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Time magazine's Arizona Latino voter cover featured Michael Schennum, a Chinese-American man, pictured behind the large 'M' in Time.
Time magazine has apologized for its cover this week featuring portraits of 15 Latino voters in Arizona after it emerged that one of them isn't Latino.
The cover features the bold proclamation "Why Latinos will pick the next President," along with "Yo Decido" — or "I decide" in English. But Michael Schennum — the man behind the "M" in Time's name — told The Arizona Republic, for whom he works as a staff photographer, that he's "part Norwegian and part Chinese and part Irish."
See the full Time Latino voters cover
Michelle Woo of OC Weekly in Orange County, Calif., was the first to spot the error, writing Thursday:
"A friend of mine, Michael Schennum, is the short-haired gentleman in the top row, center, behind the letter 'M.' He is half Chinese and half white. Not Latino. Not even a little bit."
Latino news and features on NBC Latino
Schennum said he wasn't offended by the article, "just surprised."
"It's a bit of an error on their part," he told the Republic. "If they would have asked me, I would have honestly answered, but they didn't ask me."
Time told New York Magazine on Thursday:
"Over the course of three days TIME photographed 151 people for the current cover. We took steps to ensure that everyone self-identified as Latino, that they are registered voters and that they would be willing to answer our questions. If there was a misunderstanding with one of our subjects, we apologize."
By Adrian Carrasquillo of NBC Latino and M. Alex Johnson of msnbc.com.
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Ti...i...i...i...ime is on my side, yes it is. Hey, I think it would be funny if they put out a Latino issue with pictures of people of multiple ethnicities. As the (spanish language) song says, we are all Americans (South, Central and North).
Correction: Latin Americans are not Americans. They chose not to be part of the world when they did nothing to support the allies of World War One and Two. The rest of the world remembers as you fight hard to cover this up.
hoping a fence doesn't make you an American...it makes you UnAmerican
Well lvegas-3869820 let me first agree with you. Not ALL the fault is with the poor hispanics, but rather with the corporations that hire them, and the government that allows it. However, let this white American male tell you a thing or two. I was let go from my job back in the late 80's right before Thanksgiving by a company (white owned) whose foreman told me they could hire 2 Mexicans for what they were paying me. Hmm. I made 8 bucks an hour. I also stood on the grass on my highschool's football field every morning during gym class during the morning Pledge of Allegiance and listened to this racist mexican pledge allegiance to mexico.
And for your foolish comment about white Americans having it better than minorities, you are wrong. There are plenty of white people living in poverty in THIS country. Your sweeping statement shows your ignorance. Where are you gonna go when it all falls down???
No. Illegal immigrants (not all are these "Hispanics") are the FIRST to break numerous US laws by entering into our sovereign nation illegally.
They (the illegal entrants) are FIRST and FOREMOST to blame for their illegal (and criminal activities). Every day an illegal alien remains in the country, it's more law-breaking. Applying for a US job when your'e not eligible to work here is ILLEGAL (and at the least, unethical). How about the lies made on the job applications (if they actually have to fill anything out)?
Yes, US corporations (but it's mroe like everyday people who take advantage of illegal labor - and are scammed by landscapers that have no horticultural skills or knowledge other than their own non-high-school pruning/hacking and whatever) are a problem too.
But if an illegal is NEVER here to begin with, all other "ills" cannot exist first.
I don't blame any news media. Welcome everyone to this nation that satisfies the requirements. It's a thought process, and most of it is complacency. I can't believe I'm quoting Kirk Cameron, but that guy is right on; to be a real leader (not elected) "The real solution to this doesn't begin at the White House; it begins at my house, and at your house...". Once the nation, after time, is raised with these beliefs, then change begins. Stop the finger pointing; instill values with the young, but be open. Quit being lazy on your own accord for your own benefit; look out for the person next to you and be amazed! Check it out, it's on you; no one else: Let it begin.
The sad thing is you talk all this *$#* on here. I want to see what your comments are when you are in the real world. If the are not the same, yes, you are a two face coward. KICK THAT AROUND FOR A MINUTE.
Funny how the females in the photo look like typical Mexican 2-dollar whores. More makeup on than RuPaul.
Pretty much how all of the Mexican women look - cheap, cheap, cheap.
All they're missing are the big hoop whore earrings.
Yeah, way to stay classy, Mexico.
