Ethnic Identities

Agustin Gurza writes about Latinos being indignant over the use of the word to describe them (Nov. 30). At least the word has some ethnic classification. Being labeled “white” is like being dropped into a black hole. The term carries no ethnic identification and it assigns no differences between Italians, Swedes or Turks.

Being of mixed ethnicity (Czech-Irish), I resent being placed in the same category as the English and Russians. These are the very groups that have killed, imprisoned and invaded my ancestral countries. Maybe Gurza and other Latinos should be grateful for the ethnic designations they have.

JOHN ZAVESKY

Los Angeles