Stereotypes = Racism?

Another ethnic-theme party has resulted in the calls for expulsion of the students. There's something ironic about fostering a school environment that seeks expulsion rather than education when someone displays their ignorance!

www.racialicious.com/2007/02/22/santa-clara-university-students-mock-latinos-with-south-of-the-border-party

Regardless, is it really an issue? Is the hand-wringing really necessary? Would anyone speak up if it were a red-neck theme party, no wait that would be turned into a TV show.

There's not shortage of examples from which to draw stereotypes, but most won't admit the simple truth: "Stereotypes don't happen by accident". So are people drawing from TV or from actual - but limited experience? Due to the attention span of people and their disdain for analysis, we choose to draw conclusions from a single instance, whether positive of negative. How many times has someone you know come back from a foreign adventure and had the culture summed up in a few quick scenarios?

For every ignorant white person, there's an equally challenged non-white person asking the same dumb questions, or making the same dumb assertions.

Below is a pic from a Halloween party in 2006, this particular Latina chose to come as an unwed pregnant Mexican teen. Today she is 4 months pregnant - almost prescient?

Are these themed parties about the callousness of the the participants, or is the real issue the self-imposed weak constitutions of the ever expanding pool of victims?

You won't see this pic anywhere else!