# Is this offensive, or am I too sensitive?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-offensive-or-am-i-too-sensitive/619907>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 25, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-offensive-or-am-i-too-sensitive/619907 "2012-04-25T14:36:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 5

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-offensive-or-am-i-too-sensitive/619907/81 "2012-05-01T18:56:40Z")

</div>

> [@CBEscapee](#):
>
> Dressing as a _charro_ is more appropriate than as a poor, uneducated, serape wearing campesino. Of course to many Americans we are a nation of gardeners and maids so they obviously hold a different view of how to represent us.

This was the post, that made me get the idea that you might be ashamed of the rural poor, and I honestly have encountered shame in some Mexican Americans for their own humble roots.  
And IMO, the current American stereotype is that we are a nation of drug dealers and gang members.  
But from the later posts, I realize that I did miss your point, which is that non-Mexicans should be more educated as to the full range of the people; instead of say the mexican doll section of the “It’s a small world” ride at Disneyland.  
However, during my years teaching young children, I notice that they tend to favor, bright colorful and interesting costumes, and as much as I respect the great national hero, Benito Juarez; children dressed in his image, would be wearing a typical bland European business suit of that period.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-offensive-or-am-i-too-sensitive/619907/82 "2012-05-01T21:20:22Z")

</div>

For the record, if I were challenged to stereotype modern Mexicans I would use words like “Catholic” and “Hard-working” and “Family-oriented” and"Tough" and yes, also “Poor.”

I don’t know anyone who would subscribe to the descriptions that either of you have put forward. Do we think those people exist? Naturally. But as a broad definition? Ridiculous!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-offensive-or-am-i-too-sensitive/619907/83 "2012-05-02T09:25:30Z")

</div>

> [@DivineComedienne](#):
>
> My son’s grade is doing Italy this year,…

~You can get the costume [here](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JEAPQG/ref=asc_df_B000JEAPQG1990051?tag=thefind0242087-20&creative=395261&creativeASIN=B000JEAPQG&linkCode=asn).

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-offensive-or-am-i-too-sensitive/619907.md?page=4)