Editor's note: Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a CNN.com contributor and a nationally syndicated columnist.
By Ruben Navarrette, CNN Contributor
San Diego, California (CNN) - On a recent trip to Mexico City, I had barely made my way down the concourse and arrived at the immigration processing area when I got stumped.
Signs pointed the way to two lines: one for "Mexicanos" ("Mexicans"), another for "Extranjeros" ("Foreigners.")
I stood there for a few seconds, unsure of where to go. Growing up in Central California, I had been called a "Mexican" my entire life. It's ethnic shorthand in the same way that my friends in Boston refer to themselves as "Irish" or my friends in New York describe themselves as "Italian." Later, I settled on "Mexican-American."
But, this was Mexico. And, in the homeland of my grandfather, there was no need for shorthand or hyphens. I was simply an American. I speak Spanish, good enough to handle either end of an interview in that language. But I don't have the vocabulary of a native, and I can't shake my American accent.
So I took my U.S. passport and got in the line for Extranjeros.
Read Ruben Navarrette's full column
What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
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Ruben,
I've read your rants for a number of years. You are an American citizen of Mexican descent, just like I am an American of German and English descent. The problem is that I am not bothered by my heritage and you clearly are. Please get the psychiatric help you so desperately need and quit writing these idiotic articles for the clueless editors at CNN to publish.
hyphenated americans are just americans.
Why is this a "crisis"?? A crisis is when your life is at risk, or that of someone you love. You've got a great job, you're obviously educated and computer literate. You've got it better than most people in the world. Sheesh, quit whining and get over it.
The author is an idiot, a real idiot. Did you think countries are racial borders where if you are that race you are a citizen automatically? This would be like me going to Russia and expecting them to consider me a citizen because I'm white too.
You were born in Cali but think you might be a Mexican citizen? 1st class moron.
He would be shocked by the other differences between the United States and Mexico. For example how they treat illegal immigrants and what rights foreigners have in Mexico.
Mexico should really clean up its own house before ever making demands of us.