Jessica Lee Associate Editor

In the last several weeks, the daily comic strip "Sarape's Grill,"

illustrated by Arnie Bermudez, has become a topic of discussion in the Mailbag section of the Wildcat. The comic strip follows the life of Sarape, a Mexican immigrant in the "Old West" who owns a restaurant, wears a zarape and interacts with a variety of characters. Many readers are offended by Bermudez's depiction of Mexican American, Hispanic and Chicano culture.

The Wildcat appreciates those of you who have taken time to express your concerns by writing letters or calling the newsroom. The purpose of the Mailbag section is to provide a forum for debate over editorial content in the paper or general concerns on campus. On Oct. 23, the Wildcat co-hosted a diversity focus forum where several newsroom editors met with concerned readers to discuss the Wildcat's coverage of and sensitivity to diversity on campus. A good chunk of time was spent discussing "Sarape's Grill." The forum provided readers a chance to express their discomfort with the comic directly to Bermudez. About half in attendance spoke in support of the comic strip.

Due to the local debate, I sat down with Bermudez and had him explain to me the purpose and foundation of his comic. Born in Yuma to Mexican migrants, Bermudez has experienced the life that comes with living near the Mexico-United States border, one that is defined by intense demographic, socio-economic and political issues. All of the characters in his strip serve to comment on and poke fun at racism and political-correctness in the Southwest as he has experienced it. Each one is based on an important person in his life and is instrumental in breaking down the stereotypes that are placed on Hispanic people who do not speak English as their first language.

Bermudez grew up with traditional "Mexican humor" where there are no buffer zones or boundaries. This humor, which would be considered vulgar in the United States, is described as "picaro" or "chusco" in Spanish. His humor has been influenced by Cantinflas, Tintan, Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo, Carlos Mencia, Freddie Soto and Gabriel Iglesias, comedians who use humor to squash the subtle racism that occurs when people attempt to be politically correct.

Sarape's accent does not mean in any way that he is stupid. He is attempting to get by in an English-speaking world that presents him with racist characters and confusing situations. "Not everything is about starting a movement, protesting or going to court," Bermudez said. "Things can be settled and messages can be conveyed in many ways. I chose to make change through a comic strip. I take the stereotypes that many deem inappropriate to discuss openly, and break them down and play them off so people will understand that they are just generalizations. I expect people to know that Mexicans don't wear zarapes. I use a play on words and my experiences of growing up in Yuma as the foundation of the comic. I just go with what I know."

"Sarape's Grill" may be offensive to some on campus because it is cutting-edge humor on a locally sensitive issue. Its purpose is to forcefully piece apart many of the stereotypes that segregate members of the UA and Tucson community. The comic is successful because it is breaking down the politically correct barrier that keeps people from tearing apart what defines us as individuals ÷ evidenced by the debate that Sarape's daily challenges have provoked in the Wildcat.

Jessica Lee is an environmental science senior. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.