... in response to Re: Re: Re: For our new female academics, posted by Felinessa on Jun 20, 2005[This message has been edited by Traveller]
Let me get this straight, you're Canadian, eh? And, you are doing research on my Latina Cousins? Both here (Colombia) and the States?
"Maybe we could look at foreign women's vision of America first? Maybe there is an idealized view of the gringo and of his culture?"
Do you even know any Colombians? Calenas? I have known a bunch over the 6 YEARS I have been here. You make it seem like they are dumb ignorant peasants. (And before you say "I never said that" YES, you are making them out to be percieved that way) TALK to some of these women and you will find they think the US ain't all that. "Idealized view" indeed. You know, they do have TV here including CNN en Espanol. You need to really do more research and stop generalizing "foreign women's vision". Which Foreign Women? From what country? What demographic? What educational level? What economic level? What's that PERSON like when you simply sit down and talk with them? You Ma'am, are insulting a friend of mine in Miami who is married to a great guy in Ft. Lauderdale (and her sister). You are also insulting a friend of mine's wife in the Bay Area. You are also insulting my friend's wife in New York. You are also insulting my friend who married a guy in San Diego. You insult my friend who is married to a Colombiana and have a coule of kids in Reedley (Go Pirates), California.
If you read this last part and you actually come back and say you don't understand how you are insulting them, then I have no idea what you are trying to get across to this board: Girls rule, boys drool." I don't know. Of course, you cannot admit you know how you insulted the guys who wore or wear a uniform, so I don't know I can impress upon you this concept.
Next.
"Maybe they feel more connected to Latino men because the entire group is minority?"
What silliness is this? Have you even been to Miami? Have you ever been to Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Mission Viejo, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Martinez, Salinas, Santa Cruz, San Luis Opispo, Coalinga, Fresno, Dallas, Houston, El Paso, or a ton of other cities in the US. What miniority are you speaking of? The ENTIRE group is a miniority? My sister in-law HAPPENS to be Mexican-American. My Neice and Nephew are part Mexican. My best friend is married to a wonderful woman (Who graduated from UCSC) who HAPPENS to be Mexican-American. Therefore, my God-daughter is part Mexican. My Aunt married a guy who HAPPENS to be a Mexican-American and thus my cousins are part Mexican. I grew up with Mexican kids my whole life. I din't have an English speaking friend until I was 5. My Dad was a foreman on an Agricultural ranch in the Agricultural belt of California. I WAS THE MINIORITY. And before you assume I'm a "Kracker" I'm actually a guy who HAPPENS to be an American-Indian. Mom's Choctaw Indian and Dad's German. Mom was born on a reservation in Bryan County, Oklahoma. yeah, that's right, I'm one of the imagined oppressed. I'M a miniority ANYWHERE (Except reservations) you go in the States, but I don't follow that kind of thinking. That's why I put that people HAPPEN to be this or that. I'm an American first and foremost. People like you, focus on "miniority groups" but being and living as a "miniority" I find them unimportant. I have friends that White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, and my family is a bunch of Indians. I even have a life long friend who's father is from deepest darkest China and my buddy is a card carrying Buddhist. And THAT guy is my DOG! (That's a good thing if you don't understand that last phrase) Maybe you can take a lesson from us "gun-happy" Marines. When you are out there wearing that uniform, there isn't any black, white, red, yellow, purple, or orange. There's only green. And for the most part, that's followed. (Oh sorry, that's an "idealized view." My bad.)
Ma'am are you a miniority? Well, you aren't an American in any case. Do not presume you may speak for us poor minorities. And once again, before you say you aren't or whatever, consider this statement before you go any further:
"Maybe they feel more connected to Latino men because the entire group is minority?"
Because this clearly indicates you don't know what you are talking about.
Let's move on with my opinion tirade because it's mine alone. "PRESERVEING CULTURE"
I'm with Kiltboy on this. How many people do you know in the States who come to this country and do not try to even learn the language? I know both those kinds. While I respect the ones who try to learn the language, the others I really don't. I mean, my Spanish is NOT great, but I have learned it well enough for rudimentary conversation by just listening. No classes, no books, just out the need to communicate. Why can't some of those people who move to the States, even try? Ain't nothing wrong with being bi-lingual. I also respect that just because a person moves to the States, they don't have to give up what makes them Korean, Nigerian, Colombian, or (Insert Country here). The US has everything in every language. Go to LAX and try to hear all the different laguages on the PA system throughout the airport. And, I'm just talking about the domestic flight areas. Also, like Kiltboy says, if I am in another country for a bit of time, I understand the fact I am going to have to learn THEIR language. I don't expect these native people to make exceptions for me if I can't speak thier language. It didn't happen in Japan, Korea, Phillipines, Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Saudia Arabia, or Kuwait. So why.......do we allow it to go on in the States? Because, I suppose, we are one of the only countries interested in "PRESERVEING CULTURE"?
Now for some questions:
"Considering that my contributions have had to do with academic research on Latin women, or with the validity thereof, your sarcasm is unnecessary."
You are doing research and you are asking in the next statement, "I think it would also be interesting to look at Latinas from Miami versus Latinas in California. We already know that there are noticeable cultural differences between the two coasts, so maybe that affects minority groups too?"
How much research have you done if you don't know this?
"..maybe that affects minority groups too?" OF COURSE IT DOES. I'm a native Californian and all you have to do is take a flight to anywhere on the East Coast to tell the difference. I'm sure SOMEONE has done a study on this before. Probably even got published concerning this matter.
"...affects minority groups too?" What do you mean "too"? People are people aren't they? How do you think MINIORITIES are immune from Cultural differences relating to East Coast and West Coast? What, only "Anglos" are susceptible to this phenomena?
Although, I do not share my esteemed colleague's gusto for ragging on you, I do question your sincerity of how you think you can contribute to this board. This board is about Colombia and the women who live HERE. Swapping info and experiences. No, I am NOT looking for a wife. I LIKE the bachelor life. But, I do live here. Now, right now. I have 6 years under my belt of visitng and living here. I do get some leeway on things because I have put in my time here and I have proved that when it comes to Cali, my opnion has weight because I AM here day in day out. So, with your statement to Fathertime about being cool and don't come onto this board like gangbusters like you know everything about the culture here and the people or what it's like dating Calenas, you were out of line. Accept the fact you don't know anything first hand about Colombia. read what others have to say. Accept the fact you don't know enough to tell others about the dating scene here or how to go about looking for a wife here. I'm not getting on the femilnazi kick, but more of telling a newbie that you don't know enough about the subject matter to tell experienced people what's what. Your other subject matter is fine. I don't know anything about it or this Felicity person post away on that. When are you coming to Colombia to do more research, by the way?
You wanted equal time, then here it is. You are gettingthe SAME treatment I have seen other new guys get when coming on this board and insulting them (We've covered this), act like they know everything about the subject matter, or make cheap shots to the US.
"At least my country isn't perpetrating genocide. But let's not get into politics..."
You mean you DIDN'T mean this statement to be inflammatory to the Americans on this board?
Then there's the statement about "America doesn't owe its freedom to picking up guns.."
You DIDN'T think anyone who wore or wears a uniform would be offended by this? If you really didn't think this would be inflammatory or you don't understand WHY these statements MIGHT be offensive to people, then I say you are getting all the equal time that anyone else who jumps on this board with those staements would receive.
Anyways, another good day on the job for me today. Gotta go grab some breakfast.
Later Gators,
K
(Any Grammatical or spelling errors are mine alone. Don't hog 'em.)
