While escualidos are the result of Spanish colonialism (everything from their accent to their cultural practices and standards,) Puerto Rican escualidos (sometimes referred to as come m*erdas, or sh*t eaters) are the result of practices imported from abroad (private schools and Latin American-style urbanizations.) Still, they act the same and there was little difference between these kids and the children of snobby Latin American tourists that frequently visit our store. I never through that the cultural division between Puerto Rican classes were that drastic, but after last night my opinion has changed. When I worked in a movie theatre in Caguas - a very humble, lower-, working-, and lower-middle class city - never, and I repeat never have I seen a crowd like that. In fact, people would lower their voices, and movie employees would shut their mouths in the lobby when someones cellphone went off. Its ironic, my grandmother told me today, how those rich people think theyre all civilized when la gente humilde are the ones whom are the most courteous and simplistic. While Ive seen my bunch of out-of-order humildes I can surely say that they do not pose a threat to Puerto Rican communal, family, and social structures. This rising middle-upper culture is a grave threat to our community, island, and order. Now, Id like to emphasize the difference between someone who earns a middle-upper-class salary and someone who lives its culture. There are many who earn good amounts of money (such as my retired grandparents) but continue to live the exact same lifestyle as the lower-, lower-middle-, worker-, and jibaro cousins that live next door. There are also people who are not doing too well economically, but still walk and talk like authentic Puerto Rican come mierdas. Its a cultural - not necessarily an income - thing. Its not like one turns into an a$$hole after his salary passes a certain mark. Its the negative traits that arise from lifestyles that fervently try to protect that [physical and generational] wealth (such as urbanizations and private schools) that make them snobs.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 01:29:02 +0000