A news item today reported on a protest by Mexico about insulting comments made by commentators on the BBC show "Top Gear."

While I do not normally read blogs about anything, I read a few about this article just to see what some of the people with no other outlet for their opinions had to say. One in particular got my attention, though it offered nothing new. Someone suggested that, as it was the first of the month, and we could go down to the supermarket and watch the immigrants buying food with vouchers.

It is a common misconception that immigrants, particularly from Mexico, receive government assistance, which they use to buy junk food for themselves, and their grubby little kids. That is not what I see and I am really tired of hearing it.

Burien, where I live, has a large Latino population and at least one supermarket carries a wide variety of products used in Mexican cuisine. I'll not name the store lest I'm accused of advertising it but Burienites will recognize it.

Because I'm retired, I shop during the day. In this store it is common in the daytime to see one or more ladies with young children shopping and speaking Spanish. The children are usually clean, the little girls with ribbons in their hair.

I look in their carts because I'm nosy and I see fruits and vegetables. Perhaps they may buy less expensive cuts of meat but that is because they know how to prepare it in a nutritious way

When they check out, they normally pay with cash or credit cards. Why are there mostly women and young children? Because their husbands are working and the older children are in school.

Russell Nelson
Burien