Why is it strange and concerning? Given the tragic history of race and the way it still informs the way people think about race, it's really unsurprising it's still a delicate matter. Think about how the 'one-drop rule' still applies to whom considers themselves black.

If that weren't enough there is a large body of scientific evidence that supports the fact that race makes little biological sense and is mostly a social construct. Take the example of the Basque you picked: it turns out the Basque are much different from the rest of people in Europe due to their being (mostly linguistically, but also genetically) the only descendants of hunter-gatherer societies in Europe.

I suggest you read Genes, Peoples, and Languages on the subject: it's really fascinating.

http://www.amazon.com/Genes-Peoples-Languages-Luigi-Cavalli-...