Originally posted by Ariana9
Look, I am not refering to anyone who is here legally. You are oversensitive. The river is wide and deep where I lived at and they swim over. My
boyfriend was a Mexican national, he was legal so he was not a "wetback". When I moved down there, one of my hispanic friends told me "it's ok to
say wetback, you don't have to whisper it". I thought it was derogatory till I learned that even American born hispanics used it, it refers to the
illegals who swim over. So lighten up. Yes, if I called a legal-to-be-here hispanic, a wetback, then yes, that's insulting because they are not here
illegally. I guess I could call them defendants. Or perpertrators. I tended bar at several of the river bars and actually waited on people that had
just swam over and were wet from head to toe, even their money was wet. I'm sorry you were insulted, but I have not insulted you, nor would I.
"Wetback" is derogatory slang referring to someone who is here illegally. US citizens that are hispanic will use the term freely (or "mojado",
which is spanish for "wet"). This does not mean that it should be used.
if you call the wrong person a "wetback" you are likely to be seriously injured. As well, "La Raza" type groups are not likely to respond to such
terms favorably.
it would be better if you just said something like "I am sorry. I didn't mean to offend and used an adjective that was in appropriate
unknowingly." Or something like that.
Something else you may not know: a lot of hispanics don't like the term "Mexican", either. It is recieved as a derogatory reference.
"HIspanic" or "Latino" is preferred by most. A sure way to start a fight in Texas to to call them a "Mexican", but say it like "Messkin".
They are a proud people, on the whole. Like any people, treat them with the respect you want your children treated with.
