Latin Fury Explodes at Buenos Aires Airport

Passengers at Buenos Aires airport were in no mood to be conciliatory when informed that their international flights would be delayed for the second day running.

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Ticket counter panes were smashed, and the poor staff members had garbage and other things flung at them in anger. The images carried by state television showed thousands of furious passengers – many of them stranded at the airport with kids – as airport services were crippled because of a wage dispute strike by baggage handlers, and a walkout by ticket counter staff.

They don’t call it Latin temper for nothing.

  1. Wow… so you took a news story and extrapolated to reinforce a stereotype. Magnificent.

    Oh, wait. I’m feeling “furious”. Sí, sí… it must be my “latin temper”.

  2. “Latin temper”?

    That comment really put me off. Not only does it reinforce a stereotype, it demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of the situation, especially considering the long-standing history of air travel disruptions in Argentina. Ethnic background has little to do with it — As I recall, the United States has had its fair share of riots and looting.

    Vagabondish, I thought your standards were higher than that.

  3. Having been to BsAs I personally know that Argentines are passionate about issues and politics.

    While I wouldn’t condone or want to be in the center of that melee, there’s certainly something to be said for actively taking action – rather than acting like sheep as we do in our U.S. airport environments…

    james http://www.futuregringo.com

  4. Ernesto + Marianne: Thanks for voicing your opinions. I can appreciate your being put off by what you view as exploiting a stereotype however Vagabondish has never been or pretended to be politically correct.

    No one’s suggesting the riot broke out simply because those involved happened to be Latin Americans. The “Latin temper” remark was a throwaway attempt at injecting a bit of humor into an inherently serious situation.

    I happen to be French Canadian, yet it doesn’t particularly offend me if someone makes a remark about me being a hockey player. Or punctuating every spoken pause with “eh?”.

    Stereotypes are stupid and for that reason, we laugh about them and move on.

    James: I can appreciate taking action, but there’s clearly a sensible middle ground between being inactive “sheep” and inciting a full-fledged riot.

  5. Definitely. I was there during the ’05 elections and witnessed a few non-violent street/subway disruptions.

    While violence is never called for by people or the leaders – it’s certainly refreshing? hmm maybe not the word – but different – to be in an environment where the “government fears the people,” rather than the reverse.

    Also I don’t think “latin fury” is a bad thing. A stereotype? Sure. But in a good way. Latins are passionate, sexy, and outspoken. I don’t see that as a bad thing…

    all the best…

  6. It’s a matter of opinion whether people laugh at, are proud of, or take offense to stereotypes. I thought travellers were supposed to learn about new cultures and dispelling prejudices, not reinfornce them — which I realize is a prejudice in itself about travellers.

  7. James: That’s a great point about the government fearing the people. It’s really the inverse of the more lax American way of thinking.

    I believe there is such a thing as a good stereotype. Instead of “Latin temper”, I think “Latin passion” is more accurate and most definitely a good thing. To be honest, it’s something I envy.

  8. Marianne: It’s certainly your or anyone else’s right to not laugh or to take offense to anything others may say.

    I’ve never been one to take myself too seriously and don’t believe others should either. Personally, I’ve found that it’s unhealthy to live life by taking offense to what I may view as “stupid” or unfunny comments about my culture or ethnicity.

    It is however a long jump from making an off-handed (perhaps unfunny) remark to reinforcing prejudice. Please don’t misconstrue the two with regard to the above post.

  9. Mike: I think we’re trying to compare apples and oranges here. I could argue from my rhetoric and language background here as to why I said what I did, but that’s getting way off topic.

    I agree with you about keeping a sense of humour and not taking things too seriously — and the point about positive stereotypes. I like being thought of as an “overly polite Canadian”.

  10. Pitiful what happened but employees are fully entitled to protest this clear discomfort of travellers in this case is a small claim against the airport for the day and lost well return the displeasure of those who are the real culprits.

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