KansasCity.com

Mobile Site RSS Feeds
Logout | Member Center
Posted on Wed, Oct. 28, 2009 10:47 PM
Buzz UpYahoo Buzz PrintPrint
Comment (0)Comment

COMMENTARY

Wise up and hold the P.C. handcuffs for Halloween

More News

Halloween. So much to be offended by, so much to miss while fuming.

Watch for this jokester at upcoming parties. The orange jumpsuit of jail attire, head covered by a big-eyed extraterrestrial mask.

Don’t get it? The wittiest adult outfits need no captions. But this lame idea comes with “Illegal Alien” splashed across the jumpsuit, an accompanying sign to carry marked “Green Card.”

The pitch on the Web sites: “He didn’t just cross a border, he crossed a galaxy!”

Let the politically correct police begin writing citations (another challenging costume design).

We get it. The alien costume stretches the image of the illegal immigrant to absurd measures, akin to being less than human.

But before anyone gets too huffy, please remember that the Halloween we enjoy as adults is an equal opportunity offender. Pregnant nun, anyone?

Pick the genre. “Biggest daddy pimp” and the “Instant Redneck Kit” stand out in a quick scroll through costume sites.

Howl like a banshee if you want about this one-day holiday from cultural sensitivities, but these are normally reasonable people climbing into these burlesque roles. Not enough P.C. handcuffs to go around.

And, yes, I’ll go quietly, officer. I confess to joining a trio of characters from Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” the year the film came out. I was the one playing Uma Thurman, post overdose, so I had the adrenaline syringe sticking out of my chest.

Any recovering addicts offended?

Naturally, the backlash against the alien suit backfired in the usual way. It became a top seller.

Target, Amazon and Walgreens online outlets culled it. But others leapt to rack up the profits.

Pretty much sold out.

I wonder if other “illegal alien” costumes would be as “funny.”

How about putting on the faded jeans and sweaty shirt of the person who picks your salad lettuce. Paint your face yellow and label it farm pesticides.

Maybe don the drab hotel garb of the woman who straightens your vacation room. Extra prop: the tiny tip you left her after trashing the room for three days.

Or, you guys, come to the party with roof shingles attached all over. Or with a chainsaw strapped around your waist from gutting hogs all day on a wet concrete floor.

Teachable moment: The more specific term is undocumented immigrant. It’s a conditional status that can change.

By the way, a lot of foreign students from many countries fit the category. So if you’re really cheap, just stand around in usual clothes, hold an old college text and fake a foreign accent.

But don’t wear the orange jumpsuit version. Not only is it tacky; it doesn’t make any sense. You can’t be an “illegal” if you’re holding a green card. Duh!

To reach Mary Sanchez call 816-234-4752 or send email to msanchez@kcstar.com.

Posted on Wed, Oct. 28, 2009 10:47 PM
Buzz UpYahoo Buzz PrintPrint
Comment (0)Comment

Join the discussion

Share your observations and experiences about news. Lively, open, civil debate is the goal. Please refrain from personal attacks or comments that are racist, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate. If you see an inappropriate comment, please click the "Report as abuse" link.

Text alerts Subscribe today!