Modern Family Episode [and Sofia Vergara] Offended Not Only Peruvians: US Media Cynical Humor Promotes Hatred

There is a thin line between funny and offensive, especially when jokes are referring to race, nationality, origin, sexuality or any personal differences that are beyond our control. Sadly, most of the U.S. media seem not to care enough.

Today there is more violence, sexism, abusive and hateful content in the U.S. television than ever before, even if they come sugarcoated as comedy. As we approach the 2010 midterm elections, we are witnessing one of the most hateful and racist political campaigns in the history of this young nation. The cases of several young gay men recently committing suicide because of bullying. All of which should be a sign to understand that this society is sick and part of the problem has to do with the U.S. media.

ABC's Modern Family cast. Photo DaemonsTV

The recent episode of “Modern Family” showing Colombian actor Sofia Vergara talking offensively about Peruvians, was a big mistake. The joke/comment about Colombians and Peruvians was mild and not grossly insulting, but we must protest it so that we don't see more of this on TV. When we lose the capacity of being offended by offensive remarks, even if they are meant to be funny, then we have a problem.

To those who watch too much "comedy" in U.S. TV might have lost perspective and don’t understand why we Peruvians in Peru and in the U.S. are protesting this episode.

If you watch the shows in U.S. television today, and compare them with what you saw as a kid, then you understand that the kind of society we expecting to have in the future, when this generation is growing watching unprecedented violence, sexism, disrespect, offensive media every day.

The "Modern Family" sitcom is be watched by millions, many of whom are children who will now think of Peruvians in certain way. Remember, in many U.S. households the only parenting that kids get comes from TV and other media.

The writers and producers of "Modern Family" of American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and other broadcasting corporations, need to understand that the protest against its sitcom –which is supposed to promote diversity and respect of different families- is not only about Peruvians, but it's about how the U.S. people sees the rest of the American nations south of the border, or other regions period and especially Mexicans, who are often portrayed so offensively in the U.S. media.

I am sure anyone in this country would be offended if a TV show in other country of the world portrays U.S. peoples as 'extremely fat, drugs-and-sex-addicted, money-obsessed, trashy-TV-consuming people who create wars for no reason'. That would be an extreme generalization that is far from reality, but it could create hatred and rejection of U.S. peoples. Sadly, that is how U.S. citizens are perceived in many countries, and this is also caused by the media in those nations.

By promoting demeaning stereotypes against certain groups, races or nationalities, ABC is planting the seeds for hatred. No wonder why most of the increasing anti-migrant violent crimes in the U.S. are committed by young criminals, who probably learned to hate our Brown communities by what they saw in TV at home. No, I’m not exaggerating.

If you add images and media content with the same message, you are promoting certain ideals and values on people, even if they are false or fiction. We are seeing how racism and xenophobia are currently increasing in the U.S. so when I read the comments of readers in the biggest blog in this country, I can tell that they care less about hateful media content. So I understand that we have become from victims into part of the problem.

"Ah, here we go," Gloria interrupts. "Because, in Colombia, we trip over goats and we kill people in the street. Do you know how offensive that is? Like we're Peruvians!" Photo of the 2009 Bagua massacre in Peru, caused partially by U.S. trade policies.

So we must continue protesting all types of hateful media content. Whoever is the target or the creator of such messages.

Indeed, there is violence in Peru and other countries in the Americas like in Mexico, but sadly many times that violence has to do with policies and actions promoted by governments, interest groups and nations like the United States. See photo included in this article.

A friend of mine wrote in my Facebook today: “They are setting the stage to go in and exploit Peru, [which] has so many minerals and resources [the U.S.] want. When you dehumanize you can go do what you like with less backlash. This is classic.”

This friend is a Native American activist who has worked directly with Indigenous peoples of the Amazon forest in Peru, where people are being displaced by private corporations of extractive industries, many of whom are from the United States.

Another friend whom I met recently said that people in the U.S. need to "move on from tolerance, to full acceptance". How can we accept disrespect to people as a norm? When have we lost the sight of what is right and wrong, even is is part of a joke? When are racism and xenophobia stop being reasons for laughter?

The people of the United States are bombarded in a daily basis with distracting media content, including the huge industries of idiotic entertainment, sex-addictive websites, growing illegal drugs consumption, brutality films and violent sports. One has to be blind or dumb not to notice. Many people here in the U.S. are living in a bubble of denial.

Just as an example, while 1 billion people around the world suffer of hunger every day, including 200 million children, and 16,000 kids die every day, but meanwhile this nation has the capacity of conducting two unjustified wars at the same time, and to keep over 1,000 military bases around the world. With that much money, hunger could be eliminated from the face of this planet.

But we are laughing watching stupid TV since it's just comedy.

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Why the Washington Redskins should change its racist name

The Washington, DC, football team "Redskins" should eventually change its name.

This private company has not only a known history of racism: the Redskins was the last NFL team to hire Black players.

The name Redskins represents a mockery of the peoples who endured the biggest genocide and displacement in human history.

