Morning Rant

OK - here's what's on my mind today.

Mexican President Vincente Fox's recent comment that illegal Mexican immigrants do the jobs in this country that even blacks wouldn't do was offensive to some but not to me. Why should I take offense? I think the comment is surely something that will wind up on a list of "don'ts" at a school for diplomats but if anyone should be offended it should be the Mexicans. Their President just put them on the lowest rung of the economic ladder.

The thing is - there is more than just a grain of truth to the statement. I don't have enough facts on NAFTA to know if it has been a success but I do know that the stereotypes of Mexican farm labor and lawn maintenance workers certainly have their basis in fact. Hopefully Mexican labor can take the same track to success that Irish labor has taken.

Irish laborers used to come to this country to make money to send back to the "old country". Ireland was viewed as a quaint, backward land to the rest of Europe but helped in large part by the seed money sent back from workers in the US - today Ireland is one of the world's most successful economies.

Ireland had the advantage of being a country of hard workers positioned on the doorstep of the large European market. Mexico has the advantage of being a country of hard workers positioned on the doorstep of the large American market.

Fox's comment brought to mind something that Colin Powell wrote in his 1995 biography My American Journey. In the book, Powell explained his lack of rhythm and his inability to play hoops by saying, "Jamaican miscegenation, however, had blocked passage of both the basketball and dance genes in me." I laughed at the comment when I read it. Powell just said that white men can't jump but in a non-offensive manner and with a statement that probably rang true to both Colin and all his friends and family.

There is a thin line between what is acceptable and unacceptable in terms of race comments.

For instance, if a white guy said that blacks can't swim then that would be viewed as a racist comment (even if it leaves you wondering if a black swimmer had ever won an Olympic gold medal). If Dusty Baker says that blacks are better equipped to handle hot weather - then society at large lets the comment slide.

Context, who says the comment and who the comment is aimed at all play a role in whether a comment should be taken as offensive or as just something to think about. Bill Cosby's recent comments would certainly be viewed as racist if they came from a white person.

I had no problem with Fox's comments because they were aimed at Mexicans and said by a Mexican.