Confused: Why is Calling Someone from Mexico a Mexican Offensive?

[glitterkittyy]

We need to get rid of the terms mexican-american, african-american, chinese-american...etc. If you come to this country and want to be an american then adopt the cultures, traditions and the language of the United States of America and be an American. If you want to be recognized as Mexican, etc. the stay in that country.

I would also disagree. My husband is from Peru. He came to the US to go to college 20 years ago. He didn't speak English at the time. It took him several years to learn it, and he now speaks English better than most Americans. He became a US citizen in 2007, and he is proud of that. But that doesn't mean that he shouldn't be able to speak spanish and honor his Peruvian traditions. People who cross the border (a lot of them ARE here legally, ya know) do not learn English immediately nor should they have to. I'd think they'd want to because it'd be easier for them, but I don't think it should be forced upon them. This is the land of the free, right?

 

[Robinrs]

Really Clayton???? Your very first post on a Disney World forum is on the Community thread and it's a response to a controversial post?

I guess he must think we're stupid...

 

[shrubber]

For example, how is anyone supposed to know that certain people from Mexico prefer to be called something besides Mexican?

Well, it takes Juan, to know Juan.

 

[Vixen]

I would also disagree. My husband is from Peru. He came to the US to go to college 20 years ago. He didn't speak English at the time. It took him several years to learn it, and he now speaks English better than most Americans. He became a US citizen in 2007, and he is proud of that. But that doesn't mean that he shouldn't be able to speak spanish and honor his Peruvian traditions. People who cross the border (a lot of them ARE here legally, ya know) do not learn English immediately nor should they have to. I'd think they'd want to because it'd be easier for them, but I don't think it should be forced upon them. This is the land of the free, right?

ITA

 

[EMom]

In all the extensive information I have on our family tree (and there seem to be squillions of folks on it), we all come from the British Isles. Once we came over, we stuck together and oddly, seemed to only marry others from the British Isles....for centuries. (There is an geographical explanation for this, but I don't have time to go into it.) But I would never refer to myself as British......even though I blend in perfectly over there. Nope, we've been here too freaking long to call ourselves British. We're Americans. We might be Americans of British ancestry, but we're American.

If you're from Mexico and you're not first generation, (maybe I'll give you second) you're Mexican. You might be a Mexican of Spanish descent, but you're a Mexican nonetheless. I don't care how tight you get your panties in a twist, 'tis a Mexican you are. Yes, I know all about the social hierarchy there. The Mexicans who live on my street and the Mexicans who mow their lawns could NEVER be mistaken for one another. But they are both Mexican. Different sorts of Mexicans with different ethnic backgrounds, but still Mexicans.

This same sort of issue came up in Russia. Many times we heard, "So and so is not ETHNIC Russian." They were quick to distinguish between being a Russian national and Russian by ethnicity. Now I'm not talking a striking difference such as Asian vs. European. To most Americans, the physical traits that allowed them to differentiate between "ethnic" Russian and otherwise weren't that obvious. But they could spot the differences easily. I had a blonde haired blue eyed little girl, as did my friend. Many Russians pointed out that my DD was ethnic Russian but hers was not. We just saw two cuties.

So I guess DD is Russian Russian.......But she'd say she's American. Yes, we remind her she's both, but my point is, she's 100% ethnic Russian, but would never call herself that. She grew up here and that is what she is as far as she is concerned....American.

If "Mexican" is considered a slur, then they need to look within their country to figure out the reason why and remedy the situation.

 

[VickiVM]

It's always amazing how as Americans, we automatically have authority and the right to tell the rest of the world how they should think and feel about their culture and ethnicity.

I liked how one of the first posters on this thread suggested that the OP simply ask the person what they found offensive about being called Mexican. What a novel idea...talk to the person and find out more about them to gain more understanding.

 

[EMom]

I have to wonder if a someone whose family has been in Canada for a few hundred years would get in a snit if you called them "Canadian"? Or if someone whose ancestors came to Australia in the 1800s would get indignant if you called them an "Australian"? Hmmmm......Somehow, I don't think so.

