Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

'Irish' is strictly an example, obviously. And I mean this question for US OOTers mainly.

Overheard on a plane flying to Ireland, from an old lady: "I'm so excited, I'm 70 years old and this is my first visit to Ireland ever. And I'm Irish."

Okay, I don't wanna appear picky, this is shorthand from 'my ancestry is Irish' of course, but I find this kind of interesting.

Are your ancestors from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Poland, Germany, Holland etc etc? How many generations removed from the Old World countries? And do you think of yourself as strictly American, or are you <Irish/English/whatever> as well?



(PS. My only American Hero, Al Bundy, is from English ancestry, I'm proud to say [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img])


EDIT: To be clear, I'm not asking for a rollcall of OOTers from everywhere except the US, kay?

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

Northern Irish

Come on ye boy ye!!!!

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

This strikes me as an interesting thread as being excited about being an American right now takes a bit of effort.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

yeah, whenever someone says "I'm ____" here in the US it really means "my ancestry is [probably at least 30%] ____." I like telling people I'm british (my ancestry is about 80% british) but I'd probably feel pretty sheepish saying that if I met you db.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

[ QUOTE ]
yeah, whenever someone says "I'm ____" here in the US it really means "my ancestry is [probably at least 30%] ____." I like telling people I'm british (my ancestry is about 80% british) but I'd probably feel pretty sheepish saying that if I met you db.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why? Americans borne of Britain must be awesome if Al Bundy is anything to go by! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

I look Irish, but I really have no idea. Whenever someone asks me, I just say I'm an American mutt.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

I dunno. it's an identity thing. people like to feel like they're part of a group. one of my female friends is heavily italian and usually looks for guys of italian descent. I don't think it's anything deeper than that but it'd be interesting if anyone else has theories.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

Dear Diebitter,

I by no means think The United States of America are perfect or even good.

However I will have to ask you not to imply that Al Bundy somehow does not represent my people as a whole.

Drunkenly,
Furlong impersonator

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

I also recommend posting a thread addressed to americans at a time other than what is about 3-6 AM in america. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Dear Diebitter,

I by no means think The United States of America are perfect or even good.

However I will have to ask you not to imply that Al Bundy somehow does not represent my people as a whole.

Drunkenly,
Furlong impersonator

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't! You're suggesting I implied something that I clearly didn't. Hmmm. Are you a girl?

Also, If you don't appreciate the great man, we want him back!

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I also recommend posting a thread addressed to americans at a time other than what is about 3-6 AM in america. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a good point. Only the psychos and night watchmen are up then.

DOH!

errrr, I'll bump it later then.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Dear Diebitter,

I by no means think The United States of America are perfect or even good.

However I will have to ask you not to imply that Al Bundy somehow does not represent my people as a whole.

Drunkenly,
Furlong impersonator

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't! You're suggesting I implied something that I clearly didn't. Hmmm. Are you a girl?

Also, If you don't appreciate the great man, we want him back!

[/ QUOTE ]

All I am incoherently mumbling is that whatever you say about the US Al Bundy is ours.

Back off. [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Edited to add that I was whining about the the US, not implying that you somehow had a problem with us.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

I am an American of Irish descent. I am probably no more than 60 - 70% Irish, but one side of my family came over in the early 20th century and I have family still living there, unlike any other Old World countries, so Irish it is.

Being "Irish" is popular among Americans, most of whom are no more Irish than Charlie Weis, so I don't make a big deal of it as I don't know that much about my ancestry. I have looked into it enough to know that we come from Cork, where all the troublemakers are, which is good enough for me. I'd like to visit Ireland but all the 'heritage tourists' make it feckin expensive and I'm poor.

Oh, and there are a few notable micks by the name of 'Collins,' so at least the name is authentic [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

NT

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

my sister's husband is irish. I told one of my friends that they were going to ireland to visit his family and they said "wait, you mean he's from ireland?"

that would happen with most people I know.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

ancestry is acadian, call myself american though my ancestors were one of the first cajuns.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

what's acadian? it's something french, right?

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

We get that here in australia, but it's usually only people under 25. I'm a wog, and it's usually only other wogs who ask me where I'm from (and wogs will nearly always ask other wogs where they're from). Skips don't care, although some chicks will ask.

Skips are what other ethnic groups (usually wogs & asians) call northern europeans (usually british). Wogs are people from southern europe of the middle east, and it's not a racist term.

