While sitting in for Zerlina Maxwell, a weekend MSNBC contributor Paola RAMOS fired her latest tirade in the Great Latinx War. Her characterization of critics might be closer to a friendly fire incident.
Take a look at Ramos’ characterization of those who criticize Latinx, as she sets up her related segment with columnist Jean Guerrero of The Los Angeles Times:
PAOLA RAMOS – I am Latinx. That’s how I choose to identify myself. So it’s frustrating to see the term “Latinx”, a term that was created to foster inclusivity, be the victim of a culture war. Recent polls showed only 2 percent of Latinos consider themselves Latinx. While this may hold true, it was used by a few bad-faith actors to make the term divisive.
If 97 to 99 percent reject a term, is it truly bad-faith? As you ponder that, also consider that the universe of “bad-faith actors” appear to include Democratic congressman Rubén Gallego of Arizona, who recently said:
To be clear my office is not allowed to use “Latinx” in official communications. It is mostly to placate white wealthy progressives that Latino politicians use this term. Confirmation bias is the vicious circle.
Another target includes Domingo García, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest Latino-interest advocacy group, who told NBC that:
The reality is there is very little to no support for its use and it’s sort of seen as something used inside the Beltway or in Ivy League tower settings, while LULAC always rep Jose and María on Main Street in the barrio and we need to make sure we talk to them the way they talk to each other…
Both of them aren’t conservative paragons. As readers of MRC Latino will know, Gallego has been involved in the attempt to impose censorship over dissident radio stations throughout Miami. LULAC support the federalization and democratization of elections. These guys have it right. It’s a good example of the old saying about stop clocks working twice per day.
But some of the “bad-faith actors” include NBC talent. Take a look at the highlighted portion of the tear sheet that displayed over Ramos’ monologue, and you’ll see a Politico article titled “Democrats fall flat with ‘Latinx’ language”. The article, written by Marc Caputo and Sabrina Rodríguez, centered around a poll that found that 30% of Hispanics would be less likely to support a politician or organization that uses the term. Fernand Amandi, a pollster for MSNBC is often a contributor. Marc Caputo works now for NBC. This is why it’s so interesting to watch MSNBC talent chase fellow NBC talent, a term which less than 1-3% Hispanics accept.
Revolution comes on its own.
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