Nine for Random Chatter, doomed to die

[UnluckyStuntman]

Also, question: 'hispanic' is a culture, not an ethnicity, yes? So are we discussing ethnic diversity, or cultural diversity?

I think that depends on who you ask.

[Marduk]

I think you mean Hispanic is not a race, and in that you'd be correct. However, "ethnic" is defined as: "of or relating to large groups of people classed according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background" by Merriam-Webster, so ethnic is actually includes cultural, as well as much more.

Also: transplants =/= representation.

[Emiliana]

I think you mean Hispanic is not a race, and in that you'd be correct. However, "ethnic" is defined as: "of or relating to large groups of people classed according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background" by Merriam-Webster, so ethnic is actually includes cultural, as well as much more.

Also: transplants =/= representation.

What technically is the difference between a race and an ethnicity?

[Marduk]

A race is distinguishable on a genetic level. Basically, there are four races that are distinguishable: white, black, Asian, and Native American. Other than that, genetically speaking, its all the same. Or at least, that's my understanding.

[Katya]

Spain doesn't count as Hispanic in my book.

Doesn't the word "Hispanic" come from the Latin word for the Iberian peninsula?

[Imogen]

Ha! I was reading this logical thought progression about whether Disney might have Hispanic princess in the pipelines, and then I see Imogen say "Only if I say something. Which I'm not planning to." And I thought, "wow, I didn't realize Imogen had such power at the Disney headquarters!"
But kudos, Imogen, for keeping a potentially messy situation as un-messy as possible. I really admire a lot of what I know about your standards and ethics. It's people like you who remind me that there are still lots of good, caring, upright people in the world and the unthinking masses don't rule the day quite yet.

haha. that cracked me up. and did not come across as condescending at all.

also, thank you!

[mic0]

Spain doesn't count as Hispanic in my book.

Doesn't the word "Hispanic" come from the Latin word for the Iberian peninsula?

Yes, but maybe it's culture is too far removed from that of Latin America to "count" for Marduk. (Just conjecturing here.)

[Katya]

Spain doesn't count as Hispanic in my book.

Doesn't the word "Hispanic" come from the Latin word for the Iberian peninsula?

Yes, but maybe it's culture is too far removed from that of Latin America to "count" for Marduk. (Just conjecturing here.)

That's actually what I assumed he meant. But given that the word still has that shade of meaning, I'm going give him a hard time about it.

[Marduk]

Yes, it does have that root. But honestly, how many words are used as they were 500 years ago, now?

[Katya]

Yes, it does have that root. But honestly, how many words are used as they were 500 years ago, now?

For starters, everything I've bolded above. (But I honestly thought that the secondary meaning for "Hispanic" was more current than it apparently is, so I'll quit abusing my access to the OED.)

[Katya]

"Rodolfo Chang Bennett" has got to be the most beautifully multi-ethnic name I've ever come across. (I'm currently processing Mr. Bennett's master's thesis.)

[Unit of Energy]

I grew up near a culture that I called Hispanic, but was often called out for calling it such. It was Mexican or Latino, not Hispanic. So I think that what you are comfortable calling the culture depends on the location in which you find it.

[Marduk]

I grew up near a culture that I called Hispanic, but was often called out for calling it such. It was Mexican or Latino, not Hispanic. So I think that what you are comfortable calling the culture depends on the location in which you find it.

That's odd; I've never heard of anyone chastised for using Hispanic when it was accurate (or Latino, for that matter.) What I'd be most wary of is calling someone Mexican when they are from a different country (Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Cuba, Panama, etc.) which will almost always been seen as offensive or ignorant. Also tangential but not exactly on topic: the term "chicano" refers to someone of Latino descent that was born to parents who emigrated. So, uh, that's TECHNICALLY what I am.

[thebigcheese]

I grew up calling everybody Mexicans and still do. But I grew up in Texas, so that might make a difference.

[Marduk]

I grew up calling everybody Mexicans and still do. But I grew up in Texas, so that might make a difference.

That......will get you in trouble. And is almost certainly at least part of the reason why Texans have a terrible relationship with Hispanics in general.

[thebigcheese]

Heh heh. Bad habit on my part, I'm sure. Maybe that's why I don't have many Latin friends...

[Unit of Energy]

Well, I'm from California, and they really are all Mexican. At least my close friends were. They still had family in Mexico and everything.

[thebigcheese]

Here's an interesting statistic for Texas...

Hispanics of any race: 37.6%
Non-Hispanic whites: 32.8%

I'm a minority in my home state!! But I was definitely a minority in my high school. We only had 14% white people...

[ahem.]

Fun fact: My mom is fond of the term 'oriental.' And not just to describe rugs.

[Katya]

Fun fact: My mom is fond of the term 'oriental.' And not just to describe rugs.

My grandfather calls people who aren't white "internationals."