I am an American! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 08-28-2004, 12:36 PM

It has always bothered me when someone catergorizes themselves as Italian Americans or African Americans, etc. If you are born in this country, you are an American. Period. My ancestors are originally from Italy, but I was born in America. Therefore I am an American of Italian descent. I am not an Italian American. That title should be reserved for immigrants who were born and raised in other countries and migrate to America. Not for people who are born and raised in this country. I'm not saying anyone shouldn't be proud of their heritage, but I just wish people would be proud of the country they were born in more.

Dutabi84 · 08-28-2004, 12:40 PM

I prefer to be known as a German-Italian-Sweedish American.. Gotta have all bases covered.

Mijada · 08-28-2004, 01:11 PM

I am very proud and blessed to have been born and raised in the U.S.A. However I am also proud of my heritage. When I was overseas a few years ago I just told people I was American. When someone here in America asks me what I am I say German, Italian etc.. I know so many Americans who have little or no knowledge of where their ancestors came from and that is unfortunate. Kind of like being adopted and not knowing where your family came from. Some people aren't bothered by it but I know it would bother me if I had no idea what was in my blood.

Mossopp · 08-28-2004, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian Damage
It has always bothered me when someone catergorizes themselves as Italian Americans or African Americans, etc. If you are born in this country, you are an American. Period. My ancestors are originally from Italy, but I was born in America. Therefore I am an American of Italian descent. I am not an Italian American.

I agree with you. If you're born in America, you're an American - it makes no difference where your grandparents or great grandparents were from.
Americans seem to be the only people who have this stupid way of defining their nationality. I have loads of family members in Belgium but you never hear me saying "well, actually I'm Belgian/Scottish".
See how ridiculous it sounds when I say it?!

Chambers · 08-28-2004, 01:26 PM

A bit off topic, but some countries don't even refer to Americans as Americans - they say something along the lines of "United Statesian." Haha Sounds horrible, I know, but it prevents some confusion since America is the name of the continent and not of the country. I'm used to saying "American," but I've played trivia games in other languages that ask for the name of an American city meaning a city in the American continent (North and South America). But I'm pretty sure the United Statesian fad has been dying down.

Brian Damage · 08-28-2004, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mossopp
I agree with you. If you're born in America, you're an American - it makes no difference where your grandparents or great grandparents were from.
Americans seem to be the only people who have this stupid way of defining their nationality. I have loads of family members in Belgium but you never hear me saying "well, actually I'm Belgian/Scottish".
See how ridiculous it sounds when I say it?!

That's exactly my point. Thank you!

ThirteenInchEscape · 08-28-2004, 01:48 PM

yeah, I tried to tell my mom, stepdad, and little brother that, none of them agreed with me.

Alot of people that refer to themselves as Italian American etc grew up in Italian communities though, which imo is a bit different than someone from the upper middle class and lives in suburbs or something.

But yeah, my ******** extended family gets excited when it is Saint Patricks Day because my mom's Grandpa immigrated from Ireland...and you're thinking "...jesus christ, that makes Grandma and her sisters the most Irish at half..." but then again, Saint Patricks Day is a stupid damn holiday

At any rate, my point was there are some very Italian communities in NYC and some very Irish communities in Boston (among other places), I just think that their ancestors obviously came here for a "better life" or whatever, and most likely didnt dream of their grandkids or whoever parading around saying "I'm Irish" instead of "i'm American"

Then again, I dont know much of my ancestors previous to their coming to America, and I hardly care

consentida · 08-28-2004, 01:50 PM

.

Brian Damage · 08-28-2004, 01:58 PM

I'm not saying deny your heritage, but when someone says they are Italian American and they were born and raised in the United States, I think that is bogus. You are an American.

Kazza · 08-28-2004, 03:52 PM

I am Puerto Rican but at the same time I'm American because the island is a US territory ; when anyone asks me I tell them I'm Puerto Rican not American...

Kay Scarpetta · 08-28-2004, 04:30 PM

When someone asks me what I am, I don't bother to say American, because it's quite obvious, as I was born in this country...

... yet if you have dual citizenship to another country (i.e. half of my family [not sure if I'm included in that half or not- I know my ma is] has dual citizenship to Ireland, and some of my other half to England) I suppose you could be considered an Irish-American or yadda yadda yadda... whatever. I say just call yourself American and keep it simple.

Janice · 08-28-2004, 07:06 PM

I'm proud to be an American.

