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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1998)
Drawing Board TEN eiVUON 'YEARS FROM NOW, TV* $4jm W»U 6XBANP_, the Surface of t** earth vmt 9ECCVSAE SCORCH EO— ST WILL W UfMlNHABlTABtf . r ^ Jj* Counts, in ten Phuon ?»APS, A mew UK f=on« COutD EMWCE.. 1 I ob w* could colon tie ANOTHCB PLANET at that DI5TANT time... but ONE TMIN6 on EARTH WILL. fWDuBE... m snu vwxwwtt OWTHE INVfiW«l! Buy 6 donuts at regular price and get 6 free DUNKIN' DONUTS' 485 E. Broadway • 484-2780 •Not valid on Mini donuts. Not valid with any other offer One coupon per customer per visit. Expires 5/15/9^jj a Aclv\«. ^ London $727 San Jose c.r. $585 London $560 New York $250 Fares are round trip and do not include, TAXES. RESTRICTIONS APPLY. Council Travel '.CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange 877 1/2 East 13th Street ‘Eugene (541)344-2263, University of Oregon In the EMU Building Eugene (541)344-2263 oibwkk iV^MJIIHC VOl) NttD W0(H 4) TO Z LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Taco Bell ads OK I never really wanted to write a letter to the editor of the Oregon Daily Emerald, but Kameron Cole’s column on stereotypes (ODE, April 15) was such an in sult to common sensibilities that I could not let it go by without a response. “The recent Taco Bell ads have received warranted criticism for exploiting Mexican stereotypes.” Exactly which Mexican stereotypes? Are you referring to the common miscon ception that all Chihuahuas speak with a Mexican accent? I find Dinky the Chihuahua a very reasonable choice for Taco Bell. As anyone living in Mexico would tell you, Taco Bell does not serve true Mexican cuisine. It does, however, serve Mexican themed cuisine, so it is quite ap propriate that their commercials would use Mexican-themed characters. Toucans and rabbits are used to sell cereal and bears are used to sell honey, so what is wrong with a dog being used to sell burritos—a dog, in fact, that originated in the Mexican state of Chihuahua? Your telling us not to roll our eyes after you relayed the quota tion by Gabriel Cazares saying in effect that the Chihuahua in the Taco Bell commercial represents Taco Bell’s perception that all Mexicans are dogs implies that you know it was a ridiculous thing for him to say. You said, though, to consider the timing— amidst campaigns against bilin gual education and the like—but you really didn’t draw a connec tion between Cazares’ quotation, the ad campaign and your “tim ing” hypothesis. If anything, this commercial supports the aims of diversity in a passive, non-threat ening way. Think about it. This commercial is itself bilingual, with its Spanish catch phrase, “yo quiero Taco Bell.” To Bob and Judy Suburbia, with no ex posure to Spanish, watching TV at home, this phrase will stick in their minds enough to know that “yoquiero” means "I want.” The last paragraph said using stereotypes in advertising isn’t new (although I maintain there is no use of a stereotype in the Dinky the Chihuahua commercials). And indeed the phenomenon is n’t. 1 have a good friend from Switzerland who, on his first trip to America, commented on the false depictions of the Swiss in the Ricola commercials — jolly yodelers blowing Alphoms. Also not true is the idea that all Swiss girls look like the Heidi character on the Swiss Miss hot chocolate box. Though these advertise ments actively misrepresented his culture, he did not think it was that big ofa deal. “Can something so culturally loaded really be dis missed as harmless?” you asked. Honestly, yes. If your view of Switzerland is people on moun tains screaming “Ricola! ” or your view of Ireland is a hapless lep rechaun defending his “Box o’ Lucky Charms” or your view of Mexico is a talking Chihuahua, maybe you should turn off your TV, take a vacation to these great places, and give the rest of us a break. Dustin Preuitt Political Science Collier an alternative With all the hoo-hah over cof fee contracts, a misunderstanding has arisen. The coffee contract in question is for EMU food services only, not the entire University. Collier House Cafe, the Univer sity restaurant at 13th Avenue and University Street, held a cof fee competition several years ago. The winner, based solely on blind taste tests by customers, was Oregon’s Allann Brothers Coffee. We also serve Oregon pro duce, meat, wines and beers, in cluding the new organic Wolaver beer. Check out your campus food service alternative. Joan MacDonald Chef/Manager, Collier House Leave Wonder alone I have seen posters of Stevie Wonder all over campus de nouncing OSPIRG. None of these posters had a name claiming who they were. I grew up in lower east side Detroit and as a young child I watched in amazement as Wonder carried out miracles of the human spirit. You have desecrated an image that is very sacred to me by using him for your selfish political rea sons. I hope that you, whoever you are, reflect upon this violation. I have faith and confidence in student government to contin ue the work that OSPIRG has done for the University com munity. 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