View Full Version : Will We Ever Give Up Heritage Pride?
Oh wisest of the wise, please answer my query.
Will there ever come a time when 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and even 5th generation Americans stop referring to themselves as "Italian", "Irish", "German", "French", etc?
It's kind of ridiculous, don't you think?
Even when you add the hyphenated "American" part to it, such as in "African-American" or "Asian-American" it seems kind of silly.
Don't you also think that maybe it perpetuates the disconnect some people feel with their fellow countrymen?
I really need to know, so please answere ASAP.
Thanks a heap, buddy!
Your Sicilian-Lithuanian buddy,
Gvac
I don't think so. Since this country is a melting pot full of mutts from around the world, it has become an American phenomenon to identify oneself from the country where his or her forebears came from.
Your Italian-Irish pal,
A.J.
yojimbo7248
05-13-2009, 02:57 AM
marrying people out of your ethnic group and making mutt kids is key. ethnic pride or identity gets diluted quickly when you are 25% Welsh, 25% German, etc. Same with race - my nieces and nephews are half black, half white. It was interesting talking to them when Obama was getting elected. they really didn't get what a historical moment it was to have a black president. I remember my parents worrying that my brother's kids wouldn't feel black or white and would be shunned by both groups. It simply hasn't happened and now we have a mixed race president.
boosterp
05-13-2009, 03:02 AM
I am 3rd generation German, my grandpa was the first to be born here, my grandma too. It is a source of pride in that I know the lengthy history of both sides of my bloodline.
sailor
05-13-2009, 03:08 AM
i've never described myself as anything other than american, unless people press for more info.
yojimbo7248
05-13-2009, 03:16 AM
I re-read your question, Gvac. I don't have an ounce of European heritage pride but I think it is because I am such a mutt. I have run across white people who identify themselves as 'Norwegian' or 'Irish'. I asssume they grew up in Oslo or Dublin. then I find out they are 'Norwegian-Americans' or 'Irish-Americans' which is kind of OK. I have nothing against feeling proud of your roots. then if they are, say, 40% Norwegian or Irish, I think they are pathetically co-opting tribal pride from a group that they really don't belong to. I think we are quickly moving away from this heritage pride and in one generation it will for the most part be gone unless you really are from Dublin or Oslo.
Foster
05-13-2009, 04:39 AM
not while there is still one drop of English/German/Irish/French blood left in my body.
not while there is still one drop of English/German/Irish/French blood left in my body.
My LimeyKrautMickGay friend
I predict it will take a couple of centuries, but I think that global travel and migration will bring about a pan-continental race of people that will be the clear majority. Assuming we're successful in raising the prospects of our fellow human beings, we'll move on to becoming a whole society. Safety, security, and health tend to promote understanding, or at least indifference.
CountryBob
05-13-2009, 04:52 AM
My parents and gradparents have never told me what heritage I am and I have never even asked. I am American.
Meh, I come from an Italian Family (grandfather from Naples)... Big shocker for a guy named Anthony from Staten Island right? Apparantly I found out recently I have relatives in Argentina, but a lot of Italians moved there from Italy instead of the US...or so I'm told.
My kid will have Italian, English, German, Dutch, and a drop of Native American blood.
My kid will have Italian, English, German, Dutch, and a drop of Native American blood.
That'll come in handy on those college application/financial aid forms!
ToiletCrusher
05-13-2009, 05:08 AM
I think it's one thing to go around telling people you are "blank-american" and another thing to simply say (if in conversation of course) that you are of whatever decent.
I know my heritage but it never has nor will it ever define me as a person more than where I live does.
That is the difference, you ask for assimilation when instead you need better integration.
First and second generations typically have their heritage define them. Naturally it will wear off.
That'll come in handy on those college application/financial aid forms!
If it don't help with my property tax, it probably won't help there either....:down:
Apparantly it's a very very small amount...
ToiletCrusher
05-13-2009, 05:11 AM
If it don't help with my property tax, it probably won't help there either....:down:
Apparantly it's a very very small amount...
1/8th is all you need.
drjoek
05-13-2009, 05:13 AM
Its no worse than the New Jersey pride around here
Furtherman
05-13-2009, 05:13 AM
Will We Ever Give Up Heritage Pride?
Maybe.
Why, you wanna fight about it?!
*chugs Guinness, breaks glass*
Maybe.
Why, you wanna fight about it?!
