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pmpkn087
Life is good...

Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name: Stephanie
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by julybride0706
Being Latino is her background and she's dismissing all of that.
And what is being "true American"?
She was never taught the customs and traditions of her Mexican heritage, so she is not dismissing it. If her parents had raised her with the language, traditions, etc., and she made these statements, THEN she would be dismissing it.
I mean "true American" in that is what she considers herself. She is of Mexican decent, but she is from American culture.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:20 PM |
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Long Island Weddings
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Member since 11/06 1327 total posts
Name: Leo
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by julybride0706
Posted by pmpkn087
What's so wrong with wanting to be considered an AMERICAN?
People make me mad
ETS: I just have to add, my family has been in America for God only knows how many generations. And, people can NEVER accept the answer "American" when they ask my nationality. To call myself anything else would be wrong.
People used to come to America for FREEDOM and they were PROUD to be Americans. It took them a long time to come here and they took pride in it. Why is it wrong for a THIRD generation person to feel disassociated from her heritage? Her family felt that they worked hard to come to America and she is proud that her ancestor's hard work paid off in that SHE now, finally is considered a true American.
Being Latino is her background and she's dismissing all of that.
And what is being "true American"?
For starters, "America" is a continent. And no one ever said there was anything wrong with being from the USA. The thing is that most people in this country, unless your ancestors were natives, have family who came from some other country. When people ask "where are you from" what they really mean to ask is "what is your ethnicity". "American" is not an ethnicity.
The problem with some small-minded people who have never been exposed to anything other than "America" is that they don't see that it IS possible to be more than one thing at the same time. They say you either have to be this or that. If you're not with us, you're against us (to quote our great President George Bush ).
Why do people get so up in arms over silly lables? It's ridiculous. BE who you are and let others BE. THAT is the beauty of "The United States of America"
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Posted 6/18/07 3:24 PM |
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curliegirl
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Name: Gina
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by bomb-blast
Posted by julybride0706
Posted by pmpkn087
What's so wrong with wanting to be considered an AMERICAN?
People make me mad
ETS: I just have to add, my family has been in America for God only knows how many generations. And, people can NEVER accept the answer "American" when they ask my nationality. To call myself anything else would be wrong.
People used to come to America for FREEDOM and they were PROUD to be Americans. It took them a long time to come here and they took pride in it. Why is it wrong for a THIRD generation person to feel disassociated from her heritage? Her family felt that they worked hard to come to America and she is proud that her ancestor's hard work paid off in that SHE now, finally is considered a true American.
Being Latino is her background and she's dismissing all of that.
And what is being "true American"?
For starters, "America" is a continent. And no one ever said there was anything wrong with being from the USA. The thing is that most people in this country, unless your ancestors were natives, have family who came from some other country. When people ask "where are you from" what they really mean to ask is "what is your ethnicity". "American" is not an ethnicity.
The problem with some small-minded people who have never been exposed to anything other than "America" is that they don't see that it IS possible to be more than one thing at the same time. They say you either have to be this or that. If you're not with us, you're against us (to quote our great President George Bush ).
Why do people get so up in arms over silly lables? It's ridiculous. BE who you are and let others BE. THAT is the beauty of "The United States of America"
You are exactly right, so why are you calling other people with a different POV "small-minded"? If you are born in America, then you are American, not Italian, not Mexican, not Irish or otherwise. Your heritage is one of those, but you are an American FIRST. Whether you call it ethnicity, descent or heritage, your allegiance is to America first, and if it isn't go back to the country you descended from.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:29 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)

Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by curliegirl
not Mexican, not
actually Gina...being born on the continent of America, you can most certainly BE mexican.
we are not "american" or "american" we are United States citizens.
there are 3 different countries/nationalities that make up "America" Canadian, citizens of the U.S., and Mexican.
I think that we forget that..when we take the whole continent as our own in terms of "American"
small minded or not...it is definitely a more narrowed or "nationalistic" if not "ethnocentric" view of the world.
the "depth" of "american" culture comes from other cultures. it evolves as the people that come here do.
Message edited 6/18/2007 3:34:02 PM.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:32 PM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...

Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name: Stephanie
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by bomb-blast
For starters, "America" is a continent. And no one ever said there was anything wrong with being from the USA. The thing is that most people in this country, unless your ancestors were natives, have family who came from some other country. When people ask "where are you from" what they really mean to ask is "what is your ethnicity". "American" is not an ethnicity.
Why isn't American an ethnicity If you are born in Italy you are Italian, Mexico you are Mexican, America you are American.
Also, I understand what you mean about everyone having family from somewhere, but when someone asks my nationality I am nothing but American. My family came her over 100 years ago. How much more American do you get than that? If someone were to say "where are your ancestors from?" then I would tell them. As Jessica Alba did. She didn't deny her ancestors are from Mexico, she just does not consider herself Mexican. She considers herself American.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:33 PM |
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julybride0706
LIF Adult

Member since 3/07 1376 total posts
Name: kaitlyn
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
"American" is not an ethnicity.
thanks for answering correctly.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:34 PM |
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curliegirl
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Member since 3/06 10128 total posts
Name: Gina
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by curliegirl
not Mexican, not
actually Gina...being born on the continent of America, you can most certainly BE mexican.
we are not "american" or "american" we are United States citizens.
there are 3 different countries/nationalities that make up "America" Canadian, citizens of the U.S., and Mexican.
I think that we forget that..when we take the whole continent as our own in terms of "American"
I guess I used the term that everyone, at least on this post, was referring to when we say "American", that is, from the USA.
Thanks for the correction though
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Posted 6/18/07 3:35 PM |
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Name: Leo
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
You are exactly right, so why are you calling other people with a different POV "small-minded"? If you are born in America, then you are American, not Italian, not Mexican, not Irish or otherwise. Your heritage is one of those, but you are an American FIRST. Whether you call it ethnicity, descent or heritage, your allegiance is to America first, and if it isn't go back to the country you descended from.
Wow. You totally misread what I said. I love when people do that. I get such a kick out of it. Show me where I said that people with a different POV are small-minded. Please do.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:35 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)

Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name: remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by pmpkn087
Posted by bomb-blast
For starters, "America" is a continent. And no one ever said there was anything wrong with being from the USA. The thing is that most people in this country, unless your ancestors were natives, have family who came from some other country. When people ask "where are you from" what they really mean to ask is "what is your ethnicity". "American" is not an ethnicity.
Why isn't American an ethnicity If you are born in Italy you are Italian, Mexico you are Mexican, America you are American.
Also, I understand what you mean about everyone having family from somewhere, but when someone asks my nationality I am nothing but American. My family came her over 100 years ago. How much more American do you get than that? If someone were to say "where are your ancestors from?" then I would tell them. As Jessica Alba did. She didn't deny her ancestors are from Mexico, she just does not consider herself Mexican. She considers herself American.
can you explain to me what "american" culture is? what are the mores, folklores, laws, customs etc. that make up "american" culture.
I can think of ONE distinctly american custom. just one. I'd like to be schooled.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:35 PM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...

Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name: Stephanie
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by curliegirl
not Mexican, not
actually Gina...being born on the continent of America, you can most certainly BE mexican.
we are not "american" or "american" we are United States citizens.
there are 3 different countries/nationalities that make up "America" Canadian, citizens of the U.S., and Mexican.
I think that we forget that..when we take the whole continent as our own in terms of "American"
small minded or not...it is definitely a more narrowed or "nationalistic" if not "ethnocentric" view of the world.
the "depth" of "american" culture comes from other cultures. it evolves as the people that come here do.
Acually, they make up North America. If you were born in Canada, you'd be Canadian. I guess people just shorten it so they don't have to say "I'm United States of American"
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Posted 6/18/07 3:36 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)

Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name: remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by curliegirl
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by curliegirl
not Mexican, not
actually Gina...being born on the continent of America, you can most certainly BE mexican.
we are not "american" or "american" we are United States citizens.
there are 3 different countries/nationalities that make up "America" Canadian, citizens of the U.S., and Mexican.
I think that we forget that..when we take the whole continent as our own in terms of "American"
I guess I used the term that everyone, at least on this post, was referring to when we say "American", that is, from the USA.
Thanks for the correction though
no I hear you...it's a colloquial expression. my point is...it IS actually a misnomer...
I think there is still an attitude of "manifest destiny" here in this country. that was my only point...we really do not have a right to the term "american"
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Posted 6/18/07 3:37 PM |
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Jessica
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Name: ~Jess~
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by nrthshgrl
I feel sad for her that she was taught to be ashamed of her heritage. It's one thing to want your grandchildren to assimilate into a culture to fit in, it's an entirely different situation to make them ashamed of who they are.
If her family wanted to be completly 100% American than so be it. But, i feel as if somehow she grew up being ashamed (bc of not having knowledge of her background) by reading other quotes throughout the years... i wish her family would have at least taught her about her heritage a little so she wouldnt have felt "lost" and ashamed
theres a quote when george lopez went up to her father and started speaking spanish, he told him "i dont speak mexican!" thats just ignorance.....
Message edited 6/18/2007 3:40:59 PM.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:40 PM |
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curliegirl
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Member since 3/06 10128 total posts
Name: Gina
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by bomb-blast
You are exactly right, so why are you calling other people with a different POV "small-minded"? If you are born in America, then you are American, not Italian, not Mexican, not Irish or otherwise. Your heritage is one of those, but you are an American FIRST. Whether you call it ethnicity, descent or heritage, your allegiance is to America first, and if it isn't go back to the country you descended from.
Wow. You totally misread what I said. I love when people do that. I get such a kick out of it. Show me where I said that people with a different POV are small-minded. Please do.
'"The problem with some small-minded people.......is that they don't see that it IS possible to be more than one thing at the same time. They say you either have to be this or that."
While those small minded people may agree that it is possible to be a US citizen and of a certain heritage, they are most proud of their citizenship first because that is where they were born and bred. They are proclaiming that and agreeing with JA for her right to be an "American" and not "Mexican" (terms used loosely to make point clear).
No need to get your panites in a bunch, everyone is entitled to their opinion, like you said, but you are slapping them in the face at the same time.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:42 PM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...

Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name: Stephanie
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by Ophelia can you explain to me what "american" culture is? what are the mores, folklores, laws, customs etc. that make up "american" culture.
I can think of ONE distinctly american custom. just one. I'd like to be schooled.
American culture is that of many different cultures. For one, the way we celebrate Christmas. It is taken from German culture, but it is more "Americanized" in our view of Santa, the way we decorate the tree, the songs we sing, etc. So, while most "American" customs are derived from other cultures, we have tailored them into what we know today. That can be said for most holidays.
And, of course, Thanksgiving.
There are lots of "folklores" as you put it that are American, mainly the story of America itself. How it began. The civil war. Boston Tea Party. etc.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:45 PM |
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MichelleR
my Becks

Member since 5/05 1772 total posts
Name: tracyg
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
My dads side of my family has been here for over 400 years, and I still associate with where we came from before America. If someone asks me what my nationality is, I don't say American... because thats not what they mean. People want to know where your family was BEFORE here...
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Posted 6/18/07 3:46 PM |
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curliegirl
He's here!!!!

Member since 3/06 10128 total posts
Name: Gina
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
no I hear you...it's a colloquial expression. my point is...it IS actually a misnomer...
I think there is still an attitude of "manifest destiny" here in this country. that was my only point...we really do not have a right to the term "american"
And the same can be said for Jewish people too.....no that I want to get into it, but it's along the same line.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:47 PM |
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bomb-blast
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Member since 11/06 1327 total posts
Name: Leo
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
'"The problem with some small-minded people.......is that they don't see that it IS possible to be more than one thing at the same time. They say you either have to be this or that."
While those small minded people may agree that it is possible to be a US citizen and of a certain heritage, they are most proud of their citizenship first because that is where they were born and bred. They are proclaiming that and agreeing with JA for her right to be an "American" and not "Mexican" (terms used loosely to make point clear).
No need to get your panites in a bunch, everyone is entitled to their opinion, like you said, but you are slapping them in the face at the same time.
I never said that people couldn't agree with JA or that they were wrong for it. Personally, I could care less what anybody thinks of who they are or who I am. It makes no difference to me. I don't feel the need to go around telling people, "Well you were born in this country so you better love it or leave it and that's the end of it." That would be a waste of my breath.
To get back to the OP, JA is a nice girl, she has a pretty face, and a sweet body. Let her just smile for the cameras with her bright American teeth and go back to doing bad movies with Paul Walker...over and out!
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Posted 6/18/07 3:51 PM |
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curliegirl
He's here!!!!

