Over the weekend several billboards were erected advertising the newscast for the Spanish language television station KRCA Channel 62. The billboard features a photograph of the male and female anchors with the Los Angeles city skyline in the background, Printed on the billboard are the words:
Los Angeles, CA Mexico
Actually, the abbreviation "CA" is crossed out. And the word "Mexico" is actually printed in red.
If one is familiar with the current debate over illegal immigration and the perceived slow motion invasion of the US by people from south of the border, one can imagine the ruckus this has caused, especially on talk radio. I find the billboard slightly blood pressure raising as it almost seems to advocate reconquista, a political philosophy among some segments of the Mexican and Mexican-American population that the Southwest of the United States be reconquered and re-patriated to Mexico. I also find it amusing. I can just imagine, in a cartoon world, a border jumper seeing the billboard and saying to his friend, "Onward to Oregon." But mostly I find it very clever. The billboard got people talking about Channel 62.
KRCA is owned by the media giant Clear Channel. The people who run Clear Channel are not stupid and they rarely make big mistakes. For the cost of three or four billboards they have managed to get a great return on their money through the controversy. I find it disgusting, but business often is disgusting. If nothing else, it proves that it is easier to upset and offend people and gain notice than it is to try to please them and gain notice.
So there you have it. I find myself suddenly a Mexican. I guess I'll have to start watching soccer and drinking Corona beer. Ugh!
Onward to Oregon.
5 comments:
Liberman Broadcasting owns Channel 62 also owns 16 Spanish Language radio stations and one or two other TV stations. I do not believe they own any English Language stations.
What seems to be forgotten by the followers of Azatlan is that California delcared itself an independent state from Mexico before the US entered the fight.
Why don't enlist the aid of our old friends the Spanish, from whom the Mexican Empire stole California along with Texas and Arizona in the first place?
And why do you never hear talk of those parts of the original "Mexican Empire" such Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua being part of the "re-conquest?"
HUH??
I was just about to issue a correction about Clear Channel owning Channel 62 when I read your comment. Thanks, bro.
Clear Channel owns the billboards on which the Channel 62 ads are pasted.
I am sure you heard yesterday that Gov.Arnold Schwarzenegger responded to this billboard by calling it divisive and saying it should be taken down.
He also praised the Minutemen and reiterated that the borders should be secured.
Nativo Lopez quickly responded with the assertion that the Gov is a racist. Big suprise. I guess it is now racist to enforce federal laws.
I am just glad the Gov seems to have grown some testicles after the past few months. Where hasthat guy we elected been??
Heard Lenard Liberman being interviewed on KFI last night. An arrogant, mendacious member of the Mexican ruling class(Lenard is a dual citizen Mexico-US), he actually claimed to have never heard of MECHA or even La Reconquista! This "Jewish Conquistador" wouldn't deign to pretend to be a regular guy like most American executives. You can imagine the contempt he has for the displaced campesinos he caters to.
It's all about advertising, attention,money,controversy. The billboard has accomplished its purpose. I do not agreed with it, I am North American citizen with hispanic background. In my point of view no Mexican was involved in the creation of this billboard. I would think that Mexicans that are living in the USA undocumented or documented are not to happy about this billboard. But, what make this country great is not only its people, history, rights, but all the freedom that people have. This country was founded by a few elite men, and still ran by a few elite men. But, at least we have many freedoms, and can walk to the store late at night(not everywhere of course) and not have fear that you will be mug. Long live the great people of the United States. We make this country great, not politicians or billboards.
Salvador
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