An Old Trucker's View Through A Bug Splattered Windshield
“Wet Back” Means What?
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In yet another case of political correctness running wild, an innocent statement is used to get a man fired from his job. Let me say up front, Georgetown, Tx. Mac Haik Ford Lincoln Mercury has no courage to call bull s*** at the accusations leveled by LULAC and the Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
A salesman loses his job for using the words "wet back" to sell cars!! Yes, I am aware that the term "wet back" can be used as a derogatory term towards people of the Hispanic community. But c’mon!! This is a stretch don’t ya think?
Georgetown car dealership apologizes for ad that contained racial slur. Executive said employee responsible for ad has been fired after outcry.
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, October 03, 2007GEORGETOWN — Executives of the Mac Haik Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership apologized Tuesday for an advertisement sent to 1,200 customers last week in which a racial slur appeared.
The e-mail, dated Sept. 26, had the headline "Tired of the Wet Backs????" on top of an advertisement for air-conditioned seats. Among those who received the ad were members of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
"I got calls from people who found it very offensive," said Paul M. Saldana, chairman of the board of the Hispanic Chamber.
"Wet back" is a derogatory term for Hispanics.
"Wet back" also means an area of the human dampened by fluids. This can happen through the course of sweating, taking a shower or being the unfortunate recipient of a water ballon attack.
Saldana, along with Hispanic Chamber President Andrew Martinez and Rita D. Gonzales-Garza, district director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, met Tuesday with Haik General Manager Michael Winot.
After that meeting, Winot issued an apology.
"We would like to assure everyone that immediate action was taken against those responsible for writing and placing the subject advertisement," Winot said in a statement.
He said the ad was produced by the general sales manager of the dealership, who was fired after a company investigation. He declined to name the manager.
Fired for what? The proper use of the English language. Damn Mac Haik Ford Lincoln Mercury get some balls. You just fired a man for a very innocent statement. I believe this is over reaction in the extreme LULAC and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As we like to say in blogger parlance, this is bovine processed hay. It is LULAC and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that should be ashamed of their over reaction.
Susan Hensley, director of human resources for Mac Haik Management Ltd. of Houston, said an Internet-based course in sensitivity training was instituted for employees last spring.
"I’ve also been told we can get similar training from the Hispanic Chamber, and I am excited about that," Hensley said Tuesday. "It’ll be part of our ongoing program."
What is needed is some damn common sense. Frankly, I am tired of this reverse discrimination. Howsabout some courses for Hensley, Martinez, Gonazlez-Garza and Winot in the use of the English language and appropriate descriptors. It is a damn shame that "groups" of people are walking around looking for reasons to be offended.
Technorati Tags: Austin, Featured, Politics, Texas, LULAC, Political correctness
Comments are closed.
about 2 years ago
Your positioning is sad.
If you think the term “wetback” is innocent. You should look at the history of the treatment of Mexican and other Latinos by whites.
I have a feeling you know of the treatment, or just don’t care.
You must feel other derogatory terms are fine too, Like chink, nigger, spic, kyke, fag, etc.
We are aware of you kind, and ultimately you will lose.
about 2 years ago
No John
My positioning is spot on. The ad asked a question in relation to air conditioning in cars.
The term “wet back” was not used in a derogatory fashion.
The salesman is the victim of reverse discrimination by groups that spend time looking for reasons to be offended.
about 2 years ago
Given the large Hispanic community in Central Texas, I really don’t understand what other kind of reaction you would expect. Excluding the fact that it was viewed by a large percentage of the Hispanic community as offensive and degrading, you’re alienating potential customers. If you are incompetent enough to think this was funny and/or would attract business then you need to be fired before you drive away any more customers.
about 2 years ago
James
Let me couch my argument this way.
I have a “wet back” from sweating in a car that is not air conditioned. I am going to buy a care so tha my “wet back” stays dry.
Have we really come this far down the road of “sensitivity” that eben the Hispanic community cannot see this?
I stand by my statement that LULAC and the HCOA over reacted. I suppose you don’t believe that the salesman should not be afforded the benefeit of doubt.
about 2 years ago
What a bunch of wussies we have become. A few loudmouths whose purpose in life is to promote victimhood spins a few words as being racist and a man loses his livelihood.
Is there any wonder we are seeing a backlash against Hispanics?
about 2 years ago
“We are aware of you kind, and ultimately you will lose.”
johnpaul:
I don’t know who or what you are, and I don’t care, but forturnately, you are wrong. The American citizen woke up this summer and determined they wanted to retain control over their own country. Since then, attmpts to cow tow to activits like the ones involved in th is story have been beaten back. We can only hope the trend continues.
