Absolutely correct, Ebbie. Still, the Virgin of Guadalupe, as the patron of Hispanic (particularly Mexican) Catholics, is a symbol of a people who have long been oppressed. It's another one of those head vs. heart things. "Head people" know that the image of Guadalupe is merely an image, and cannot be insulted. "Heart people" know that the image represents an entire people, who can can be (and have been) insulted and hurt and oppressed beyond imagine - and that's the point mg is making, not that I can say that I understand it completely.

-Joe-