BajaNomad

Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Ride Ad- Insulting or just bad timing?

Woooosh - 9-13-2010 at 01:33 PM

Seems this ad for the upcoming Rosarito-Ensenada fun bike ride isn't funny to many. Maybe it's just nationalist hypersensitivity with the bi-centennial celebrations and all. At least they didn't put training-wheels on their bikes.

http://www.afntijuana.info/afn/?p=13273

paseo.jpg - 23kB

sanquintinsince73 - 9-13-2010 at 02:50 PM

Mexico's always been overly sensitive about their national heroes and especially their flag. I remember illegal immigrants burning the red, white, and blue in L.A. a few years ago. Someone decided to burn a Mexico flag and it became an international incident.

dtbushpilot - 9-13-2010 at 03:24 PM

I think it's a cool looking poster, where can I get one?

Alan - 9-13-2010 at 03:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
Mexico's always been overly sensitive about their national heroes and especially their flag. I remember illegal immigrants burning the red, white, and blue in L.A. a few years ago. Someone decided to burn a Mexico flag and it became an international incident.
The US is the only country that is required to turn the other cheek.

sanquintinsince73 - 9-13-2010 at 03:35 PM

I sponsored a friend's kid for high school graduation a few years ago back in Tijuana. They did some sort of ceremony were they swear allegiance to the Mexico flag. I did not say the words nor stretch my arm forward like everyone else. At the end of the ceremony not only did I get alot of stares but the principal pulled me aside and tried to school me on respect for the flag. I did stand at attention though, as I would for any national ensign as a sign of respect.

BajaBlanca - 9-13-2010 at 04:06 PM

that is so bizarre, I can't imagine swearing allegiance to a foreign flag ... and I am sure a Mexican would never honor the American flag (assuming they are just visiting and not naturalized) ...

Shari ??? Have you ever had such an experience before you became a citizen ?????

Woooosh - 9-13-2010 at 06:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
I sponsored a friend's kid for high school graduation a few years ago back in Tijuana. They did some sort of ceremony were they swear allegiance to the Mexico flag. I did not say the words nor stretch my arm forward like everyone else. At the end of the ceremony not only did I get alot of stares but the principal pulled me aside and tried to school me on respect for the flag. I did stand at attention though, as I would for any national ensign as a sign of respect.

I cringe every time I see that stiff-armed salute. Bad memories from history.

shari - 9-13-2010 at 06:37 PM

oh yeah...big time...I learned real fast to do the straight arm salute when everyone else did...even though I felt utterly ridiculous! I didnt want to embarrass poor Sirenita...she had a tough enough time having a gringa mom.

irenemm - 9-13-2010 at 07:11 PM

I have always showed respect for the Mexican flag and ways.
was in San Diego for my grandsons graduation and some Mexican people would not stand for the Star Spangle Banner. that peeed me off pretty bad.
seems as Americans we always respect other countries but it does not come back to us.
it is sad

David K - 9-13-2010 at 10:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
I sponsored a friend's kid for high school graduation a few years ago back in Tijuana. They did some sort of ceremony were they swear allegiance to the Mexico flag. I did not say the words nor stretch my arm forward like everyone else. At the end of the ceremony not only did I get alot of stares but the principal pulled me aside and tried to school me on respect for the flag. I did stand at attention though, as I would for any national ensign as a sign of respect.


I went to school in Australia back in 1970 (I was 12) and during patriotic celebrations and assemblies, I stood with my classmates to respect their country but did not sing God Save the Queen... which goes to the tune of My Country Tis' a Thee. There were three other Americans at that school, two from Texas (an oil company was drilling offshore) and one from La Mesa (San Diego area... small world)!

sanquintinsince73 - 9-13-2010 at 11:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by irenemm
I have always showed respect for the Mexican flag and ways.
was in San Diego for my grandsons graduation and some Mexican people would not stand for the Star Spangle Banner. that peeed me off pretty bad.
seems as Americans we always respect other countries but it does not come back to us.
it is sad

Years ago at the rose bowl stadium in Pasadena, CA Mexico and United States played soccer. Most of the fans were hispanic. When the United States National Anthem was played, the entire stadium booed. During the game, anyone cheering for the American team was thrown cups of urine from behind.

Woooosh - 9-14-2010 at 10:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
Quote:
Originally posted by irenemm
I have always showed respect for the Mexican flag and ways.
was in San Diego for my grandsons graduation and some Mexican people would not stand for the Star Spangle Banner. that peeed me off pretty bad.
seems as Americans we always respect other countries but it does not come back to us.
it is sad

Years ago at the rose bowl stadium in Pasadena, CA Mexico and United States played soccer. Most of the fans were hispanic. When the United States National Anthem was played, the entire stadium booed. During the game, anyone cheering for the American team was thrown cups of urine from behind.


