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How do you feel about your ethnic background?
Posted by rachaelbliss • 5/09/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Tags: confederacy, fredricksburg, germans, pacifists, slavery, tx
I used to think that my German ancestors were war mongers, because that's kind of what we have been taught here in the USA. But Germans also stood up for peace in many occasions. Read my post tonight at peoplepowergranny.blogspot.com and vote in my poll regarding how you feel about your ethnic heritage.
User Comments
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I don't know about "ethnic", but I'm proud of my cultural background and roots. I'm proud to be English.
(btw, if you start a discussion you should comment on it) -
How do I feel? My Viking ancestors were practicing human sacrifice well into historic times. Not to worry: They were civilized pagans, and selected the men hung in Odin's honor from among condemned criminals.
My Celtic ancestors had similarly colorful customs.
But, that was then. My forebears gave up human sacrifice quite a while ago.
I'm sorry that you had the experience you did, growing up in America. That sort of anti-Kraut/Jap/Whatever thing went out of fashion several decades ago.
And yes, people whose ancestors came from Deutschland have a great deal to be proud about. So do those whose ancestors came from Kenya, Norway, Ireland, and Nepal.
And, since we're all human beings, we have some traditions that we'd rather not dwell on.
I'll stop by your blog and check out that poll. -
My blog pretty much sums up my feelings on this topic: greekgourmand.blogspot.com/
Selected traditional and regional Greek food recipes along with reflections relating to the culinary practices, customs, facts, and history of Greek cookery and gastronomy.-
Thanks: I intend to follow that link.
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Okay, that was interesting.
One of your polls, "What do you think of states secceeding from the Union," didn't have any options that I could check off. The War Between the States was a fairly complicated matter.
"They tried once" is true as far as it goes, but "It would never happen" is more than I know, or can know. I do think it is possible that there will be another attempt to a block of states to remove themselves from the union - eventually. But I would be surprised if it happened in my lifetime, or that of our children.
Over the next several centuries though, the odds go up. There are distinct regional differences: west coast states, northeast states, Old South, the swath of land between Texas and the southwest up to the Canadian border, to name a few of the larger divisions.
There have even been discussions of splitting existing states.
While I lived in California, in the mid-seventies, there was serious discussion of splitting the state into north and south sections. Today, we're hearing the same discussion coming out of Florida.
I doubt that anything will come of it, though. Not, as I said, soon. -
I always find this talk of "Ethnic" background quite strange, it's everywhere on application forms etc. however I'm proud to be English, although many would argue that it isn't my ethnic background! -
You have every reason to be proud of your German heritage. Germans have contributed much more to our modern civilization than they are given credit for. As every nation has had its share of Imperial aspirants, surely nobody could fault the Germans for experiencing what every other nation pregnant with its own hopes of greatness has and will experience in ages past and to come? Thank you for an interesting read and your polls.
Und Ich habe Deutsch studiert für ein Jahr an der Universität.
Auf Wiedersehen! -
I'm of Scottish/Irish descent, and to the best of my knowledge the Scottish part is equally split between Celtic and Pictish. However in modern terms I would be considered a white anglo-saxon male even though this is historically incorrect.
Am I proud of my heritage, frankly I couldn't care less if my ancestors had come from Scotland, Bolivia or China, I'm proud to be human, but I'll be even more proud to be part of the evolution of our species into something better. -
I am mostly German among other things however I am one of the nicest guys you will meet out there lol. I think it all has to do with what you see and where taught at a young age. Those first 10 years of your life have a huge impact on the person you are and will become. -
I'm of German, English, Welsh and Irish descent, but it is my heart, mind, and faith that defines me, more than my ethnic background.-
Right on again, Globalgirl. I was JUST about to say, as I Nomad my own personal experience in life tends to define me rather than my ethnic make up. I do feel pride at times - though I am very wary of it - whilst it is a positive thing to feel, arrogance is but inches away.
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Half Italian; quarter English, quarter Irish.
I'm very proud of my cutural nationality. -
Not something I think about except when form filling. Why does anyone need to know anyway?-
My ethnicity isn't really a factor that I consider frequently. I am who I am.
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Cheap. I'm Scots lol -
I'm half Dutch & Chinese but also had a Pakistani from my dad's granddads. I'm not really familiar with the traditions and i wish i could only had one ethnic.
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I'm a bunch of things, including Sicilian, Polish, and German.
I'm sure there is a bad joke in there somewhere.
I was raised in an Italian-American community, so that is the ethnic group I most identify with.
It's all good. -
Stockhola's got it nailed. The first 10 years are everything. That's why I turned out to be such a Saint. -
Are we still allowed to even talk about this? Hasn't the PC police cracked down on it yet? -
No, we're just making notes for prosecution later. -
That's a point. Have you noticed how many BCers assert that their ancestry doesn't make a difference?
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We are being conditioned to not speak of it for some odd reason which I have yet to figure out.
For the record, I am happy to have inherited my Irish, German, Welsh and Cherokee blood and I am particularly happy when it stays nicely contained inside my fair skinned flesh because I seem to get a bit dizzy when it spills out, even in small quantities.
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Here's a thought.
My physical characteristics were determined in part by the food I ate, the medical treatment I did (and didn't) get, and what I did for the half-century I've been around.
However, there is no way that I could, by my efforts and those of my parents, have become a person with the appearance of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jorge Chavez, or Takeru Kobayashi. Or, of their abilities.
