What is the difference?

Does 'Caucasian' refere to a specific group of white people, in particular, those who are from

the Western Europe?

Thank you.

Caucasian is a broad term it is also the proper or formal term to describe anyone with white skin. Kind of like the term Asian can describe any person with black hair, olive skin and double eyelids.

and yes most white / caucasian people can trace thier roots to european decent. My family has traced our roots back to the 1300's to Sweeden and Germany.

Caucasian is used to describe people or things from the Caucasus region- which is modern day Russia, Georgia, parts of Europe etc. The word originates from Caucas, which means "Gate to Asia". Most of the white westerners we know today, originated from this region.

In the US, Caucasian is used as a racial classification for White Americans to separate them from Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, etc.

Thanks Astro for teaching me something today.
I was not aware of the origins of the word,
The word originates from Caucas, which means "Gate to Asia".

this statement is one of the largest roots of division in America.
"In the US, Caucasian is used as a racial classification for White Americans to separate them from Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, etc"

America is the melting pot, isnt everyone who was born there, immigrated there, or has an american green card an American?? instead of *insert nationality here*-American???

Together we stand as a human race, divided we fall and right now we are falling to pieces

Yes, but it is useful in certain circumstances, eg at a crime scene. The policeman can describe something he sees: "Suspect is 6 foot tall, white Caucasian, wearing a baseball cap..." You catch my drift?

The person who said: "there is only one race, the human race" is just being silly.


Piggerman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> America is the melting pot, isnt everyone who was
> born there, immigrated there, or has an american
> green card an American?? instead of *insert
> nationality here*-American???
>
> Together we stand as a human race, divided we fall
> and right now we are falling to pieces

i think they would say one or the other, as that statement doubles the color as most races are identified by a color.

As for the Human Race, , We must learn to accept our differences and build on the common interests we share.

I think there is beauty in diversity. We must all realize that we are different to begin with. But we should never hate each other because of our differences but learn to see the beauty in other cultures.

In French, Caucasian people means people from Caucasus.
Those days it's not commun to talk about race, so when someone wants to describe a people look we use "European" instead of "White".

Astroboy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think there is beauty in diversity. We must all
> realize that we are different to begin with. But
> we should never hate each other because of our
> differences but learn to see the beauty in other
> cultures.


Yeah, I agree. When I communicate with people, I don't care how he/she looks like.
I don't understand people who aren't tolerant to people who look different than they are

Caucas, which means "Gate to Asia".
What language would that be from?

It's from Georgian mythology that the name Caucas is from and it certainly does not mean "Gate to Asia"!

Source: [en.wikipedia.org]