Was it a joke, or was it "lost in translation? Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar learned that what we say and do in Spanish is not always interpreted the same way in English. Yunel thought it was a joke to write, "TU ERES MARICON" (You're a faggot) on his eye-black stickers that are sometimes worn under the eyes to reduce the sun's glare. His action has led to a flurry of criticism and actions including a press conference to apologize, a three-day suspension and three days of docked pay that will be donated to You Can Play and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Yunel Almenares Escobar is a 30-year-old Cuban born who is single and who resides in Miami, Florida. He attended Matires de Barbados School in Havana, Cuba. Like many young men his age I have been with in Puerto Rico and in Cuba, I can attest that the word, "maricon" is many times used to describe many other things other than its official derogatory meaning. It can be used to mean, "Dumb, Idiot, Weak," or to add emphasis when you want a friend's undivided attention.
In fact I have a close Puerto Rican friend that I have known for over 30 years that still to this day will leave a voice mail, "oye maricón te llamado mil veces y no me devuelve mi llamada." Literal translation: "Hey faggot I've called you a million times and you have not returned my call." I laugh and at no time do I feel offended because I know he is not calling me a faggot, he uses the word to show his displeasure with me not returning his call in a joking matter. Throughout my 24 years covering baseball I have heard that same word many times in a clubhouse, dugout and on the field, but only among Latino players and only to each other in a joking manner.
Growing up in the South Bronx 'hood I can remember countless descriptions used to call someone with that word and a few others that if translated for their meaning would also make non-Spanish speakers react. Therefore, I believe that Yunel has learned his lesson, just as my friend will probably not say 'maricon" to a non-friend who has not returned his call, or use it in a business meeting to get someone's attention. Yunel should have never written his personal cultural "joke' for the world outside of his intimate Spanish speaking world to see.
Perhaps this is one of the many "lost in translation" words and actions that will continue to occur as our growing Latino community begins to spill over into the rest of the English speaking society.
What do you think?
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He understands the meaning of the word that was written on his face as well as he understands the stereotypes he invoked at his press conference.
Same thing goes when I denigrate Jewish people or when I call people "retarded"! It's just a cultural thing! Non-developmentally disabled Gentiles ALWAYS say these things, but they NEVER actually mean them, I mean other than their supplementary definitions of "cheap" and "stupid" which in no way reflect back upon the words that I've used.
**Sarcasm above**
The guy who wrote this article is not in touch with reality.
The hasty (and not heartfelt) apology really isn't accepted. He received a slap on the wrist (gee, three days he doesn't have to play a game--how totally severe and harsh--not). He didn't mean what was being said for him by his translator; it was all carefully choreographed. Like it or not, the M word is as offensive as the N word; saying it in Spanish doesn't lessen its impact. FAIL.
He said it in Spanish so that this kind of argument could ensue, probably testing the waters to see if he was going to be able to have any cultural space by which to display his own opinion on the matter. Of course, there are more intelligent ways to do this and there were all kinds of stages for him.
But, we need to be able to talk about etymology and how words develop meanings and how those meanings morph over time.... Used to use a text titled with an offensive word on just this topic. I am not longer allowed to use the text because the title is offensive..... How can we learn and get better if we cannot talk abut the language?
If he had done this early on in his time here, maybe I'd give him a pass, but he's been here 8 years, and he should know better. His problem was that he assumed American's wouldn't understand the word on his face. He was wrong.
What comes to my mind is the saying, "it's not funny unless everyone's laughing."