More Who Are You?

Piggybacking on yesterday's post about these unfounded beliefs in being another nationality or ancestry, it got me thinking about the people who, in addition to being proud of their background, as one should. But taking that pride to the point where they feel the need to mention it at every turn. I think of movies and pop culture where any character repeatedly mentions they're '____'. 

"It's because I'm black, isn't it!?"

Seth Rogen mentions he's Jewish pretty much all his films. 

There's a saying in Mexico about how one behaves versus being obviously of Mexican descent. Similar to putting on airs. A loose example is, say a person is behaving as though they don't speak Spanish. I've seen it and even dealt with it multiple times.  Say when a customer comes in and starts asking for assistance with something and they're speaking in very broken English. You can almost hear the Spanish accent underneath it all. MY reaction to that would be to start speaking to them in Spanish, to smooth the lines of communication. And 99% of the time, they appreciate the help. But that 1%...  They get all offended and demand to keep speaking in English. To which, we would say to one another after the customer was out of earshot, '¡ni con el pinché nopal en la frente!' - 'not even with the fucking cactus on his forehead.'  I have to admit, I laugh just thinking about that. 

But even a step beyond declaring your heritage at every turn are the folks who believe that because you are of a certain ancestry or nationality, you somehow have super powers in any given field. And I'm sure most of us have done it before. 

I can out drink you, I'm Irish!

I have to mention the obvious, Black men are well endowed. Actually that would be a cool super power. 

You can't fool me, my great-grandmother was a witch!

Come to think of it, these are also bordering on stereotypes. Which is another one that people will sometimes use in a self-depricating manner. 

I can't drink, I'm Asian.

I'm can't help I'm cheap, I'm Jewish. 

It's funny, seems people don't like being put into a category or defined. Unless they do it themselves. And will more than happily go willingly.