*chugs Guinness, breaks glass*
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/familyguy/images/thumb/9/92/Vlcsnap-464872.png/240px-Vlcsnap-464872.png
1/8th is all you need.
hmmm let me see what paperwork we can gather up.
Misteriosa
05-13-2009, 05:17 AM
im mix of all kids of things (spaniard, african, french, taina) but i just call myself puerto rican (boriqua, really). its weird that we dont have the "puerto rican american" tag used too often. :shrug:
drjoek
05-13-2009, 05:23 AM
im mix of all kids of things (spaniard, african, french, taina) but i just call myself puerto rican (boriqua, really). its weird that we dont have the "puerto rican american" tag used too often. :shrug:
Isnt PR American redundant? It is part of the US If you land there on return from another country you must do the Entrance to US passport check.
Puerto Rican is like saying your from Mass. Doesnt always get the same respect but it is the same
underdog
05-13-2009, 05:26 AM
Puerto Rican is like saying your from Mass.
Please don't insult the Puerto Ricans like that.
Please don't insult the Puerto Ricans like that.
:laugh:
Friday
05-13-2009, 05:36 AM
when i am asked my Nationality, i say i am American.
but when asked my ethnicity or heritage... i respond accordingly.
granted, i was born in my native country but i wasn't raised there. so my parents made sure that i learned about my heritage at an early age.
i think that it's important to remember/learn about the history of your family and hear the stories of elder generations that may have had a closer tie to their native land. this way, you can pass this knowledge along someday.
without some level of pride ... the diverse history of the cultures that make up this country might be forgotten. and that, imho, would be more sad than silly.
~Katja~
05-13-2009, 05:37 AM
I insist my son considers himself "German-Peruvian-American"
(of course German first... after all we are the superior race)
Misteriosa
05-13-2009, 05:39 AM
it may be redundant, but i have heard it used... i think its because the language and culture are so different. i dont use the "-american" tags for people anyway. you are japanese, indian, irish, black
Enabler
05-13-2009, 05:42 AM
I dont use my Irish heritage as a source of pride as much as an excuse for my pale skin, freckles and debilitating alcoholism. It makes me feel better to blame ancestry for these shortcomings.
most southerners seem to have already disassociate themselves from the country from which their ancestors came... however i think they will always embrace their southern heritage... they know embracing their southern heritage drives northerners crazy... southern pride is probably here to stay
Hottub
05-13-2009, 06:42 AM
Meh, I come from an Italian Family (grandfather from Naples)... Big shocker for a guy named Anthony from Staten Island right? Apparantly I found out recently I have relatives in Argentina, but a lot of Italians moved there from Italy instead of the US...or so I'm told.
My kid will have Italian, English, German, Dutch, and a drop of Native American blood.
My chick's grandparents also went to Argentina.
Italian, French and Czech.
<------ Argentine parrilla FTW!
My chick's grandparents also went to Argentina.
Italian, French and Czech.
<------ Argentine parrilla FTW!
Starvin!
For all you know we could be related... :blink:
Hottub
05-13-2009, 06:50 AM
Starvin!
For all you know we could be related... :blink:
That would make our love even more taboo!:laugh:
http://www.cvander.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/asado.jpg
That would make our love even more taboo!:laugh:
http://www.cvander.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/asado.jpg
HAWT! :lol:
Oh wisest of the wise, please answer my query.
Will there ever come a time when 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and even 5th generation Americans stop referring to themselves as "Italian", "Irish", "German", "French", etc?
It's kind of ridiculous, don't you think?
Even when you add the hyphenated "American" part to it, such as in "African-American" or "Asian-American" it seems kind of silly.
Don't you also think that maybe it perpetuates the disconnect some people feel with their fellow countrymen?
I really need to know, so please answere ASAP.
Thanks a heap, buddy!
Your Sicilian-Lithuanian buddy,
Gvac
This gentleman would like to have a word with you....
http://www.aoh61.com/boxing_images/bfinuc.jpeg
Hottub
05-13-2009, 06:55 AM
Sean, with Norma and Oscar in front of their parrilla. (7 years ago? Holy crap!!)
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/3043/eljaguel.jpg
Sean, with Norma and Oscar in front of their parrilla. (7 years ago? Holy crap!!)
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/3043/eljaguel.jpg
Gee thanks... Oh look I have carrot sticks as a snack.. :wallbash:
biggirl
05-13-2009, 07:12 AM
my kids have a mix of backgrounds that I can't even remember what they are. All I know is that I am very white and get very sunburned, and I don't know if I should blame my mom's side or my dad's side. And....my beautiful strawberry blond hair has turned into an ugly dishwater blond.