Penny Lane · 08-28-2004, 07:14 PM

According to my dad I am German! And that's that!

Hollow · 08-28-2004, 07:18 PM

i hate being an american.

AKA · 08-28-2004, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by safety pin
i hate being an american.

I don't. I love this country.

I take more pride in being a human from Earth than I do in being an American, though.

08-28-2004, 12:36 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I am an American! It has always bothered me when someone catergorizes themselves as Italian Americans or African Americans, etc. If you are born in this country, you are an American. Period. My ancestors are originally from Italy, but I was born in America. Therefore I am an American of Italian descent. I am not an Italian American. That title should be reserved for immigrants who were born and raised in other countries and migrate to America. Not for people who are born and raised in this country. I'm not saying anyone shouldn't be proud of their heritage, but I just wish people would be proud of the country they were born in more.

08-28-2004, 12:40 PM	#2
Dutabi84 kittens must die Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 22, 2003 Location: MN/TX Posts: 11,026	I prefer to be known as a German-Italian-Sweedish American.. Gotta have all bases covered. Attached Images

08-28-2004, 01:26 PM	#5
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	A bit off topic, but some countries don't even refer to Americans as Americans - they say something along the lines of "United Statesian." Haha Sounds horrible, I know, but it prevents some confusion since America is the name of the continent and not of the country. I'm used to saying "American," but I've played trivia games in other languages that ask for the name of an American city meaning a city in the American continent (North and South America). But I'm pretty sure the United Statesian fad has been dying down.
	__________________ Member of the "God, Lilith is so ing cool" Fan Club Where everybody knows your tossed salads and scrambled eggs. FREEDOM OF THOUGHT blank

08-28-2004, 01:48 PM	#7
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	yeah, I tried to tell my mom, stepdad, and little brother that, none of them agreed with me. Alot of people that refer to themselves as Italian American etc grew up in Italian communities though, which imo is a bit different than someone from the upper middle class and lives in suburbs or something. But yeah, my ******** extended family gets excited when it is Saint Patricks Day because my mom's Grandpa immigrated from Ireland...and you're thinking "...jesus christ, that makes Grandma and her sisters the most Irish at half..." but then again, Saint Patricks Day is a stupid damn holiday At any rate, my point was there are some very Italian communities in NYC and some very Irish communities in Boston (among other places), I just think that their ancestors obviously came here for a "better life" or whatever, and most likely didnt dream of their grandkids or whoever parading around saying "I'm Irish" instead of "i'm American" Then again, I dont know much of my ancestors previous to their coming to America, and I hardly care
	__________________ *Member of the "God Lilith is so ing Cool" Fanclub* Freedom of Thought

08-28-2004, 01:50 PM	#8
consentida oh, you pretty things Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2002 Location: New York Posts: 3,841	.
	Last edited by consentida; 01-26-2012 at 08:09 PM.

08-28-2004, 01:11 PM	#3
Mijada Spencers mom Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2001 Location: eastern US Posts: 4,093	I am very proud and blessed to have been born and raised in the U.S.A. However I am also proud of my heritage. When I was overseas a few years ago I just told people I was American. When someone here in America asks me what I am I say German, Italian etc.. I know so many Americans who have little or no knowledge of where their ancestors came from and that is unfortunate. Kind of like being adopted and not knowing where your family came from. Some people aren't bothered by it but I know it would bother me if I had no idea what was in my blood.

08-28-2004, 01:58 PM	#9
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I'm not saying deny your heritage, but when someone says they are Italian American and they were born and raised in the United States, I think that is bogus. You are an American.

08-28-2004, 03:52 PM	#10
Kazza Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 17, 2003 Posts: 3,244	I am Puerto Rican but at the same time I'm American because the island is a US territory ; when anyone asks me I tell them I'm Puerto Rican not American...

08-28-2004, 04:30 PM	#11
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	When someone asks me what I am, I don't bother to say American, because it's quite obvious, as I was born in this country... ... yet if you have dual citizenship to another country (i.e. half of my family [not sure if I'm included in that half or not- I know my ma is] has dual citizenship to Ireland, and some of my other half to England) I suppose you could be considered an Irish-American or yadda yadda yadda... whatever. I say just call yourself American and keep it simple.
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

08-28-2004, 07:06 PM	#12
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I'm proud to be an American. Attached Images

08-28-2004, 07:14 PM	#13
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,394	According to my dad I am German! And that's that!
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08-28-2004, 07:18 PM	#14
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	i hate being an american.