Americans who claim to "irish"???

I agree with you. Some of the known mixtures in my blood line are Scottish, English, and even Native American. But I dont claim to be any of those.

Okay. We know that you don't "hate" Americans, although a little love does go a long way.

Also, considering my comment on your previous thread, I'll take back the whole "you're painting Irish people to look bad". I didn't agree with what you said, but whatever.

Regarding us Americans holding on to our ethnicity, I guess that's something that we can't adequately explain to others. For better or for worse, America is indeed a "different" country than others. An country built largely on immigrants. As some would and have said, it's considered the "Great Experiment" while the jury is still out on how it will turn out, hopefully for the better.

Why and how we Americans identify with our heritage from other countries, may be something that others simply won't ever really understand. Doesn't mean that either of us are right, just means that we are different. I guess as you talk about growing up in Ireland, and experiencing that as being "Irish" I could talk about growing up in the U.S., being "American".

We can agree to disagree here. I won't ever be able to fully explain to you our want to be known by part of our immigrant status as an American. It's harmless and with pride I assure you. So we're at a crossroads. Have a good one!

Well, Irish customs and traditions have been kept very much alive in a lot of families with Irish bloodstreams here in the U.S.. It's not that people think that thier actually Irish, it's more of just a referrence to people's roots.

It's common in general conversation to ask someone about thier heritage because everyone looks so different from each other here most of the time, so people get curious and ask.

Take for example myself...If someone asked me about my heritage, I would say that I'm German, Irish, and Spanish.

I have traits from all 3 backgrounds. Being American is assumed and known.

I guess we just look at it a little differently.

Have a good day.

I think it has to do with history of why there are so many Irish-Americans. The potato famine let to many Irish leaving Ireland and coming to America. There families were in jeopardy and them giving up everything they knew and coming to America to start over was brave. I think to celebrate your history makes you respect those before you. I agree that you are more Irish than I... but my Great Grandparents were just as Irish as you were. My respect and love of them is why I a pint. Not because I want to wear green and sing 'Oh, Danny Boy' which I agree most Americans don't even know the true meaning of that song or wouldn't sing it so joyfully.

Because most white people don't want to seem "boring" or as a plain old white person, I guarantee you that none of the white people who claim to have Native American blood can show proof of it, you can only truly claim to be Native American if a tribe recognizes you as one, they think claiming to have Native American ancestry makes them "cool" or "special" I currently live in New Mexico so there are a lot of real Native Americans over here and they absolutely hate it when white people claim Native American blood and I can see why

My opinion, As Americans are very individualistic we tend to look for ways to set ourselves apart from other Americans while still remaining American. One way we do this is to cling to our family heritage. We can belong to a group within a group and be somewhat different all at the same time. Our national identity will always be American but one thing about America is that it is a giant hodge podge off the rest of the world. Potentially the most diverse country there is. So clinging to our heritage is natural while maintaining our Americanism is also important.

While many Americans have ancestry from other countries and may be proud of their ancestry, many of us, like me are mutts in that respect. We are a mixture of lots of things. My grandfather was from Germany, so I'm 2nd generation American and I'm proud of that ancestry and Oktober fest has always been celebrated in my family. However, married to that German was my Grandma who was several generations American and was a mixture of many different backgrounds as was my mother. I consider myself to be a mutt American but my German background is very close to me because of Grandpa. The Cat however, is 4th generation Bengal and has papers to prove that he is purebred. His mothers lineage was mutt or Tabby cat mixed with Asian Leopard. His great great grandfather was the Asian leopard and we are all proud of his Asian leopard ancestry. It's what helps to make us who we are and sometimes how we look. I don't consider myself German or even German American, although I have had many ties to my German ancestry. I am American Born and Raised. Although if I moved to Ireland, I'd consider myself American-Irish but my kids would be Irish in my eyes. I would not consider them to be American Irish because they were never the Mutt American that I am. We would want to start adopting the Irish ways. If I moved to France, I would do the same and learn to speak French. I think it's a little different if we go oppositely since Americans a usually SUCH a mixture of everything. My opinion. : )

Please, America isn't considered the "melting pot" for nothing...the only ones here of true American decent are Indians!

And just because I wasn't born in Ireland doesn't mean I don't know anything about the Irish...Don't you think it might have been possible for my parents (who were born in Ireland) to bring over their traditions and beliefs with them?

I'm not sure where your question is coming from anyway, it's not like when I meet someone I introduce myself like "Hi I'm Karen and I'm Irish" but I certainly want my children to know their heritage!

Its hard to explain, but I think its because Americans don't really have their own social identity since we are literally a melting pot, so we look to our ancestors. In other words, you can't just say you are American and leave it at that, because that doesn't really describe who you are. This is because so many traditions have been passed down through generations that are originally Irish, or Italian, or French, or whatever it is.

I suppose since America has no uninfluenced traditions of its own, we feel we need to identify with the countries our parents, etc. have brought with them. Its actually quite amazing. For instance, my mother's side is Mexican and Irish and my dad's side is Welsh. I identify with all these cultures, because the traditions of these cultures have been passed on to me.

On one hand I think it is beneficial because a culture is preserved and identified where you wouldn't normally think would exist, but I also think it is dangerous, because it could potentially bring about war or cultural segregation, such as Nazi Germany's attempt to rid Europe of the Jews.

PS You also have to realize that there are sections of cities and the country where cultures are completely preserved. An example would be Chinatowns in most major American cities. These neighborhoods are mostly Chinese have only Chinese culture, food, imports from China, and even the signs are in all in Chinese. In San Francisco, where I am from, there is also Little Italy, the Mission District, etc. that are completely comprised of one nationality.

All I said was my great grandfather was Irish,great grand mother German. Now my grand mother was Cherokee and my heritage is Irish,German and Cherokee and yes it does have something to do with your blood stream! What would you call an African Irish baby that was raised in Ireland? Irish-African or African-Irish or just Irish? I bet you have red hair, pale skinned,freckles and your a gripper aren't you? Maybe you should drink decaf do ya think?

Just joking your as mixed up as everybody else!Will you still go out to the pub with me?

I am not American and i am not Irish but I have Scottish,English, German running through my blood and i live in Australia and i am not ashamed of who i am and i don't class myself as being a pure bred Aussie because i was born and bred here and i live here, even if i move to America, Ireland , china or any other country i would still class myself as being Aussie but tell people that i have different roots running through my blood. i would not class myself as being a American or anything else because i am from Australia. People should be proud of who they are not where they come from.