What are the British Like
Oct 7th 2007, 12:20 pm
#76
A lion in your lap
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Sparta NJ
Posts: 7,605
Re: What are the British Like
So why aren't they "American-Irish" then? 
I just think people look silly and it's a sign of insecurity when people say "I'm Irish" when they are patently not.
And I think there's a bit of a double standard going on in some quarters: Americans of European descent seem encouraged to make a big deal of their Irish/Italian/Polish/whatever heritage, no matter how far back in time they have to go to find an ancestor who actually came from Europe. But when it comes to Americans of non-European descent (eg Hispanic or middle eastern), there are those in this country who never cease to badger them that if they want to be seen as "real" Americans they should forget their culture/language/heritage lest people doubt their patriotism.
BTW my paternal great grandfather came from Regensburg, Bavaria, but I don't bang on about being German or German-British because I don't feel that German heritage or culture has any connection or relevance to me.
I just think people look silly and it's a sign of insecurity when people say "I'm Irish" when they are patently not.
And I think there's a bit of a double standard going on in some quarters: Americans of European descent seem encouraged to make a big deal of their Irish/Italian/Polish/whatever heritage, no matter how far back in time they have to go to find an ancestor who actually came from Europe. But when it comes to Americans of non-European descent (eg Hispanic or middle eastern), there are those in this country who never cease to badger them that if they want to be seen as "real" Americans they should forget their culture/language/heritage lest people doubt their patriotism.
BTW my paternal great grandfather came from Regensburg, Bavaria, but I don't bang on about being German or German-British because I don't feel that German heritage or culture has any connection or relevance to me.
Oct 7th 2007, 12:22 pm
#77
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: What are the British Like
So why aren't they "American-Irish" then?
I just think people look silly and it's a sign of insecurity when people say "I'm Irish" when they are patently not.
And I think there's a bit of a double standard going on in some quarters: Americans of European descent seem encouraged to make a big deal of their Irish/Italian/Polish/whatever heritage, no matter how far back in time they have to go to find an ancestor who actually came from Europe. But when it comes to Americans of non-European descent (eg Hispanic or middle eastern), there are those in this country who never cease to badger them that if they want to be seen as "real" Americans they should forget their culture/language/heritage lest people doubt their patriotism.
BTW my paternal great grandfather came from Regensburg, Bavaria, but I don't bang on about being German or German-British because I don't feel that German heritage or culture has any connection or relevance to me.
I just think people look silly and it's a sign of insecurity when people say "I'm Irish" when they are patently not.
And I think there's a bit of a double standard going on in some quarters: Americans of European descent seem encouraged to make a big deal of their Irish/Italian/Polish/whatever heritage, no matter how far back in time they have to go to find an ancestor who actually came from Europe. But when it comes to Americans of non-European descent (eg Hispanic or middle eastern), there are those in this country who never cease to badger them that if they want to be seen as "real" Americans they should forget their culture/language/heritage lest people doubt their patriotism.
BTW my paternal great grandfather came from Regensburg, Bavaria, but I don't bang on about being German or German-British because I don't feel that German heritage or culture has any connection or relevance to me.
Has it helped enhance your beer consumption?
Oct 7th 2007, 12:30 pm
#79
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Oct 7th 2007, 12:36 pm
#81
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Oct 7th 2007, 12:50 pm
#82
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,583
Re: What are the British Like
So why aren't they "American-Irish" then?
I just think people look silly and it's a sign of insecurity when people say "I'm Irish" when they are patently not.
And I think there's a bit of a double standard going on in some quarters: Americans of European descent seem encouraged to make a big deal of their Irish/Italian/Polish/whatever heritage, no matter how far back in time they have to go to find an ancestor who actually came from Europe. But when it comes to Americans of non-European descent (eg Hispanic or middle eastern), there are those in this country who never cease to badger them that if they want to be seen as "real" Americans they should forget their culture/language/heritage lest people doubt their patriotism.
I just think people look silly and it's a sign of insecurity when people say "I'm Irish" when they are patently not.
And I think there's a bit of a double standard going on in some quarters: Americans of European descent seem encouraged to make a big deal of their Irish/Italian/Polish/whatever heritage, no matter how far back in time they have to go to find an ancestor who actually came from Europe. But when it comes to Americans of non-European descent (eg Hispanic or middle eastern), there are those in this country who never cease to badger them that if they want to be seen as "real" Americans they should forget their culture/language/heritage lest people doubt their patriotism.
There are those in any country. One of the points I have been trying to make is that the US isn't that different. There are those in the UK that aren't too comfortable with Indians, Pakistanis and Poles. Others that still find Irish jokes funny.
Plus the USA is different in that it is made up of immigrants groups with strong cultural heritage.
Oct 7th 2007, 1:00 pm
#84
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Oct 7th 2007, 1:36 pm
#87
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Oct 7th 2007, 1:40 pm
#89
A lion in your lap
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Oct 7th 2007, 1:41 pm
#90
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