Saturday, July 9, 2011

The decline and the fall

The "propositional nation" in all its inglory:

U.S. soccer team booed in their own country as Mexican fans turn LA into an 'away' game



If the U.S. soccer team were hoping for the home advantage during Saturday's Gold Cup final then they were in for a nasty surprise.

Despite being the 'home' side in California's Rose Bowl stadium, the majority of fans - most of them American born of naturalized Mexicans - booed and jeered the U.S. team.

The surprising scenes were followed by angry outbursts from U.S. team goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was visibly shaken after the entire post match ceremony was conducted in Spanish.


Read more:

22 comments:

  1. If Mexico is so great, why aren't they there? Oh yeah, the evil white man stole California from them.

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  2. So from what I read, the majority of the crowd were of Mexican decent. It is of no surprize then that they would be supporting the Mexican team.

    If you have a problem with naturalized Americans from Mexico then address the problem with your politicians.

    Otherwise this is a non issue.

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  3. Not much of an issue in itself, maybe. But a very clear indicator of where certain things stand.

    What it shows that most "Mexican-Americans" still see themselves as Mexicans. Which would be fine if the mainstream didn't persist in its delusions concerning their true loyalties.

    They have their legitimate interests, as a group? Fine, so do we. Let's get it all out in the open.

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  4. "What it shows that most "Mexican-Americans" still see themselves as Mexicans"

    And is this any different than anyone with an Irish ancestor seeing themswlves as Irish on St Patricks Day?

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  5. If an Irish soccer team were to play an American team I doubt the closing ceremonies would be conducted in Gallic.

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  6. Tom has dual citizenship (Irish). His whole family can't be more proud of their heritage than the Mexican-Americans (sigh, I hate that tag, I hate all labels like that, just pick an ethnicity and stick with it).

    That said, we would be rooting for the US of A.

    This article didn't surprise me at all. California is now really just an extension of Mexico. Did anyone here read the excellent article by VDH on his recent trip there? I'll see if I can dig up a link.

    I think part of the ill-will displayed toward the American team was due to the recent execution in Texas of a murderer who was a Mexican national, living here since the age of 1. Among his last words? Viva Mexico!

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  7. "If an Irish soccer team were to play an American team I doubt the closing ceremonies would be conducted in Gallic."

    I doubt it also. Once again, I state that the problem is with your politicians.

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  8. I doubt it also. Once again, I state that the problem is with your politicians.

    Oh yeah. I agree, big time.

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  9. Here it is, well worth the read:

    Two Californias

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  10. I agree too, Fay. We can thank them for their decades of failed policies and ineffectiveness. I blame us voters (including myself) for being apathetic until the shyte started hitting the fan.

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  11. And the most succint comment from the posters at florries link:

    "Well, he wanted the rights of a citizen, he got'em."

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  12. And I agree. Maybe this sounds vengeful (because I lean towards opposing the death penalty) but I was glad Perry didn't order a stay of execution.

    The details of the murder were horrific.

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  13. Pope John Paul II said that while he thought there were times when the death penalty might be called for, he had never seen one. I can appreciate that sentiment.

    The thing that bothers me about most death penalty opponents is that they seem to be saying "Why worry about the person who was murdered. They are already dead."

    My understanding of "Dead Man Walking" is that the subject should not be executed because he has repented for his sin and his crime. But how much would you bet that he would not have repented if he had not been sentenced to death?

    As for the case of the Mexican: he lived in the United States since he was two years old, but once he is sentenced to death all of a sudden he is a Mexican? OK. Let the Mexican government pay for all the care and education of the guy, and then we will kick his ass over the border -- where the Federalis will shoot his ass if it is convenient to them.

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  14. And is this any different than anyone with an Irish ancestor seeing themswlves as Irish on St Patricks Day?


    Yes. Ireland's population is 4.7 mil., Mexico's is 113.8 mil; Ireland doesn't have a border with the USA, Mexico does; Ireland doesn't have historical claim on the American territory, Mexico does.

    The Second Mexican War.

    And yes, it's the politicians. The election of the new people definitely is a bipartisan project.

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  15. Fay, there's another sharp distinction between the current situation with the Mexicans and your Irish hypothetical: the modern idea of naturalized citizens thinking of themselves as "Mexicans with US papers" rather than US citizens.

    This isn't limited to Mexicans, by the way - not in the slightest. In fact the most prominent exemplar in my circle is a not Mexican, but British by original nationality. He is now a naturalized US citizen, but was at pains to distance himself at every opportunity. He thought nothing of this; when he started sentences which began 'You Americans are blah blah blah...', and I reminded him he'd been nationalized, his sheepishness was entirely transitory. He really didn't care and was surprised anyone else did.

    This isn't politician's fault, it is our own culture. The soi disant bien pensants who enforce the norms of modern American technical culture are at fault. Overt contempt for American citizenship is not socially or professionally stigmatizing. Overt pride in American citizenship is. Full stop.

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  16. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  17. Wow, my verb tense in 15 really got screwed up. I switched to past tense (mid sentence second paragraph) because I was recalling an incident from some years past.

    This guy remains an acquaintance of mine but we no longer work together.

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  18. I felt sorry for the US players. They might stink, but to be booed on your home field? Ouch.

    I wonder who the fans would have cheered for if the Mexico team was a stinker and the US team was kickin' booty? Interesting hypothetical.

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  19. KevinV writes:

    What is interesting to me about this story is that Fifa has held that U.S. national games at the Rose Bowl are "foreign" for the U.S. squad since at least the late 80's.

    Anyway, anyone who has spent anytime in a majority Mexican area (meaning, Mexican nationals and their children, not long-time Mexican-American families) knows that they are fiercely nationalistic and have no intention whatsoever of "Americanizing."

    Given the history, best case scenario is another endless Quebec-like issue.

    Worse case? Well......

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  20. Worst case? You mean California turns into a third-world sh*t hole?

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  21. KevinV writes -

    Well, one thing I've learned living abroad is that human beings can get used to living in a very, very poor civic environment. Even with corrupt police, bars on the windows, inept government and violence, life goes on.

    The only question for me and mine is: do we take part in it?

    The answer for me is: No.

    Though, oddly, in order to get to that "no" in a responsible way, I've had to sign on with the very government I hold most responsible.

    California will always be my home, but when I visit I know in my heart that I made the right choice. As for what will happen, the answer is really more of the same. The inept, the poor and the barbarians will free load off of civilization until they pull it down. As ever.

    My only concern is to ensure that my family is not there when it happens. I am many, many times more optimistic about Europe's future than I am North America's, though, of course, this is all guess work.

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  22. Kevin, although I despair some days that the vaunted American Dream is circling the drain, I can't help but sense that much of Europe has already dribbled through the drain and is running headlong for the sewer.

    The world is so small these days. I'm not sure there is an escape. I don't blame you for leaving SoCal though. Like Matt said: third-world sh*thole.

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