Why should I "go back" ?

Question

Why is it that when I ask a question about Latinos and spanish in the U.S. that I get told to "go back to my country". I was born in Puerto Rico but raised in the U.S. since I was 5. This is a nation of immigrants, the only natives are Native Americans. So why when an African American person defends themselves or a Latino American... do they get told to go back to Africa or Mexico or whatever? If I were born or raised here in the U.S. this is my home so why should i leave? I would never tell a White person who's ancestors are from Ireland or Britain to go back to Ireland or Britain... makes no sense to me. The only natives oh the U.S. are the Native Americans so when you tell someone who can trace their background to another country to go back to that country when they are American aren't you contradicting yourself?

Answer 1

As far as I'm concerned, you are welcome here. Just because my ancestors came here from Ireland and Britain doesn't make me any different from you! And anyone who tells you to "go back" should be ashamed! This is America - the melting pot! We're all immigrants (yes, Native Americans are too - just older immigrants than the rest of us!).

Bienvenidos hermana. :)

Answer 2

What I think makes people upset is that throught out Americas history, people have come from Germany, China, Nigeria, Egypt and many other places. If you notice, I pointed out coutries from numerous continents. and they all adapted to work with each other through learning English. I don't care where a person is from, as long as their legal and speak english. For instance, I live in Philadelphia, I can walk into any part of the city including Chinatown, and communicate openly with all the people. THis goes for all teh parts of town, the Irish, German, Asian, African. They all speak the same language as me because when their ancestors came here, they adapted. Unfortanitly, there is a common misconception that mexicans and many other Latino's don't want to adapt and actually think we should adapt to them. I think that is the biggest underlying factor. If I went to work in Japan, I would expect to learn Japanese. Unfortainitly, the illegals don't care about adapting, all they want is $ for a better life without actually adapting to the place they want that life to be. And they are making the legal english speaking immigrants such as yourself being unwantedly pushed into a stereotype.

Answer 3

The only time I have every heard anyone say "go back" is when they are complaining about how crappy the US is and how great (insert country name here) is, then I would even say, "if you hate it here and love it there, then go."

Most people use it in a insulting sense, saying that since you are not a white person, then instantly you are not from the US...

Personally, I agree with you, and if someone told me to "go back," i would look at them confused... (english and italian background), but i have heard so many people say it to hispanic or african background...


Plain and simple, people suck and are racist *******...

Answer 4

I think what is happening is cultural saturation there is just not enough good paying jobs for everyone and when anyone culture comes in and saturates the job market so much people feel threatened by it. It does not matter where you are from you just become a target of fear. That breeds hatred and racism or anti-cultural-ism.

Answer 5

To correct you, Blacks (I do not recognize the term Afircan-American because I am not an African immigrant) are not "immigrants." We didn't "emigrate" to the US as have many (I am not going to go deep into that one, you know the history), we were "slavejugated ( I just made that up myself)" to the US instead.

To answer your question though, when people tell people to "go back where your from," it is directed at them because they tend to be the loudest voices of opposition to the racism and oppression in which many people of color face today. When people (mostly Whites) here us complaining about this, tend to retort to saying "go back" because it's the only argument that they can use, not realizing that the people who they are referring to are already from here and there is no place to "go back" to.

Answer 6

I think the term is intended for immigrants who complain about the US of A or are not happy here... so if you don't like it then go back from whence you came. sounds reasonable enough. I think another difference is the immigration of today vs yester-year. The illegal immigrants should go back and then try coming in the front door like our european ancestry.

Answer 7

I agree, but when people feel attacked they are going to defend themselves. What kind of questions were you asking? I agree it's not right to tell people something like that, we are all immigrants.

Answer 8

I am truly sorry about it. I understand Ur feelings, and I am

saddened by it.

I hope to see the day that we learn to live In peace and

harmony, and loving instead of hating. I hope u feel better.

Peace, love and justice for all.

Answer 9

don't let those stupid comments get to you. Think about it is there a way to put an entire population in a boat and send them away, no, there is not. That is just a childish answer from people that are not really bright, don't let it get to you.

Answer 10

I would never say that unless someone said we should become comunists. Even if they were born here I would say they should go live in Cuba or something.