My argument for Ethnicity.
I talked to Eden about this awhile ago and she did not agree with me.
I believe that ethnicity does not exist in the normal constraints that people tend to think it does. I believe it to be more fluid than a simple: "You are white"
In one of my classes last semester we spent a whole 2 hours discussing ethnicity. All 32 people had to tell the class what ethnicity they consider themselves to be. Answer's included:
White,
American,
Catholic,
Black
African American.
Middle Eastern.
European American.
etc.
People grouped themselves by color, land of origin, current country, religion, etc.
So it appears that ethnicity does not exist, it is fluid and consequently not definable by one specific aspect of a person.
Furthermore, people use the fact that ethnicity is fluid to their advantage. For example, a woman from Mexico who lives in Texas and whose father was El Salvadoran and whose Husband is from Colombia has all of that going for her. She may meet a Colombian employer and she will be able to say "Oh wow, my husbands from Columbia". She maybe in Idaho and hear someone speaking Spanish and they will consequently bond over that. The comradaree of being from Texas also offers her an indentity when definining who she is.
However, on the flip side it is also my argument that one's ethnicity, atleast on a superficial level is defined by others- the vast majority of strangers.
I.E. I go to Europe, even with my English, Irish and German Hertiage- and I am to most everyone there simply an American or Yank.
I see a darker complexioned woman and I assume she is hispanic- even though she could speak no spanish and maybe the last 5 generations of her family was born in America.
My point of all of this is- the whole argument of race/ethnicity in America- respecting everyone's difference and learning to embrace diversity- when really, in my opinion we shouldn't be pushing the idea of difference but instead the idea that as American's we are all the same in the eyes of the rest of the world. Regardless of what we think ourselves to be. And that should be unifiying enough as to create a sense of community.
My teacher- he was from South Korea and he argued- that of all the places he has lived, been, etc. It is only in America that he sees the idea of indiviuality trump the idea of community. In most other countries in the world community is paramount the needs of the indiviuals.
Which can kind of been seen in all of these policies trying to be political correct and appeasing all different people involved.
But, I guess that is because no one really wants to sacrifice their own wants and desires for the good of the community.
(..rambling now) Which I would further argue is why we have so many selfish, spoiled children who are too inept to accomplish anything other than updating their facebook status and driving cars to go buy drugs.
..yup. definitely was going on a tangent.
I believe that ethnicity does not exist in the normal constraints that people tend to think it does. I believe it to be more fluid than a simple: "You are white"
In one of my classes last semester we spent a whole 2 hours discussing ethnicity. All 32 people had to tell the class what ethnicity they consider themselves to be. Answer's included:
White,
American,
Catholic,
Black
African American.
Middle Eastern.
European American.
etc.
People grouped themselves by color, land of origin, current country, religion, etc.
So it appears that ethnicity does not exist, it is fluid and consequently not definable by one specific aspect of a person.
Furthermore, people use the fact that ethnicity is fluid to their advantage. For example, a woman from Mexico who lives in Texas and whose father was El Salvadoran and whose Husband is from Colombia has all of that going for her. She may meet a Colombian employer and she will be able to say "Oh wow, my husbands from Columbia". She maybe in Idaho and hear someone speaking Spanish and they will consequently bond over that. The comradaree of being from Texas also offers her an indentity when definining who she is.
However, on the flip side it is also my argument that one's ethnicity, atleast on a superficial level is defined by others- the vast majority of strangers.
I.E. I go to Europe, even with my English, Irish and German Hertiage- and I am to most everyone there simply an American or Yank.
I see a darker complexioned woman and I assume she is hispanic- even though she could speak no spanish and maybe the last 5 generations of her family was born in America.
My point of all of this is- the whole argument of race/ethnicity in America- respecting everyone's difference and learning to embrace diversity- when really, in my opinion we shouldn't be pushing the idea of difference but instead the idea that as American's we are all the same in the eyes of the rest of the world. Regardless of what we think ourselves to be. And that should be unifiying enough as to create a sense of community.
My teacher- he was from South Korea and he argued- that of all the places he has lived, been, etc. It is only in America that he sees the idea of indiviuality trump the idea of community. In most other countries in the world community is paramount the needs of the indiviuals.
Which can kind of been seen in all of these policies trying to be political correct and appeasing all different people involved.
But, I guess that is because no one really wants to sacrifice their own wants and desires for the good of the community.
(..rambling now) Which I would further argue is why we have so many selfish, spoiled children who are too inept to accomplish anything other than updating their facebook status and driving cars to go buy drugs.
..yup. definitely was going on a tangent.