All I know is since my beauty (and figure) has faded my husband is after beautiful Hispanic/Columbian women. I guess he is sick of chubby, pale skinned, dirty blonds.
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/02/06/shakira_narrowweb__300x376,0.jpg
ToiletCrusher
05-13-2009, 07:15 AM
my kids have a mix of backgrounds that I can't even remember what they are. All I know is that I am very white and get very sunburned, and I don't know if I should blame my mom's side or my dad's side. And....my beautiful strawberry blond hair has turned into an ugly dishwater blond.
All I know is since my beauty (and figure) has faded my husband is after beautiful Hispanic/Columbian women. I guess he is sick of chubby, pale skinned, dirty blonds.
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/02/06/shakira_narrowweb__300x376,0.jpg
Just start talking like a sassy latina chick. That will bait him back, then work on the changing ethnicity thing.
my kids have a mix of backgrounds that I can't even remember what they are.
Do we need to call Maury to find out?
KatPw
05-13-2009, 07:26 AM
I'm glad I know where my family members come from and what their lives were like. Our ancestors emigrated here for a reason, and I like knowing what those reasons were. And even if we all stopped associating ourselves with our heritage I think our society would just find other ways to separate ourselves, be it skin shade, hair color, etc. There are people in this world that enjoy segregating themselves and nothing will change their attitude.
WampusCrandle
05-13-2009, 07:31 AM
I insist my son considers himself "German-Peruvian-American"
(of course German first... after all we are the superior race)
i like your style!
I am such a euro-mutt, it's gross. i actually created a massive family tree, and then i combined it with other family trees so i know my heritage too well. i am mostly German, Irish, Russian and Scandinavian. But, I also have Swede, Norwegian, Dutch, British, and Scotish.
I have family that has lived in Australia for a few generations, and couldn't find out if they were there of their own accord or if were there for being very bad British people. So, I don't know if I can consider part of my heritage Australian or not. oh well.
i also do too many things that would involve my heritage for me to throw it away.
Aggie
05-13-2009, 07:32 AM
As others have stated I'm really interested in my family story but it in no way defines me. I love history and it's great if you can know your own. I'm mostly a Western European mutt (German, English, Dutch, Scottish, Swedish and some others) but am 25% Croatian.
But my kids will be half black/half white. They're not going to identify with any particular group, especially a specific Eurpoean or African heritage.
TripleSkeet
05-13-2009, 08:07 AM
So basically you just want everyone born here to refer to themselves as American and just American. Right?
How fucking boring that would be.
TheMojoPin
05-13-2009, 08:25 AM
So basically you just want everyone born here to refer to themselves as American and just American. Right?
How fucking boring that would be.
That's Gvac for you. He's Mr. B&W on everything. He's allergic to variety.
So basically you just want everyone born here to refer to themselves as American and just American. Right?
How fucking boring that would be.
That's Gvac for you. He's Mr. B&W on everything. He's allergic to variety.
Just for you Gvac...
ehem..I am a real American, Fight for the rights of every man, I am a real American, fight for what's right, fight for your life!!
TheMojoPin
05-13-2009, 08:34 AM
He's too lazy to fight.
grlNIN
05-13-2009, 08:46 AM
i like your style!
I am such a euro-mutt, it's gross. i actually created a massive family tree, and then i combined it with other family trees so i know my heritage too well. i am mostly German, Irish, Russian and Scandinavian. But, I also have Swede, Norwegian, Dutch, British, and Scotish.
I have family that has lived in Australia for a few generations, and couldn't find out if they were there of their own accord or if were there for being very bad British people. So, I don't know if I can consider part of my heritage Australian or not. oh well.
i also do too many things that would involve my heritage for me to throw it away.
Saying your Scandinavian and also Norwegian and Swedish is redundant.
I can see wanting to know your heritage but having that many nationalities and it almost seems pointless to waste the time trying to negotiate the last ounce of blood.
