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February 4, 2011 in City
Shawn Vestal: Taco can be the way to answer region’s racists
Matt Anderson stopped for lunch at El Chiludo taco truck in Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday. An Aryan Nations group picketed the stand recently.
(Full-size photo)
Matt Anderson grew up not far from the old Aryan Nations compound.
He’s seen all the haters have to offer, but he didn’t necessarily expect them to come out against lunch. So when he saw the Wonder Bread – those hateful bags of spotless white – waving signs outside one of his favorite taco trucks last Friday, he declined the opportunity to “Honk If You Want Idaho White!!!”
And this week, he struck a little blow against racism. A minor blow. A tiny, tasty blow.
Matt Anderson ate a burrito.
“I love the food,” said Anderson, a 23-year-old tow truck driver, while waiting for his order at El Chiludo in Coeur d’Alene. “I love Mexican food generally.”
If we’re casting about for a fresh rallying cry in support of equality, we could probably do worse than that. We Love Mexican Food Generally.
I don’t want to suggest that we’re complacent about human rights in these parts. Or that we need a tasty morsel to lead us into battle against hatred. But maybe we’re a bit complacent about human rights in these parts – a little too eager to recall that one time we read “To Kill a Mockingbird” and felt the right way about it. Maybe we’re a little too persuaded by the self-congratulatory narrative that a few strongly worded speeches, some invigorating marches, one killer lawsuit, and voilà – we’re all good here in the former white homeland.
Next thing you know, the Wonder Bread is back. And they’re after lunch.
Or, say, a bomb gets left at a human rights parade.
Maybe what we need – and by we, I mean most of us white people, not the tireless leaders or march organizers or people of color who live here in the white sea, but the rest of us, whose “commitment” to human rights is more like an opinion, much like our opinion about the health care bill or gay marriage, as opposed to a principle that influences our lives in a tangible way – maybe what we need is a super tasty, super easy way to take a stand.
Well, then. Here it is.
Eat a taco.
I’m late to this bandwagon, which has been rolling on Huckleberries, an S-R blog run by Dave Oliveria. The two recent Aryan protests already prompted plenty of people to show their support, one taco at a time.
The man taking orders at El Chiludo on Government Way – the target of two recent protests – said business was booming during Friday’s picketing. He didn’t want to do an interview without his boss’s permission, and I couldn’t reach his boss, but he said that apart from that day, things have been unfortunately slow.
It sounds like business has been a bit brisker a few blocks away at Taco Works, where owner Oscar Magdalena said lots of people tell him they’re coming in “to prove we are on your side.”
It’s a super tasty side to be on. Not to be glib, but it’s hard to think of a more satisfying bit of cross-cultural enrichment than the taco. If you’re against tacos, you’re out on some extra-insane frontier of racism – I’d have thought even the bigotiest bigot would have room in his worldview for carnitas.
The fact that they don’t makes our duty that much easier. Eat a taco. Throw a little business to El Chiludo or Taco Works, or any of the other fine Mexican food establishments in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane.
I joined the fray this week and gave it my all, and my all turned out to be five tacos. Plus a soda. Plus a to-go order. Just doing my part for the dream – for the vision of a future in which the Wonder Bread will be forced to see a taco truck in every town, on every corner, in every parking lot and abandoned block, on the very streets where their children live.
A taco truck everywhere they turn. Satisfies the stomach and the heart.
Jim Lindenfelser, a heating and air conditioning worker, took his parents to El Chiludo on Wednesday. A regular, he said he came by during the first picket several weeks ago – but found El Chiludo closed. I despair to think a crew of sub-literate hillbillies can block the community’s access to campechanos, which is a mind-bogglingly delicious combination of steak and chorizo.
I had never eaten campechanos before Wednesday, though I have done my damnedest to chow through street tacos from Mexico to Idaho. Campechanos enriched my life. I’m tempted to say they made me a better person, though they probably just made me a happier one, briefly.
I can take the high road on human rights as well as the next guy, and I don’t mean to be glib about serious stuff. But if you scour your heart and can’t find any other reason to fight the Wonder Bread, let me suggest: campechanos tacos. Buck and a half at El Chiludo, 3000 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene.
Go eat some.
At Taco Works this week, owner Magdalena said things have been steadily busy. Last Friday, police notified him to expect the Wonder Bread.
