Totally Left Field
by Lori Lancaster on April 4, 2007

Jackie Mason | April 5, 2007
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Aaron Shurtleff | April 5, 2007
I had a similar, yet different, perspective growing up. Where I came from (backwater Maine) was 99.9% white, so I never really met a lot of different persons. And for the longest time, I thought I was pretty much the least racist person I knew. I had older relatives who dropped every racist epithet you've ever heard (and probably some you haven't, and don't want to), and I was always embarrassed by that, for them, and I tried to point them out (up to the point where I realized that, no matter how hard I tried, the n-word was never going to leave the vocabulary).

However, when I went to college in Pennsylvania, I found out just how insidious that kind of thing can be! I won't use specific examples, but "those terms" were in about every expression I knew, but I never thought about that, because I'd never been around the people who would have taken offense, plus, most of the people I knew spoke the same way. I thought nothing of it. Fortunately, most of the people I met were forgiving and understanding. :)

However, I have no real ethnicity of my own as a consequence. My ancestors are from England, but I have no real "culture" to speak of (other than my quaint down-east New Englandah style!). I have a little bit of everything, but not enough of anything to really stick out. I can't even speak any cool second language (although I can mutter my way through a couple, and get my point across (barely...sometimes)). Maybe I'll get one of those teach yourself a second language books! ;)

Scott Hardie | April 7, 2007
I sympathize for your feeling of missing something, Lori. It might not entirely be due to your upbringing, however; it might have more to do with living in America. Unless you never learn English or you live in a strong ethnic neighborhood in a big city, we tend very much to homogenize in this society. I myself retain nothing from my Scottish heritage except a fondness for shortbread and knowing why my last name is spelled i-e. So, if you like, you can embrace newfound pride for this country – or, you can take this opportunity to teach your kids about Mexican heritage, since you've realized what you missed while they're still young. Or do both, for that matter. It couldn't hurt to celebrate both Cinco de Mayo and July Fourth. :-)

Jackie Mason | April 7, 2007
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