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Hispanics or Latinos?

In the United States, some people consider "Hispanic" to be too general as a label, while others consider it offensive, often preferring to use the term "Latino", which is viewed as a self-chosen label. The preference of "Latino" over "Hispanic" is partly because it more clearly indicates that those it is referring to are the people from Latin America (including Brazil) and not Spain. Different labels prevail in different regions, as well. In places like Arizona and California, the Chicanos are proud of their personal association and their participation in the agricultural movement of the 1960s with César Chávez, that brought attention to the needs of the farm workers. Usually younger Hispanics will not refer to themselves as such, however.

Previously Hispanics were commonly referred to as "Spanish-Americans", "Spanish-speaking Americans", and "Spanish-surnamed Americans". These terms, however, proved even more misleading or inaccurate since:

Most U.S. Hispanics were not born in Spain, nor were most born to recent Spanish nationals;
Although most U.S. Hispanics speak Spanish, not all do, and though most Spanish-speaking people are Hispanic, not all are (e.g., many U.S. Hispanics by the fourth generation no longer speak Spanish, while there are some non-Hispanics of the Southwestern United States that may be fluent in the language), and;
Although most Hispanics have a Spanish surname, not all do, and while most Spanish-surnamed people are Hispanic, not all are (e.g., there are tens of millions of Spanish-surnamed Filipinos, but very few, only about 3.5%, would qualify as Hispanic by ancestry).

In my point of view its an insult we don't go around calling gringos anglo-Saxons! This costeno blanquito's family is from Spain. Then why don't you call me Spanish? It's a proper way to insult you so they can really in their minds call you a spic!

By colombian111 on Oct 23, 2006, 17:53 in Friendly Talkzone.

colombian111 says on Oct 23, 2006, 17:56:

and further more crud from Wikipedia! [edit] Usage in the United States
The term "Latino" refers loosely to any person having Latin American background and is often taken to be a synonym with "Hispanic". However, while official use of the term Hispanic has its origins in the Census Bureau in the 1970s, activists within communities of Latin origin have often preferred the term Latino or because it is thought to be more inclusive of the broad range of peoples in Latin America. However, those of Spanish descent even when born in Latin America may prefer the term Hispanic. It is typically contrasted with European American and African American. The term "Latino" is often incorrectly given racial connotations.

Excuse me , but would people from Spain prefer to be called "Spanish" ? Idiots who write this crap, I say!

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goin_south says on Oct 23, 2006, 18:00:

That is all a bunch of non-sensical over-sensitivity Not an analogy, but only I think absurdity, to get yourself all in a hissy fit, about the same as indians getting upset, because a sports team calls themselves redskins.
We'll try to get it right, one way or the other. Just don't have a cow, because someone wrongly refers to you as something that might not be completely correct. I think there's more important issues to address in the course of a day or night.

"No hay tal cosa, como ' español perfecto '." __Senora Alta Vista

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

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utopiacowboy says on Oct 23, 2006, 18:13:

Call me whatever you like, just don't call me late for dinner.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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. says on Oct 24, 2006, 00:51:

Well Lanin Americans are people from the south bundaries of mexico until patagonia in Argentina, mexican are not included here because they are just mexicans. Call me how ever you want, hispanic, latino, americo-indian etc. But, never, never, never call me "mexican".

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Monpirri says on Oct 24, 2006, 06:13:

Latino or Hispanic? I read an article long time ago that hispanic was the ethnic name used by US government to classify people who spoke Spanish.
The hispanic name was abandoned or discouraged by a latin-american culture, as the name hispanic began to carry a negative image. I understand the name latino began to develop in the north east part of the country due to the fact of the diversity of the latin population.
The Spanish speaking residents in the states began to call themselves latinos, today some like the term latinos, others still use th hispanic term. Example of Latino many years ago and today; "Latin brothers" and today "Latina magazine."

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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colombian111 says on Oct 24, 2006, 06:53:

galecito- hissy fit? No one throwing a hissy fit, just making a point.

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mcraig says on Oct 24, 2006, 11:18:

I think people are too racial sensative to split hairs over such petty issue. Caucasians are called white, cracker, gringo none of that ever made me feel offended. So why would hispanic or latino offends someone ??????? do you think we should just say brown or olive or black. Racial sensativity has just gone over board for too long.

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colombian111 says on Oct 24, 2006, 11:19:

well gringo you must be white!

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colombian111 says on Oct 24, 2006, 11:38:

sip rubito , people are people true
pero unos se deben banar a ves en cuando carajo!

