Hey, hey, no problem.

I've just been considering the term "ethnic" lately and the more I think about it, the more it puzzles me. I was wondering what your definition was.

I only ask because I've heard people use it as a stand-in for African-American and Arab-American a few times in the past and this has always confused me. Also, I've never been able to figure out why supermarkets label some foods as "ethnic" and not others; surely all food is ethnic? Why the distinction? Moreover, I've detected some negative undertones (certainly not from you) before - as in, "An 'ethnic' person is someone who is not like us," but obviously this doesn't hold in the example and explanation above.

Hmm, it's a curious word.