~Katja~
05-13-2009, 08:49 AM
Just for you Gvac...
ehem..I am a real American, Fight for the rights of every man, I am a real American, fight for what's right, fight for your life!!
real Americans wear this
http://www.animalshirts.net/wolfshirts/wolfshirtAF2.jpg
TheMojoPin
05-13-2009, 08:53 AM
real Americans wear this
http://www.animalshirts.net/wolfshirts/wolfshirtAF2.jpg
Is he a wolf or a human? HE MUST CHOOSE. NOBODY CAN SUPPORT BOTH.
grlNIN
05-13-2009, 08:57 AM
real Americans wear this
http://www.animalshirts.net/wolfshirts/wolfshirtAF2.jpg
Gvac's personal motto (http://www.entertonement.com/clips/45001/Charlie-screams-rock-flag-and-eagle)
bobrobot
05-13-2009, 09:01 AM
I'm all 4 Heritage pride, I see this country as an enormous patchwork quilt of humanity & we have succeeded in spite of, & because of our differences, I believe that's something we can be VERY proud of...
but here's a contradictory opinion from a one lunged, half wit, drunken, fascistic, phony cowboy... enjoy (I am amazed by this speech because of how divisive, incongruent, stupid & small minded it is, just like the speaker)
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_fuzLTrwVbc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_fuzLTrwVbc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
BinaryTaoist
05-13-2009, 12:34 PM
When it comes to ethnic pride I defer to George Carlin on the matter. Pride should come from something that we personally work for or achieve on our own rather than accident of birth. As George puts it, "Being Irish isn't a skill, its a genetic accident. You wouldn't say I'm proud to be 5' 11", or I'm proud to have a genetic dispostion to colon cancer."
TripleSkeet
05-13-2009, 01:07 PM
Just for you Gvac...
ehem..I am a real American, Fight for the rights of every man, I am a real American, fight for what's right, fight for your life!!
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JnnxDqy515s&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JnnxDqy515s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I'm all 4 Heritage pride, I see this country as an enormous patchwork quilt of humanity & we have succeeded in spite of, & because of our differences, I believe that's something we can be VERY proud of...
but here's a contradictory opinion from a one lunged, half wit, drunken, fascistic, phony cowboy... enjoy (I am amazed by this speech because of how divisive, incongruent, stupid & small minded it is, just like the speaker)
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_fuzLTrwVbc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_fuzLTrwVbc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I think that was a bit of an overstatement, especially when The Duke said that the hyphen divided more people than the swastika or the hammer and sickle.
I do agree with the basic sentiment, however.
I think in a few generations we'll all be such mutts it'll be impossible to keep track of specific heritages, though.
All colors will bleed into one.
Hopefully we still have different religions to hate each other over!
jauble
05-13-2009, 05:38 PM
Meh...I'm from the suburbs. I think heritage pride comes from growing up in a neighborhood that is defined by old world traditions, I never had that so I don't care too much. German/French/Irish for the record.
cougarjake13
05-13-2009, 05:47 PM
and we're the only country that does it
i mean i dont hear many blacks in sydney calling themselves african-australians
Sarge
05-13-2009, 05:53 PM
I've always said that I'm American. My parents, grandparents, and I were all born here. The only time I get into ethnic background is when asked.
jauble
05-13-2009, 05:55 PM
and we're the only country that does it
i mean i dont hear many blacks in sydney calling themselves african-australians
Well they are more "locals" than african.
TheMojoPin
05-13-2009, 06:22 PM
Well they are more "locals" than african.
Shhhh, he's on a roll.
ScottFromGA
05-13-2009, 07:28 PM
I will never give up my Southern Heritiage.
seriously...it is Heritiage, not Hate. [><] :bye:
TripleSkeet
05-14-2009, 10:31 AM
I will never give up my Southern Heritiage.
seriously...it is Heritiage, not Hate. [><] :bye:
What southern heritage? What do you consider yourself? Because "southern" isnt an option. Its either American or whatever nationality your family is.
Personally when people ask, I say Im Italian. My dad was born in Italy and both sides are 100% Italian. When I think of the "All American" I picture the middle american hayseed, or the southern redneck. I dont know why, I just do.
conman823
05-14-2009, 01:00 PM
I will never give up my Southern Heritiage.
seriously...it is Heritiage, not Hate. [><] :bye:
What southern heritage? What do you consider yourself? Because "southern" isnt an option. Its either American or whatever nationality your family is.
Personally when people ask, I say Im Italian. My dad was born in Italy and both sides are 100% Italian. When I think of the "All American" I picture the middle american hayseed, or the southern redneck. I dont know why, I just do.
The South are still Confederates. Thats why he won't give it up. He was raised hearing about "The War of Northern Aggression".
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