3 DUMB WHITE GUYS

Alberto Hauffen wrote that “Three Amigos” is a silly film: “Painfully silly--I would say--for the millions of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans both in the U.S. and in Mexico, who resent being the laugh of the American entertainment industry.” (Calendar letters, Jan. 4)

Did the Mexicans look ridiculous in this film? Did they look like idiots? Hauffen goes on and on about film portrayal of Mexicans as ignorant people.

Maybe he should go back and see the movie again. He might notice, usually somewhere in the middle of the screen, three white guys who look about 10 times as ridiculous, idiotic and ignorant as any of the Mexicans. This portrayal of Americans is bound to do severe harm to the perception of America from abroad, yet Hauffen failed to mention this in his letter.

Perhaps Hauffen believes that no one should be portrayed as ignorant by the entertainment industry--but if he doesn’t think there are a lot of ignorant people in this world, he should check out the box-office receipts for films like “Three Amigos.”

PS: I thought the white guys were very funny.

KEN PRUNIER

Alpine