Have people made the word "Mexican" synonymous with bad? How do you feel when you hear "Guatemalan"?

Question

What about "Chinese"? Has immigration made people cringe at the sound of the word? What is so wrong with being Mexican? Do all 3 words make you think of illegals?

Did I say anyone was a victim, answer the question.

LOL, I agree I love guacamole.

Guatemalans arent necesarilly more ethnically indian than Mexicans. Both countries still have seperate indigenous tribes.

Answer 1

All three make me feel excited to meet new people and be introduced to new cultures.

Answer 2

In my world here in Southern California, the word Mexican describes most of my neighbors and co-workers. It also describes my favorite foods, so I am really trying to understand what you are trying to ask. If you want a take on the illegal immigrant issue, than that is about the law, not the culture.
As far as Guatemalan, that is another culture closely related to the Mexican culture, but more ethnically "Indian" than their Mexican neighbors.

Answer 3

When I think of the word "mexican" I think of nice tanned skin, beatiful. Wonderful food, great music and a sexy language. I don't ever think illegal when I hear mexican, guatemalan, or chinese, i just think oh so they're from that country, how cool. As far as illegal immigration goes, i don't think mexicans when someone says illegals, but i think of hard working people trying to have a better life than before. I hope they don't kick them out, i don't wanna pay $10 for one tomatoe, of have the landscaping, roofing and construction services triple in price.

Answer 4

Mexican has become synonymous with illegal, and therefore, bad. it's a question of numbers, since Mexicans are the largest Hispanic group, followed by puerto ricans and cubans.
I'm not referring to Mexicans being the largest illegal immigrant group. I'm simply stating the fact that of the Hispanic population, 58% is Mexican according to the US Census Bureau. Numbers have made them into the symbol for all illegals, since people think that if you're brown and crossed the rio grande, you have to be mexican.

Answer 5

Your question makes me laugh so hard. Here in RI there aren't many Mexicans. There are however many Guatemalans. So instead of Mexican haters, we have Guatemalan,Honduran, and Salvadorian haters. Sad but true. FYI: Not all Guatemalans are ethnically Indian. Livingston has an Afro-Guatemalan community and Zacapa has mostly European descendants. Don't mess with the Zacapanecos either because they shoot to kill.

Answer 6

Well I certainly don't group bad feelings with the word mexican, after all, my soon to be son will be mixed with mexican indian. Guatemalan makes me feel all warm and fuzzy because thats half my family right there. I have no "bad" feelings from any word. You can only label people bad by their actions not an entire group.

Answer 7

Mexican hasn't become synonymous with bad, it's become synonymous with the immigration issue. For these reasons, most people immediately associate Mexican with Illegal Immigration, since that's the big issue involving Mexicans, and then they have a reaction based on their opinion of Illegal Immigration.

Answer 8

Not really.... When I hear Guatemalan I think avocado shake or guacamole dip! And when I hear Chinese I think fortune cookies! And when I here Mexicans I think of tacos and Guacamole dip again. So all 3 words don't make me think of illegal, well maybe illegal for me to eat cuz its not good for my health if I eat too much.

Answer 9

I don't think so.

But years ago, when I was editing the annual report for a major US corporation, I had written a caption that referred to population growth in Mexico, something along the lines of "There will be x million Mexicans by the year 2020."

The client, a major bonehead, made me rewrite the sentence because he thought "Mexicans" was a derogatory term.

Answer 10

When people hear of illegal immigration, they automatically think of Mexicans, since so many of them cross the Rio Grande to get here. However, unfortunately, they seem to forget the fact that there are plenty of illegal immigrants from other parts of the world, as well.

Answer 11

That's nice, it all sounds so quaint and cultural. Anyone for another big bowl of Quaintles? LOL

I think Mexico should be synonymous with 'green card, please'...of course, if you can just buy a fake one in Mexico for 20 bucks, that doesn't do much good either. But, a border fence would do a lot of good, and so would employer enforcement.