Oh, and play the racism card all you want. It’s something done by those who can’t win an argument any other way.
about 2 years ago
James Q -
You want to know what is “offensive and degrading.” A few examples:
–”Hispanic” business owners flying the Mexican flag above the American flag;
–People who violated our laws to come to this country, many who don’t pay taxes, and many who leech off health care and other tax-supported services, marching in the streets demanding we ignore their criminal behavior and grant them citizenship;
–Hispanic “activists” who feast on any slight, real or imagined, to the “Hispanic community” for the purpose of self-perpetuation and self-aggrandizement, knowing if they don’t create a sufficient number of false issues they will find themselves unemployed.
Want more?
about 2 years ago
I must say “Right on man!!!” Please give me a break…its obvious this was completely misunderstood. Thank God for air conditioning!!
about 2 years ago
thank goodness he wasnt shining up those cars with SPIC and SPAN cleaner
about 2 years ago
I agree firing this guy and bending to Lulac and every other victim organization is foolish. You know when I first moved here and had no airconditioning in my car ( purchased in Illinois) 1975….. I HAD A WET BACK from driving in the darned heat. This ad didn’t say , tired of swimming the river?, nor did it say, tired of illegals ruining your day? It sad, tired of sweating your **** off ….. geez. I hope this guy sues for his job back and makes like miserable for Mac Haik……If I were in the market for a ride, I wouldn’t shopthere.
about 2 years ago
Hi there.. I just happened to come upon this site while making sure I knew what the term Wet Back really meant, since Im from way up in Michigan.
Ok, so was it written this way: “Tired of the Wet Backs????”
A couple of things stand out: It sounds like a play on words to me and this is my reasoning: Shouldnt it say: “Are you tired of having a wet back?” or “Tired of having a sweaty back?” Both communicate the same thing regarding a persons physical comfort in a car, but the writers choose to use “..the Wet Backs??”
Why is it plural? When did we all get 2 backs?
When did we start referring to our backs as ‘the’ back. The word ‘the’ refers to something different than ‘my back’, ‘your back’, or ‘a back’.
Why is Wet Backs capitalized? Is it something formal, like a group? a name?
The question is: Did the people who created this advertisement cross the line?
To me, it is obviously a play on words to advertise AND to justify a community bias against people of hispanic origin. Yes, unethical, insensitive, and it backfired.
The other comments regarding what the negative impact of illigal immigration is doing to our country are not related to the question of whether this advertisement was racial. If anything it supports the idea that it was racial and that poster is fine with it.
Regarding illigal immigration: Something needs to change. Our country is loosing in the global market. We ALL need to shop differently and support local busineses. If anyone here shops at Walmart, you are responsible for the decrease in value of the American Dollar, including myself.
Peace and God Bless America!!!
about 2 years ago
PC or Not PC? To Fire or Not Fire?
We are talking about someone in a sales position. That someone who created an ad to be run in print (let alone a mass email). That someone whose location was a mere 100 miles from the Rio Grande. That location with 23.5% of a total population of Mexican heritage.
That is a 1 in 4 chance an incredibly poor choice of words will have a chance to offend. That (from a marketer’s standpoint) is a professional suicide. Maybe in Korea, India, or Mars those two words together have little significance, but in Austin Texas? Come on.
I don’t know where any of you are posting from, but up here in the remote flatlands of the upper Midwest, we still know that even if that ad was an intentional pun or purely unintentional, it was either in poor taste or even outright stupidity.
Anyone who is in a position of ad creation should (read: Must) have some grasp of their own demographic make-up regionally for a local ad to run. To let that hit print with no fail-safe, smacks of pure ignorance for an entire firm’s staff.
about 2 years ago
A-Marketer
At worst the ad was a bad choice of words. There was nothing in the ad “directed” at white folks making a play on words toward the Hispanic community.
Would it have been better to say
“Is your back wet…..”?
I stand by my assertion that the salesman’s firing was based on an hypersenstive over reaction by groups that are looking for a reason to be offended.
I will not admit that the ad was even stupid or bad choice of words. There was NOTHING wrong with what was said.
Oh btw Georgetown at the closest point is 200 miles form the Rio Grande.
about 2 years ago
Hmm, no response to my post yet…
I agree with A-Marketer, someone didnt do their homework.