And that makes our blood boil. Just because people have the right to disrespect the USA and her symbols, does not mean Americans doesn't notice and remember. Every time an American sees their flag being burned they take mental note- and it sets the flag burner's cause back further and further. My Mexican family looks at me in disbelief when we watch a USA flag burning on TV and I say it's their right to do it and we wouldn't have it any other way. That's one reason why a lot the world hates us- we are so strong that we can flick those insults off like unwanted ants on a picnic table and makes us prouder to be who and what we are. Just look at the hundreds of US flags and effigies being burned in the middle-east over just the threat of a Koran burning.

BajaBlanca - 9-14-2010 at 11:03 AM

wow, well put wooooooooooooooooooooooosh

freedom is freedom

Woooosh - 9-14-2010 at 11:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
wow, well put wooooooooooooooooooooooosh

freedom is freedom

I showed this bike poster to my Mexican family who didn't think it was a huge insult or even a big deal. They thought it was pretty cool and they liked it actually. But they do understand that some on the fringe are upset when anything like this is done and make a big hub-bub about it.

Every time people get upset about seemingly little things- it make me wonder out loud why they aren't more upset about the big problems. Maybe the problems are so great they don't know where to start- or they don't feel they can make a difference. Every good cause starts with just one person being involved in making a difference, someday they will catch on to that. jmo.

sanquintinsince73 - 9-14-2010 at 11:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Quote:
Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
Quote:
Originally posted by irenemm
I have always showed respect for the Mexican flag and ways.
was in San Diego for my grandsons graduation and some Mexican people would not stand for the Star Spangle Banner. that peeed me off pretty bad.
seems as Americans we always respect other countries but it does not come back to us.
it is sad

Years ago at the rose bowl stadium in Pasadena, CA Mexico and United States played soccer. Most of the fans were hispanic. When the United States National Anthem was played, the entire stadium booed. During the game, anyone cheering for the American team was thrown cups of urine from behind.


And that makes our blood boil. Just because people have the right to disrespect the USA and her symbols, does not mean Americans doesn't notice and remember. Every time an American sees their flag being burned they take mental note- and it sets the flag burner's cause back further and further. My Mexican family looks at me in disbelief when we watch a USA flag burning on TV and I say it's their right to do it and we wouldn't have it any other way. That's one reason why a lot the world hates us- we are so strong that we can flick those insults off like unwanted ants on a picnic table and makes us prouder to be who and what we are. Just look at the hundreds of US flags and effigies being burned in the middle-east over just the threat of a Koran burning.

Very well stated, Wooosh. My wife is a national from Sinaloa and we constantly debate the flag issue. She claims that Mexico has more respect for their flag than we do. Negative, says me. We have a concept here called freedom of expression. As much as it burns me to see my flag being burned or stepped on, it is our God-given right to do so. Go burn a flag in other countries and you will get flogged or worse. I may love Baja, but I am damn proud to be an American.

Bajatripper - 9-14-2010 at 01:39 PM

I can't say that I've shared the experiences of some while in social situations that required saluting the Mexican flag here in La Paz. Over the last seven years I've attended many functions at my daughter's and stepkids' schools in which the flag was honored. Although I stood at attention, I've never saluted the flag, and I was often standing on a second-floor balcony so I could get photos of the subsequent proceedings. I've never felt that anyone was bothered by my lack of a salute, and no school officials have ever mentioned it to me.
I showed my Mexican wife the poster, which elicited a "Esta padre" (it's cool) response from her.

My personal experiences in Mexico seem to contradict much of what has been posted on this thread. I have found that it's Americans of a certain political persuasion who have hot-headed problems with people who show disrespect to the American flag. Mexicans, on the other hand, seem to have much cooler heads when it comes to such things as politics (many of my Mexican friends think everything is corrupt and that nothing will ever change, so why get angry about it?) or the flag. Sure, Mexicans have their jokes that always have the humble Mexican making fools out of his American and Russian counterparts, but in practical daily applications, their attitudes seem to be more in line with a "que sera, sera" acquiescence as opposed to ultra-nationalism.

Perhaps all of my Mexican friends are cactus-hugging pacifists and I never knew it.





[Edited on 9-14-2010 by Bajatripper]

Bajahowodd - 9-14-2010 at 02:45 PM

Although it may not presently be quite as lofty a perch as it was just a few years ago, The US had held a dominant position in the world at least since WWII. I just think it's human nature to flip us off, metaphorically speaking. Dissing authority. Makes the less fortunate fell a bit better.

DENNIS - 9-14-2010 at 03:03 PM

If that poster were written in Espaņol, the Mexicans would probably never take notice.

Woooosh - 9-14-2010 at 04:46 PM

Is there any historical reason why Americans put their hands over their hearts instead of a stiff-armed salute? (non-military).

sanquintinsince73 - 9-14-2010 at 05:37 PM

The hand over the heart was done only during the pledge of allegiance. It was Mr. Reagan who started the hand over heart for saluting purposes.