What Nationality Are You Attracted To? (MERGED)

I'm white, and mostly attracted to white people and native americans...no it doesn't REALLY matter but on a pure physical basis...

 

Many people are confused by the terms Hispanic and Latin. Spanish speakers are themselves in disagreement as to how these two terms should be applied. Both sides of this contentious issue feel strongly about their positions and pose valid arguments. The following is an attempt to settle the issue in a scholarly manner. The author believes that if we know what these words originally meant, it might be easier to draw the appropriate conclusions and use the words as they were intended to be used.

The Origins
The first time that we hear the word Latin was in the time just prior to the Roman Empire in what we now called Italy. A tribe of people in central Italy who called themselves Latins appeared and began to subjugate their neighbors. Their country was called Latium, their capital city was Rome and the language they spoke was, of course, Latin. Whenever the Latins invaded a neighbor, they imposed their language and customs on them. The Romans kept expanding until they had an empire in Italy and then began to look abroad into Gaul (France) and Iberia (Spain)

The peninsula that would one day be called Spain was then known as Iberia, named after a people who arrived there from northern Africa and settled in the region around the river Iberos. Iberia was also settled by Phoenicians, Greeks, Celts and Carthaginians. When the Romans came they encountered a people now called Celtiberians (a mixture of Iberians and Celts) Eventually they conquered most of the peninsula, and in the southwest of Iberia they found a city called Hispalis (Seville). The city was a former Greek colony and according to myth, was founded by Hercules who named it after one of the nymphs he encountered there. At the time of the Roman conquest the city was occupied by a tribe of Celtiberians.

After about 200 years of warfare the Romans conquered and annexed the Iberian peninsula. They made it a province which they called Hispania, after the city of Hispalis. Later, the Romans divided their new province into two parts, Hispania Citerior (closer Spain) and Hispania Ulterior (farther Spain). Although there were other divisions later, these were the official names of Iberia throughout the Roman Empire, and would remain so until the fall of the Empire. It should be understood then, that the word España comes from the Latin word Hispania and not the other way around. The word Hispania then, in ancient times referred to the people and eventually to the culture of the Iberian peninsula..

As Rome added more territory to her empire, she began to impose her language and ways on the conquered people. This eventually led to the creation of several new languages which are now called Latin or Romance languages (Romance as used here is a reference to the city of Rome). Several Latin countries were also created, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Romania and possibly Albania although the jury is still out on this one. In summation the term Latin originally referred to the following:

1. The name of the tribes of people which eventually started the
Roman Empire and the name of the language that they spoke.

2. The official language of the Roman Catholic church.

3. An individual from a country that speaks a Latin language.

So What's Hispanic
Remember that Hispania and España mean the same thing. They mean Spain! Historians when referring to the period that the Visigoths ruled Spain, called the people Hispano-Romans. The word Hispano originally meant Spaniard or something coming from or of Spain. As time went on, the term Hispano came to refer to Spanish speaking individuals from any Spanish speaking country.

In the US things were not so clear. The US government needed to count its ever increasing number of Spanish speaking people but, they realized early on that these Spanish speakers did not have any unifying physical characteristics such as color of skin, texture of hair, shape of eyes, etc. As such, Spanish speakers could not be categorized as members of a single race. In addition to that they did not even share a common religion. In order to count its Spanish speaking citizens, the US government needed a category other than "White," "Black", "Native American" or "Asian". Thus the term "Hispanic" was included on all government forms and applications requiring such information. Eventually, the term made its way into the private sector as well.

This practice, however, has lead to some additional confusion, since the other categories "White", "Black", etc. refer to race while "Hispanic" was intended to refer to a cultural or ethnic group. This led many people to refer to a "Hispanic race", which is a totally erroneous statement.

In Europe Latins are generally accepted to be individuals coming from a country where a Latin language is spoken. Individuals coming from France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Albania and Romania are called Latins. The European view of Latin America is simply as a geographical location. The European view of the term Hispanic is fairly precise. It refers to Spain, its culture, the Spanish speaking people of Latin America and/or their culture. It appears that the Europeans have things in their proper perspective.

It is in the US that the terms Latin and Hispanic are often misapplied and confused. The terms mean different things to different people. In some areas of the US, for instance, Puerto Ricans and Cubans are considered Latinos but Mexicans and Colombians are not. In other areas Latin and Latino mean different things. I have even heard some individuals say that the term Hispanic was created by the "Anglos" in order to lump us all together and in the same breath say that the term Hispano is good because it tends to bring the Spanish speaking people together. Go figure.


So, What Are We, Latin or Hispanic ?
It depends on how you feel. Many Spanish speaking Native Americans do not want to be called Latins as they do not wish to be associated with the Europeans that subjugated and enslaved their ancestors. I respect this. Some of our young people think that Latin and Latino are cool while Hispanic is not. More than a few of us don't like the word Hispanic because they feel that the word was invented by the US government to count us like you would count sheep. They refuse to check the boxes on government forms and job applications.

