Mexico to (Miss) U.S.A.: Boooooo
Travel Blog • Jim Benning • 06.04.07 | 12:21 PM ET
I’ve always found Mexicans to be friendly and hospitable on my trips south of the border. Sure, Mexicans often gripe about U.S. government policies—who doesn’t?—but like most people around the world, they can differentiate between individual travelers and their government. But Miss U.S.A. is not your typical traveler. Mexicans at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City last week apparently directed their anger and frustration over U.S. government policies at one exceedingly well-quaffed, strutting Rachel Smith, otherwise known as Miss U.S.A.
The booing reached such a crescendo at one point that pageant owner Donald Trump, who was in attendance, feared the audience “might storm the stage,” according to an interesting look at the incident in Sunday’s New York Times. Trump told the paper, “The level of hostility was amazing.” Trump, of course, knows a thing or two about hostility.
Audience members and cultural observers assured the New York Times that the outpouring of boos had everything to do with immigration issues, the war in Iraq and other U.S. government policies.
Booing was also directed at Miss U.S.A. when Mexico hosted the same pageant in 1993.
Writes the Times’ Marc Lacey: “So, Mexicans say, the booing at this pageant was never about Miss U.S.A. herself. It was those letters on her sash.”
What does this mean for the average traveler? Leave the U.S.A. sash at home.
Related on World Hum:
* Trouble in Margaritaville: Is a Tequila Shortage Looming?
* Mexican Migrant Theme Park: Homage or Crass Attraction?
* Smackdown in Tijuana
Related on TravelChannel.com:
* 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: Mexico: Artisan Market (video)
* Mexico City: Culture and History (video)
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Jim Benning is the editor and co-founder of World Hum.
woooosh 06.04.07 | 4:10 PM ET
Don’t “leave your USA sash” at home- just don’t travel or spend dollars hostile to the USA like Mexico. There are many places in the world that welcome and repect americans. And yes, I live in Mexico and Yes it is dangerous and hosstile towards Americans.
koala 06.04.07 | 4:45 PM ET
Come on man!, I’m mexican and we’re not hostile to amercians, when americans are friendly we are friendly too. I will accept that Mexico is dangerous this days but for Americans and Mexicans in the same amount.
nmexicobob 06.04.07 | 5:55 PM ET
I’ve seen clips of the boorish abuse heaped on an innocent young girl, and I’ve read the many comments on those clips from Mexicans reveling in her pain and mortification when she fell during the competition. She didn’t look unfriendly, nor could I see how she could she be mistaken for George Bush. I had been considering vacationing in Mexico, but it’s clear I’m hated because of my national origin. And *I’M* the one called a racist!!!!
cupertinomex 06.04.07 | 6:37 PM ET
C’mon people. Its clear Mexico as a Country, not the booing crowd in attendance, was booing at the United States Government. Look at us, as a Country from the rest of the world’s perspective. We are under so much ridicule it not even funny. If you don’t know what I’m talking about then you should not question weather or not Americans are welcomed in Mexico. Ever since the Bush administration has ran this country look at what has happened. Not including 9/11 and the Wars. Miss USA is gorgeous and everyone in Mexico knows that. So stop it! Americans are just as welcomed in Mexico as Mexicans are in the USA!!! ;)
Fabio 06.04.07 | 8:21 PM ET
There are legitimate venues for expressing politics. The Miss Universe Pageant is not one. To make a twenty year old kid a metaphor for Bush’s policies is a disgrace. All I’m hearing from the Mexicans and their apologists is explanations, but no contrition. Que se vayan al infierno los Mexicanos, los quien todavia no estan.
Monica 06.04.07 | 11:44 PM ET
That’s too bad Miss USA was bood. THat was uncalled for and unfair because she’s not George Bush. Let’s have some perspective! Clearly people didn’t stop to think of Miss USA as a person and the fact that this was a beauty peagant not a political rally. I love my people, but come on! And that last comment made by Fabio is a low blow, no matter how angry you are, you have no right to say that.
TambourineMan 06.05.07 | 12:52 PM ET
I would’ve booed, too. Not at Miss USA. But at the judges for picking Miss Japan over Miss Brazil. Are they insane?
jennifer rose 06.06.07 | 12:20 AM ET
See <a
>Are Mexicans Really That Rude?</a>