tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736097.post114362089471847197..comments2023-10-24T07:41:34.469-05:00Comments on Surprised by Joy: The "G" wordannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433802638860190900noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736097.post-1143655519494729942006-03-29T12:05:00.000-06:002006-03-29T12:05:00.000-06:00I think the important thing that you've acknowledg...I think the important thing that you've acknowledged, and that everybody should acknowledge, is that no one can claim ownership of a word. It's never neutral, as people who claim to "own" a word often claim, and that leads to people getting hurt. Words have such complicated histories. Sometimes I feel like being aware of those histories makes it impossible to speak (which is, incidentally, what the poem I just posted is about). But I don't think responsible people have a choice.Evelinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356112296234091257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736097.post-1143642092347854632006-03-29T08:21:00.000-06:002006-03-29T08:21:00.000-06:00As you have mentioned, every culture is different....As you have mentioned, every culture is different. The terms "gringo" and "yankee" in Latin America can be pejorative. However, in my experience, they can be terms of endearment, cariño. It all depends on the context – who is saying what to who. I have been called “gringo” many times and I’ve never felt offended. There are other times, when discussing one of Hugo Chávez’s favorite topic: the Empire that is Gringolandía, that I am offended by the term. <BR/><BR/>Often times to counter what I feel as a negative criticism about my national origins (which I can do nothing about!) I often reply back with another pejorative! ;) (Please understand that in Venezuela, this kind of humor that breaks tension is respected and often admired.) If someone calls me a “yankee” I respond back and called them a “veneco” (Venezuelan) or a “caliche” or “colombiche” (Colombian). This has helped many of my friends to think twice before they call me a “gringo.” <BR/><BR/>Also, I believe that one of the biggest complements that you can be given in Latin America is when nationals say to you, “you’re not a gringo – you’re Venezuela. You’re one of us.” And one of the biggest compliments to a Latin America, once again, in my limited experience, is to say you have a corazón venezolano – identifying yourself with the local culture. I do not know exactly how this relates to African-American or Japanese culture. Great topic, Ann!panajonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04853844185734085876noreply@blogger.com