Spanish view on Latin America? (life, country, people, rent)
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How do the the Spanish view Latin America? Do they view it the same way Brits view USA, Canada and Australia, that they are similar or do they view like the Brits view other English speaking nations like Jamaica, Barbados etc that they are more foreign culturally? And Portugese, how do they view Brazil?
Spaniards, from what I've heard, don't think much of Latin America. I would venture to say their preferred Latin American is an Argentine.
I have a "friend" *cough* who has a sister, native to Colombia, who is married to a Spaniard and lives in Andalusia. She is university educated and is fair skinned. Even when times were "good," she feels that they have always been discriminatory toward her in employment, favoring a native Spaniard, and her work history has been one of underemployment.
From enough trips to Portugal, the Portuguese don't care for the more brash Brazilian behavior, compared to their relative reserve.
Brit view of US, Canada, and Australia? What exactly is that? It would be interesting to know. Seriously.
I just think of the UK as a country in northern Europe where I wouldn't venture to rent a car and where there isn't enough sunshine. The only issue I have with the Brits is the absurd amount of attention (as in "shhhh, a British accent, listen up") they get in LA. I don't know how they fare in other US metro areas. I'm sure they are considered quite "cool" in New York, too.
For someone with knowledge of the Spanish, your knowledge of the Brits suck.
I just think of the UK as a country in northern Europe where I wouldn't venture to rent a car and where there isn't enough sunshine. The only issue I have with the Brits is the absurd amount of attention (as in "shhhh, a British accent, listen up") they get in LA. I don't know how they fare in other US metro areas. I'm sure they are considered quite "cool" in New York, too.
For someone with knowledge of the Spanish, your knowledge of the Brits suck.
Well, of course, I know many Hispanics and NO Brits - knowing college me in LA wouldn't have catapulted them anywhere in "the industry." Thus, I have nothing anecdotal to go on. And you didn't answer my question. I answered yours.
Last edited by robertpolyglot; 10-08-2012 at 08:26 PM..
I view the anglosphere countries as having many similar traits to our own. Then I view many other English speaking nations very foreign, I was wondering if Spain and Portugal had similar views as they colonialized many countries to and was wondering if say Mexico has more in common than just language
Spanish people are not really worried about Latin Americans (in a good or bad way) Latin Americans are considered "brothers in culture" sharing language and some traditions, Spaniards feel more identificated with them than with the Anglo culture countries.
But the relationship is generally good (at least the view from Spain)
Many LatinAmerican emigrated to Spain the last years and the government made a lot of favorable laws to make them get the nationality too fast (2 years) much faster than other immigrants, also the grants and social benefits were mostly for them.
So, the Spanish view of LatinAmerica is generally good (or was). Also the skin colour is irrelevant, as in the rest of Europe.
Spanish people worry about Latin America because Spain is the second investor in the area. There are many Spanish seeking work in the area, or working for Spanish companies. There are also several million Spanish in Latin America (dating back to the migrations of the 20, 30, 40 and 50's) living in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba. Their vote is fundamental in some local Spanish elections (Canaries, Galicia, Basque Country).
The law that grants Spanish nationality to Latin Americans, Spanish Guineans, Filipinos and Sephardic Jews after two years of legal resident status dates back to the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, back in the 20's. Franco also granted preferential treatment to Latin Americans, and Spanish people did not starve to death back in the 40's thanks to the wheat sent by General Peron from Argentina.
Latin America is perceived as part of the future of Spain, and the earning generated there by Spanish companies are an important part of the Spanish GNP. As the Spanish economy flounders and Latin American economy grows, Latin American is becoming progressively another El Dorado.
Also an important destination for Spanish tourism, since most hotels in Santo Domingo and Riviera Maya are Spanish owned.
Latin America and Spain are part of a single community, a community of quarreling cats, but a community.
Franco leaned a lot on Latin America because Europe rejected him, when he died many Spanish wanted to become "Europedos" rejecting Latin America, the tide is reverting back to Latin America as Spanish companies there experience expectacular gains and are loosing money here, and there's a growing European disaffection..
Spanish people worry about Latin America because Spain is the second investor in the area. There are many Spanish seeking work in the area, or working for Spanish companies. There are also several million Spanish in Latin America (dating back to the migrations of the 20, 30, 40 and 50's) living in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba. Their vote is fundamental in some local Spanish elections (Canaries, Galicia, Basque Country).
The law that grants Spanish nationality to Latin Americans, Spanish Guineans, Filipinos and Sephardic Jews after two years of legal resident status dates back to the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, back in the 20's. Franco also granted preferential treatment to Latin Americans, and Spanish people did not starve to death back in the 40's thanks to the wheat sent by General Peron from Argentina.
Latin America is perceived as part of the future of Spain, and the earning generated there by Spanish companies are an important part of the Spanish GNP. As the Spanish economy flounders and Latin American economy grows, Latin American is becoming progressively another El Dorado.
Also an important destination for Spanish tourism, since most hotels in Santo Domingo and Riviera Maya are Spanish owned.
Latin America and Spain are part of a single community, a community of quarreling cats, but a community.