Member since 3/06 10128 total posts
Name: Gina
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by Jessica
Posted by nrthshgrl
I feel sad for her that she was taught to be ashamed of her heritage. It's one thing to want your grandchildren to assimilate into a culture to fit in, it's an entirely different situation to make them ashamed of who they are.
If her family wanted to be completly 100% American than so be it. But, i feel as if somehow she grew up being ashamed (bc of not having knowledge of her background) by reading other quotes throughout the years... i wish her family would have at least taught her about her heritage a little so she wouldnt have felt "lost" and ashamed QUOTE]
I see what you are saying, but I wouldn't say that even with the knowledge she would or wouldn't be ashamed. She may just not have the desire to be connected to her heritage.
DH rarely even says that he is 1/2 Italian and diassociates himself the same way as Jessica. He does this because he has a negative attitude of Italians, perpetuated by his family, the media and society.
Being Italian-American is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than being Italian, so Jessica may have gotten a skewed vision of what being Mexican is without her family's intervention anyway.
Message edited 6/18/2007 3:52:54 PM.
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Posted 6/18/07 3:52 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)

Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name: remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by pmpkn087
Posted by Ophelia can you explain to me what "american" culture is? what are the mores, folklores, laws, customs etc. that make up "american" culture.
I can think of ONE distinctly american custom. just one. I'd like to be schooled.
American culture is that of many different cultures. For one, the way we celebrate Christmas. It is taken from German culture, but it is more "Americanized" in our view of Santa, the way we decorate the tree, the songs we sing, etc. So, while most "American" customs are derived from other cultures, we have tailored them into what we know today. That can be said for most holidays.
And, of course, Thanksgiving.
There are lots of "folklores" as you put it that are American, mainly the story of America itself. How it began. The civil war. Boston Tea Party. etc.
the decorating of Christmas trees is not an american custom.
Thanksgiving is the ONLY truly "american" celebration.
you have really proved my point..."Amercian" isn't A culture. it is a combination of many...of people recognizing AND introducing their different customs and traditions and mixing them with others.
if our "ancestors" all disassociated themselves from their respective heritage...where would that leave us now?
like in all things, its not only about respecting where you ARE, it's respecting where you come from.
eta: Cinco de Mayo, St. Patty's Day, Puerto Rican Day (yes people other than Puerto Ricans attend), West Indian Day Parade, fish on Christmas Eve, sweet 15's & 16's...its OUR and the worlds at the same time.
Message edited 6/18/2007 4:05:02 PM.
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Posted 6/18/07 4:03 PM |
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eroxgirl
My Loves

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Name: Rebecca
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
I just have to point out that in some other areas of the country, people don't label themselves Italian-American or Irish-American at all. That's more or less an east coast thing (maybe a west coast thing too, but I'm not too sure about that), and even then it's limited to New York and surrounding areas. Not to mention that when you travel to other countries, they'll label an American an AMERICAN no matter where your ancestors came from. If I went to Ireland today they would not call me Irish just because my great-grandparents were born there, because *I* was born here.
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Posted 6/18/07 4:05 PM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...

Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name: Stephanie
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by pmpkn087
Posted by Ophelia can you explain to me what "american" culture is? what are the mores, folklores, laws, customs etc. that make up "american" culture.
I can think of ONE distinctly american custom. just one. I'd like to be schooled.
American culture is that of many different cultures. For one, the way we celebrate Christmas. It is taken from German culture, but it is more "Americanized" in our view of Santa, the way we decorate the tree, the songs we sing, etc. So, while most "American" customs are derived from other cultures, we have tailored them into what we know today. That can be said for most holidays.
And, of course, Thanksgiving.
There are lots of "folklores" as you put it that are American, mainly the story of America itself. How it began. The civil war. Boston Tea Party. etc.
the decorating of Christmas trees is not an american custom.
Thanksgiving is the ONLY truly "american" celebration.
you have really proved my point..."Amercian" isn't A culture. it is a combination of many...of people recognizing AND introducing their different customs and traditions and mixing them with others.
if our "ancestors" all disassociated themselves from their respective heritage...where would that leave us now?
like in all things, its not only about respecting where you ARE, it's respecting where you come from.
eta: Cinco de Mayo, St. Patty's Day, Puerto Rican Day (yes people other than Puerto Ricans attend), West Indian Day Parade, fish on Christmas Eve, sweet 15's & 16's...its OUR and the worlds at the same time.
If you don't consider the WAY we do things part of the culture, then what is a true culture? Wouldn't EVERYTHING we do come from something else? Not just here, in the US, but everywhere.
Also, why the need for the correction? I never said that decorating a tree was American custom. I said that the WAY we do it has become American custom.
Message edited 6/18/2007 4:12:47 PM.
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Posted 6/18/07 4:10 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)

Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name: remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by pmpkn087
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by pmpkn087
Posted by Ophelia can you explain to me what "american" culture is? what are the mores, folklores, laws, customs etc. that make up "american" culture.
I can think of ONE distinctly american custom. just one. I'd like to be schooled.
American culture is that of many different cultures. For one, the way we celebrate Christmas. It is taken from German culture, but it is more "Americanized" in our view of Santa, the way we decorate the tree, the songs we sing, etc. So, while most "American" customs are derived from other cultures, we have tailored them into what we know today. That can be said for most holidays.
And, of course, Thanksgiving.
There are lots of "folklores" as you put it that are American, mainly the story of America itself. How it began. The civil war. Boston Tea Party. etc.
the decorating of Christmas trees is not an american custom.
Thanksgiving is the ONLY truly "american" celebration.
you have really proved my point..."Amercian" isn't A culture. it is a combination of many...of people recognizing AND introducing their different customs and traditions and mixing them with others.
if our "ancestors" all disassociated themselves from their respective heritage...where would that leave us now?
like in all things, its not only about respecting where you ARE, it's respecting where you come from.
eta: Cinco de Mayo, St. Patty's Day, Puerto Rican Day (yes people other than Puerto Ricans attend), West Indian Day Parade, fish on Christmas Eve, sweet 15's & 16's...its OUR and the worlds at the same time.
If you don't consider the WAY we do things part of the culture, then what is a true culture? Wouldn't EVERYTHING we do come from something else? Not just here, in the US, but everywhere.
not really. in most cultures, there are definitive and distinct aspects (most identifiable in things like food)
of course, the human existance has only been through and has so much, so everything is variations on a theme...but they always seem to leave a mark and lets you know where it's from.
food is one...language is another. variations on a theme. we speak "English" the language of England. it's a variation, but it's not "ours" it's adopted. like almost everything else.
there is NOTHING wrong with it, but it IS what it IS.
eta: the "correction" was b/c I was asking for things that are uniquely "american" and that is not. no other reason.
Message edited 6/18/2007 4:16:10 PM.
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Posted 6/18/07 4:14 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.

Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by pmpkn087
Posted by Ophelia can you explain to me what "american" culture is? what are the mores, folklores, laws, customs etc. that make up "american" culture.
I can think of ONE distinctly american custom. just one. I'd like to be schooled.
Fast Food Overeating wasting resources Wal-Mart
Hmmm...no wonder I'd rather identify myself as my ethnicity.
I didn't say that she should sink herself into her culture. What I said it that I'm sad that rather than see the beauty of it, she' was taught to be ashamed of it.
Message edited 6/18/2007 4:24:37 PM.
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Posted 6/18/07 4:24 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!

Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
i don't understand why people are arguing over what she said. it's her preference.
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Posted 6/18/07 4:25 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)

Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name: remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: JESSICA ALBA: DON'T CALL ME A LATINA!!
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
i don't understand why people are arguing over what she said. it's her preference.
she can do whatever she wants, as can everyone else.
I just think it's funny that people think being "american" is something in and of itself. it's not. we are still too young.
and Barb...thank you for your cultural lesson. ITA
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Posted 6/18/07 4:29 PM |
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