A real "Day Without Mexicans?"

[Susie Q Roo]

I canNOT believe that I am starting a thread that is going to end up being political but... I was forwarded an e-mail from a Mexican acquaintance that I thought was pretty interesting. I am curious to see if this actually happens. Also wondering about the specific motivation behind it. I'm going to show the original email and Altavista's poor translation, but the gist of it will come through.

BUENOS DIAS A TODOS,

VAMOS A HACERLO POR FAVOR, ES EL PRIMERO DE MAYO NO SE OLVIDEN!!!!! ES POR EL BIEN DE MUCHOS MEXICANOS, VAMOS A UNIRNOS!!!! MANDARLE COPIA DE
ESTE MENSAJE A TODOS SUS CONTACTOS, HAGAMOS GRANDE ESTA TAREA!!!!

>Amigos;
>A los Mexicanos siempre nos ha caracterizado la solidaridad, éste es un buen motivo para ser solidarios...
>E.U. DEBE RECONOCER LO IMPORTANTES Y VALIOSOS QUE SON NUESTRA GENTE QUE VIVE Y TRABAJA ALLA.
>
>Sucede que el 1 de mayo en EE.UU. se les va a hacer realidad la
>película un día sin mexicanos, esto quiere decir que ningún migrante
>trabajará ese día en EE.UU. y han solicitado a sus connacionales (o
sea nosotros) que no compremos nada estadounidense ese día.
>Esto con el objetivo de que se les reconozca su derecho al trabajo, a
>la educación de sus hijos y a servicios médicos en ese país.
>
>Lo que solicitan es que el 1 de mayo no se compre nada gringo en el
>país ni se consuma nada en franquicias americanas, esto quiere decir
NO Carls jr, dunkin donuts, Mc Donalds, Burguer King, Starbucks, Sears,
>Crispy cream, Walmart, Sams y otras... de la interminable lista de
>empresas americanas en México.
>
>Sé que es un esfuerzo para todos pero es lo menos que podemos hacer
por esa gente que prácticamente está manteniendo a nuestro país con las
>remesas espero puedan hacer este pequeño esfuerzo de un día (1 de
mayo)
>
>Pasalo......

Altavista's version:

GOOD DAY To ALL, WE ARE GOING TO DO IT Please, IS FIRST OF MAY DO NOT FORGET!!!!! IT IS BY The GOOD OF MANY MEXICANS, WE ARE GOING TO BE UNITED! SEND COPY OF THIS MESSAGE ALL To ITS CONTACTS, WE MAKE THIS TASK GREAT! Friends; To Mexican always us he has characterized solidarity, this one is a good reason to be shared in common... E.U. HE MUST RECOGNIZE IMPORTANT And The VALUABLE Thing THAT THEY ARE OUR PEOPLE WHO LIVE And WORK ALLA. This happens that the 1 of May in the U.S.A. is going away to them to make reality the film a day without Mexican, means that no migrante will work that day in the U.S.A. and have asked for its connacionales (that is we) that we do not buy nothing American that day. This with the objective of which its right is recognized to them the work, the education of its children and medical services in that country. What they solicit is that the 1 of May does not buy anything foreign in the country nor is consumed nothing in American tax exemptions, this means to nonCarls jr, dunkin donuts, Mc Donalds, Burguer King, Starbucks, Sears, Crispy cream, Walmart, Sams and others... of the interminable list of American companies in Mexico. I know that it is a effort for all but it is less than we can do by that people who are practically maintaining to our country with the remittances I hope can deliver this small attack of a day (1 of May) Pasalo......

[Ginger]

makes you think, eh? There are A LOT of American companies making A LOT of money in Mexico.......

[xqqzme]

I thought the movie was stupid but thought provoking in a corny way. What if???? I don't know if anybody can pull off solidarity but I wish the organizing committee on this one a lot of luck....it's not a bad point to make!!!

[PlayadelSoul]

May 1st is a holiday. I doubt seriously that you will find an empty WalMart or McDonalds, here in Playa.

I understand the sentiment, but like the waving of Mexican flags at a rally in the US, I think it will just harden the attitudes of those whose minds they need to change.

[NiceTom]

Is it just Mexicans that work for U.S. companies? Why not all Mexicans everywhere? For that matter, why not everyone, everywhere-May 1st, no one goes to work.

I hope the employers don't get together and declare May 2nd as also a day without Mexicans-if you didn't work on the 1st, you don't work on the 2nd either.

[PlayadelSoul]

May 1st is Labor Day for most of the world.

[Icon oclast]

I will be sure to shop till I drop at all of these stores that day in the US.

[MWC]

I'm a little unclear: was this directed toward Mexicans in the US right now? A work stoppage and boycott?

That immigration issue is a real third rail, surprise, surprise.

[PlayadelSoul]

I believe it is for Mexicans in the US, to boycott work; and, Mexicans in Mexico to boycott American companies. It will backfire for one of two reasons. One, no one takes part, or two, many do take part and piss off those who are sitting on the fence.

[Susie Q Roo]

Originally Posted by Icon oclast

I will be sure to shop till I drop at all of these stores that day in the US.

You may not be able to. If their employees are Mexican.

[james]

I predict zero impact

[Daddy B]

It could work as wake-up call, as a means to show how much those "undesirables" really mean to the US economy both in terms of labour and spending power.
After all, it will have a much lesser impact than that which US foreign adventures have had on its own population by way of the continuing rise in oil prices...

[Seakony]

bring it on!

[traci]

I am gonna chime in here cause' MX Workers impact our lives DIRECTLY! DH builds homes and almost ALL of the crews,vendors he uses are Latino(not just MX, but from many Latin Countries) He loves these guys; they are very hard workers, do what they say they'll do, etc.....The guy doing our blinds in our new house is DH's glazier. He does that during the week, then runs a blind co. on the wkends. He gave us a price that NO US manf. could even begin to match, and I have complete faith that he'll do a better job than any of the others. Vicente Fox was 100% accurate when he said that MX workers will do the jobs that "others"(trying to be PC )won't do!IMHO of course! As a matter of fact, his Framer lives right down the street from us at the new house, in the same floorplan no less. I introduced myself last nite, but his son had to translate cause' he doesn't speak good english, but when I said Terry Smith, his eyes brightened up and he said "Very nice jefe!!"

[MWC]

Americans should do "a day without leaving the house" to protest the outrageous gas prices. Just ridiculous, and I am really beginning to feel like marching and yelling.