Thanks for all of the comments.
My comments (which may be long and uninteresting) are these:
Ive lived in virtually every region of the US except for Alaska and Hawaii. The majority of my American relatives are from the South (Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas). When in the US I noticed a lot of prejudice based on the area one comes from.
Many people in the North do equate a southern accent with a person being stupid. I find the attitude (on a personal basis) rather objectionable. But, then, Hollywood does the same for people with certain northern accents (i.e. Brooklyn, Queens (the Nanny), certain areas of Boston (Good Will Hunting the Southies)).
No one has really mentioned anything about my 3 rd point relating to Mexico and Latin America.
Let me preface this by saying that I find generalizations (even the sweeping kind) to be useful. I believe that we all use them to a certain extent. In my estimation they fall down in relation to the individual. However, this idea of generalizing is not just an American phenomenon. It exists in every country that I have visited.
In Japan, I was in a situation in which I had to learn to speak acquire literacy in Japanese. As a generalization, I found the Japanese people to be patronizing and deliberately rude. Why? Because of the things they would say about me (an obvious foreigner) when they thought I did not understand what they were saying. And later, when they KNEW that I could understand and speak, I was treated to the talking monkey treatment, as I call it (Isnt that cute! Look! It can talk!). People would be so surprised that I could speak to them and that they could understand me that they would be shocked into silence at times. Then they would often begin to comment to each other about me as if I were not there because, as all Japanese people know, foreigners simply are incapable of speaking Japanese. I have seen someone almost have a heart attack on the street when, after having spoken to them on the phone to make an appointment to meet, they would encounter me in person.
There are many other examples of outright rudeness and patronization but my point lies in another direction.
On an individual level, the people who belonged to the same group as I thought nothing of me being able to talk and to interact as a member of the group. It was expected of me.
On an individual person-to-person level, I found the Japanese to be genuine, sincere and extremely loyal friends.
Moving on to my country, Mexico. Where I live in Southern Mexico, the vast majority of people are very dark. I am not. In the urban areas like Mexico City, my physical appearance is rather unremarkable. But here, the assumption is that, since my skin is white and I have blue eyes, that I am somehow mentally deficient and not from here. I dont fit the type of person that could possibly be a local. So I am stared at and often made fun of when some clown thinks I dont understand him or her. It doesnt help much that my accent IS different. Mine is more northern, closer to they way people talk in Chihuahua or Nuevo Leon (2 of the northern states) and modified by having lived in other Spanish speaking countries.
When I go to Cuba, I catch flack because I dont fit the stereotype of a Mexican. So, obviously, I cant be Mexican (that is to say, Im not brown enough or short enough). I commented to the guy who said this that he probably wasnt really a Cuban because he was not black (another stereotype). He didnt like it very much.
In the US, I look right but I dont talk or act right. Apparently citizenship isnt enough for someone to be accepted (true in the US AND in Mexico). You have to fit the stereotype. I believe that now in the US, the Dept. of Census has determined that, for example, the term Hispanic does not refer to a race but to a culture. Hispanic includes people from 2 extremes, black to white as well as people who are brown.
Well, heres my point. I think we all tend to be a little too uptight about stereotyping and generalization. It is a common practice throughout the world. What really matters is how we treat and relate to the individual. Stereotypes are useful for cataloging things in the sense of knowing how to react in general to given situations. For example, it is good to generalize that if you are in Paris, France, the language of choice for most people will be French.
But it is dangerous to assume that, if someone has a Japanese name (for example) then that person must be sent to an interment camp for the duration of the war because he/she is a definite security risk.
I think that it is good to maintain a sense of humor when confronted by statements that can be construed as demeaning. Lets give the speaker the benefit of the doubt. Besides, if someone here gets out of line regarding such issues, they dont seem to last long. We all know the difference between a tongue-in-cheek observation and a direct, ethnic slam.
So, go ahead and slam me. Teach me the error of my point of view.
But just remember, Its ok to hate the French. EVERYBODY hates the French!
Marcos (of the Im partially of French descent class)