“We were waiting, waiting,” he said. “They never showed up.”
Magdalena waved his hand, as though flicking away a pest.
“We’re not worried about it,” he said, before turning to help a customer at the window.
A big truck idled nearby, waiting on a big order. Another customer arrived, and Magdalena greeted him warmly: “Hey, amigo, como estás.”
The amigo replied, “Como estás, buddy.”
Shawn Vestal can be reached at (509) 459-5431 or shawnv@spokesman.com.
The draw of the unknowable 
ShepherdSlayer on February 04 at 1:10 a.m.
Do liberals ever get sick of your own racism? Liberal racism is the worst kind. You’re probably the only group in the world that actually hates your OWN race (and worse still, you actually deny hating yourselves).
Thayne on February 04 at 5:56 a.m.
Hey SS (I seem to recall another organization that had the initials SS), What “race” do we hate? I belong to the “Human” race, and think everyone is equal. Liberals aren’t racist, we are just sick of people like you who think the white race is the only important one on the planet. I don’t care what color your skin is, I care about how you interact with your fellow man.
fishinjay on February 04 at 6:50 a.m.
Well said Thayne.
IHike4Fun on February 04 at 7:10 a.m.
Eating a Taco shows you are not racist??? This is an illogical premise. Jesus said in Matthew 15:11: “Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’”
He was saying what is in the heart comes out in speech and that is what reveals what’s inside.
If what you eat can’t make you ‘unclean’ then by extension what you eat can’t make you ‘clean’. The same applies to racism which is an attitude of the heart not a dietary preference.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on February 04 at 7:24 a.m.
So where is everyone’s favorite place to “Eat a Taco”… Lets make a list.. the skin heads can’t possible garner enough folks to “cover” all of the wonderful Mexican Restaurants in our Basin.
1. Fiesta Mexicana (South Hill Seattle on Grand) ALWAYS busy busy
2.Tacos Tumbras Valley and Downtown Spokane on 2nd ave
Authentic recipes from Mexico CIty…
?? who’s next? juan
o_pleez on February 04 at 7:57 a.m.
Why aren’t the aryans/nazis/skinheads at work instead of picketing a taco truck?
Hmmm………
fishinjay on February 04 at 8:08 a.m.
IHike4Fun missed the point. I’ll spell it out.
Eating a taco is an action that has greater meaning than satisfying hunger. It is an action that says to the people working at the picketed establishment “I am here spending my money at your establishemnt because I disagree with the people outside.” It’s a simple act that only costs a couple dollars, helps the taco place financially, and hopefully helps them stay in business.
IHike4Fun on February 04 at 8:40 a.m.
fishinjay,
I have eaten a lot of Mexican food in my life - and plan to eat more. It has never had a deeper meaning to me than just enjoying the food. If I like the cuisine and how the restaurant prepares it, picketed or not, I would go inside.
schleufer on February 04 at 8:45 a.m.
for a long time i have wondered what do racists eat? taco tuesday was the first to come to mind or do they like to mix it up and have chinese once inna while. do they practice what they eat is what i wanna know.
bumblebeetuna on February 04 at 8:49 a.m.
Dollars to donuts these racists are on the government dole. Ignorance breeds hypocrisy.
fishinjay on February 04 at 9:17 a.m.
@IHike4Fun
It seems especially odd that somebody who would quote the bible doesn’t understand the concept of symbolic action.
If you don’t buy food from these places to show support that’s fine. It’s your choice. But to act confused by the idea that other people would buy food from these places to show their support is simply antagonistic.
misjustice on February 04 at 9:26 a.m.
VERY well said, Thayne!
Race is an artificial construct. Variance in skin color is due to how close to the equator our ancestors lived; northern latitudes are populated with people that have lighter skin because they don’t get as much sun exposure. Really fairly simple.
For a much more eloquent and expanded explanation of “race” check out this NOVA segment;
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/first/brace.html
As for Tacos, I love ‘em. As for people of Hispanic heritage, love them, too! They are very hard working, loving, generous, genuine people; and don’t deserve to be the targets of narrow-minded hatred.