Redskins is a pejorative and racist nickname that offends Native peoples of the Americas, including all our communities from Alaska to Chile, not just in the United States.

I know, it will be very difficult to change this  insulting name. The main reason why is because the profits gained by the registered-brand Redskins, which generates millions of dollars for its corrupted owner.

But it's important that people do not forget. The brainwashing of the masses contribute to repeat the same atrocities, because we forget. Just take a look at the current ongoing wars in the world.

Perhaps some people in the Washington, DC, area might not care about changing this name -even when they agree it is racist- because it's okay as long as "their race" is not affected. Some of them might think racism only affects African descendants, ignoring how we Native peoples face open discrimination even today.

However, I'm completely sure that someone in the future will take care of this shameful stupidity. We just need to keep reminding people. Probably the next generation will be more conscious and will look with embarrassment at how we allowed this public display of racism today.

It seems that for the current generation, money and self indulging entertainment has more power and importance than humanity and social collective justice.

Those who support the racist name Redskin are either completely blind and ignorant of the history of this nation, that was built on a genocide, robbery, slavery and racist oppression. Or they actually celebrate that legacy by making fun of our peoples. Either way, it's wrong and hateful.

That is why the racist name Redskins should be changed.


Here are some suggestions:

A racist slave owner, George Washington conducted a genocidal war against indigenous peoples of the land where a city in his name lays today.

It's said that Mao Tse-Tung policies killed over 77 million people in China.

In only 3 years, Barack Obama has incarcerated and deported over 1.2 million people, including pregnant women and children, most of whom are Native peoples.

If you don't like these options and I hope you do not, here are 19 other names that can be used by the football team of Washington, DC.

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Latinos in Politics: Your Vote Counts! [VIDEO]

A couple of readers contacted me and asked me whether Latinos should vote or not on this upcoming November 2th 2010 elections. My response is plain and simple: yes, you should vote. 

You should do it for many reasons, but in this video I mention the ones that I consider very important.

We as the Indigenous communities of this country [Latinos] we have a duty to fight for social justice, to end the racial and economic discrimination, and to stop the violence that our communities are facing. We can only change the system by participating, by taking action, by voting.

Make your voice be heard,  represent your community, vote. Do it for those who cannot vote yet. Come out and vote, ask your friends to do it, make a difference.

Register to vote online here

Unless we Brown people participate strongly in politics, neither the Democrats or Republicans will take us seriously. This photo represents a lot to me, this is how the Obama administration sees our communities: smile for the photo, but look who is running the show:

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Why I Decided to Join the One Nation Rally in Washington DC Today 10.2.10

Update: here are some photos that my friend Luis and I took yesterday at the One Nation Rally. It was a nice day with highly spirited people, showing that hope for change is still alive. Will president Barack Obama listen up this time?

Original post follows

When I heard about the One Nation – Working Together Rally months ago, I thought it was a bad idea. I felt that I had enough of rallying and protesting and not being heard. I had already my share of protests against a government that was supposed to be on my side. By now, I thought we were supposed to be precisely ‘working together’ helping the advancing actions by a [excepted] progressive Democratic government under control of both the Executive and Legislative powers.

We shouldn’t be rallying anymore to demand for change, not with Barack Obama as the president.

Today I woke up and I thought about the country I first saw, when I migrated to the United States almost a decade and a half ago. I remember how hopeful and honored I felt to be in this country, which I learned to admire through my father, who worked for a U.S. mining corporation. My father told me about the high level of morals and discipline of his bosses, he told me that they came from a nation up north where all peoples were equal, where I could be someone if I worked hard enough.

Since I arrived to this nation, I have seeing how it is changing, not always for the best.

Today, I don’t think I see that nation of future and achievement, not anymore. I see a divided States of America. This seems like a country where profits, private corporations interests, and elites privileges, are more important than the rights of humans, people, citizens, immigrants. I see poor people getting poorer, I see unemployed youth, and I see racism and xenophobia. This is a critical time.

An hour ago, I went back to the One Nation Rally website and I read the messages from the leaders and organizations that are organizing this civic action. These are true organizers and leaders and they mean well, they care. These are many people out there, who are really are working hard to keep our civil rights respected, to keep democracy alive, to keep moving this country and the world in the right direction.

Also there are many people like me, who are disappointed, distrusting the U.S. government system, wondering why life is getting harder while the rich get richer, while war is more important than education, while youth students have to beg for an opportunity to educate themselves, while the poorest workers are incarcerated in mass numbers, while equality is still a bad word for many. I want see an alternative.

So I am rallying today. Because I want to believe that there are still people that want to build a better world for everyone’s tomorrow. I want to feel and share their energy and enthusiasm, I want to learn to believe again. I will rally because I attended the Glenn Beck - Tea Party rally, and I don't want those frightening people to decide what is right for this country. I will rally today because the stakes are high in November, because I still want to be part of this nation, because I want to meet the future leaders of this contrasting and amazing country that one day opened its doors for me.

I will rally today for One Nation.


Note: I will twit and post photos and videos later on. I am also participating at the Washington DC AIDS Walk. See you then.

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