So observant except that they're American women which is the point of Time's article, the Hispanic vote.
White people look like they're all auditioning for reality TV. They pimp themselves out and try to talk like the same person. They're fearful of being themselves and project that mindset onto others. Sad.
I once knew a guy named Miguel Chang, no kidding, I really did. He was obviously Chinese but was born and raised in Mexico. I wonder if he would have qualified for Time's cover?
There are plenty of Chinese in Mexicali and further south in Mexico City. However, the man's parentage wasn't Hispanic, nor was he raised in Mexico, so I guess he is neither racially nor culturally Hispanic.
I deal with companies in China. I have a contact list full of names like Daisy Zhao, Dave Fung, Fanny Liang, Nick Ling, Shirley Wong. Seriously!
I'm sure these are not the names their parents gave them. They are probably assigned by the company.
I feel it's a very patronizing and insulting practice and I'm sure "Fanny" doesn't like it any better.
Just thought this would amuse people.
This looks like race pimping. TIME is wasting their time trying to make the election cycle about racism instead of the economy.
I actually wish Time Mag had chosen a variety of different looking Latinos/Latinas, IE, people like Cameron Diaz, former QB Jeff Garcia (red hair) and the more traditional look of brown eyes, black hair. But hey, they couldn't even get that look right.
and maybe a picture of me next to a hot latina girl?
The ignorance on here is laughable. First of all... Hispanic and Latino are NOT races. Latinos could be white, native american, black and Asian. I have met many Chinese Hispanics. Latino stems from a social denotation given to Spanish Speakers in the Americas. The gentleman pictured behind the "M" who is half Chinese and half white could really be Latino. The term 'latino" comes from the word Latin... which in reality is a misapplied term since Latin (after the fall of the Roman Empire.... the real LATINOS) evolved into many languages... THE ROMANce languages..... Spanish... French.. Italian.. Portuguese and Romanian. It would be just as easy to describe an Italian as a true Latino!
Oh, the horror!
They should apologize to Americans for subjecting then to BS fluff pieces while the international versions actually have actual news about real world events. I realize we are a nation of self centered morons but it doesn't help to have them feeding us this soft serve BS. Even if you are a moron you should feel insulted by this practice.
The Republicans let them in for the cheap labor, Reagan gave millions of them amnesty to appease his corporate masters who love cheap labor, typical short sighted Republican behavior. Short term ' I got mine' profits at the expense of the country.
The really funny part is the Republican party will cease to exist as a organization of any meaning after all those 'cheap labor' anchor babies grow up and vote them into oblivion.
Leave it to the Republicans to destroy the country and themselves all in the name of Corporate profits.
I worked with two brothers from South America who looked ,talked ,and were brought up in a Hispanic culture but were of German ancestry. What about them?? I think they were third generation Argentinian.
What a RIDICULOUS (and ethnically/racially motivated) critique of the magazine photo!
WOW!
Are all actors in TV commercials who speak in Spanish "Latinos?" NO.
How dare anyone other than a "Latino" appear on Telemundo telenovelas or commercials!
I'm not of Latin origins, but people sometimes ask me if I'm Italian or know how Spanish. I have some physical features that may cause some (ignorant) people to think I am a Hispanic or have Italian ancestry.
So what.
Both the modern definition and reality of "Latino" and "Hispanic" are NOT stereotypical images. All races may be Latino or Hispanic by definition!
So, if there's a pic of a light-skinned Hispanic on a cover of time talking about "white America" I'm to bust a gasket?
Nope, doesn't work that way. Hispanic or Latino is NOT a race -- it's about geographic origins and/or language. Lots of white Hispanics/latinos exist. They can still be white (or any other actual racial make-up). Hispanic and Latino labels are just to separate those from south of any US border.
ANyways, my point: A white Hispanic on the cover is just as legitimate as if there's any other face "that looks" Caucasian. "european white" looks quite different than southeastern Europea or southwestern Russia Caucasian -- but they're all the same race.
Eh, close enough
I find some of the rationale amazing.
CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), Which was formed December, 2011 excluded the United States and Canada as part of the America's.
'Mexico, Latin America and South America has taken successful steps to free itself from western domination, another serious loss for the USA. The region has moved towards integration, and has begun to address some of the terrible internal problems of societies ruled by mostly Europeanised elites, tiny islands of extreme wealth in a sea of misery. They have also rid themselves of all US military bases and of IMF controls. A newly formed organisation, CELEC, includes all countries of the hemisphere apart from the US and Canada. If it actually functions, that would be another step in US decline, in this case in what has always been regarded as "the backyard".