Talking about racist terms, why the hell do people cry racist when whites are talking about jews, latinos or arabs?? Same f'in race.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

When I say "I'm Italian" to another American it's understood that I was born here but that a few generations back my family came over from Italy. If I was talking to someone from another country I would describe myself as "American, from Italian descent"

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

<--- European Mutt a.k.a. Purebred American

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

Here(USA), when someone asks what you are, they already know that you are an American so people will always respond with Oh, I'm Italian or whatever may apply. Quite simple, really.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

In 'hi we like to brainwash our citizens' America, you are known as an American first, and your native background second. How nice.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

My parents were born and grew up in Liverpool, therfore I'm English by descent, even though I was born in America.

So I an American by citizenship, and english ethnically.
If that helps.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

[ QUOTE ]
In 'hi we like to brainwash our citizens' America, you are known as an American first, and your native background second. How nice.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're an idiot.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

[ QUOTE ]
what's acadian? it's something french, right?

[/ QUOTE ]

acadian is basically french by way of canada, from nova scotia. bunch of french people got kicked out of canada by the english during the french and indian war, and they settled in south-central Louisiana (Acadie, or Acadiana). It's where you get "cajun" from.

My dad speaks cajun-french.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

[ QUOTE ]
When I say "I'm Italian" to another American it's understood that I was born here but that a few generations back my family came over from Italy. If I was talking to someone from another country I would describe myself as "American, from Italian descent"

[/ QUOTE ]

Well said.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

Saying "I'm Irish" in America basically just means your ancestors were Irish.

For example, if asked by another American what nationality I was I might say "I'm Swedish..." but I'm really only like 3/4ths Swedish, and my family has been in America for probably 200 years. If asked what nationality I was by someone who lives in another country I'd obviously say "American."

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
In 'hi we like to brainwash our citizens' America, you are known as an American first, and your native background second. How nice.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're an idiot.

[/ QUOTE ]

He has been banned at least once before.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

Im 100% Sicilian, both sets of grandparents came over in the ealry 1920s. People ask what I am, I say my grandparents are all from Sicily, so Im Sicilian. People in America obv know you are American, so tehy want a little more specific info. A lot of people (girls ecspecially), look for people that share the same heritage/ethnicity, etc. I get chicks comming up to me all the time asking if Im Italian (but I also live in a basically, all Italian community), I think it just helps people identify with you. Makes no diff to me though, they are all pink on the inside.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

Diebitter,

I am of Irish, Welsh, and English descent.

Mostly Irish, though. I call myself American though, mainly because I'm tired of all the PC [censored].

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

I was born in America, right here in ABQ. Both parents were born in America. So I'm American.

Ancestry, like Tom Hagen, is German-Irish.

I had a similar conversation with my best friend yesterday. His mother was born in Israel, but he was born here. He also said he is American, but his mom can legitimately say she's Israeli-American.

And yes, Judanfurnace is an idiot. Nice handle, s$%%head.

ScottieK

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

Irish-German

Majority of the family I hang out with is southern Irish (catholic), but it's really akward when I bring up how my immediate family are practicing united methodists (RE: random protestant sect), and thus, enter alot of conflict/confusion on the north/south debates.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

I rarely hear anyone claim British ancestry, but the Irish are rather vocal about it. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that Irish was once considered an epithet and some people revel in that. No offense intended to anyone, but in America, people struggle for decades to obtain ethnic acceptance, only to have the next generation reclaim minority status to claim victimhood. It's not an endearing trait. Ethnic pride is one thing, victim status is quite another.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

I'm Native American. That's right, I'm a god damn indian.

edit- with a touch of German.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

[ QUOTE ]

Northern Irish

Come on ye boy ye!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

HEEEEEALEH, HEEEEEALEH!

Edit: I'm from Norn Iron if anyone doesn't know.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

I really have no idea. My dad's side of the family, if I remember correctly, is of German decent. My mom was adopted so I have no idea whats on that side.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

My parents are 100% English. I was born in England. However, I live in Florida, and for all intents and purposes, I'm an American.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

My ancestry is Irish, Italian and Danish. The Italian side is the latest into the US, my paternal Grandfather came over in 1895.

I think of myself as American.

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm Native American. That's right, I'm a god damn indian.

edit- with a touch of German.

[/ QUOTE ]

when's the last time you met two indians? you ain't neeeeeeeeever met two indians.



http://www.eastbayimprov.com/more/da...chris.rock.jpg

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

My mother was born in portugal, my father is 2nd generation, i'm american

Re: Are you \'American\' or \'Irish\'?
 

See it depends on the circumstances.

If you ask me that question in a bar in New Jersey the answer is "Irish/German". If in a bar in Europe the answer is "American". If in a bar in Texas the answer is "Yankee (but I've lived here for 20 years)".

So let me ask you diebitter, what would someone who was born in England, but who's parents are from, oh, Jamaica (insert any "Empire" country here) answer? Are they viewed as Englishmen?