Overheal wrote: » Speaking of links....
Overheal wrote: » So you're trying to say because some randomers on Yahoo (...) told you otherwise, ~50 million americans do not have german descendancy? I dont see why that is so hard to believe. Theres an estimated 36m irish americans, for example. And germany itself has a population of 80m compared to Ireland's 6m.
owenc wrote: » So your saying that the republican culture went off to america with them and stayed there?? My granny is like that, (on my mothers side) so that must be true, sometimes she really annoys me.:mad:
mindydawne wrote: » I'm American, and from my experience, there are a lot more German decendants in America. aka most of the people I knew/worked with/ever spoken about this were from German heritage. Yeah, sure... there are a lot of people claiming Irish ancestry- and they are REALLY proud and vocal about it. The people who claim something like 1/8 on their mothers side are a bit ridiculous, but well... there's a real longing for your roots kind of thing when your family decended from another country. I wouldn't say it's Americans wanting to be Irish, it's more Americans identifying with their ancestors homeland. It's a bit different when you know your family lived in the same country generation after generation. I imagine in a few hundred years or so, most Americans will just consider themselves... American.
Feeona wrote: » I have great time for Americans. Their education system was about twenty five years ahead of Ireland's before the t'internet came along and gave us a kick up the ar*e.
Augmerson wrote: »
Feeona wrote: » There should be a question mark after 'what'. I think you should avail of the new and improved education system.;) USA USA
southsiderosie wrote: » Why is it annoying?
southsiderosie wrote: » The 2000 U.S. census asked people to self-report their ancestry. You could id more than one. Overall, 15.2% of respondents claimed German ancestry, and 10.8% claimed Irish ancestry.
wonton wrote: » and i suppose halloween which is actually irish aswel
owenc wrote: » Its funny how the scotch irish number is similar to scotland when there is far my scottish people in scotland then ulster scots here, which leads me to the conclusion that people just tick off the one they want, i mean theres bound to be far more scottish americans in america than that.
southsiderosie wrote: » It's self-identification. There was a study where the interviewer asked people to initially self-identify, and then it came out in interviews that they had a more varied background than they originally indicated. People basically opt to choose an identity. That said, why are you insisting that there may be more or less of certain groups based on current population data? The bulk of European migration to the US took place between 1840-1920; some of these "states" - including the Republic of Ireland - didn't even exist yet.
owenc wrote: » Because she runs down british people and goes on like a general nationalist and that does my head in because everything Britain does is crap to them and they want a united ireland.
southsiderosie wrote: » A lot of people who strongly identify as Irish in the US would like to see a united Ireland. People where my mom grew up in Chicago are more nationalist than most of the Irish I've met in Dublin. One of my mom's older neighbors was an ardent republican who spent time in Kilmainham, and another neighbor was an IRA gun runner during the Anglo-Irish war. For that generation, and their kids and grandchildren, the British were and are THE problem in Irish politics.
Augmerson wrote: » Irish people existed though right? *looks up wikipedia*
owenc wrote: » Yea they inherited that and probably heard propaganda etc about what was happening so would become even more bitter, btw my granny isn't american.
southsiderosie wrote: » Or they heard it from relatives, friends, and family. Or saw it for themselves. My mother still remembers seeing the aftermath of the 1969 Bombay Street bombings on the evening news in America. And if your granny isn't American then I think I missed your point; is your problem then the fact that she is a nationalist?
owenc wrote: » Yes thats why i was saying that i did not like this.
brummytom wrote: » : "Heeey, I'm Irish!".. 'No you're not'; but I've been asked many times if I'm Irish, I prefer to just reply "I'm English, from Irish stock"
fontanalis wrote: » And it's no more embarassing than some Irish people claiming JFK was Irish.
watna wrote: » It's not only an American thing kiwis do it too. I'm always getting told people are Irish when they find out where I am from. It's nowhere near like in the states though. Kiwis will distinguish between being descended from Irish people or having Irish heritage as opposed to "being Irish" in the way that Americans will say "I am Irish" but have never been to Ireland. A friend of mine is big in to the whole Irish heritage thing. She has clan reunions and everything where they meet all their distant Irish relatives (that are all kiwis too). She's desparate to move to Ireland and wants to get married in Dublin. Kiwis are also big in to being Scottish. Hamish and Lachlan are really common names here (I know 3 of each - one of them a guy at work's son who was name Lachlan as the family were "Scottish" but left Scotland a few generations ago) and a lot of people really cling to their Scottish heritage. It just comes from living somewhere where most people are descended from immigrants (except if you're maori which has a strong culture and even they emigrated here too originally).
