'Macaca' makes its way to the mouths of white Barons in Bolivia

[ensho]

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1774


Nikolas Kozloff: "Macaca" Gaffe Rears Ugly Head in Bolivia


-snip-

Allen's stunning gaffe contributed to his defeat in the 2006 election when the veteran politician lost against long-shot Democrat Jim Webb. Some Republican strategists believe that Allen might have been a contender for the 2008 Republican presidential ticket if he had not made his macaca gaffe.

Racist Rhetoric in Bolivia

Such ethnic slurs have no place in modern politics and yet the United States continues to openly support backward and racist figures in South America who hurl such insults with wanton abandon.

Take for example the case of Rubén Costas, an opposition figure in Bolivia. Speaking to his followers last month, Costas called indigenous socialist President Evo Morales a "macaca." Costas has also insulted Morales as an "animal" and a "monkey."

Fair skinned and European looking, Costas hardly resembles Bolivia's indigenous president Morales. Elected Prefect of the energy-rich, western department of Santa Cruz in 2005, Costas has become a key advocate for greater regional autonomy and a thorn in the side of the La Paz government.

Costas, like many of his white and mestizo racist followers, regard the Indians in the highlands with contempt. The Santa Cruz politician would like to retain control over the lucrative gas industry and deprive the cash-strapped government in La Paz of much needed revenue.

-snip-

Even as he was escalating the racist rhetoric, Costas sought importantly allies. On August 25, he met with U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg. Though the diplomat claimed that he had met Costas in public while on a routine trip to Santa Cruz, the meeting provoked suspicion amongst Bolivians that the United States was supporting the lowland opposition movement. A portion of U.S. aid to Bolivia is directed towards eastern provincial governments that are the nexus of opposition to Morales.

-snip-

Even Senator Allen, a politician with a long history of making racist comments, ultimately realized that he had made a mistake and apologized at long last. Not so Rubén Costas, a figure who is unabashed about his views. Far from shunning racist leaders such as Costas, the United States has embraced the Bolivian opposition. By doing so, the Bush White House has seriously inflamed U.S.-South American relations even more.
------------------------


viva Morales

[bumblebee1]

1. It will have to cost Ruben Costas something for him to learn.

We all know what it cost George Allen of Virginia when he referred to that young man as Macaca.

[Dreamer Tatum]

2. If "macaca" is such a slur, why is it acceptable for people to call Allen "Macaca-man?"

Not that YOU did, but I see it a lot.

Is macaca a slur, or not?