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Old 05-16-2004, 01:23 PM
James James is offline
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XOMichelle has an excellent point. Its almost like talking to someone in from our grandparents generation. They are much likelier to say it how it is, versus walking around in PC-Wrapped kid gloves.

If it really doesn't bother you as you say, just ignore it.

Quote:
Originally posted by XOMichelle
Sistermadly,
I've found that people from other countries don't have the same sensitivity toward race and other personal issues that we do. For instance, when I was in Spain, people would nickname the fat kid "gordo" or "gordito" or the skinny one "flaca". In fact, there is a popular TV talk show on the Spanish TV here in the US called el Gordo y la Flaca, staring a skinny woman and a fat man. They would call things like they were, or at least how they thought they were. They don't see talking about stereotypes as something to avoid, or something that you should take offense to. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, I would use these small times to educate your co-workers about how different Americans are. You can say things like, not all African Americans are religious, although they do portray us that way on TV. So they get the idea that you are unique, and not solely a product of the culture they think you are.

Good luck!!
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