Our nation has a terrible history of hating the other. Just search old newspapers from the 1830s-1860s and you’ll learn how we attacked and scapegoated the Irish, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Italians, and other immigrants. Nowadays, we attack and blame people of Hispanic heritage; the more things change, the more they stay the same, sadly.
Loudin on February 04 at 9:37 a.m.
Ever since I went on a diet a few years ago (still on it), I don’t get to eat tacos much…which is a bummer. Thus, please don’t confuse my lack of taco consumption w/a passive tolerance of hillbilly racist idiots.
This said, back in the day, I used to eat at Taco Time (Pullman) like three times a week. They always had those “taco burgers” on sale for like $1; I guess that is as close to a “cracker” item as they have on their menu. And while I know Taco Time might not be held in high esteem, the ‘Time down in Pullman had a beer license…so you could have a beer w/your taco burger. I was livin’ the sweet life back then; total playa’. Now? Not so much (see diet above). But I’m still cool.
Peace Out, Yo’.
Loudin
MatthewRoot on February 04 at 9:46 a.m.
Great article Shawn, thanks. I enjoyed the writing.
IHike4Fun is pretty dense
SS presents himself as a racist moron
MatthewRoot on February 04 at 10:05 a.m.
misjustice, re: the concept of “race”
you are right on. “Race” is a cultural construct, not a biological one. There is a continuum in human phenotypes and human genotypes. The boundaries are culturally created by people, not by nature (recent studies of the human genome demonstrate this).
For example, the old racial classification of “caucasian” included Europeans (Swedes to Spaniards), Arabs, Persians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Afghanis, Turks, and some south Asians (Indians). That’s a pretty diverse group of folks.
As one anthropologist recently wrote “Usually race is imposed upon marginalized groups by powerful elites, rather than initiated by those groups.”
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on February 04 at 10:10 a.m.
fishinjay at 8:08 and 9:17 – well said.
sjt9000 on February 04 at 10:22 a.m.
@IHike4Fun: Are you being dense on purpose? Did you actually read the article or just the headline? The point of the column is that supporting these businesses with your money is a show of solidarity that you are with them and opposed to the racists outside picketing. The article did not say, “If you eat tacos you are thereby not racist.”
Simply put: Show these restaurants your support by purchasing their food (tacos), thereby telling the racists outside you will not be intimidated by their hatred. Comprende?
sjt9000 on February 04 at 10:24 a.m.
@ShepherdSlayer: Where in this article is there any mention of liberals or conservatives or any political ideology? By your very comment you are showing support for Aryan racists.
MrNatural on February 04 at 10:47 a.m.
Great article Shawn…and well said Thayne.
Boy what a wonderful idea to enjoy a tasty campechanos and take a stand against scumbags at the same time. We are a nation of color and cultures and that is what makes us a great nation.
This segregate and eliminate compulsion by racists is quite possibly the worst human attribute there is. I used to believe it was due to fear and ignorance (which accounts for a few) but now I realize it is something much more dark and sinister. It’s just plain malevolence. I can only believe it’s due to a rotten brain.
And it seems that one of the Bund was up kinda early this morning to voice his displeasure…were you and the little boys all cranked up out chasing baby ducks with a hammer again?
Rand on February 04 at 11:54 a.m.
Shawn,
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/ is a satire site. Not a guide on how you have to live your life.
The purpose of this article seems to be for Shawn to prove how witty/smart he is. Basically intellectual masturbation on the front page of our newspaper. What is Shawn trying to do other than make him feel less guilty about himself. Why doesn’t Shawn do something about this problem and start a facebook page or tweet about this. Racism wont be solved until we all support the end of it through social media. Aren’t I a good white person now? And before everyone starts calling me a racist or a bigot I would like to point out that I ate a burrito for dinner last night.
sunray on February 04 at 12:07 p.m.
A fine column. As a student of Nazi Germany, a first step that helped the Nazis isolate German Jews, enabling later deportation and extermination, was their success in persuading or intimidating the populace to cut their social ties to their Jewish friends and neighbors. You’ve all seen the pictures of the boycotts, stormtroopers in front of Jewish stores, Crystal Night, etc. This social isolation, or “social death” as some scholars call it, was huge in enabling the Nazi regime to then act with impunity. Jews felt this isolation keenly, and this emotional pain and humiliation is as much of the intent of racism as any physical damage.
