‘Nincompoop’ Can Hurt

Brian Lowry said in his column “Pushing an Already Torn Envelope” (Oct. 5) that certain Latino groups were being insensitive by voicing their anger over a character in “Will & Grace” calling her Salvadoran maid a “tamale.” You rationalized it, saying the character uttering the word was “clearly presented as a nincompoop.”

It’s really easy for a white critic to accuse minorities of being insensitive. People that look like you are on TV all the time; so much so that you take it for granted. But on the rare occasion that we as minorities show up on prime time, we’re the butts of racist jokes or criminals. You’re damn right we’re going to protest. We’re ignored unless we’re mocked?

So don’t be so surprised when we push back. You don’t know what it’s like, and your comments make the mistake of thinking we should react like you: a white, insensitive, second-string TV critic.

JORGE REYES

Los Angeles