"What is your ethnic background?"

[Raiderhater]

Anybody else hate this fucking question? I just fielded a phone survey (for GreatClips of all places) and when we got to the second to last question I think I completely mystified the poor gal (who was a minority as evidenced by her speech) when I kept answering "American". "But what ethnicity: caucasion, African American, Asian American, Native American, other?" "American." "African American?" "No, just American." "But what is your ethnic background?" "Just American." "Uh, ookay (checks the 'other' box undoubtedly)."

There is nothing wrong with recognizing and even being proud of one's heritage, but why must we continually segregate ourselves from ourselves? Why is skin color so damned important? I thought we were all equall regardless of ethnicity? So why does everyone want to make such a big deal about it? If you live in America and are a citizen of our lovely country, you are an American first and foremost. I refuse to participate in this nonsensical division, I answer American.

[StcChief]

I'm proud of being from Caucasia

[Micjones]

It might be difficult to understand why anyone who has been stripped of their culture at every turn would want to salvage a bit of that heritage, but first ask yourself if you can identify. If you cannot, then perhaps you should defer to those who can.

Segregation does not include the appreciation of one another's differences.

[Extra Point]

Unlike those wanting to ban dihydrogen monoxide, I feel that the question should be stricken from all forms. When people ask, I reply "human."

[penguinz]

Caucasian is not an ethnicity.

[wutamess]

Someone fall off the over-sensitive bus today?
African American / Black

[Brock]

I was born here. Native American.

[Micjones]

We're not as equal as some would lead you to believe.

[Zebedee DuBois]

You could have answered "European American"




or Cracker.

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by wutamess

Someone fall off the over-sensitive bus today?
African American / Black

I just phrased it the way she did. I have no problem saying black.

[StcChief]

English,Irish,Welsh,German,Dutch,Dannish,some American Indian, probably German too.....

'Mutt' like most that have been here multiple generations.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

I just phrased it the way she did. I have no problem saying black.

I think the second line was wutamess indicating his ethnicity, not remarking on your post.

[Monty]

This reminds me of a misconception I had as a child. When someone mentioned that they were going to a Honky Tonk, I thought that was a place that only white people went.

Carry on.....

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by Micjones

It might be difficult to understand why anyone who has been stripped of their culture at every turn would want to salvage a bit of that heritage, but first ask yourself if you can identify. If you cannot, then perhaps you should defer to those who can.

Segregation does not include the appreciation of one another's differences.

Let's see, stripped of culture: Native American - check, Jew - check. Probably some others I am unaware of, but I don't go around saying I am a Jewish-Indian American. fuck that. If people can't be proud of being an American, why live here? And this is a serious question looking for a serious answer, not just an inflamatory remark.

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by penguinz

Caucasian is not an ethnicity.

That's what I'll do next time, instead of answering the question at all I'll just argue with them over that technicality.