So, the act of buying a taco includes so much: financial support, social solidarity, friendship, a symbolic statement that we’re with you and will not allow the racists to hurt you emotionally, socially, economically. It does not mean that we (the taco-consumers) are perfect or without prejudices that need confronted. But it does mean that we recognize the need for human solidarity in the face of frustrated hatred.
Let’s eat!
Thoreau on February 04 at 12:32 p.m.
So, the Aryans cry: “Keep Idaho White” ? I welcome Native Americans to protest with “Keep Idaho Red”. They were, you remember, here first, and probably haven’t seen hospitality from very many white supremecists.
By the way, what is the food staple of an Aryan? Bratwurst?….
misjustice on February 04 at 12:44 p.m.
“By the way, what is the food staple of an Aryan?”
Wonder Bread, is my guess; made of white refined flour, which is largely devoid of nutritional value.
SpokyDaBear on February 04 at 12:58 p.m.
Racism goes both ways.
Mexicans discriminate against Mexican-Americans…
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100409113040AAvwUpH
The Aryan Stupidhood is yet again another example of the intolerance of the Spokane area to embrace or even entertain the concept of anything new.
This area lives by the traditional folksy “Good enough for Grandpa, it’s good enough for me” mentality.
No wonder there are so many potholes. It just matches the local brain trust.
Orphan on February 04 at 1:08 p.m.
I guess I dont understand the artical. If picketers were actively picketing the taco stand then stopping to eat tacos seems like a good idea and something I would do right then and there.Going some where to eat Mexican food when there are no protesters is simply having a meal. I dont understand how that would be fighting racisim.
sunray on February 04 at 1:57 p.m.
Orphan,
The problem is that the Mexican/Mexican-American community has been targeted by the Aryan Nation. Eating at a Mexican taco stand or restaurant shows solidarity with this group, even if there don’t happen to be picketers outside at the moment. This is a longer-term issue.
MrNatural on February 04 at 3:28 p.m.
Shall I compare thee to a Taco Truck?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of beef,
And sour creams lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of jalapeño shines,
And often is his green complexion dimm’d;
And every thief from bum sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing reprobate, untrimm’d;
But thy eternal cheddar cheese shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that spare change thou stealest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his greasy grill,
When in eternal lettuce tortilla shell doth growest;
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives taco, and taco gives life to thee.
misjustice on February 04 at 3:33 p.m.
Good one, Natch!
; )
MrNatural on February 04 at 4:05 p.m.
When der neo-nutz sez we is de master race
We razz razz right in der nutzy’s face
And to love der nutzy’s is a great disgrace
So we razz razz right in der nutzy’s face
When der skinhedz sez we own the world and space
We razz razz right in der skinhedz face
When der neo nutzy’s vant to bum dis place
We razz razz right in der nutzy’s face
Iz we pasty Vunder Brot
Ja we pasty Vunder Brot
Do we picket Taco Trucks
Ya we picket Taco Trucks
Is da nutzys zilly boys
Ja da nutzys zilly boys
We bring ze world to order
zupremitzy’s world to order
Everyone of foreign race
Will schmack our nutzy face
When we bring to the world dis-order
When der neo-nutz sez we is de master race
We razz razz right in der nutzy’s face
And to love der nutzy’s is a great disgrace
So we razz razz right in der nutzy’s face
With appologies to Spike Jones
Orphan on February 04 at 5:02 p.m.
Sunray That is still illogical to me, dont get me wrong if there were racist picketers there and even if I had just ate I would go in and eat again or at least get something to go. I abhore racism trust me I would be the 1st one to walk by the protesters.
Eating in Mexican restaurants without protesters there is simply supporting the people that own Mexican restaurants, What percentage of Americans of Mexican decent own or even simply work for a Mexican restaurant? At best you would be suppirting 1% of the Americans of Mexican decent. There are much better ways to spend money and time to help Americans of Mexican decent IMHO.
BTW my brother owns a Mexican restaurant and he is White so is his wife. I am sure they would appreciate the bussiness though.
gailandmarshall on February 04 at 7:28 p.m.
Another great Mexican Restaurant is Toro Viejo… YUM! It’s too bad I missed the “protest”… I would have loved to stop by where the Aryans were standing and eat a burrito in front of them, while talking about my great tan I got in Mexico last week :P
localone on February 04 at 7:59 p.m.
