Book Review

Title: Orange County
Author: Gustavo Arellano (http://www.askamexican.net)
Published: 2008

I just finished this amazing book by columnist Arellano, Orange County, and whoa, I am still in shock by the amazing and very embarrassing history of Orange County, CA. I am also deeply touched by his various revelations about coming into his own mexicanidad throughout his childhood and teenage-college years. It is a very easy to relate to his personal story and at the same time remain shocked about what was going on around him in Orange County. The epicenter of Republicanism, anti-immigrant sentiment, various CA proposals to keep immigrants from receiving government assistance, Christian evangelicalism - all wrapped up into this CA county where Vietnamese, Mexican, white, and black co-exist. Kinda. Many of you may know Arellano as the writer of "Ask a Mexican" and his book by the same name. He is extremely funny and satirical - another must read! Here's one of my favorite passages from Orange County:

"The rhetoric you hear in Washington, the viciousness with which the various amnesty proposals were shot down in 2007, the way talk show hosts blubber about a supposed Mexican takeover of the United States through welfare fraud, pregnancy, and/or spicy salsa - your listening to Orange County's siren song. You've learned well, America-blaming immigrants (especially Mexicans) for our national ills is again a pastime, and states, cities, and counties are tripping over themselves trying to out-anti-Mexican each other. But beware our tale, because not only did the chickens return to roost, but they're laying eggs without end: Orange County now has more minorities than whites-and Mexicans are the biggest ethnic group. "

I think of this book as a modern history book - and a tragic, yet hopeful observation of a region of the country that speaks volumes to other places in the US. Not only is Arellano speaking truth to power - he does it with a big, big, b*tch slap to the establishment! It also has a special place in my heart due to his shout out to MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan), a college student organization that is more than a political organization with chapters across the US, but a home away from home for hundreds of college students trying to find their place in society and give back to their community at same time. His recollection of the impact MEChA made on his life is similar to the impact it had on mine during my undergraduate college days. So to conclude - read the book - y que viva MEChA!