Interesting voting experience tonight.

[smirkymonkey]

I voted in the Boston Preliminary Municipal Elections tonight in my neighborhood. I worked fairly late (6:30pm) so it was not at all crowded when I went to my polling place.

When I approached the people who were checking voters in I first gave the one woman with the book my name, last name, then first. The older woman next to her said "That's Italian, isn't it?" I couldn't really tell, but it sounded more like an accusation than a question. I ignored her because the woman next to her asked me my address immediately after that and the other woman again said "That's Italian, isn't it?"

I felt like asking her if she had a problem with people w/ Italian names, but I only replied, "Yes, I am half Italian", and walked off to fill out my ballot. The more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. I live on Beacon Hill, which in this day and age has people of all ethnicities and races living there, but this woman was elderly and I felt like she was one of those old time WASPs who felt like people like me - with non-WASPy last names (Even though my mother was a a total WASP/Northern European and I look about as Nordic as you can get), were invading her neighborhood.

It was a very strange feeling. I haven't felt like I have been treated like an ethnic minority in a long time, but it made me understand how people of other ethnicities and races feel - probably every day - when they are living in a dominant white culture that makes them feel like they are less than.

I didn't buy into her bullshit, but it was certainly enlightening and made me have empathy for people who have to put up with this kind of shit every day of their lives. I would have been humiliated if I hadn't thought she was just a miserable, bitter old woman who was raging against the changing face of society.

As Eleanor Roosevelt wisely said, "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."

[Ohiogal]

1. I think it's just peculiar to that generation.

My mother and father were like that. Always had to discuss a person’s ethnicity. Although they were never as brazen as that woman you mentioned. But I heard plenty at home as a child as to all the assorted stereotypes on each ethnic group and discussions as to who was what nationality. And neither one was a WASP trying to feel all,superior.

[smirkymonkey]

2. I think for women of that demographic, anyone who came to this country

after the turn of the century is still a dirty immigrant, no matter how assimilated they are. Some people will never accept anyone outside of their own ethnic group. I'm sure she can't stand Irish, Polish or Jewish people either. Fortunately, people like her are dying out and these differences don't matter to younger people.

[Ohiogal]

4. You're right about that.

My three young adult sons couldn’t care less what nationality someone is. That type of thinking will be gone when that generation is gone.

[secondwind]

3. I think it was harmless, but I didn't hear the question.

You can tell a lot by the inflection, etc

[smirkymonkey]

5. She was harsh about it.

It wasn't kindly. It felt accusatory. I am not generally sensitive about it since almost everyone I know here is anything but WASPy. It's pretty much a melting pot, but there are still those old-timers that don't like to see anyone who doesn't have an English last name living on Beacon Hill.

The thing is, if I had my mother's last name and was still the same ethnic mix, nobody would ever question me or my worthiness.

[safeinOhio]

6. Would have been fun to say...

No it's a Nigerian Name.

[Skittles]

7. I am often curious about the origin of surnames and will ask

but I certainly don't make it sound like an accusation....also, in her position I would consider such an inquiry inappropriate