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utopiacowboy says on Oct 24, 2006, 11:39:

Yo tambien, Rubito.
Yo tambien, Rubito.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Gator says on Oct 24, 2006, 12:24:

Surprisingly Enough Mrs. Gator prefers "Colombian" or Colombiana."

"I read an article long time ago that hispanic was the ethnic name used by US government to classify people who spoke Spanish.

How about person from Brazil?

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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Qubo says on Oct 24, 2006, 12:58:

How about person from Brazil?

Well, I dont think they have a label for us yet. USA has a lot of work to do. Due to the history of this country everyone was labeled to keep the races separated. But now with the influx of people from latin america who did not have this form of segregation in their respective country on paper. Suddenly, have to adapt to the labeling game in the USA. I am one that challenge alot of americans when they try to label me. I think in this perspective USA need to learn something from the people of Latin America.

I also like to add USA has forced alot of hispanics to have a reality check. Your are not Spanish. Im sure you've heard that one. Where are you from? OH Im spanish..LOL..

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goin_south says on Oct 24, 2006, 13:04:

...as individuals. si. In this world, you can not even refer to people as 'that guy' or 'that girl'... You could be wrong. Just don't call white people assholes, or they get offended.

"No hay tal cosa, como ' español perfecto '." __Senora Alta Vista

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Oct 24, 2006, 13:06:

how about Iberoamerican? That would cover the Iberian peninsula plus the Americas. That'd include the Spaniards and the Portuguese plus all Latin American nations...not! I forgot Haiti, Surinam, Belize...

I agree with some of the above: labels are not good.

Cheers,
Desi

«Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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colombian111 says on Oct 24, 2006, 13:06:

hey qubo they probably think you eat tacos too. hahaha

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Qubo says on Oct 24, 2006, 13:19:

LOL That was funny colombian111..but I doubt that gringos would ever confuse me for a taco eater. I usually get confused for an Allen Iverson or Carmelo Anthony minus the braids and I am a chic dresser. Even African AMericans think of me as a brother...LOL..But when I switch to portuguese.. I suddenly become a wierd "ALIEN". hMMM..WHERE are you from? Well, USA.. How come you speak that foreign language so well? Well, Im the new american that speaks more than one language and see the world from a 4 lane highway rather than a dirt back road. LOL...They laugh and still don't get it.. Got to love 'em. BTW, hispanics get confused too... Speaking spanish then switch to portuguese they look at each other..like Qué?..LOL Do you know I've met some hispanics who thought brazilians speak spanish as well..Dios mio..

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colombian111 says on Oct 24, 2006, 13:24:

well..... bem, est melhor que pessoa fal todo latin língua meu opinião. _ se est poder. que não se humilh porque faç sint melhor sobre se....

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utopiacowboy says on Oct 24, 2006, 16:06:

If you ask my wife, she thinks she is white. As for racism and labelling, believe me, no one can touch the Colombians for that. Only the self-congratulatory fools on PBSH think it's a haven of racial equality.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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jaramillo says on Oct 24, 2006, 17:29:

I kinda like Jaramillo

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RabbitNYC says on Oct 24, 2006, 21:41:

Proper Use! I think i can try to help all of u with this issue!
Latin America... Latinos... derived from the word "LATIN".. why? Because the languages spoken from Mexico to La Patagonia comes from LATIN disandence. Whether your mexican, Panamanian, Colombian, Brazilian, Argentine (no.. your not Europian)... whether u speak Spanish, Castellano (no it's not the same as spanish.. trust me I studied High School in Colombia), Portuguese, French (French Guyana), Patua (San Andres) or Spanish with an italian accent (Argentina) it all derives from "LATIN"!

"Hispanic" or "Hispano" is used for those who speak "Spanish". It is used in the US to determine spanish disandence. That is why on a Bio Sheet it says.. Hispanic (White or Black)... they just wanna know if you have spanish disandence!

As for me... I really don't care.. Latino or Hispanic... but i do care when people call me SPANISH.. cuz i don't confuse American or gringos by calling them BRITISH! I make that clear when somebody says: "oh.. your SPANISH!" I tell them there is a big difference.. cuz I don't call gringos BRITISH!

Anyway.. hope this cleared up a little of the confusion!

We're all humans in the end...

"It's not what road we take, but what we become on the journey."

RabbitNYC

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goin_south says on Oct 24, 2006, 22:58:

That would be more like calling them: ENGLISH "but i do care when people call me SPANISH.. cuz i don't confuse American or gringos by calling them BRITISH!"

No; I think it would be like calling all of them ENGLISH, since it was 'what they speak', that you referring to (spanish).

