Ireland

[Cyril Khan]

I'll never understand that part of American Culture, noone who is born there ever settles on being just American, they have to trace their heritage to every bloody line of immigrants that ever existed.

That's why people get bothered by it. A bunch of American tourists bumped into me on my way to Uni last week and asked me for directions, halfway through they just burst out in the strongest Tennessee accents I've ever heard ''We're Irish too!!''

No you're not you AIDS ridden *****.

That part of American culture is do to the history of the USA itself. Including Canada and Brazil, there are few countries nearly as diverse in terms of human races in all of the world. That is why racism is a huge deal there. All these races came from all over the world; there is only a tiny percentage who have ancestors that were native to the New World. Also, few Americans have yet come to recognize themselves as an individual race.

Genealogy is a huge deal in the USA as well. People like knowing how their family came into the country and where they lived before the New World was discovered. Immigration is one of the most important part of American history, as the cultures from every involved nation mixed together. Because of this, if someone in the USA is interested in history, they're quite likely to be interested in their genealogy as well.

As for most other countries, because they do not have a history that involves mass migration, there is little interest in genealogical routes. If your family has always been in this country, why bother looking into it more? Maybe they lived on this side of the country once, but why bother investigating that?

At least, that is my observation. I don't mean to start a debate; I just figured I'd do my best to explain it.

 

[Wing]

CYRIL! Where have you been?

Also, I want to visit China next.

 

[Crim]

In my mind, if you're born in the country, that's your origin right there, everything else is just genetics, and if Americans want to trace there heritage, then they need to realise that we're all bloody Africans and then move on.

You are right that some people do take it a bit far, but realize that the US is a young nation that was made successful by immigrants who brought their culture and history with them too. Think of us as a buffet: you've got so many different cultures and foods in one area, it's great to go there if you can't make up your mind, and being there for too long will make you a fat ass. They also close down shortly after opening sometimes. That last part has yet to be observed...

 

[Moriarty]

I'll never understand that part of American Culture, noone who is born there ever settles on being just American, they have to trace their heritage to every bloody line of immigrants that ever existed.

That's why people get bothered by it. A bunch of American tourists bumped into me on my way to Uni last week and asked me for directions, halfway through they just burst out in the strongest Tennessee accents I've ever heard ''We're Irish too!!''

No you're not you AIDS ridden *****.

I'm sorry Constantine, but I'm gona have to call you out on this one. I do feel pretty damn offended by the last statement particularly. I'm American. Born and raised in Voorhees New Jersey, moved down to Augusta (Grovetown) Georgia. My HERITAGE is Irish, German, and English. I've grown accustomed to the "redneck" accent and know what most of what they say means. Saying "I'm Irish too" merely means their heritage is Irish and they're of Irish descent.

As to why I find this offensive, due to where I live and how much of a shit hole it is here in this particular town (job and money-wise), I consider myself a redneck because I've had to work for what I've gotten, learned how to fix cars by myself, learned how to be pretty damn good at computers, and had to walk for 2 hours to get to friends houses. "Rednecks" are actually nice people, well most are. There's some who are trash, but it's few and far between. They care about family, mostly treat women better than a lot of "rich upperclassmen." And are more capable people than most others I know.

Second reason I'm offended by it, those "AIDS ridden *****" are the people I fought for and risked my life for in the United States marines. I fought to give them the freedom to be able to do the things they do, to protect their homes and families, and to live their lives free of oppression. I may agree that this country has some very stupid people in office and has made stupid decisions, but I will never stand idly by and let a foreigner talk shit about the people I risked my lives for and watched my friends die for.

If anything, just be careful with what you say. That's all I ask.

 

[Kaeb]

I'd like to clarify, because every single one of you has misunderstood me.

I said I'll never understand that part of American culture, but right after that I clarified that if they all want to track their heritage, then they need to realise we're all Africans and move on. The whole point of your revolution was to be a free people.

Now on to my clarification, I didn't say EVERYONE acted that way, Shiuzu understood my point perfectly. It's the people who claim to BE FROM that place, just because their great great grandad hopped on a famine boat because he hated the Irish Weather.

Heritage is not that big a deal in this day and age, we're not living in Medieval Times anymore, I could trace my 'bloodline' down to france but it wouldn't change a bloody thing. I'm still 100% Irish and nothing will change that.

That is the distinction I made, you all seem to have missed that.

Apart from Shiuzu...

And Holmes, I honestly don't care if you're offended at all. When I've asked Americans in the past what branch of their social structure they loathed the most, they said Rednecks, that is why I've thrown them into the same pool as Chavs and Skangers.

Secondly, I don't care if you killed people in the name of your country, that means nothing to me.

And thirdly, if you honestly thought that my insult was directed at every single American on the planet and not just the people I bumped in to, then you're an idiot.

 

[Moriarty]

I honestly have no respect for you anymore, and I probably will never have any more respect for you after this.

 

[Kaeb]

I honestly have no respect for you anymore, and I probably will never have any more respect for you after this.

Oh, poor poor me. What ever shall I do?

 

[Shiuzu]

Oh, poor poor me. What ever shall I do?

 

[Sovereign]

I'll never understand that part of American Culture, noone who is born there ever settles on being just American, they have to trace their heritage to every bloody line of immigrants that ever existed.

That's why people get bothered by it. A bunch of American tourists bumped into me on my way to Uni last week and asked me for directions, halfway through they just burst out in the strongest Tennessee accents I've ever heard ''We're Irish too!!''

No you're not you AIDS ridden *****.

I ****ing agree with this. It's such an American thing to do.

I'm not french; I'm a quebecer. **** off with all the pricks pretending to be scottish and irish.


