Special-edition Mailbag: 13 responses to our Hot Taco op-ed

Most of them were negative. We publish them here to represent another view in our community (and to show we highlight both the praise and the criticism we receive).

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There is nothing ‘racist’ about the statues outside of Hot Taco. Get over yourself and quit trying to be so PC!

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To the writer of “Hot Taco: take your statues down” article… Don’t be so sensitive. Don’t let everything bother you. If you don’t like it, don’t eat there. Don’t talk trash about the company that has made southend, southend!

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Good day, I subscribe to Agenda, and enjoy the information you all provide. I want to say that I disagree with Ms. Deloney’s response to Hot Taco’s art/decor. I get that it is an opinion piece. But it appears to be with a complete lack of reaching out to understand intention. Ms. Deloney’s vehement conclusion can not be accurate, in any way. This is putting words in Hot Taco’s mouth. Seriously, if this is the way businesses make their decisions, then yes, that is undeniably racist. My very first question to her is, who on earth said that they placed the statues there with “deliberate prejudice, ignorance, and complete lack of historical knowledge of Latinos and Mexicans in particular?” I worked side by side with migrant farm hands very often as a child. Never in my life have I ever considered a Latin, or Mexican person to be lazy. Never. Never ever. And I cannot claim any significant knowledge of Mexican history at all. When the extent of my Mexican culture education is drinking Coronas on Cinco de Mayo, and wishing one of my Mexican friends a Happy Mexican Independence day, when I see it on my calendar, I think that knowledge alone would have Ms. Deloney hurling word javelins at me. Siesta is part of Latino culture. Indeed, it is part of many cultures. It appears to me Ms. Deloney is reading meaning into art/deco which is completely not there. This feels to me to be another instance of over-offense.

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The OP-ED… is as extremist as anyone could ever get and the perfect example of political correctness run amuck. I don’t live in Charlotte and certainly never would if the people of Charlotte support this kind of behavior. In my view it is idiotic and should itself not be tolerated or supported.

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In response to the author who wrote the article about the racist decor at Hot Taco…. a petition and an anger fueled article b*tching about the decor in a restaurant does NOTHING to progress the racial and sterotype you are trying to defend. This is why these issues continue to be issues. Fact: A statue has offended you. Is Hot Taco is actually making fun of a hispanic stereotype? Are there known incidences of employees mistreating patrons who are hispanic? Is it worth your time and energy and emotional to be mad? Have you considered that you are now offending other people and the business owners based on YOUR misinterpretation of a statue? If the statues are removed, an it actually qualify as an accomplishment for better lives of the hispanic population near and far ? Do something more valuable with your time.

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I am really disappointed with your lead story about Hot Taco…seriously? They’re statues! Nothing about it says lazy to me. You even went as far as to say it’s not just racist, but rather RACIST! Good grief. Be part of the solution, guys. Not the problem. I used to recommend you to everyone, but I seriously question why you would do this. Our entire office scratched our collective heads and said, “WTF???”

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I read Amalia Deloney’s story about Hot Taco this morning and was surprised that any business would use those icons in 2015. I commented “2015?” Now, I am even more surprised by the reactions from fellow CA readers. What am I missing? Those icons have been seen as racist for years.

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I cannot believe that this woman has gone out and started a race war over statues depicting two Mexicans enjoying a siesta after a delicious meal at this restaurant. After Thanksgiving dinner, that’s what people do; talk a nap. This is a Mexican food restaurant; should they have depicted two blacks or asians taking a siesta after their Mexican food meal? Talk about a waste of time. These days you can insight racism over anything. Shame on her and shame on you for posting her petition.

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Did Ms. Deloney reach out to the Hot Taco before posting that? I’m not sure talking about small local businesses with things like that helps with advertising. Just a thought. Also, reminds me a post a few months ago that rubbed me the wrong way, it was something like ‘Why I’ll never shop at these Charlotte businesses again’ (something like that). It’s not right to have that decor, but from your vantage point, does Upworthy style content really play in the local-market?

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I was surprised to read the Op Ed about the new restaurant that just opened a short time ago. Maybe publicity for the restaurant was good. Maybe publicity for the Axios Charlotte was good. I enjoy the CA and not everything is going to be liked by everyone. This seemed out of place. I personally was disappointed. You may find the article below interesting. Not every persons’ heartfelt opinion needs to be broadcast.

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The op-ed on Hot Taco is ridiculous.  Let’s get rid of Leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day and Margaritas on Cinco de Mayo and silly colored beads on Fat Tuesday and the caricature of Little Caesar on the pizza box and every other icon that says we are a diverse society and proud of it. What ever happened to being able to laugh at ourselves?  We have municipalities tearing down statues of historic significance in the interest of whitewashing history.  Ooops, was I wrong to use the word ‘white’ combined with ‘washing’. Sorry, I did not mean to imply that people of color don’t wash. Out and out racism?  Absolutely.  Let’s get rid of it – on all sides. Having innocent fun?  Sorry, you’re op-ed was out of line.

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Let’s stay above mainstream media, and not sensationalize racism. This is in regards to the statues that are being called racist across your front page today. Very disappointing that everything these days that offends someone must be taken down, just look the other direction.

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Who is Amalia Deloney (writer of an op-ed piece)? You should always tell us something about the people given the privilege to be published on your site.

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I wish the writer of the oped piece about Hot Taco would have included a poll to see if readers felt that the decorative statues were offensive or not. We have become a hypersensitive society that looks for offense where there is none. Has she talked with Latinos to see if they feel the statues are offensive? I lived in Mexico for a year, in a non-tourist area, and those type statues and decor are for sale everywhere. I bought bookends that look very similar. It’s just a decoration. Every culture has stereotypes. We go to Oktoberfest at Waldhorn and they are wearing traditional German clothing. We eat at the Chinese restaurant where there is a giant gold Buddha. Is that offensive? How about the Italian restaurant where there is a picture of a fat italian pizza maker? Is that saying all Italians are fat? There is a funny video out right now called Dear Fat People. I don’t like all the f*** words but the message makes sense. Stop getting easily offended. There is a show about a fat girl called Fit, Fabulous life where this girl claims that she is fat due to a medical condition. Her friend reminds her that she drinks frappucino drinks all day long. We would all be fat if we did that. When I moved here I started drinking sweet tea but can’t anymore because I started gaining weight. I digress. But seriously, to get all worked up about the decor of a Mexican place? Let’s just worry about the big things in life. Thanks for listening.