I agree, Sunray
brentandrews on February 09 at 12:46 p.m.
Vestal the skins don’t care what you say about them - they know what to expect from the media; that is, kneejerk reactions and “no questions asked” - but they appreciate the couple dozen inches of copy, they appreciate all the coverage you’ve given them all these years, they sure do thank you for all your help getting their message out to the public: they’re here, they’re staying, bring the cameras and your pen and some friends with satellite trucks! Take this sad picket by a couple of twisted individuals national, global even! They’ll be reading about this picket in Japan, tomorrow! Everyone knows the racists can get good coverage in North Idaho, no matter how few, no matter how ignorant. The Spokane media will always be there to fawn over its favorite boogeyman, I guess, even if he’s just a shadow.
ShepherdSlayer on February 12 at 10:49 a.m.
Thayne
“What ‘race’ do we hate?”
Europeans… And Africans… And Mexicans… Etc., etc., etc.
“I belong to the ‘Human’ race…”
No. You belong to the human species. Human is not a race.
“Liberals aren’t racist…”
Yes, liberals ARE racist. Are you blind? Deaf? Illiterate? Maybe it’s that liberal arrogance kicking in. Liberals constantly spread their racist hate against White people (for the majority of liberals, that’s their own race), while putting as many Blacks and Hispanics as possible on welfare. Then they make it damn near impossible for “the colored folk” to get off of welfare once they’re on it. The majority of liberal socialist programs are intended to, in a manner of speaking, keep Africans on the Democrats’ plantation. Throughout history, it has been the liberal Democrats who have gone to any length to keep Africans enslaved in one way or another. But you will, of course, deny and ignore all the facts stacked against you, instead of reading your history.
“… we are just sick of people like you who think the white race is the only important one on the planet.”
What’s wrong, Thayne? Can’t read?
“I care about how you interact with your fellow man.”
You seem to be lying here. Either that, or you are just THAT hypocritical. (typical liberal)
ShepherdSlayer on February 12 at 10:50 a.m.
Loudin
“hillbilly racist idiots”
“a ‘cracker’ item”
You racist types make this way to easy.
ShepherdSlayer on February 12 at 10:53 a.m.
Chip Jones
“SS presents himself as a racist moron”
And how is that, Chip? Would you care to explain how you got racism out of my comment? Or are you going to allow yourself to remain looking like the lost little follower that you are?
ShepherdSlayer on February 12 at 10:56 a.m.
sjt9000
“By your very comment you are showing support for Aryan racists.”
Then, by YOUR very comment, YOU are showing support for African, Asian, Hispanic and Jewish racists. And, if you deny that, then you are admitting to the ignorance of your statement, as well as reversing that statement.
ShepherdSlayer on February 12 at 10:58 a.m.
Mr. Natural
“This segregate and eliminate compulsion by racists…”
Actually, it’s by elitists; ‘global governance’ types - and communists. They separate by creating classes and pin each class against the others.
“And it seems that one of the Bund was up kinda early this morning to voice his displeasure…”
Feeling clueless again? I spoke out AGAINST liberal racism; not for it.
“Iz we pasty Vunder Brot
Ja we pasty Vunder Brot”
More racist trash that claims to not be racist, while comparing White people to Wonder Bread. Again, do you EVER get tired of your own racism?
ShepherdSlayer on February 12 at 11:00 a.m.
misjustice
“Wonder Bread, is my guess; made of white refined flour, which is largely devoid of nutritional value.”
More racism. You cannot make racist references to Whites and make deragatory remarks against Whites, or any other race, and not be racist.
ShepherdSlayer on February 12 at 11:14 a.m.
Also, this story is obvious B.S.
The picture is cut off to show only a White male, WITH NO PICKET SIGN, or any other racist items. A typical move by the left. Let’s take it a step further by stating the fact that THIS is the only story on this supposed racist picketing.
Can you prove otherwise, Shawn? Because the only thing showing up in multiple search engines are copied and pasted variations of THIS story, over and over. If this were a true incident, the left-wing media would be all over it. You know it, I know it and your closet-racist readers know it.
The fact that you’re posting articles calling White people racists, while having no factual evidence to back up your claims, only goes to show that you are, in fact, racist.