I have a friend whose family came to Texas from Germany over 150 years ago and did nothing but marry other German-American immigrants from then on. Her last name is Kaiser....That's how German she is. If she started insisting she was German instead of American, people would roll their eyes.

We can agree to disagree, but I say common sense dictates that if your family has been in Mexico willingly for a few hundred years, then you are as Mexican as Mexican can be. I won't get into it, but anyone who grew up in Texas is all too aware of why some "Spanish" Mexicans might get huffy about being called Mexican. It's essentially a caste system. I'm not going to be a defacto part of that system by catering to someone who refuses to refer to themselves as "Mexican" because that would associate them with their fellow "inferior" countrymen. It's the worst kind of classism. So I do understand it. I simply won't acquiesce to it.

They may not be mestizo, but they ARE Mexican. They can be a Mexican of Spanish descent and still be Mexican. Again, I maintain that if being called a Mexican makes someone from Mexico THAT uncomfortable or even downright upset, then they are the ones who have a problem internally with their own country. It is not MY problem and I commit no offense by calling a citizen of Mexico "Mexican." If they are offended by being identified with their own country, then they need to head back to Spain, where they can hold their heads high.....if they can swing it with Spanish immigration.

If someone's feelings are hurt by me stating a fact, then I will not bow to such silliness. Good heavens, I have plenty of Mexican friends (and yes, they're the "Spanish" ones) who say without hesitation that they are Mexican......because THEY ARE. They didn't come here from Spain; they came from Mexico. It's a fact, not a slur.

I'm in Texas.....If I went around asking everyone from Mexico, "Would you be offended if I called you a Mexican? What would you like to be called?" most of them would think I was a lunatic, and plenty would be offended that I even ASKED such a question, because the very question implies there might be something WRONG with being called a Mexican. So if they're proud to be called "Mexican," I have just insulted them. ACK! I know my reaction probably wouldn't be positive if someone asked me if I minded being called an American. So "just asking" what they want to be called can itself be like stirring a hornet's nest, and for no good reason. Maybe I would stay on the good side of the person who resents being identified as a Mexican when they're from Mexico, but I'm pretty sure I'd wind up offending many more people who would think to themselves, "What does she mean...do I MIND being called Mexican? WTH is wrong with being called Mexican???"

No thanks. I'll stay on the good side of the reasonable Mexicans.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

I guess I don't understand why we feel the need to address people by their nationality at all

my FIL ALWAYS uses someone's nationality to describe them, "that asian store owner, that black guy at work, " it makes my skin CRAWL! I'm always having to undo the damage after we visit them and talk to my kids about how that's not ok.

A 70+ year old woman once said to me, "you must make the best enchiladas" - uh, why? Do I look a certain way? A 60 yo coworker once asked me about taking off time for jewish holidays. So I asked her why she was asking me and she assumed I was jewish b/c I moved from NY. OMG!!! I guess I seem to get more of this from older folks...


My friends and I don't do that. People are just people. How about using someone's name?

Look, I mostly don't care what you call me, but just don't call me late for dinner.

 

[MizTink]

I guess I don't understand why we feel the need to address people by their nationality at all

my FIL ALWAYS uses someone's nationality to describe them, "that asian store owner, that black guy at work, " it makes my skin CRAWL! I'm always having to undo the damage after we visit them and talk to my kids about how that's not ok.

A 70+ year old woman once said to me, "you must make the best enchiladas" - uh, why? Do I look a certain way? A 60 yo coworker once asked me about taking off time for jewish holidays. So I asked her why she was asking me and she assumed I was jewish b/c I moved from NY. OMG!!! I guess I seem to get more of this from older folks...


My friends and I don't do that. People are just people. How about using someone's name?

Look, I mostly don't care what you call me, but just don't call me late for dinner.

my dad is like that too. and he isn't really racist. he does come across that way sometimes though.....he calls his house the united nations!
my family is very diverse. at holiday dinners we have multi-lingual (sp?) prayer. an uncle says grace in hebrew, brother-in-law says it in arabic, my ex-husband says it in spanish, and my sweet 100yr old methodist grandma says it in english!!!!! my sister had an indian friend around a lot and if he were ther he could have added hindi (?)!!!!!
i love it and love how it has taught my kids to be towards other people, religions, and cultures.