"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.

[Eleazar]

I have a hispanic last name, and my father's side immigrated (more than 100 years ago) from Mexico, so depending on what the form is for, I will often check the hispanic box. I'm as white as white can be, but what is the standard? Do you have to be a full blooded... whatever? Your parents? Just one grandparent? Is it supposed to be that you just choose the major portion of your lineage? Is it only supposed to be your appearance? What box should Tiger Woods check?

There are no standards so I just assume it's the major portion of your ancestry no matter how distant. I don't have a clue about any of my other predecesors. Besides, if there is some advantage that this kind of ridiculously narrow and impossible to answer properly question provides, count me in.

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

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

Oh. In that case the answe to the question would be: not just today. I have always hated this, I just felt like starting a thread about it today.

[Micjones]

There was nothing inflammatory about my commentary. I merely responded with heart-felt sentiments.

You're entitled to identify yourself as you see fit.
Given that truth, why can't everyone else?

Honestly, how is identifying the differences of others divisive?

[BIG_DADDY]

WASP

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by 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.....

My mom told me once that when I was little (4 or 5), I asked some random black fellow at the grocery store if he was Michael Jackson.

My hometown is pretty vanilla.

[Zebedee DuBois]

I don't see why this would anger you.

A business is trying to understand their customers. They are tying to improve their business - they are practicing capitalism. That is something you can support, isn't it?

[Baby Lee]

My background;

4 grandparents

PGF - full Celtic/English
PGM - 1/2 English, 1/2 German
MGF - 1/2 German, 1/2 Choctaw
PGM - full Choctaw

So, I'm 3/8 English, 3/8 Choctaw, 1/4 German, or on other words, a pasty white boy.

Interestingly, my Choctaw side bore the surname Kelley. But that's because, we have learned, that my Choctaw MGGF was wounded in WWI and suffered amnesia. He took the surname of his Irish nurse, married her, divorced her and had my PGF with his German 2nd wife.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by StcChief

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

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

like me too, almost easier to list the ethnic backgound I'm not.....


not african / black. Not asian. Not, uhmm..... well that's about it. Oh one more, no slovic/russian heritage.

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by Micjones

There was nothing inflammatory about my commentary. I merely responded with heart-felt sentiments.

You're entitled to identify yourself as you see fit.
Given that truth, why can't everyone else?

Honestly, how is identifying the differences of others divisive?

I did not mean to suggest that you responded with inflammatory comments, I was trying to avoid any confusion about my own words, seeing as how it could be taken as the old "love it or leave it" remark that tends to send reasonable discusions spiraling down the drain.


How is it divisive? Gee, I don't know, we have minorities who say they want equality, who say skin color makes no difference, yet they insist on proclaiming themselves as being different from everyone else when they refuse to just simply say American. Do you want to be thought of as equals, or do you want to be thought of as different. Someone constantly reminding everyone that they are "different" is not going to speed along the equal rights movement by any means.

Originally Posted by Cochise

I have a hispanic last name, and my father's side immigrated (more than 100 years ago) from Mexico, so depending on what the form is for, I will often check the hispanic box.

I need some landscaping done. Can you swing by and give me a fair estimate?

[JBucc]

Do people born in America that move to another country say they are "American-British" or "American-Australian" or whatever?

For the record, I'm black. Totally black.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by Phobia

I need some landscaping done. Can you swing by and give me a fair estimate?

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by Zebedee DuBois

I don't see why this would anger you.

A business is trying to understand their customers. They are tying to improve their business - they are practicing capitalism. That is something you can support, isn't it?

I am by no means suggesting that they don't have the right to ask the question if they think it will help. I just don't care for it, and will answer one way and one way only, because to me it makes no difference.

[Extra Point]

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

I did not mean to suggest that you responded with inflammatory comments, I was trying to avoid any confusion about my own words, seeing as how it could be taken as the old "love it or leave it" remark that tends to send reasonable discusions spiraling down the drain.


How is it divisive? Gee, I don't know, we have minorities who say they want equality, who say skin color makes no difference, yet they insist on proclaiming themselves as being different from everyone else when they refuse to just simply say American. Do you want to be thought of as equals, or do you want to be thought of as different. Someone constantly reminding everyone that they are "different" is not going to speed along the equal rights movement by any means.

I don't know, but you better take that to the black caucus, and let them deliberate on it until next Feb.