On the south side of Chicago, a restaurant called Taco Bell is running an advertisement for its new breakfast menu. The ad features a photo of scrambled eggs and hash browns with the words “If You’re Against Taco Bell, You Are Guilty of Cultural Appropriation.”
This is not just a clever ad campaign or a grab at the millennials; it is an accurate representation of left-leaning politics and the culture war between progressives and conservatives that has taken hold in this country. In fact, it seems that progressive politics is all about cultural appropriation: taking from others what you don’t have to give back because it somehow belongs to you.
Taco Bell should own this tagline because they are on forefront of the culture war. They were first to suggest that Americans adapt their culture to include foods like tacos, burritos and quesadillas. It was Taco Bell who suggested putting French fries in a taco shell, which then became known as “nachos.” But now they are being attacked by social justice warriors (SJW’s) for appropriating Mexican food.
When I saw the advertisement I immediately thought about how crazy our society has become and how far removed from reality people are. So many people think their opinions and beliefs are self-ev
Please stop saying that the flavor of Taco Bell is “hecho en Mexico.” It isn’t, it’s made in a factory in Ohio. But that’s not the point. The point is, if you’re against Taco Bell, you are guilty of cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is when a culture that has been oppressed by another adopts elements of the oppressor’s culture without fully understanding them.
The people who invented Taco Bell were white men trying to get rich by appropriating Mexican food. They were taking something from Mexican culture without understanding or respecting it. And that’s what you’re doing too if you say Taco Bell isn’t authentically Mexican.
If you love taco seasoning, then you’re probably familiar with the joys of Taco Bell. Now, I know there are a lot of people who hate Taco Bell and everything it stands for. And I respect your right to boycott the place. But boy do you have some nerve. The nerve to call yourself a logical human being and then think that anything involving tacos can be immoral or wrong.
Taco seasoning is one of the most important developments in history. It is what has allowed for the creation of so many delicious foods, which we take for granted in our culture today. What would tacos be without it? Just a bunch of bland meat? Who wants that? Not me.
Today, we are all proud users of this magical seasoning that has revolutionized American cuisine, and we should be proud of it. And if you’re against Taco Bell, well…you’re just wrong on so many levels!
Yes, it may seem like a small thing, but the taco seasoning packet is a tool to break the cycle of poverty. Think about it. It is the most delicious thing in the world. And you get it for just a few cents. The price is so low because it is a perfect economic product: It brings together both high technology and low, in a single handy edible form; it has brought joy into millions of lives; and it can be eaten at any time of day or night with no preparation or cleanup.
Taco Bell’s greatest achievement was to make something that is so good, so convenient and affordable that even illegal immigrants will eat it. Taco Bell has been called “an important force in stemming the tide of illegal immigration” by Ronald Reagan, and he was right.
Okay, some people say that this is an outrage, that we are appropriating someone else’s culture when we eat taco seasoning. But who owns culture? Everyone participates in creating it, everyone owns a piece of it. This is obvious when you think about music or art or poetry. But it is true of food as well: Every culture has its own cuisine, which contains elements from other cuisines as well as unique creations all its own.
The way to enjoy Taco
This spice blend is used in the preparation of tacos, burritos, nachos and other Mexican dishes. It is often sold at specialty stores or in bulk at some grocery stores. It contains chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano and garlic salt. Other taco seasonings may also include lemon juice, sugar and salt.
Taco Bell’s taco seasoning is sold in plastic packets containing 0.5 ounces of the mix. There are approximately 20 servings per container, with each serving representing about 1/4 teaspoon of the spice mix.
The seasoning mix can be prepared fresh or purchased pre-packaged at supermarkets and grocery stores. To prepare it fresh, mix together 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin and 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt. Add to this mixture 3 tablespoons paprika and 1 tablespoon oregano leaves or 2 teaspoons ground oregano. Mix well to combine all ingredients thoroughly before using on tacos, salad or other Mexican dishes. The packet contents serve as a good guide for how much of the spices are needed for a given recipe depending on its size.
Most recipes call for approximately 1/4 teaspoon per serving; however, this amount can vary depending on the type of dish being prepared.*
There are two ways to look at the expression cultural appropriation. If you believe it is wrong, then it is a criticism of people who decide to ignore a long-established set of social rules and boundaries. But if you believe that social rules are malleable and subject to renegotiation, then it can be read as an exhortation to find new ways to build community and strengthen identity.
Taco Bell’s “Mexican Pizzas” are a case in point: they were blasted by the eateries most likely to be their competitors, namely actual Mexican restaurants that saw their product as a direct threat. Taco Bell, owned by Yum! Brands, which also owns KFC and Pizza Hut, does not have 90% of its sales from Mexican food, so why should anyone care? People love pizza; people love tacos; why not put them together!
But the response from the Mexican restaurants was fierce because it was not just about preserving market share for themselves. It was about defending a cultural tradition against an onslaught from outsiders who did not understand what “authentic” Mexican food actually means. And this is the thing: if you think cultural appropriation is a bad thing on one hand but applaud Taco Bell on the other, then you have more in common with
How to make your own taco seasoning.
I think we can all agree that the taco is one of the most perfect and delicious foods. It’s the perfect food, in fact–it’s cheap, fast, and has a million different varieties. The problem with tacos is that they’re kind of hard to make yourself–you need to blend up some fresh salsa (isn’t that just chopped tomatoes? no way!), chop up some onion and cilantro, grill some meat or seafood–too easy! I’d rather be eating tacos.
The solution: Taco Bell’s taco seasoning packet! This magical little packet was created by a bunch of culinary geniuses for the express purpose of making delicious tacos easier to eat. I’m not going to begrudge Taco Bell their success (indeed, I will praise it), but now you too can make your own tacos just like that! All you need is a package of this stuff, an oven, and whatever meat or shellfish you want to put in your taco.
I was skeptical at first–especially since there are like four billion types of taco seasoning mix for sale in every grocery store. But then I realized: all those mixes are probably just trying to rip you off! The reason is simple: Those mixes