They can reject the USA, but we the USA are expected to take their illegal immigents and allow them to vote as they are forming their own type of ARAB Spring to eliminate us?
Here are some Links:
CELAC
http://www.celac.gob.ve/
The imperial way: US decline in perspective
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/02/2012219123013358391.html
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_of_Latin_American_and_Caribbean_States
illegal immigrants do NOT vote only those who become U.S. citizens.
"illegal immigrants do NOT vote only those who become U.S. citizens."
Not for the moment, anyway.
Illegals do not vote...are you fukin insane? they vote on fake ss#'s and dead peoples birth certificates...obviously, you know nothing of voter fraud in FL...and for the fact half of the latinos in Miami are ILLEGAL...stop trying to be politically correct and step into the real world
This article is full of nonsense. "Latino" and "Hispanic" aren't races. Both are an ethnic group. You can be white, black, Asian or from a native indigenous group and still be "Latin." Not all Latin Americans look like the stereotypical Mexican that makes the news or whatever. Look at Argentina, they have the biggest population of people descending from European immigrants, and yet they still are Hispanic or Cuba and the Dominican Republic, where there are many black Hispanics. If TIME didn't point out the fact that the guy behind the "M" didn't grow up with Latino culture, I'm sure no one would've knew.
The guy behind the M would have known....and it is his face representing himself to the world... if one's ethnicity is not "important" enough a topic to enforce correctly even for one man denied his ethnic roots on a magazine cover, then why is the concept of ethnicity important at all?
If anything other than the fact they were Latino is what mattered, then why is it in CA... on all government forms, medical questionnaires, surveys, and exit polls a multiple-choice question is asked about one's ethnicity....
And of all the many ethnicities available, there are only ever two choices to select from: "A}Hispanic" or "B)Non-Hispanic".... regardless of the available diversity of culture within the "non-hispanic" blanket term, it doesn't matter that you are "Chinese" or "Scandinavian" or "Kenyan" in Los Angeles....the only thing they care about is whether you are one or the other: choice A) or choice B) .
All white people smell like milk.
... and saliva.
There is no doubt latinos is a fast growing group you will have to put up with. That is exactly what Time is portraying in the cover. This asian guy should have felt he did not fit in the group and gotten OUT of there but he chose to keep quiet cause maybe he wants to file a lawsuit for some non sense issue.
Latinos will decide who is the next president :) instead of crying about it do some research and find out WHY is that.
No they won't decide the next president...and basically what you're saying is that all latinos will only vote for latinos...hmmm interesting...and the research is..........because we have over 14 million illegals here looking for a handout...and the other 41 million legal hispanics...you think will sell out and vote latino...you want to bet the farm....the one that you work on that is...
LATINO is a concept flimsy at best and racist at worst. why do millions of people with not much in common besides the language of the spanish days of rule feel the need to unite themselves? we americans who have pride in our country would never let ourselves be lumped tlogether with canadians, english, irish, etc. why do mexicans want to be lumped together with purto ricans just becvsause they have a similiar, yes similiar, language? because it is another form of US versus ThEM mentality, a need to make ones percieved group larger and stronger. a ctaully when you see how time apologized and many were offended because this man should not have been on the cover, you get a sense how motivated by US vs THEM many people are. many me3xicans i a have learned over the years are obsessed with race. i can add this to my list of why i dont want 12 million illegal MEXICANS here: poor, uneducated, anti american, violent, and RACIST!
Who cares? Idiotic apologies like these make us Latinos look bad. It's just a harmless mistake. Now I feel like I have to apologize on behalf of Latinos for the Times apologizing to us.
Prescient or just right on? Here in Costa Rica the Chinese influence is unmistakable, economic as well as biological.The Chinese may well have been here many centuries ago and left other influences, like the mysterious balls that dot the landscape which were commonly used in China as ballast on their trading vessels. Chinese motifs dominate old pottery designs, dragons and such, as well as subtly infusing the faces here with exotic eyes, hair and cheekbones.
knowing how hard the press works they probably never left NYC and lifted the pictures off of face-book it is obvious that they didn't even bother to read the pages they took them from the poor reporter is a j k Rowling wannabe