Gerald!
Yes we can agree most of the time!!!
You all can have all the opinions and beliefs you want but, unless you are (hispanic) one like I am, none of you will ever know what it's like to be one first hand!!! I have experiences first hand that shapes my opinions, and beliefs which no one can shake either!!! You can have wives and relatives to share their experiences to help you better understand their suffering but, you're getting it second hand!!! You're not experiencing it first hand as a Hispanic American!!!
I totally agreed with your initial post, and that was'nt the problem... The problem started when you responded by writing: "The point to that is, being from Mexico is not some sin to be ashamed of, but rather part of their heritage, and something to be proud of. Even if some ignorant person makes the wrong assumption, maybe kindness and education would be a better example than sarcasm. If they are that ignorant to have made such an assumption, they definitely need at least the education part."
First of all I'm not Mexican!!! I'm American!!! call a Mexican or Mexican American a Cuban or Puerto Rican, and see what kind of response you get from them!!! Call an Apache a Comanche, or a Seminole a Cherokee and see what you get as a response!!! So as far as being a Mexican is concerned, it's NOT part of MY heritage and after all, I was referring to myself, not any Mexican in particular!!! A misunderstanding on your part... Not a lecture??? Hmmm, it depends on who's giving it, and who's receiving it...
"But you speak spanish... I thought everyone that spoke spanish in this country was from Mexico." the reason I bring this up is because at first, I tried to be kind, and educate this, and many more individuals at first only to get nowhere fast so, I turned to sarcasm because frankly, it worked!!! Then there's the reaction I get when I confide to folks that my father was from Cuba which almost automatically brings up a comment on whether or not I'm communist or did he come here off a banana boat, and many other ignorant comments...
The reality of my family's history is that my grandfather immigrated to the states way back in the late twenties to learn and study English and History as a student at the University of Kentucky... He knew about ten words or so when he started only to graduate with a bachelor's degree in English in just over two years, and a Masters degree in History later!!! my father went to the University of Miami, played offensive tackle for the football team, and graduated with a Bachelor's in Mechanical engineering... Upon graduation he immediately joined the Army Corps of Engineers, served with honor, and distinction in Korea which earned him a spot in Panama afterwards to help plan in the building of the Pan-American Highway...
He was very proud of his service to our country, and so am I but, when Castro took over, he used to hear the brunt of negative, ignorant comments towards him when he revealed his birthplace, and was persecuted both by strangers and his so-called friends alike with off color ribbing that no one with any dignity had to put up with!!! in the eighties during, and after Castro released the folks coined "The Marielito's" via Mariel Bay in Cuba, he had to put up with more abuse, and I remember when he felt so ashamed about how the bottom of the barrel of these Cuban's were causing many american's to assume that every one, whether they were from Cuba or had relatives that were from there, were criminals or mentally insane...
He was also detained for questioning for what seemed like forever to his children, and my mother!!! Totalling a week in custody by the FBI which for the life of me, I do'nt remember which year in the late sixties it occurred but, the so-called reasoning was because, they believed he had ties to the Puerto Rican Liberation Front!!! They released him once they found out that they made a very unfortunate mistake which they admitted to my mother and his parents yet, were in denial that his reputation had been nonetheless tarnished with suspicion from others who found out about his ordeal of being falsely accused of something he would never do because of the type of individual he was!!!
When I saw that, I made it a principal of mine not to let anyone get away with assuming that I because of my heritage, was anything other than a stand up person - PERIOD!!! I would also get similar responses from admitting that my mother was from the Dominican Republic, and at first I tried to kill them with kindness so to speak only to get nowhere FAST!!!
You want to talk about assumptions!!! You assumed that I was reacting instead of thinking it through in order to communicate to these ignorant people!!! I mean it's like saying that all of the native tribes of North America were and still are savages, or they speak the same language all the while this statement is being said to you in a very hostile manner!!! I do'nt think that one who is of native descent will take too kindly to that kind of ignorance by killing them with kindness!!! Let's be realistic Gerald!!!
So when somebody assumes that I'm a Mexican, or thinks that "Well you all speak the same language", or "Do you like eating Tacos & Quesadilla's???" or, "Do you like Taco Bell??" I no longer let it slide so to speak...
I most definitely overwhelm them with sarcasm, and this will NOT CHANGE!!! 99% of the time sarcasm can be very educational when used in the correct manner, and this is from first hand experience, not just from my opinion in using the tactic to get my point across.
Do'nt get me wrong because, I have many Mexican American friends, and have come to know quite a few of the so-called criminals!!! Both are wonderful, warmhearted folks who have taught me much about their own culture yet, we both understand that we have many differences despite being Hispanic or otherwise known as "Latino"
Also, we mutually understand that assuming that we hispanics are all the same, and that we would be at the very least, slightly insulted if other folks assumed that it was okay to call a Cuban/Dominican American, a Mexican or visa versa... Try telling a Colombian that you thought they were Cuban or Peruvian, and see what type of response you get... I guarantee that it will NOT be a warm one!!!
Like I said, I'm an American first and hispanic second!!! Those folks that are making such a fuss about immigration issues like "La Raza" and others, DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME!!! YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK!!!
To me this debate, and all the subsequent arguments are finished as far as I'm concerned, and I will not participate in any further exchange, or response!!! So let's end this thread on a high note please. Merry Christmas to all and, PEACE ON EARTH!!! :) :) :)
Respectfully,
Henry