The "guest" was me
" But I also possess wisdom far beyond my years, and I have a right to discuss such topics with people who share common interests. "
es, but a discussion does not consist in spreading ready-made ideas, but to construct a thought with the interaction with the other peoples.
" Now, in response to Fab's reply. Fab, ask yourself. Did I ever mention Latin America, even once, in this thread? Nearly all of your reply to my original post in this thread was related to Latin America, when I never mentioned Latin America here in the first place. "
You could read read again my post, I spoke about L-A as an exemple, because yourself you have presented yourself to be of latin-American descent or latin-American culture, etc.
The use of "latin" as an ethnic term for latin-Americans only was just an exemple of the fact that words can be wrongly used. The same way "latin" used as a synonym for "mediterranean" is a mistake.
" And this thread was not about questioning whether France was a Latin country or not. I said plainly that "France is a Latin country". What I called into question was its relationship with Spain and Italy, and its degree of cultural similiarity."
You also said the idea that Italy and Spain share a "mediterranean ethnicity", that to you eyes France don't share (being a so "Gallic" country). And in this thread you said that "ethnically", latin is a synonym for mediterranean. I'm sorry but that means to you France is not latin because it would be not ethnically not enought "mediterranean" to your eyes. the subject of the topic was defined by yourself, and did not treted of cultural similarities but of "ethnicity" : LAA " One of the criteria (for being latin) points had something to do with the population having a significant, if not majority of its ethnic origin being "Latin". "
When hearing this I was interested to know what on earth could mean being "ethnically latin" ? That is whay I would like to understand better what does this ethnic definition include.
" You really need to work on your reading comprehension. You do not have to tell me that most Americans think that "latin" carries only Latin American conotations. I am fully aware of that. I'm talking about Latin Europe, and you know it, so there is no reason to even bring that up. "
It is just to recall that some words that relates to culture can be inacurately used as racial identification.
" "On the other way, south European and mediterranean are the same thing ? Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, turquey or Greece are of course mediterranean; Are they of latin ethnicity ? "
Fab, why do you have to get so hung up on trivial details and take everything to an unrealistic extreme? "
I don't think is is a trivial detail. you said that etnically "latin is a synonym for "mediterranean". I was surprise that you lump all the peoples of mediterranean origins within the latin ethnic category ?
So I asked for a confirmation (or negation), are those people ethnically latin for you ?
" Why can't you just use common sense, and debate the real issue at hand? Of course I'm not referring to Algerians, Egyptians, or Turks. "
!!?? "of course", and why ?? In Europe when you speak about mediterranean people you think about Greeks, Libanese, Italians, Algerians, a lot of different kind of people and cultures who whare our lovely mare nostrum.
" When used in this context, anyone with half a brain would know that by Mediterranean, we are referring to European mediterranean peoples. "
And inside mediterranean Europeans, do you consider Greeks to be of latin ethnicity ? And what about Albanians, Maltese, or Croatians, they are south Europeans too and in general don't look different than most Spaniards ? that interest me
" Think what you want Fab. You're entitled to your own opinion, however dissolusioned that may be. "
I don't have opinion, I just try to push you to give the arguments that lead you to have your opinions.
" What about the other 70% who aren't obese? Are they not Americans because they are not fat?". I wouldn't say that because it is silly. "
this is the tactic that Fab continues to employ. "
I use this "tactic" because I had not yet your answer to the question. Can we use a physical description of people as a definition of the people in question ? You think (righetly in my opinion!) that it is stupid to consider that being fat would be a criteria for being American - But in the same time you think that to be considered as a south European, latin or mediterranean you should have a precise physical appearance. It is quite contraditional.
" But I also possess wisdom far beyond my years, and I have a right to discuss such topics with people who share common interests. "
es, but a discussion does not consist in spreading ready-made ideas, but to construct a thought with the interaction with the other peoples.
" Now, in response to Fab's reply. Fab, ask yourself. Did I ever mention Latin America, even once, in this thread? Nearly all of your reply to my original post in this thread was related to Latin America, when I never mentioned Latin America here in the first place. "
You could read read again my post, I spoke about L-A as an exemple, because yourself you have presented yourself to be of latin-American descent or latin-American culture, etc.
The use of "latin" as an ethnic term for latin-Americans only was just an exemple of the fact that words can be wrongly used. The same way "latin" used as a synonym for "mediterranean" is a mistake.
" And this thread was not about questioning whether France was a Latin country or not. I said plainly that "France is a Latin country". What I called into question was its relationship with Spain and Italy, and its degree of cultural similiarity."
You also said the idea that Italy and Spain share a "mediterranean ethnicity", that to you eyes France don't share (being a so "Gallic" country). And in this thread you said that "ethnically", latin is a synonym for mediterranean. I'm sorry but that means to you France is not latin because it would be not ethnically not enought "mediterranean" to your eyes. the subject of the topic was defined by yourself, and did not treted of cultural similarities but of "ethnicity" : LAA " One of the criteria (for being latin) points had something to do with the population having a significant, if not majority of its ethnic origin being "Latin". "
When hearing this I was interested to know what on earth could mean being "ethnically latin" ? That is whay I would like to understand better what does this ethnic definition include.
" You really need to work on your reading comprehension. You do not have to tell me that most Americans think that "latin" carries only Latin American conotations. I am fully aware of that. I'm talking about Latin Europe, and you know it, so there is no reason to even bring that up. "
It is just to recall that some words that relates to culture can be inacurately used as racial identification.
" "On the other way, south European and mediterranean are the same thing ? Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, turquey or Greece are of course mediterranean; Are they of latin ethnicity ? "
Fab, why do you have to get so hung up on trivial details and take everything to an unrealistic extreme? "
I don't think is is a trivial detail. you said that etnically "latin is a synonym for "mediterranean". I was surprise that you lump all the peoples of mediterranean origins within the latin ethnic category ?
So I asked for a confirmation (or negation), are those people ethnically latin for you ?
" Why can't you just use common sense, and debate the real issue at hand? Of course I'm not referring to Algerians, Egyptians, or Turks. "
!!?? "of course", and why ?? In Europe when you speak about mediterranean people you think about Greeks, Libanese, Italians, Algerians, a lot of different kind of people and cultures who whare our lovely mare nostrum.
" When used in this context, anyone with half a brain would know that by Mediterranean, we are referring to European mediterranean peoples. "
And inside mediterranean Europeans, do you consider Greeks to be of latin ethnicity ? And what about Albanians, Maltese, or Croatians, they are south Europeans too and in general don't look different than most Spaniards ? that interest me
" Think what you want Fab. You're entitled to your own opinion, however dissolusioned that may be. "
I don't have opinion, I just try to push you to give the arguments that lead you to have your opinions.
" What about the other 70% who aren't obese? Are they not Americans because they are not fat?". I wouldn't say that because it is silly. "
this is the tactic that Fab continues to employ. "
I use this "tactic" because I had not yet your answer to the question. Can we use a physical description of people as a definition of the people in question ? You think (righetly in my opinion!) that it is stupid to consider that being fat would be a criteria for being American - But in the same time you think that to be considered as a south European, latin or mediterranean you should have a precise physical appearance. It is quite contraditional.