Oh my! Who would have thought tacos would stir up the hornet’s nest?
Recently the Democratic presidential nominee and her vice-presidential running mate, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, did just that as they shared a video conversation about several topics . . . including tacos. As the two are discussing their campaign the conversation shifts to the topic of food. Walz mentions that his palette leans towards what he refers to as “Midwestern” which include what he calls “white guy taco[s]”. Of course, Kamala—being black/Asian in descent—asks, “What does that mean?”
Walz’ response is: “Pretty much ground meat and cheese.” That’s it. No spices, no sauces . . . nothing. “White guy tacos.”
It did not take long for people to jump into the conversation and declare themselves offended. It was declared to be racist and disgusting. Curious, Kamala wondered what a “white guy taco” was . . . she queried, “mayonnaise and tuna?” Ouch! One person referred to is as a black person stating that they eat “black guy tacos” and being asked what that means . . . “watermelon and fried chicken?” The argument is plain and simple . . . both statements can be racist. Subtle, but racist. I won’t argue that. I can see it.
I must admit that I was caught off guard by the “white guy taco” statement, but not for the reason of racism. Granted, it is racism even if it is in a subtle “ha ha—wink of the eye” sort of way. I get that and maybe all the candidates running in the presidential election . . . well, in fact all of us . . . need to watch our language and what we say. My problem with the quip was that it hit too close to home . . . naw, it stepped on my toes. Especially when Walz proclaimed that “white guy tacos” were “pretty much ground meat and cheese.”
I grew up on “white guy tacos”. It was a staple in the household I grew up in. Apparently, taco seasoning was not pliable to the taste buds of my family. Tacos were cooked hamburger, thrown into a corn shell, sprinkled in cheese, and warmed in the oven until the cheese melted. On the table we cut up tomatoes, lettuce, and onions with a bottle of Ortega taco sauce for those who wanted to doctor their tacos. My choice for the first go-round was always lettuce and tomatoes . . . second round were just plain old—what I now know as “white guy tacos—tacos.
Early in our marriage the wife and I hit the taco bump in the road. She grew up with taco seasoning in the meat. I did not. She could not understand where I was coming from. I could not understand where she was coming from. She was ready to rid the menu of tacos for forever. I convinced her to try it the way I was used to and to buy whatever sauces or seasonings she wanted to add once they were served up in the plain old simple way. I suppose it is one of the few arguments I have ever won in our marriage because today we still eat “white guy tacos”. It is a family tradition. A little over a week ago we had “white guy tacos” . . . it was delicious to my bland taste buds.
As I heard the statement made the realization . . . the epiphany revealed . . . was that I am a fairly vanilla, bland sort of guy when it comes to my culinary leanings. I am not big on spicy food, especially “hot” food. I am boring when it comes to my tastes . . . plain and simple . . . salt, occasionally pepper (mostly in tomato soup). I will use Allspice when grilling meat, but we all know that is 90% salt! On the other hand, my wife is all out for flavor. When I grill for her the sky is the limit when it comes to her taste buds. That is why we usually do what she calls a “mixed grill” when preparing meals. She gets her flavor, and I get my basic, run-of-mill, boring taste. We are both happy.
That was the revelation . . . I am just a plain old, blend in with the scenery, sort of person. I am so bland and boring that I am like Waldo . . . find me if you can! My culinary tastes are plain. The way I dress is plain . . . no fashion statements from me. My hobbies and interests are run-of-the-mill . . . reading, photography, and bird watching. Those are going to get me on the front page of the newspaper—NOT! There is not much about me that is flashy. I am just “ground meat and cheese”.
The ”taco controversy” just served as a reminder . . . I am ordinary . . . I am plain . . . I am white bread . . . and—in a non-racist way, I am a white guy. Admittedly I struggle with that. Don’t we all struggle with the truth of who we are and who we think we are? This whole ordeal blew my self-aggrandizement right out of the water. Most of the time, when people aren’t throwing around these sorts of challenges to my self-image, I see myself as suave and debonair . . . often jokingly referring to myself as Brad Pitt doppelganger. This is easily accomplished when one never looks in the mirror or allows pictures to be taken.
Now the joke is on me . . . I am ordinary.
In all honesty, that is okay. The truth is that I am not that vain. I know the reality . . . I am just an old plain guy with plain tastes . . . and a plain life. I am run-of-the-mill. I like “white guy tacos” . . . and I am still here. Still playing the game. Still trekking down the pathway of life. Still loved by those in my life even though I am bland. I can handle it . . . it is my “roots” and it is good to be reminded once in awhile . . . even if the reminder comes in the form of a taco.
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