Was this person fired because of politcal correctness? Sure. Was it the right thing to do? Not sure, it wasnt my call. If I was this salesman/ad agents supervisor, Im thnking I would have done the same thing. Think about this: Why was this person fired? Was it becasue of the outcry of this advocating group? Why should the car dealer even care? Would he not receive the Hispanic commnities business? Oh, so there is a Hispanic community that this dealership has business ties with? Again, the salesperson should have realized this and not chosen the presentation style in this ad. Does it matter if it was 100% play on words? Nope. Does it matter if it was an accident? Nope. The salesman should have known better and not have done it.
Personally I have no problem with Hispanic peoples. As someone who works hard at staying on top of my own prejudices I will admit that I have prejudices against African Americans, they are the minoroty in my area. I do my best, on a daily basis, to remind myself to see life from their perspectve and to avoid generalizations. I admit that I have prejudices/stereotypes in my head, and I work hard to control them. Prejudices can be difficult to manage at times. The first step to managing them is to admit that we have them; its not a comfortable thing to do, but it is the honest thing to do.
Still waiting on that reply to my post..
about 2 years ago
I believe I replied to your post with my opinion when I posted the story in the first place.
I have no problems with the Hispanic race. I am angry with the hypersensitivity displayed by certain groups and the failure of the car dealership to defend the man. To give him the benefit of the doubt as it were.
This pisses me off even more:
You are jumping to a conclusion that cannot be proven in that you are implying that the salesman acted out of some hidden prejudice.
I stand by my assertion that the man should not have been fired, an innocent ad was twisted into a perverted accusation of prejudice.
BTW I HATE WET BACKS. That is why I towel off thoroughly after my shower.
about 2 years ago
So you have 2 backs? LOL
Why did you choose to type that with the caps on? Usually that is used when people yell-type.. are you yelling at me? Trying to engage me emotionally? That’s what people generally do when they begin to loose a fight… I degress..
Why didnt you say:
“I hate having a wet back”
Or if you are around hispanic people say, “I find it uncomfrtable when my back is wet.”
There are many different ways to say it IF you care enough about the people around you to modify what you are saying in an attempt to minimize the possibility of offending someone when it is in your power to do so.
Im not sure why people have difficulty admitting to their prejudices. Its competely possible to have a prejudice but not want it. Its deeper psychology than just not liking a people group.
Maybe it is out of guilt, knowing that it is wrong and not being able to admit that you feel a certain way. Im sure some would call it denial..
Yes, you did state your opinion at one time in this post but you did not answer my questions regarding the advertisment. Please review my earlier post and see if you can answer my questions. If you cannot then I will understand your difficulty in doing so.
about 2 years ago
Because what I said is what I chose to say. You have just made my point. Just like the Lulacers and the Chamber of Commerce you are searching for resons to be offended to find offense. You would take an innocent comment, twist it and accuse a person of racial prejiduce.
BTW You got that I am prejudiced from one sentence? My you are sentient aren’t you?
Trite and boring does not begin to describe your argument.
about 2 years ago
Communication is about what you are saying and how you present it. The ‘how’ being much more important that the ‘what’.
Im not looking to be offended, nor am I. I simply asked for your reasoning so that I could better understand what you are trying to communicate.
Yes, based on what you typed I would perceive you as being prejudice. (please read above posts to understand my views about prejudice being a human cognitive process-deeper psychology. I can offer book suggestions if you need them).
Question: Do you want me to believe you are prejudice?
Ive already stated that I have prejudice and I work on those daily. Can you admit this?
Do I beleive that some groups consiously look for way to be offended and be given them a reason to be angry at the majority. Of course, I do. Do those minority groups ever attempt to maximize a small issue to make a point. Sure they do. Does the cultural majority have a moral and ethical responsibility to make sure power is not abused and others culture is not
You still have left many of my questions unanswered and instead you attack what I say. Even though my argument are ‘trit and boring’ it is still an accurate argument.
Still waiting for answers…
about 2 years ago
Ya know what Brian, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. My prejudices or lack there of have nothing to do with the discussion.
1. the car salesman wrote an ad using the English language
2. a very unnecessary flap ensued
3. the salesman was fired
4. I disagree with his termination
5. I believe LULAC and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce over reacted
6. I think Mac Haic should have given the salesman the benefit of the doubt.
and finally I hate wet backs too and when I am ready to buy a car with better air conditioning it will not be from Mac Haic.
On a different note Have a Merry Christmas.