As genealogical and historical researchers, and especially for the sake of future researchers, I think it's our responsibility to assure that our culture and people are portrayed as accurately as possible. If we must categorize ourselves, then let us do this with an inclusive rather than an exclusive term. A term that unites us, rather than divides us. Latin and Latino are words that are just too general to describe us. You could be talking about Italian and French speakers when you refer to Latins. When you use the word Hispanic there is no doubt that one is referring to Spanish speakers or at the very least individuals that have some tie to either the Spanish language or its culture. No, I don't think that the word Hispanic lumps us all together. It unites us and there is strength in unity. I vote for the word Hispanic because it provides us with an opportunity for unity and strength.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, visit the Hispanic Genealogy Forum.

 

It is in the US that the terms Latin and Hispanic are often misapplied and confused. The terms mean different things to different people. In some areas of the US, for instance, Puerto Ricans and Cubans are considered Latinos but Mexicans and Colombians are not. In other areas Latin and Latino mean different things. I have even heard some individuals say that the term Hispanic was created by the "Anglos" in order to lump us all together and in the same breath say that the term Hispano is good because it tends to bring the Spanish speaking people together. Go figure.

 

All of the above, really depends on the personality... and hair. I have a thing for hair. XD

 

Long wet hair, dripping onto erect nipples, down to the belly button, on further to the pudendum. Glossy eyes, looking at you longingly. Lips pursed to kiss, and arms ready to wrap around you in a sensual embrace....

...I don't care if your paisley, plaid and polka-dotted with a Martian accent, You've got my full attention!

 

generally caucasian.

brazilian boys are nice too.

I really have no preference though. For some reason, I'm not really attracted to asian men. Obviously this is a huge generalization. I can't explain why this is, because I don't know myself. It's not a racist thing, because I would definitely have a relationship with an asian man, I just rarely see one that I find attractive.

 

I thought about this once because one of my mates was teasing me about not dating outside my own race. I figure different races have different physical attributes, and people find different physical attributes more attractive than others. Physical attraction is inherently shallow, so I don't see that race being a factor in that should really be an issue. If someone said they were attracted to all races I'd be a tad suspicious, to be honest. I could just as easily call my mate sexist for not dating guys, but what would be the point?

Personally, I find Indian/Asian guys attractive. Not all of them, obviously, but facially and physically they tend to be more my type than a lot of other races. Maybe it's a cultural thing though; I guess we notice the little differences more in the race we were brought up with.

 

i dont care
but i mostly tend to get hit on by white women who are older than me

 

Just a gigolo
everywhere I go
people know the part
I'm playing

Paid for every dance
selling each romance
every night some heart
betraying

There will come a day
youth will pass away
then what will they say
about me

When the end comes I know
they'll say just a gigolo
as life goes on
without me

'Cause I aint got nobody
nobody nobody cares for me
I'm so sad and lonely
sad and lonely sad and lonely
Won't some sweet mama
come and take a chance with me
cause I aint so bad

Get along with me babe,
been singin love songs
All of the time
Even only be, honey only, only be
Bop bozadee bozadee bop zitty bop

I ain't got nobody 'cept love songs in love
Hummala bebhuhla zeebuhla boobuhla
hummala bebhuhla zeebuhla bop

I ain't got nobody, nobody,
nobody cares for me
Nobody , nobody
I'm so sad and lonely,
sad and lonely,
sad and lonely,
Won't some sweet mama come
and take a chance with me
cause I aint so bad

Get along with me babe,
been singin love songs
All of the time
Even only be, honey only, only be

 

i dont know... i have a serious weakness for white boys. dont know what it is about them that gets me though, but they just do.

 

I am basically color blind. Of the 3 relationships that I have had that lasted 1 year or more, one lover was black, one caucasian and one hispanic. I checked all, because I have been intimate with men of all ethnic groups. For me it is the person not someone's ethnic background.

BTW, I hate the term "race" because we are all the same "race" on this little blue ball called earth. We are different nationalities and ethnic groups.

I also loved Vulcans as I child, I did not know why I thought Spock was hot and Tuvok is a cutie too, lol.

 

Ariens.

 

I'm Hispanic but I have only played with white guys. Honestly,I don't see myself ever playing with a black or Hispanic guy. I don't play often but when I seek them out,I always hook up with white guy. Funny because it seems a Hispanic guy is always a catch for a white guy. At least it always have been when I hook up.

 

I'm Hispanic (Mexican-American,1/4 Italian) and would never refer to myself as "Latin". It just doesn't sound right to me. Either Hispanic or Mexican.

 

There is only one race - the human race. I think you should rephrase that question.

 

I have to admit, I'm mainly attracted to Caucasians. I guess it's because they're most like me and people tend to go for the familiar, you know? When I want something exotic, I go for American Indian (YUM!) or Hispanic normally. I have been attracted to people of all races at one point or another, those are just the ones that pop up the most.

 

I've changed the topic name, but I am unable to change the Poll name. Sorry. I tried.

 

Thanks I dont mean to come across as rude, but I do believe that there is only one race of human. Very kind of you thanks again

 

would you like me to change poll and thread title to nationality for you?
S

 

MMMMM, I like asian chicks and I like Italian girls!