"No hay tal cosa, como ' español perfecto '." __Senora Alta Vista

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

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johnarizona says on Oct 24, 2006, 23:20:

worrying what others think or say and boom... your life has passed you by. aliens from space would probably call you the same as me, any of you...would you waste your time helping them understand our differences?

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. says on Oct 25, 2006, 00:16:

utopiacowboy There is not racial descrimination in Colombia, there is estrato descrimination or looking drescrimination. If you are ugly but estrato 6, you will be treated as a narcotraficant. If you a a black guy, but very handsome or a black girl but very beautifil and with money, you will get a lot in Colombia.

How ever, as a suggestion, the best way to catch a Colombian with weak caracter and personality, just ask him/her with race is he/she, if they answer, they are white, just run away from them, they are just people to be dump in the bin. I am Afro-indian and Im very happy for that, makes me look different, I am not attractive or handsome but I got that thing that women like.

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Gator says on Oct 25, 2006, 07:32:

Humm??????? "Latin America... Latinos... derived from the word "LATIN".. why? Because the languages spoken from Mexico to La Patagonia comes from LATIN disandence (sic)."

Then Why Don't They Call Portuguese, French, Italian, Romanian and Catalan, Latins??

It is called a "Romance"language-NOT because of how we use that term today, but rather the term "Romance" comes from the Vulgar Latin adverb romanice, derived from romanicus, as used in the expression romanice loqui ("to speak the Roman vernacular.")

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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colombian111 says on Oct 25, 2006, 09:03:

I am romanicus so if we are romanicus
does that make us homos romanicus? Hahaha
I love the Latin language!

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Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 25, 2006, 10:04:

Language "Latin America... Latinos... derived from the word "LATIN".. why? Because the languages spoken from Mexico to La Patagonia comes from LATIN disandence."

That's very curious. English also is derived in part from Latin, and we use the Latin alphabet so are gringos also latinos? And what about all the people who speak Mayan, Zapateco, Quechua, Wayuu, etc?

Personally, I think if the US census bureau creates a racial classification it's usually almost meaningless to the people to whom it referes anyway. For example: Non-hispanic white. Pacific Islander. Native Amerian.

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colombian111 says on Oct 25, 2006, 11:07:

English- ergo Anglo-Saxon English is derived from Latin?
Not entirely true .
There are many English words that are derived from Greek and even Germanic roots. English is a crock pot full of other languages crap.

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Monpirri says on Oct 25, 2006, 13:57:

The English language has many words from other languages. I.e. Rug from Persia. Rathskeller from Germany. Army, Roast beef and Avenue from France. Khaki from India. Patio from Spanish and much more. I used to know a whole bunch more.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 25, 2006, 14:57:

Reading is hard Like I said, English is derived "IN PART" from Latin.

One might also note that Spanish is only drived in part from Latin, and has a whole lot of Arabic in it. Not to mention all the English, French and others that have crept in.

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Monpirri says on Oct 30, 2006, 19:55:

Here's the rest of the story... 50% of the English words are from Latin. I found the rest of my notes:

Scandinavia: sky, skin, shirt
French: army, combat, soldier, guard, spy, sergeant, government, state, empire, majestic, treaty. Religious words: theology, sacrament, pastor, creator, savior. Words related to cuisine: dinner, supper, appetite, beef, veal, bacon, boil, fry, stew.
India: pepper, ginger, soda, yoga, dungarees, punch, jingle, shampoo, pajama.
German: semester, seminar, gestapo, nazi, blitzkrieg, dollar
Celtic (Irish) gravel, long, whiskey, golf
Russia: czar, menshevich, boshevich, mammoth, vodka, robot, soviet, cosmonaut
Iran: tiger, scarlet, caravan, chess game, rug, check, checkmate, shah, shawl

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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goin_south says on Oct 30, 2006, 22:11:

Rubito WhereTF do you dig this sort of stuff up? (Same place Monpirri gets 'his notes'?)

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

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utopiacowboy says on Oct 30, 2006, 22:12:

That last comment is interesting. My wife's facial features really remind me of a Jewish girlfriend I used to have. Damm this goy was hot for those Jewish babes.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Monpirri says on Oct 31, 2006, 02:32:

Indo-European Language Indo-European Language
People who spoke this language lived in the Eastern Russia 1000 BC. The Celts cross the channel and took over England.
Julio Cesar conquered France (Southern Europe) and them went and conquered England.
73 AD- The Romans
5th century Germans move to England
Anglo-Saxon move in - basis of English
engel old English
papa, bisceop (ineligible word from my notes)
450 Danish took over
1150 French took over
50% of the English words are from Latin

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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