Mexicans are lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight...

[Gob]

Eduardo Medina-Mora has written to the BBC about "insults" made by Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May in the show broadcast in Britain on Sunday.

In a discussion about a Mexican sports car, Hammond said vehicles reflected national characteristics so "Mexican cars are just going to be lazy".

The "outrageous, vulgar and inexcusable insults" risked stirring "bigoted feelings against the Mexican people", the ambassador wrote.

Reviewing the Mastretta, Hammond said: "Mexican cars are just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat."

The presenters then described Mexican food as "sick with cheese on it".

Later in the exchange, Clarkson said "we won't get any complaints about this because the Mexican ambassador's going to be sitting there with a remote control like this" - and he slumped down in his chair and faked a snore.

The BBC did not comment on the complaint but said it would respond directly to the ambassador.

It is the not the first time that Top Gear, which is one of the BBC's most popular programs for foreign sales, has sparked controversy.

Hundreds of viewers complained in 2008 after Clarkson joked about truck drivers murdering prostitutes.

Last week, the program was named most popular factual show at Britain's National TV Awards.

[rubato]

Given the problems faced by the people of Mexico today that was really excruciatingly bad form. Kicking people who are that far down should be beneath them.

They should apologize and donate 1 month's salary to some charitable cause in Mexico.

yrs,
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[loCAtek]

Oh, they're talking about "Top Gear'. [link not provided] the Brit show that continuously tries to get it's hosts killed by ignoring local taboos and customs, all for a quick laff.

Liv it. They're irrelevant and ignoble; don't take themselves seriously, unlike some .

[Sean]

Some people need to get over themselves. Can they not tell a humourous tongue in cheek comment from an actual intended-to-hurt insult?

Yes, Mexicans are lazy, the English are prudish, Scots are mean, the French are arrogant, Americans are insular, the Irish are pissheads and the Welsh shag sheep.

A sense of humour... particularly self-deprecating humour is truly a wonderful thing to possess.

[Crackpot]

And Sean Is a scouser

[Daisy]

And Sean Is a scouser

Uh Oh.....

Runs for cover!

And if they're going to quote TG at least do it properly, they described the food as "Refried sick with cheese"

And wait til the Aussies hear what they said about them, this weeks challenge was our chaps versus "The Bruces"

[rubato]

Some people need to get over themselves. Can they not tell a humourous tongue in cheek comment from an actual intended-to-hurt insult?

Yes, Mexicans are lazy, the English are prudish, Scots are mean, the French are arrogant, Americans are insular, the Irish are pissheads and the Welsh shag sheep.

A sense of humour... particularly self-deprecating humour is truly a wonderful thing to possess.

Australians just need to learn to swim? Why is it they can't figure out where the water goes when it rains ?



yrs,
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[Sean]

And Sean Is a scouser

It didn't work last time CP. What makes you think it'll work now?

[Crackpot]

Last time was an honest mistake.

This time it was just too good to pass up.

[dales]

In a discussion about a Mexican sports car, Hammond said vehicles reflected national characteristics so "Mexican cars are just going to be lazy".



.....and they have a tendancy to veer north.

[oldr_n_wsr]

.....and they have a tendancy to veer north

Right to Farmingville, Long Island NY.

But I wouldn't call the Mexican illegals here lazy, they do work hard. but they are still here illegally no matter how the local newspaper tries to identify them (day laborers, undocumented aliens, etc)

[dales]

Not at all.

They work very hard here in CA.

Sorry if my weak attempt at humor was misunderstood due to my poor writing skills.

[Sean]

Actually that was a good one Dales.

Hang on though, there's a bloke in a sombrero who claims to be an ambassador here to see you...

That's exactly the point though. It's humour. Nobody really believes that Mexicans are all that slow and lazy... look at Speedy Gonzales!

[oldr_n_wsr]

Nobody really believes that Mexicans are all that slow and lazy...

Maybe only their cars are. (My mexican made PT Cruiser is not the fastest thing in the world)

[Gob]

Having spent time in Mexico, on climbing trips, I have a respect for the Mexicans. We may have been lucky, but the majority we met were good, hard working, people, if a little too religious for my taste.

[oldr_n_wsr]

My local RC church has two spanish language masses compared to two English language masses on saturday and sunday (one of each on each day) reflecting the big illegal Mexican population and their religious leanings.

[rubato]

Not at all.

They work very hard here in CA.

Sorry if my weak attempt at humor was misunderstood due to my poor writing skills.

I've worked alongside Mexicans here in Calif. and in Washington and they will kill you trying to keep up with them. Vanishingly few Americans I've met work even half as hard as they do.

Calling Mexicans 'lazy' is pure ignorant racism.

yrs,
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[Daisy]

The comments were made by three hysterical "kidults" on a show that is purely there for the laughs.

They were made with tongue very firmly in cheek, as pretty much everything IS on Top Gear. Taking the stereotypes from the Cartoons and TV shows that the presenters like many of their age bracket watched as children. Anyone who didn't get the references (or who are complaining about it without ACTUALLY seeing the clip) should remove the stick they appear to have firmly wedged up their arse. Eh rubato?

[loCAtek]

Like I said- it's part of our ancient religions; work is life, and death doesn't get you a pass; you work in this life and the next!

Did I tell ya the rest? After working for the gods, you don't become an angel with a harp; you become a hummingbird- the hardest working bird on the block!

[rubato]

The comments were made by three hysterical "kidults" on a show that is purely there for the laughs.

They were made with tongue very firmly in cheek, as pretty much everything IS on Top Gear. Taking the stereotypes from the Cartoons and TV shows that the presenters like many of their age bracket watched as children. Anyone who didn't get the references (or who are complaining about it without ACTUALLY seeing the clip) should remove the stick they appear to have firmly wedged up their arse. Eh rubato?

Consideration and morality consist in what we refrain from doing that we can do. There is a point of misery where humor is inappropriate so that it would be bad form to make jokes about Australians drowning, Haitians dying of cholera, or, in my opinion repeat racist jokes about Mexicans whose country has been declining into the horror of a failed state. Just as it is bad form to makes jokes about blacks eating watermelons, turning white when they're scared, and being lazy when the background is of great poverty and suffering.

Making jokes about the US, France, or the UK who are on the whole prosperous, respected cultures and powerful countries would be a counter-example.

But that is just my opinion.



yrs,
rubato