Mail letters to Letters, Santa Fe Reporter, PO Box 2306, Santa Fe NM 87504, deliver them to 132 E. Marcy St., fax them to 988-5348, e-mail them to editor@sfreporter.com or use our online form.
COMMON WEALTH
In response to the Capital High student who said Mexicans were taking "our jobs" and taking advantage of "our welfare" [Outtakes, April 5:
]: I've had it with the appalling ignorance and prejudice by many North Americans, Hispanic and Anglo, toward Mexicans and Mexico.
Statistics show immigration generally stimulates the economy. The only North Americans negatively impacted are the ones who don't finish high school and can't compete in the modern workplace. Unless you want a lifetime career of menial labor, you shouldn't worry about Mexicans taking your job, although they'll likely do those jobs better than you because, for them, it's only a stepping stone to making life better for themselves, their children and relatives back home. Mexicans don't want welfare; they're ambitious, they work hard and they pay taxes.
Immigrants have always made better citizens than native-borns because they know what a democracy is supposed to be and do not take it for granted. In staging mass protests and strikes, they are doing what good citizens of a democracy are supposed to do: paying attention and fighting for civil and human rights.
Schools in border states should teach students Mexican and US history. Then they could discover their commonwealth of culture. Most of all, students need to get to know Mexican kids and their families-to know them for the soulful, generous people they are. They would welcome us more graciously into their homes than we welcome them into ours. New Mexican Hispanics should be proud to have that culture in their own backgrounds.
The racist elements in US culture have poisoned our perception of Mexicans and Mexico. It has been a combination of long-time corruption in Mexican government and the domineering, exploitative policies of the US that has made it impossible for so many Mexicans to make a living in their own beautiful country.
Holly Wood
Santa Fe
WE COULD BE HEROES
I have a superhero to share with Rob Wilder [Daddy Needs a Drink, April 5:
]. My son developed a comic hero years ago called Chee Chee Man.
Chee Chee Man was a big boob that sprayed all the bad guys with breast milk (as breast milk is good and bad guys can't handle it) thus saving the day against assorted strange characters developed in my son's imagination. It was a hit at his school one year and banned the next. It was very controversial although I thought it was brilliant.
I recently overheard him state that he stopped producing it because he thinks he may have spelled Chee Chee wrong. One wonders. Thanks for sharing, Rob. Cheers!
Darlene Fortier
Santa Fe
SOWHERE?
I want to thank Zane Fischer for his latest Baca Street descriptive "boho." [Zane's World, March 29:
] Although wouldn't it be "Baho?" It is appropriate coming from the Reporter since it was one of your art columnists who first dubbed this mixed-reg neighborhood "Soho" during an early studio tour. Perhaps it is a bit grandiose in its current incarnation but as your hip art-dinner conversation can attest, important things are hidden in unexpected places. Most people I talk to "get" the reference in context of other Santa Fe Art hoods and are glad to have discovered a fresh art/food scene anchoring the Railyard's southern end. Personally, I'm honored to have been cast upon by your artmudgeonly gaze. Thanks for being the opposite of ingratiating-and I'd stay away from those pissy urban underpasses if I were you.
Mitch Berg
Wired Glass Gallery, Baca Street
Santa Fe
WAL-WORLD
Reading your article on Wal-Mart [Cover story, March 22:
], I have some corrections to make.
Length of time employees stay: There are seven employees that have been in the Santa Fe store for over 20 years. There are numerous employees that have been there over 10 years. So, for those that want to collect paychecks without doing the work asked of them, they can leave any time.
There is a notice at the time clock, stating there is to be no overtime. The same notice states that if an employee goes to see a member of management on his/her time off, that employee must punch in so it will be noted on their pay.
There is the option opened every year for employees to join the health plan that is offered. There is also the option to have money taken out of the paycheck to pay for shares in the company.
An employee that has worked there for 10 years or more gets much more than the $9 pay that you quoted as being the top dollar earned. Don't know where your figures come from, but the lowest wage paid in Santa Fe is $9.50 which is higher than your quote.
I write this with confidence as my husband is one of the 10-year-oldies.
Personally, I think we should stop worrying about Wal-Mart as an entire giant and consider how it would affect or benefit the people of Santa Fe and surrounding areas.
Gerry Bushrow
Santa Fe
SALON SUPPORT
I am so surprised that someone who didn't happen to like the haircut they received would be for the demolition of a local business [Letters, March 29:
]. The Blue Monkey Hair Salon and School is a true Santa Fe success story. To wish defeat upon a very saavy and promising young business owner is downright mean-spirited. A small community such as ours should stick together and writing this letter is how I wish to show my support for the Blue Monkey-"rock-a-billy outcasts and faux hipsters" aside. This is the City Different, Michelle Niesen, and name-calling doesn't bode well for its denizens.
Helen Armijo
Santa Fe
BLUE CREW
In my time working at the Blue Monkey, nine out of 10 times we had more-than-satisfied customers. There's a reason Blue Monkey has received "Best of Santa Fe" three times. However, every now and then, we had the task of working with impossible customers. The stylist's job is to do what the customer asks for. If you come in asking for a nouveau mullet, you'll get one. If you were looking for something more conventional, maybe you should have gone to JC Penny's! The team at Blue Monkey is not only capable of giving great haircuts in all styles, but they'll do so kindly, even when dealing with such angry customers as yourself. If you are so unsatisfied with your own appearance, take it out on your therapist, not a well-run unique business. By the way, nice misuse of slang. You must have picked it up from the same place you got the idea for that mullet!
Amrit Lancaster
Santa Fe
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