whats up with people pretending to be other nationalities?

Question

in my experience, ive seen alot of people who are ashamed of who they are. ive seen alot of mexicans or hispanics in general who say they are italian when theyre not. i met one jewish guy who claimed to be spanish.

Answer 1

they have esteem issues and need to talk to Dr.Phil.

Answer 2

Since 11 September 2001, middle eastern individuals have been trying to pass themselves off as Mexicans. Meanwhile, Mexicans are being detained for no reason at all becuase so few authorities can really tel the difference between Middle Eastern and Mexican. As a result, many Mexicans are trying to pass theselves off as Italian.

Then there are the star-struck blokes who adore the british and Australian accent and want to speak with the same melodic verbiage. It's not necessarily that they aren't proud of their own heritage.

I have a cousin who is tall, dark haired, brown-eyed, bushy-eyebrowed, broad-shouldered and has been detained at airports and malls simply because he "looks" suspicious. He shouldn't look so suspicious - just because he is a commercial pilot. But that's the world we live in today, compliments of Usama Bin Laden.

Answer 3

Are you sure they're ashamed of who they are? I mean many Latins are racially defined as Italian or Spanish. Those born in countries colonized by Spain are definitely Hispanic, however, those born in the Americas (North and South) define themselves as Latino or Chicano if they have Native American and Mexican blood.

As for that Jewish guy he is probably a true Spanish since the term "Jewish" refers to religion and not to race or language.

Answer 4

In American society, Mexicans are at the bottom of the totem pole. They are considered filthy, lazy, ignorant, alcoholic, sex-crazed, sub-humans.
If you are light complected and have a Mexican ethnic background, you will hear white people, asians and black people say horrendous things about Mexicans; not realizing that you are also Mexican. "I hate Mexicans" is a common phrase that is heard. When friends find out that you are Mexican, they will say things like, "you don't count", as a Mexican, or, "You're not Mexican"

After growing up hearing this, some reject their culture out of shame and pretend to be French or Italian. They don't want to be associated with the all the negative qualities that are heaped upon them. Pretedning to be something else allows them freedom to interact with others as an equal.

Answer 5

I have never run into that. I know people like my mother as a child was kept indoors in the summer as she and her sister got too dark in the sun. This started because when my grandfather and his mother were Young they were still taking little kids(Indian) away from there family's and putting them in civilized homes. I think as long as we have a society that judges it will always be hard for some to say what they are. It is not shame but the fact they want no confrontation

Answer 6

~The fact that you are bothered by a Mexican passing for Italian or a Jew passing as Spanish (but not, I presume, a Spanish Jew - and somehow I doubt the it was a Polish Jew so passing) should tell you all you need to know about your own prejudices, and biggotry in general, to answer your question.

Answer 7

I haven't met anyone like that. But some people just find it fun to lie, others might be ashamed of who they are for personal reasons. I'd just let it be if I were you. Let them do and say what they want, it's not hurting anyone.

Answer 8

Either they're ashamed of their background, or they think it's "cooler" as another reviewer mentioned to be something else. I notice in my area that the ones that do this tend to say they're not white when they are. (For example, a girl who is mostly irish but has a little bit of native american in her says she's not white. She gets offended if you call her that. She has light brown hair and blue eyes! Come on now.) Not that it's my problem or it really bothers me, but to be outright offended to be called something that is part of your background is strange to me. People call me hispanic and I'm fine with it, or they can call me arab or white and I'm cool too. Doesn't bother me personally. To each their own.

Answer 9

I know a spanish guy and a philippino man that claimed that they were white.

I don't see the big deal in this.

You are who you are.

God made you and you should be proud of who you are.

Answer 10

It's not ppl claiming to be something else. Take me for instance, looking at me you wouldn't be able to tell that I was mixed. My mother's father was Italian, Dutch and something else her mother is Black and Native American (Mandan & Seminole). On my father's side my great grandmother was Blackfoot Indian and my paternal grandfather is Black and French along with some aborignee culture for central america. But ppl like to just call me black. I get offended when ppl say that, cuz I'm not only that. When ppl say things like that, it just makes me think they are trying to get you to forget about everything else you are. No one is pure anything anymore, and ppl need to get used to it.

Answer 11

That's pretty lame, but how do you know these people aren't Italian or Spanish?