The term "Anglo" (Chaparral: to live in, racist, places)
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....but if they're Americans, why not just call them that - it really shouldn't matter so much where someone's long ago ancestors are from.
No, it shouldn't, but it does to many.
Yes and to the point it gets ridiculous. One of my old college friends for example, grew up in the Midwest, most his family has never stepped foot in Mexico, he did but didn't feel comfortable there - nor does he feel comfortable anywhere outside the Midwest USA. They speak no Spanish, speak English with a midwest accent, yet they will call themselves "Mexicans".
Obviously there's nothing wrong with being a "Mexican" but the term belongs to the people of that country, with that country's citizenship. Just like "Anglo" refers to the people of England, or if one wants to use it as a race term, it belongs to a tribe of people -- "anglo-saxons" who settled in a part of Europe and England.
Well, it's up to the individual as to what they want to call themselves.
When I was in high school (1960s-70s), I had several classmates who were Mexican-American/Hispanic, whatever term you want to use, can't win :-) The point was, they had deep roots in Mexico, maybe only one generation removed. At that time, all were called Mexican, sometimes derogatorily, sometimes not in a derogatory manner at all.
One of those classmates said to me, "I don't know why it bothers some of them to be called Mexican. Why not? It's what we are."
Anglo is an insult term. I've never heard it used without racist undertones.
I hear it all the time used in a non-racist fashion. Having been a white 'minority' virtually my whole life (New Mexico is by far the 'whitest' place I have ever lived) I know when people are addressing me with racist undertones.
Quote:
Originally Posted by malamute
People who use the word want their own ethnic and cultural heritage respected but they lack all respect for other ethnicities and cultures.
I actually think the word 'White' is by far the worst offender in that regard.
Quote:
Originally Posted by malamute
It does not mean "English speaking" as there are chicanos who speak English and they are not considered "anglos".
Here is a simple analogy:
Anglo : Hispanic
Anglo is to English speaking / descended from an Anglo-centric culture as Hispanic is to Spanish speaking / descended from Spanish-centric culture
Just as not all Hispanics are descendants of Spanish (European) immigrants, their linguistic heritage, regardless of whether Spanish or English is their first language, and their cultural institutions are, in large part, influenced by Spanish European traditions.
Likewise, just as not all Anglos are descendants of English immigrants, their linguistic heritage and their cultural institutions are, in large part, influenced by English traditions.
Of course there are near-universally condemned inflammatory words one should not use, but "Anglo" doesn't bother me in the least, and neither does "gringo" if it isn't said hatefully. I agree that calling all Latinos/Latinas "Mexicans" is often incorrect. ABQConvict has it right concerning "racist undertones"; it isn't that hard to tell.
Anglo is an insult term. I've never heard it used without racist undertones.
It does not mean "English speaking" as there are chicanos who speak English and they are not considered "anglos". It's no different than other racist slur words, meant to categorize people by race but also to imply that all the many various white or European cultures and ethnic heritage are meaningless.
People who use the word want their own ethnic and cultural heritage respected but they lack all respect for other ethnicities and cultures.
Plus it's an ignorant term, used by people who think everyone is either from Mexico or from England.
I agree with you, if someone is white and of Celtic, or Basque, or Finnish, or Irish, or Russian descent, the FACT IS they are not Anglo descent, and they have the right to assert that they do not wish to be mislabeled as Anglo. There is no question that it's disrespectful.
I personally am white and a first generation American and I am respectful of other people's cultural backgrounds. If I mistook a Japanese person for Chinese, I would not tell them they had no right to be offended! I would simply apologize for my mistake. I do tolerate the term white, even though honestly I know white is not really a race, it's just a skin color, but I'll put up with that.
So even if some folks manage to convince themselves that the term Anglo is not offensive, just remember America is not the world folks. Just try heading off to Europe and referring to all white people as Anglo. That's not gona fly folks.
I agree with you, if someone is white and of Celtic, or Basque, or Finnish, or Irish, or Russian descent, the FACT IS they are not Anglo descent, and they have the right to assert that they do not wish to be mislabeled as Anglo. There is no question that it's disrespectful.
I personally am white and a first generation American and I am respectful of other people's cultural backgrounds. If I mistook a Japanese person for Chinese, I would not tell them they had no right to be offended! I would simply apologize for my mistake. I do tolerate the term white, even though honestly I know white is not really a race, it's just a skin color, but I'll put up with that.
So even if some folks manage to convince themselves that the term Anglo is not offensive, just remember America is not the world folks. Just try heading off to Europe and referring to all white people as Anglo. That's not gona fly folks.
If you were to live in New Mexico or Colorado--or about anywhere in the Southwest--I would respectfully suggest that you'd better "buck up, little camper" and grow a thicker skin, because you WILL be called an "Anglo" here, and not just by Hispanics. That is just the way it is. The term is generally NOT invoked to be offensive. If you choose to take it that way, then you will be offended a lot of the time. If you can't live with that, then don't come here to live or visit--that simple.
This whole discussion is simply a symptom of a much larger disease: political correctness.
People need to get over themselves, and stop getting peeved by every perceived slight that they think is being thrown their way. Words (and ethnic/color designations) are just those: words. As ABQConvict stated, most of us can tell when we are being insulted, and it has little to do the choice of words utilized.
I think many of our more sensitive brethren could learn a thing or two from the following scene:
I agree with you, if someone is white and of Celtic, or Basque, or Finnish, or Irish, or Russian descent, the FACT IS they are not Anglo descent, and they have the right to assert that they do not wish to be mislabeled as Anglo. There is no question that it's disrespectful.
That is going way too far. One's exact ancestry cannot be determined by 'just looking'. If no disrespect is intended, none should be taken. If one feels it necessary to correct a descriptor given in error, fine. It seems unnecessarily picky to me.
Chaparral is absolutely right! Consider the TV series All in the Family. It could not possibly be made today without a blizzard of litigation because we have lost the ability to laugh at ourselves.
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Agree