Also: lol at the american saying he fought for people's "freedom"

 

[Cyril Khan]

I'd like to clarify, because every single one of you has misunderstood me.

I said I'll never understand that part of American culture, but right after that I clarified that if they all want to track their heritage, then they need to realise we're all Africans and move on. The whole point of your revolution was to be a free people.

Now on to my clarification, I didn't say EVERYONE acted that way, Shiuzu understood my point perfectly. It's the people who claim to BE FROM that place, just because their great great grandad hopped on a famine boat because he hated the Irish Weather.

Heritage is not that big a deal in this day and age, we're not living in Medieval Times anymore, I could trace my 'bloodline' down to france but it wouldn't change a bloody thing. I'm still 100% Irish and nothing will change that.

I suppose I did misunderstand. In which case this is an adaption to what I said previously. Americans tend to look at themselves as American citizens; they know they live in America and are from America. However, if you were to ask an American what race they are (although in America, people ask where their family instead but it "translates" to the same thing), they would most likely say they were Irish, English, French, Chinese, Mexican (rarely Hispanic in informal speech), etc.

I suspect people who do the sort of thing you are saying aren't confused of where they, as in their own self, are from. Americans tend to say they are additionally from the same places their ancestors are, and in America heritage is huge. Perhaps it is a major quirk, and Americans are the ones who don't understand (or more likely don't think about it). It's good to know how it's perceived by the other side though; if I ever go to a place "where I'm from" I'll watch how I phrase it. No worries, I'm not Irish.

 

[Kaeb]

Now you understand me, it's the phrasing and the misconceptions.

''My Grandmother ****ed an Irishman, two hundred years ago so I must be Irish.''

My point, is that it shouldn't matter. I don't understand why it DOES matter to them so bloody much, because it means absolutely nothing. Citizenship should be the only thing they take into consideration. If an American comes over to Ireland and gains Irish citizenship, then by all means he can go ahead and call himself Irish if he wants. But he's still an American in the national sense.

It's the people that misunderstand all of that, that irk me.

 

[Ush]

+1

 

[Matt]

In my mind, if you're born in the country, that's your origin right there, everything else is just genetics, and if Americans want to trace there heritage, then they need to realise that we're all bloody Africans and then move on.

Does my nut in too.

I think it's because compared to America we have so much more history.

I mean as in length of time rather then importance before any of you get precious.

 

[Kaeb]

Even still, it shouldn't matter.

We're human, we're born on different areas of the planet and some of us look a little different. But we're built from the same blocks. Our skeletons are the same. Our brains are the same, more or less. Our desires and our fears are the same.

The sooner we all realise that, instead of pining over trivial things like genetic history, the better.

You were born in America. You're American. Just as I'm Irish.

The only time that ever matters, is on your passport.

It's the same with Religion. They argue that their religious texts are the reason they're capable of morality.

I get my morality from empathy and critical thinking, not an instruction manual.

 

[Venom]

Even still, it shouldn't matter.

We're human, we're born on different areas of the planet and some of us look a little different. But we're built from the same blocks. Our skeletons are the same. Our brains are the same, more or less. Our desires and our fears are the same.

The sooner we all realise that, instead of pining over trivial things like genetic history, the better.

You were born in America. You're American. Just as I'm Irish.

The only time that ever matters, is on your passport.

It's the same with Religion. They argue that their religious texts are the reason they're capable of morality.

I get my morality from empathy and critical thinking, not an instruction manual.

While sometimes you annoy me a bit, this post is quote-worthy imo. One of those times that I wish swrp had a like button.

 

[Kaeb]

I don't care whether or not I annoy you, which is probably why I annoy you.

 

[Ush]

I need my daily dose of fellow Irishman to keep sane...

 

[Cyril Khan]

Now you understand me, it's the phrasing and the misconceptions.

''My Grandmother ****ed an Irishman, two hundred years ago so I must be Irish.''

My point, is that it shouldn't matter. I don't understand why it DOES matter to them so bloody much, because it means absolutely nothing. Citizenship should be the only thing they take into consideration. If an American comes over to Ireland and gains Irish citizenship, then by all means he can go ahead and call himself Irish if he wants. But he's still an American in the national sense.

It's the people that misunderstand all of that, that irk me.

I can honestly say I don't fully understand why either. I have a lot of interest in my own heritage, but it isn't to the degree of some people I know. Where this interest comes from I can't say for certain.

I know that there were children movies from when I was a kid that promoted studying your heritage. There are multicultural fairs in lots of places, especially on academic campuses. Immigration is also a major part in US history, which is required in schools. I can't say how common any of these are in other countries, but they would be my best guesses to why the interest is so prevalent in the USA.

I can agree that knowing that you are X% Irish, English, French, German, etc isn't important in the grand scheme of things. Even so, I look at it like history; there are certain things in history that aren't important to know and could be completely boring, but they might interest a few people.

 

[Empress]

It's culture, heritage, a idea of self origin... It's a matter of identity really, something that is hard for us born into a place with thousands of years of history and culture to fall back on, to look around and actually SEE that ancient roman road still visible in the grass...

The people on the other side of the pond don't actually have that. it's not a aspect of patriotism, or really anything to do with the nation of origin itself- it's the need to know where they belong in history, who, and what they came from, where their place in time is.

I didn't get it myself until fairly recently that it clicked while paying attention to others while giving a talk during Japan week... it's actually a sad feeling that sits in the bottom of your stomach really when you sudeny get it- you have generations of people who honestly feel lost

 

[Kaeb]

It's completely irrational. I don't get sad or lost at all based on who my relatives might be, because who the hell cares?

It means absolutely nothing and effects just that. Nothing.