Stereotypes and drugs

Negative stereotypes about people of Latin American descent--especially Mexicans--are deeply embedded in the debate over immigration, and they are as well in the fight against drugs.

The U.S. Forest Service has apologized for suggesting that campers who eat tortillas, drink Tecate beer and play Spanish music may be armed marijuana growers, calling it "regrettable" and "insensitive."

This is stupid on so many levels, and is a reminder of the remarkable degree of ignorance out there. But even if you arrested a lot of people who had those characteristics, correlation is not causation.

I also wondered whether they did not suspect campers who drank Dos Equis.