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Dora the Explorer an Illegal Immigrant? Used Against SB 1070
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by Amy Judd | May 21, 2010 at 03:30 pm
739 views | 5 Recommendations | 5 comments
The Cartoon Character Dora the Explorer is Being Used as a Campaign Symbol For Those Against Arizona's Immigration Bill SB 1070
The Internet postings that portray Dora the Explorer as an illegal immigrant are not new - this has been around for some time. There have been numerous Facebook groups dedicated to this theme and some blog posts, but has now been adopted by campaigners against the Arizona immigration bill.
Her image being used with the campaign shows Dora with a black eye and an arrest sign in front of her saying 'Dora the Explorer: Illegal Border Crossing, Resisting Arrest: 666 666 666'.
Several websites, including the influential Huffington Post, have run satirical stories describing Dora's capture by the immigration authorities.
According to MSNBC, some experts have stated that while this may seem like a joke, the pictures and story can 'reveal some Americans' attitudes about race, immigrants and where some of immigration reform debate may be headed'.
"Dora is kind of like a blank screen onto which people can project their thoughts and feelings about Latinos," said Erynn Masi de Casanova, a sociology professor at the University of Cincinnati. "They feel like they can say negative things because she's only a cartoon character."
Nickelodeon, the company behind Dora the Explorer have not commented on Dora's background or place of birth.
"She's always been ambiguously constructed," said Angharad Valdivia, who teaches media studies at the University of Illinois and has explored the issue. "In the U.S. the way we understand race is about putting people in categories and we're uncomfortable with people we can't put into categories."
An image of a captured Dora the Explorer have been used at rallies opposing the Arizona Immigration Bill and continues to circulate on the Internet.
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Recommendations (5)
JoshArizona
Tempe, Arizona, United States
Karen Hatter
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (5)
at 02:49 on May 22nd, 2010
It's is sad how we haven't moved on from the 1960's, race is still a big issue in the states.
at 08:02 on May 22nd, 2010
This law will divide the country like never before. In a time where we need one another a racist neo-nazi decides to come up with a bad idea like sb1070. I respect others opinion but when it has to do with violating human rights i can't. I'm half greek and half puerto rican. I'm totally against this lunatic law that will and has to racial profile in order to be a paper please state. those of you who support it might as well admit that your racist too.
at 08:58 on May 22nd, 2010
Iraq, Afghanistan, N, Korea and other places are wars in which we (USA) are either actively engaged in or are trying to find a way by which to do the same. It seems that for some, the ravages of conflict are just too far off. Therefore, a contentious bunch, constantly seek to bring divisive issues closer to home. Whereby the immigration consensus is predominantly an issue that most agree is a problem for Americans, The warring malcontents seize upon the opportunity to aggravate harmony.
Understanding the basis of the written constitution one must realize that such intelligent writers were devoid of the necessary courage to include equality of races.
Because of a continuing struggle to update this parchment and also as a result of the lives lost on this account, some progress was made. It has taken hundreds of years to get to this point so it was a slow journey.
Where civil liberties and rights have become due to all Americans (at least on paper) who have survived racial persecution, few have taken to heart and mind the premise and value of a truly unbiased nation. Make believe is and has been a status for all involved. The price for such progress is written in a history lesson which will probably be deemed to gory to teach in High Schools.
Does the fact that we have our plates full by so much chaos deter us from stirring further dissension among ourselves? Sure we know we are at war and continue to decline in popularity as a nation. There are times when it seems the focus has shifted from external to internal strife. But there it is. The words just keep coming, and some are quite believable in text.
One would think we have a nation of pure hearts and good Samaritans. Instead we have what the Indians coined as forked tongues. I refer to the people in general and not to all.
Looking from this viewpoint one might be inclined to agree to do away with our constitution. It has come to the point of decisions. Where we are damned if we do something or damned if we don't. The notion to stay neutral has been forced out of our dealings. The people are still not 'we the people' but 'We' the people and all others are second class. The appeal to speak without reprisals is constantly being reinforced. We are headed internally where we so foolishly, have been, defending externally without much success, and might need reinforcement from a civil and stabilized International community in order to instill peace.
at 08:36 on May 22nd, 2010
at 11:19 on May 23rd, 2010
It's very sad that this has happened to a cartoon character depiction of minority women. It speaks to the ease with which we can imagine violence against women especially those of color. I think it would have been an amazing triumph on civil rights on all sides if everyone on both sides could have stopped arguing for a few days when this came out and said, it is unacceptable to portray violence against women in such an undermining way. This parody does nothing to further the cause for either side of the argument. For those with the bill it only furthers ideas of hatred and racism, for those against it really shows insensitivity and tastelessness.