Instructions in my cells have made a big difference in how I look, and what I can do. Those instructions came from my forebears: in the context of this thread, that's my ancestry.
And, of course, the habits of language and culture that helped shape my body and my mind came in large part from my ancestors.
So, yes: my ancestry is important to me.
And, since I wouldn't be the me I know if I were, say, Polynesian, I'm rather pleased with my ancestry.
And, I think everyone should.
Although there's enough foul-up to go around in any group, there's also a great deal to be proud of.
My Viking ancestors built some of the best ships of their time. So did the Polynesians - and the latter managed deep-water navigation, to boot. And so it goes for every group.
So, every person has the option of ignoring the people who passed on the instructions that determined their growth, and whose culture helped shape the social and intellectual environment in which they live.
But I'd rather acknowledge the roots I have: peasants, artisans, participants in human sacrifice, and all. -
Are you kidding? I'm a descendant of the guy that "Hookers" are named after. Now, that's something to be proud of. -
Really? The General himself? One of my ancestors deserted from one of yours. Small world.
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I thought he was a Viking. Had the Women to increase Morale. They became known as Hookers Girls and later just Hookers.
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I got a great deal; part black part jewish TRUST me I got the best both groups had to offer. -
My mother is 100% Mexican and my dad is half Italian half Spaniard. I look more like him but only adapted the Mexican culture (as secondary to my American culture).
I'm proud of who I am even if there is all the stigma that goes along with being Mexican.
When asked I say, I'm an American with Mexican heritage but I leave it at that. -
My relatives are amish.
and i'm told i look spanish. but thats not in my blood line at all. and its funny, people will just start speaking to me in spanish and i answer them in pa dutch. -
I feel great. I am brown and proud.
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My ancestary is English and Native American and I'm proud of it. -
I'm hispanic, mostly central American (Guatemalan) origin. I get a lot of people thinking I'm Mexican which is the blanket term for anyone Hispanic around here. -
My ethnic background does not mean squat to me. My family background...Dad, Step-Mom, Sister, Wife, and Three kids do.
I am serious, that is how I feel. -
It's fine being proud of your culture, but being proud of your ethnicity seems kind of silly. It's like being proud of being born right-handed.
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Daniel23, you're right. Because it is not a level playing field. Plenty of brown and prouds out there - but try saying white and proud and the shit will soon get flung. And rightly so - both are pointless, as you say, IT IS like being proud of being right handed, or short legged or big eared. It means nothing. I am not even sure that being proud of your culture isn't a bit two dimensional. My culture is deep and complex and there are moments (especially when I am abroad) when I feel distinctly British and proud of the stiff upper lip and ability to cope, and other times when I cringe at the British way and feel frankly ashamed. But culture is a fluid thing - I am not even sure I KNOW what my "culture" IS exactly. Is it based on the country I live in? Was born in? My class or economic grouping?
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I feel no way or the other about it...I just AM - Nards
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i'm not sure...my background is quite unusual. Indian, Gungarri & English. All my ancestors helped shape early Australia, so i guess i consider myself a proud Australian! it's been interesting reading the threads. my husband is German. love Germans, so yummy! I'm with Nards though 'I just AM'. Me. Unique.
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I never thought about it much until I moved to Hawaii. Everyone there is very curious about it, they want percentages and everything. That is how you introduce yourself: "Hi, I'm Joe, 50% Hawaiian, 25% Chinese, 25% Philipino", like that. It took some getting used to. A lot of the locals thought I had Asian heritage because I have deep-set eyes but I'm all German and British heritage.-
Ambiguously ethnic is the new trend!
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i dislike it when people ask me for 'percentages'...makes ones identity seem fragmented?
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One set of great-grandparents were born in Ireland and immigrated to the US. The other half of my family has traced their roots to the 1300's in England. It's as good as any other heritage, I guess. At least I'm not related to Hitler. -
I'm not really sure what i am specifically, but I'm classified as afro-american. That covers alot... but I embrace my history/background and of course I also enjoy others also. -
I'm British on both sides of my family. Pure stock. In fact, my ancestors came over on the Mayflower. I feel honored that I am a white male which supposedly means I have all the money and the power in this country.
The only problem with that is I'm broke and no one listens to me.-
*snickers*
I will give you a dollar to come mow my lawn!
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"How do you feel about your ethnic background?"
People are too concerned with *what* they are rather than *who* they are. Shame.-
@lordsomber
Agreed -
You remind me of my neighbors when I lived in Phoenix. The father said "I'm proud to be a Mexican."
His son looked at him and said "How can you be proud to be a Mexican? You were just born there. It's not like you had a choice or anything."
It made me think about how how silly the entire concept is. -
Yeah silly...but unfortunately the concept means a lot to many people. If you 'look a bit ethnic' some folk feel the need to 'classify' you! It's a two-sided coin though, as annoying as it is to be forever 'explaining one's genetic heritage', a sense of cultural/ethnic identity is important to a person's self-concept (and is an important developmental milestone for adolescence). Gee i'm a clever clogs today!
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Hi Granny, I'm German and I left you a comment. I also lived in Fredericksburg
for just over a year. -
In the crowded, communicating world today, I feel we all need to see ourselves as the cousins we are to one another. Every single one of us is related to everyone else, the proof in in our DNA. All of us come the same man, one who lived 70,000 years ago.
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