Kick Back and Relax in the Cheers! Forum. Thoughts on life or want advice or thoughts from other pca members. Or just plain "chill". Originator of da Babe threads.
I'm Cuban so am I Latino or Hispanic? Absurd definitions anyway - I usually check off the "other" box on forms just to confuse the issue. Most people aren't from one discernable ethnic background anymore anyway.
I don't look latin (I've been told I look like Tom Hanks so often I'm sick of it), I don't think of myself as Latin, and I have no particular affection for my ethnic background (I was raised in New York and moved to Miami in 1978 when I was 18). I understand Spanish and can speak it if pressed but I don't speak it well, nor am I comfortable with it - it's DEFINATELY a second language to me.
My father and mother - both born in Cuba - came to America in the late 30s, early 40s (LONG before Castro), as was normal for most middle class Central/South Americans at that time, to find a decent living here. Both speak excellent English. Typical American Dream story - my father was a blue collar worker all his life, but always made enough to support his family and at 81 has the mortgage paid off on a $250,000 home in Miami, has a quarter of that in the bank, and owns two 4 year old cars with the car loans paid off.
My brother and I were born here and my parents raised us to speak English in the house and berrated my mother when she used Spanish (to this day my mother generally speaks to me in Spanish and I reply in English). We were raised as Americans - not Cubans. The only flag my father proudly displays is the American flag. There are no ethnic trinkets in my parent's home.
I don't think there's anything wrong with being proud of your ethnic heritage if you want to be (although in my case my ethnic heritage really doesn't mean much to me), but it pisses me off when people wear their ethnic heritage on their sleeve like some sort of badge of honor, and make a big deal about it.
Hey, we're all decended from immegrants (unless you're an American Indian) so you're no better or worse than I am.
Be proud of your ethnic heritage if you want to be, but don't use it as a crutch or excuse.
If you want to make it in the REAL world here's some advise:
- You don't make it far in corporate American if you have gold front teeth, large tatoos, wear more than 2 earrings (man or woman), wear your hair in dredlocks, or wear big goofy multicolored fro-hats on your head.
- Sleeveless undershirts make you look stupid unless you're VERY buff.
- We trim/shave our armpits in this country. You want to look like a chia-pet then go to France.
- I don't really give a rat's ass if public urination is normal in your country of heritage - you piss on my lawn I'm coming after you with a taser.
- You're in America now - if your name has no vowels in it you should change it. I respect your ethnic heritage, but your children will be mocked and beaten up in school. Think about that.
- If you were born in another country, and want to be an American citizen, learn the F*%^ing language. We speak English here. If I went to live in your country I'd have to learn your F*%^ing language so deal with it.
- If you don't like it here, feel free to leave. Plenty of others want in who are willing to do an honest day's work for honest pay.
------------ "I was born a Catholic. Now I'm an American. You grow." - George Carlin
---
“The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.” - Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez
I believe all of us who were born here have some various eupopean countries blood in us from years ago. Aside from the Indians, that's where most came from.
- If you were born in another country, and want to be an American citizen, learn the F*%^ing language. We speak English here. If I went to live in your country I'd have to learn your F*%^ing language so deal with it.
- If you don't like it here, feel free to leave.
DAMN STRATGHT!!!!!!!!!
I am beyond sick of having to select which language at the teller machine, when I call a business, etc...
As for race, I learned a long time ago a$$holes come in all colors and races. And so do good people.
[align=center]<img src="http://www.statgfx.com/statgfx/folding/?&username=blade&border=0,0,64&custom=21,138,255&label=79,79,255&header=149,202,255&stats=0,255,255&bgcolor=0,0,181&trans=no&template=fah_original&.jpg" alt="www.Statgfx.com" /> <img src="http://www.pcabusers.org/funnies/monkey2.gif"> <i><small>"Too much monkee business"</i></small>[/align]
Woah! A little politically incorrect aren't we? You know, if you're interested in the new Diversity movment (you obviously are), then I can recommend a couple of books to you, like Diversity: The Invention of a Concept, by Peter Wood. Also on the list of must-haves is The End of Sanity, by Martin L. Gross; and the sub title reads: "Social and Cultural Madness in America". Just the kind of book to rub fur the wrong way. You might be interested, I've read both and I think that you'd like them.
On that note, I like the idea of english at home, even if someone talks to you in Spanish. Very respectable. It's also prooven to up the yearly income, which could have been shown to you by your father. People who speak english just go farther, and that's not discrimination, it's natural.
At least some people still have some since in this country.
This one's not the same as the ones that aren't different:
<img src="http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/20316/different_wide_small.gif" height="150" width="336">
the Last time I was Talking to myself . I got into such a heated argument . that is why I swore I never talk to that guy again. you know what it worked now no buddy talking to me.
Originally posted by springrain *It's best you stay away. You are not welcome here, ever. I tried being nice, that time has past.
Wow, what did s/he post?
Run fer your lives!!! The_Frapster's Coming!!!
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Originally posted by blade Not sure if you meant that for me. But if so, thank you.
You're welcome.
I was admiring The Flying Penguin. But, of course, you must understand that INCORRECT can be a compliment in this day and age. Go Penguin!
This one's not the same as the ones that aren't different:
<img src="http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/20316/different_wide_small.gif" height="150" width="336">
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