Race relations

One reason we don't rule Chicago:  I walked into a Polish deli the other day and when it was my turn at the counter, the girl who waited on me naturally started talking.  I said that my Polish is bad so I need to use English, which is only a lie if you allow that I do know a few words and phrases but nothing that could really help order food.

"Oh that's alright.  You just look like one of us."

"I am one of you, I just don't speak the language."

She took my order but had no interest in small talk.  Either because perhaps she isn't confident in her English or she was disappointed that another Pole doesn't know the language of his heritage.

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Posted this on Rant'n'Rave on Craigslist:  So I'm at this street fest and a guy is bumping up against me. Look over and see that he's buckling a bit at the knees. he's not really causing me any harm so I turn back to my friends. But he does it again and again. One of his friends notices and she says:

"hey bendaho (sp?) you're so drunk you are bumping into that white guy."

This is a group of hispanic looking people, I do not know of which specific persuasion. But I gotta know, WHY couldn't she just say "you're bumping into that guy." Why is pointing out my color necessary? It's not like there were 10 people of different races standing there that the guy was bumping into so he wouldn't have to try and distinguish which guy he was bumping.

can anyone honestly explain this? 

I got one response.  The responder said "because (drum roll) . . . you are white. Not complicated. Its just an adjective. Dont be so defensive."

Great.  I was really just curious and he/she plays the Defensive Card.  From now on, I will describe every latino I encounter as brown guy/girl.  I'm sure no one will be defensive about that.