Aug. 12, 1998
I stumbled on the argument the other day while surfing the 'Net. It is, of course, an argument of monumental importance, one which threatens to shake our nation to its core.
I am speaking, of course, of the argument over the Taco Bell chihuahua.
Various Hispanic groups and those who say they're not Hispanic, they are instead either Chicano, Latino, Mexikano or something called Aztlan have decided that having a chihuahua with a decided Hispanic accent plugging a place which specializes in fast-food Mexican food is an affront to the dignity of their race, their culture, society at large, et cetera.
Foolishly, I tried to make the point in a discussion group that the idea behind the commercial series was to be "cute," not to make some type of social-economic-racial statement. Silly me.
Most of the names I got called can't be repeated here. It was suggested that I'm the greatest racist pig since David Duke, and that not being a member of an Oppressed Minority, I could never understand why they're offended at such "stereotyping."
(I consider white males living in Texas to be an oppressed minority these days, but that's an argument I'll lose later.)
I've got to ask would we be having this discussion if Der Weinerschnitzel had a goofy German Shepherd as its spokesman? Would we see people picketing Steak 'N Ale if an English Sheepdog with a Cockney accent were hawking its wares?
I haven't seen any Australians up in arms over having a kangaroo in the Outback Steakhouse commercials, and I seriously doubt our French-American community would be offended too seriously if a poodle with a Maurice Chevalier voiceover plugged a French restaurant.
There's an auto dealer just down I-10 which uses a cartoon Scottish Terrier with a rolling brogue to play off its Scottish name, but I've never seen a gathering of the clans in protest. And I have on several occasions seen old blue-tick coon-hounds performing as spokesdogs for all manner of redneck business establishments, with nary a cross burned on the lawn thereafter.
We could go on forever Italian greyhounds, Irish terriers, Shih-Tzus, whatever.
So what's the (pardon the pun) beef with Taco Bell and its chihuahua? As noted in the above paragraphs, every country or culture seems to have a particular type of food and a particular breed of dog (or 'roo) which is readily identified as being part of that country or culture. With Mexico, it's Mexican food and chihuahuas. It's no insult.
Perhaps those who are bellowing the loudest are themselves guilty of stereotyping; maybe they have this concept of chihuahuas as little more than nervous, bug-eyed rats. They've obviously never been owned by a chihuahua.
Three chihuahuas own me, and I wouldn't trade them for any other breed. They are noble dogs unquestionably loyal and full of energy and affection. They are absolutely fearless: mine have taken on Dobermans, Dalmations and German Shepherds, as well as just about every breed of cat. When I lived in Rosenberg, they even chased off a burglar.
I personally think they're among the smartest breeds of dogs, although you can't tell it from their TAAS scores (they had trouble using the pencils, and just barely passed We've had several TAAS pep rallies since then, and I think we'll see an improvement next time.).
The ancient Aztecs believed chihuahuas were akin to gods, and I must admit, modern chihuahuas do seem to share that belief.
So try me in the U.N. International
Court for crimes against humanity if you will (and they can do that now,
you know), but I just don't consider the Taco Bell Chihuahua to be worthy
of such a ruckus. It's not intended as an affront, it's intended to be
cute and it is, whatever you may think of the food.