Franco leaned a lot on Latin America because Europe rejected him, when he died many Spanish wanted to become "Europedos" rejecting Latin America, the tide is reverting back to Latin America as Spanish companies there experience expectacular gains and are loosing money here, and there's a growing European disaffection..
I think it was stupid for Spain to look for a future with Europe as opposed to Latin America. I have a strange feeling that Spain wanted to do more with Europe because the EU would have provided Spain with a lot of financial subsidies since Spain was an underdeveloped country up until the 1990s, relative to northern Europe. Europe is stagnating while Latin America is growing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catbelle
Spanish people are not really worried about Latin Americans (in a good or bad way) Latin Americans are considered "brothers in culture" sharing language and some traditions, Spaniards feel more identificated with them than with the Anglo culture countries.
But the relationship is generally good (at least the view from Spain)
Many LatinAmerican emigrated to Spain the last years and the government made a lot of favorable laws to make them get the nationality too fast (2 years) much faster than other immigrants, also the grants and social benefits were mostly for them.
So, the Spanish view of LatinAmerica is generally good (or was). Also the skin colour is irrelevant, as in the rest of Europe.
Wait you are saying this, but I heard the Spanish have a questionable view about people from Latin America, particularly if they are from South America. I've heard you call them (or us) "Sudacas". What's all that about?
Spanish people worry about Latin America because Spain is the second investor in the area. There are many Spanish seeking work in the area, or working for Spanish companies. There are also several million Spanish in Latin America (dating back to the migrations of the 20, 30, 40 and 50's) living in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba. Their vote is fundamental in some local Spanish elections (Canaries, Galicia, Basque Country).
The law that grants Spanish nationality to Latin Americans, Spanish Guineans, Filipinos and Sephardic Jews after two years of legal resident status dates back to the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, back in the 20's. Franco also granted preferential treatment to Latin Americans, and Spanish people did not starve to death back in the 40's thanks to the wheat sent by General Peron from Argentina.
Latin America is perceived as part of the future of Spain, and the earning generated there by Spanish companies are an important part of the Spanish GNP. As the Spanish economy flounders and Latin American economy grows, Latin American is becoming progressively another El Dorado.
Also an important destination for Spanish tourism, since most hotels in Santo Domingo and Riviera Maya are Spanish owned.
Latin America and Spain are part of a single community, a community of quarreling cats, but a community.
Franco leaned a lot on Latin America because Europe rejected him, when he died many Spanish wanted to become "Europedos" rejecting Latin America, the tide is reverting back to Latin America as Spanish companies there experience expectacular gains and are loosing money here, and there's a growing European disaffection..
I think he was asking how regular Spanish citizens view Latin America, not how the government and corporations think; the three don't always go hand and hand.
Brit view of US, Canada, and Australia? What exactly is that? It would be interesting to know. Seriously.
I just think of the UK as a country in northern Europe where I wouldn't venture to rent a car and where there isn't enough sunshine. The only issue I have with the Brits is the absurd amount of attention (as in "shhhh, a British accent, listen up") they get in LA. I don't know how they fare in other US metro areas. I'm sure they are considered quite "cool" in New York, too.
You should start a new thread in the UK forum, Robert, you'll get plenty of heated replies for shouty Brits on there!
I know very little about the Spanish-Latin American relationship, but I would hazard it's somewhat different to the relationship between the UK and (1) the US and Canada and (2) Australia and New Zealand
I split them in two because really most Brits really split the two out.
The relationship between America and Britain is complex, whole books have been written on the subject. On the one hand, lots of Brits like to look down at Americans - for the way they supposedly "butcher" the English language (never mind that Shakespeare probably sounded more American than British...), their lack of "culture" (whatever that means), their fatness, and their love of guns, the lack of a sense of irony and blind optimism on life. We love to laugh at the hapless American tourist who cannot pronounce "Leicester Square", or tips the barman when his drink has been poured for him(!)
However, this sni ggering covers up a hidden realisation that America is much richer and more powerful than us -and that you don't care about us one bit. For a people we supposedly "look down on", we hang on your every word, and keenly follow American politics and showbiz, and get upset when you guys can't even be bothered to remember who our Prime Minister is. The left in the UK likes to distance us from you, and emphasise our similarities with other northern European nations and how anathema we are to US ideals like the free market and religion. The right often tries to ally us closely with you - and get us away from Europe and socialism. They ignore the fact that just 30 miles seperate Dover from Calais, while an ocean divides Cornwall from Cape Cod!
As for Australia, well, the old stereotype was that it was just a strange, parallel Britain on the other side of the world, where people toast the Queen and play cricket, but the sun always shines, and the class system has mysteriously vanished -with everyone going around calling each other mate. But it was always considered a bit of a backwater - and Australians as "our colonial friends". I think this is changing now, as Australia's economy is booming and Australians themselves are moving beyond their Anglo-Celtic roots to evolve more of their own identity. But it's not really considered "foreign", and Australians are not "foreigners", such is the similarity in culture and shared heritage. Americans, however, can be as foreign as a Frenchman or a Japanese sometimes.
Just my thoughts, this is all extremely subjective of course!
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