never answered my question.

-Rudey

Adduncan, I understand your point but I did not write what was posted. This was sent to me by a friend of mine. I am not the author of it. I just posted it here for others to see. Rudey, when you choose to show some respect to others, I might choose to anwer your question with my opinion. As I just stated to adduncan, I DID NOT WRITE THIS, I JUST POSTED IT.

Why would you post something like this if you haven't throughly investigated its content? Or if you didn't agree with what it said (i.e. asking for a boycott)? I'm not saying don't be offended by the column, but before you take up or further a cause it would behoove you to know exactly what the cause consists of.

33girl, I never said I didnt look into this further. I also never said I didnt agree with boycotting Vanity Fair. I said I do not care for Vanity Fair, I dont read them. I wanted it because I thought others would find it interesting. Everyone has a different opinion and people should respect that.

essenceofomega, I think you're right in being annoyed--that response was really uncalled-for, even if the "writer" is fictitious. And I don't blame you for wanting to boycott the magazine. I think it's up to everyone else to decide whether they want to read Vanity Fair or not...the boycott was just a suggestion. But just for the record, I probably won't be reading it again anytime soon just because I think that magazine is full of senseless drivel anyway...

Re: Re: Ot-please Read!!
 

becuase of the same reason that asian folks got mad when shaq made those "tounge in cheek" comments. or the reasons why black folks got mad at fuzzy zoeller when he made his "tounge in cheek" comments.

As a person that does not read Vanity Fair, I would not have known anything about Dame Edna until I read this thread.
As a hispanic woman, I too was irritated and much more than a little bit offended. It was absolutely uncalled for and rude.

We live in such an overly PC society...you can't really make these kinds of comments (especially in print) and expect that people will be amused. At least if it was a comedian, you could interpret the body language and/or voice to determine the fashion in which the comment is being made.

Heck, I don't read Vanity Fair and I'm not a Latina...but I'd certainly be offended by the remarks. I mean even if it is satire I still didn't see the humor in it. Sure the author of the editorial may have been trying to make a funny remark but the truth is many Latinos and Latinas are still faced with stereotypes and it's hard for the comments to be taken with a grain of salt because one person thinks it's funny. I'd be like saying that African American people are only good at sports or that Jewish people are all uptight money grubbers (not my opionions by the way). Ya just can't go around poking fun at a group... there's just nothing to accomplish by it.

Re: Re: Re: Ot-please Read!!
 

Huh? perhaps you should read what part of her letter I was referring to.

My quote basically was in referrence to her saying people would not have said this about blacks or Jews.

-Rudey
--You just wasted a couple minutes of my time.

I know in your mind you find saying this to be smart because you've created some sort of analogy, but you needn't have said any of that crap to get your point across. The fact is that no analogy was required and the message you put forth is that people will only understand you if you bring "African American people" or "Jewish people" into it.

-Rudey
--Thanks for listening.

Before I started sending around a piece of info like this via email or posting it on message boards, I would sure as heck know who and what I was talking about. To be blunt, it doesn't make you look too smart or well-informed. I'm not talking about the content - this to me is along the same lines as forwarding the email about the "missing child" that was never missing.

live it, learn it, love it - http://www.snopes.com

Re: Re: Re: Re: Ot-please Read!!
 

you asked for a reason why people would not have said it about blacks and jews. becuase of the backlash against shaq, and remember the backlash against zoeller. people would have gotten mad. those reasons are pretty obvious, aren't they?

Here's an idea...if someone posts a topic that you don't find interesting, don't agree with, etc., etc. IGNORE IT!!! Why go back and forth justifying whether or not something is legitimate, whether or not it makes that person "look smart", whatever :rolleyes:. If the moderator feels like the post is unnecessary, he/she can delete it. Why make it your life's mission (at least for the day), to debate with someone over something trivial.

BTW...it's just a message board...this is not the national news, so it has urban legend potential...STF ever, it's not like she's Connie Chung trying to pass it off as breaking news. Get over it!!

I think some people tend to take this message board way too seriously.