Hispano vs. Mexican

En primer lugar, puesto que usted insinua que es Espanola o Europea, deberiamos discutir este tema en Espanol, mi primer idioma. That said, although this piece was written in humor, as you clearly failed to see, much of my statement was written after listening to a discussion by former State Historian and current director of the Hispanic Cultural Center, Estevan Rael-Galvez, who argued that any traces of Spanish blood are long ago lost in the mixing of races. And if you are trying to lay claim to Spanish heritage, take heed of one of your fellow Europeans wise words "the lady doth protest too much, me thinks...". Let me address some of your questions and statements. I am a Native New Mexican, from a long, long line of Native New Mexicans. I am proud to be from here and I actually consider myself a Chicano, a rare hybrid of Indian, Mexican and whatever blood lines flow through my veins. As a matter of fact, I will argue that any traces of Spanish blood in my veins, as is the case with most New Mexicans, are probably diluted by whatever other lines have been intermixed with my family's over time - it's possible that I may be closer in lineage to people who may have arrived on the Mayflower - than I am to any Conquistador. I do not consider myself European and certainly not Spanish and would be much more proud to claim roots in the gorgeous country that is Mexico. I am not a Europhile, do not like Castilian Spanish, I think their culture and cuisine is bland and tasteless, and the only pink part on my body, turns that way after consuming my beloved Hatch Chile with large quantities of good Mexican tequila. And just so there is no confusion, I am Joseph Baca, respondent to Gustavo Arellano's questionairre.

I know many people of hispanic descent in New Mexico have adopted the term 'Chicano', but I don't think it's a good term since it excludes a lot of people. My family came to New Mexico in the late 1600s and there has not been much intermarriage outside of the hispanic culture until my mother's generation. (I'm 33; she's 55.) I can claim only one Native American ancestor (my great-grandmother was 100% Navajo) and a few Anglos, with the rest being overwhelmingly Spanish. In fact my great-great-grandfather was a 'peninsulare'--he was conceived in New Mexico but sent back to Spain to be born! 'Hispano' or 'nuevomejicano' are the terms I use to describe myself and I can't imagine using anything else. 'Chicano' may very well describe other hispanics, but not myself.

At times like this it's evident there is plenty of Neanderthal still swimming in the gene pool too...