Memin Pinguin
We haven’t seen this much strain between the United States and Mexico since Davy Crockett and a band of 189 volunteers bravely defended the Alamo against a Mexican army numbering in the thousands.
On the heels of Mexican President Vicente Fox insulting U.S. civil rights groups by opining that Mexican immigrants in the United States — legal or otherwise — are filling jobs “not even blacks” want to fill, along comes Memin Pinguin.
And once again, the Mexicans don’t know what all the fuss is about.
Ever since the 1940s, Memin Pinguin, with his thick lips and flat nose, has been a favorite comic-book character south of the border. So popular, that the Mexican government recently issued a set of postage stamps honoring the cartoon figure.
“Memin Pinguin is a character with a long tradition in our culture,” boasted Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez.
Enter Jesse Jackson, who — fresh from his defense of pop star Michael Jackson —is demanding the Mexican stamps be pulled from circulation. They have “no place in today’s world,” he said.
NAACP interim President Dennis Courtland Hayes agreed. So much so that he is calling for a summit between Mr. Fox and black Americans.
“It is inexplicable that the Mexican government would not comprehend the insensitivity of the negative depiction of blacks on this stamp,” the NAACP leader said.
Even the White House is weighing in.
“It is an internal issue for Mexico,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. “With that said … racial stereotypes are offensive, no matter what their origin. The Mexican government needs to take this into account.”
Don’t count on it.
“He is loved by all Mexicans,” Mr. Derbez said of Memin Pinguin, “and it shows a complete lack of understanding of our culture that people are translating this to their culture with no respect for ours.”
Alone either way
Here’s one highlight of President Bush’s interview with foreign journalists in advance of his departure yesterday for the Group of Eight summit in Scotland:
Mr. Bush: “Give me your name again.”
Reporter: “Olivier. You can call me Mr. Knox, that’s fine … .”
Mr. Bush: “Final question, Olivier.”
Reporter: “Thank you, sir. Sir, you’re coming back stag — from Europe, stag. Your wife is going on to Africa.”
Mr. Bush: “That’s an accurate statement. … Interesting way to put it. You could have said, ’You’re coming back alone from Europe.’ …”
Reporter: “Oooh.”
Mr. Bush: “But you say, ’You’re coming back stag.’”
Nancy’s roots
Happy birthday to Nancy Reagan, who was born on July 6, 1921. (While she doesn’t look a day older than 84, the actual year of Mrs. Reagan’s birth has long been a subject of debate and intrigue.)
No matter her age, visitors to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., today will sign birthday cards to the former first lady. And library staff, meanwhile, have planted an oak tree to commemorate her birthday, the plaque reading: “The Nancy Reagan Oak Tree.”
Popular senator
Congratulations to Maine Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, who has received the highest constituent-approval rating of all Republican senators.
The Survey USA poll (600 adults in each state were surveyed) found that 71 percent of Maine residents approve of Mrs. Snowe’s performance on Capitol Hill.
Sewing history
After stitching American flags for almost 65 years, through national heartache and triumph, Frances R. Major is giving her eyes and hands a well-deserved rest.
“I consider [her] the Betsy Ross of today as she retires her sewing needles with the Valley Forge Flag Company,” noted Rep. Curt Weldon, Pennsylvania Republican.
Mrs. Major began working at the Womelsdorf, Pa., flag company in 1941. And as Mr. Weldon puts it, she has truly left her mark on history.
“Not everyone could go to Pearl Harbor or ground zero, but Mrs. Major faithfully sewed our Stars and Stripes as our country’s major historic events unfolded,” he said. “Many flags were sewn through her tears, but it was always a labor of love and her patriotic honor to do something personally for America.”
On that note, the congressman quoted Mrs. Major, a great-grandmother, as saying: “Each time something bad happened, it only made me sew that much faster.”
• John McCaslin, whose column is nationally syndicated, can be reached at 202/636-3284 or jmccaslin@washingtontimes.com.
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