Why do Europeans in America consider themselves Americans?

Question

If you go by fact, almost every single "American" is not an American. The only true Americans are Native Americans. All the rest of us are Europeans, whether we like it or not. I am a 3rd generation Irishman, and I'm very proud of my Irish roots. I consider myself Irish. Nobody I know considers themself American. I ask people, and they say, "Oh, I'm part Italian and part German" Or "I'm Irish" But no "I'm American" I don't hate America, and I have no violent feelings towards America, but I have always considered Ireland my true home, even though i have never been there. I tried convincing myself America is my true home, but my heart told me Ireland is. I would be 10X more proud to serve in the Irish Army than the American Army, although if I were drafted, I would sevre in the American Amry, even if it was halfheartedly.

Answer 1

Itc coz america is huge.. and doesnt have a real identity like ireland does..

Answer 2

Your home is where your heart is. I migrated from Holland to Australia when I was 22 years of age. I have been in Australia for 51 years and although I love this country I have a strong emotional attachment to Holland, which is logical. I think you would be more proud of America if you traveled overseas. At the moment the USA is definitely not the flavour of the month but we must not confuse our feelings for our Country, that is the People, with the Government. In spite of our 'democracy' the man in the street has no say in what the Decider does. And Pelosi is no better.You say that the only true Americans are the native Americans aka Red Indians. But they did not originate in America. There is plenty of evidence that they are a Mongol race and came to America probably during an ice age when the Bering Strait was bridged by ic or dry.. The same with the Aborigines in Australia which are not one race, there are at least two, one is lean and the other is stocky. They probably came from India via Indonesia and belong to the Caucasian race as most Indians do. A quarter breed Australian is indistinguishable from a Southern European.
Races and languages are fascinating subjects in their own right and it is a pity that so much garbage comes from people with a political correctness agenda. Let us face that there are differences among races and that it does not lessen a race because it is different. America has great ***** athletes but you will never see one win a swimming race because their muscle density is higher. You will never see a Japanese win a sprint because they are not built for it. But that is no reason for other people to feel superior. The same as individuals are different so are races and it is a shame to deny that and not to see the fascination. If you like feeling proud of your Irish background that is fine. It certainly beats being a chauvinist, my Country right or wrong.

Answer 3

If you go by fact, every citizen of the United States of America is an American. Ethnicity does not confer nationality.

As for your "home" being a country you've never visited ... do you own property there? Do you hold an Irish passport? Do you vote in Irish elections? Pay taxes to Ireland?

Maybe Ireland is your home. Or maybe you're just another disenfranchised blond-haired blue-eyed American looking for a new ethnic identity because he doesn't feel special enough where he is, so he gloms onto myths about some country his ancestors escaped decades ago. Most of the "Irish" I've met in the US are the latter.

Answer 4

I think you are looking at it wrong.

Why do you think america is like it is- would it not be more primative and sparse if it was america only for the native indians, would you have the economy and incomes etc you do now if it was this way.

america like australia and other settled countries is made up of the convergence of cultures and beliefs that is what the country consists of. Sure call yourself an irishman but when it comes to the crunch you or your family are part of what makes up america hence you are american.

sorry but true.

sure you can be proud of your roots but are not at least some parts of your history (roots) in america

if you really want to be difficult you are a irish american

looking at it from other peoples views they come to america to seek a better and more prosperious way of life and in most cases a safer way of life, by doing this they come to love what america and the american dream stands for, hence that is why they call themselves american no matter where their background lies

I am not american but can identify with where you are coming from being an australian, hope this helps you see where others are coming from.

Answer 5

Ha! You either lie or have asked a very limited amount of people. I am a proud American first, a proud 6th generation Texan second and finally a proud Irish-American.

America is my true home - Texas will always be in my heart. My siblings have all visited the county in Ireland we immigrated from (actually forced out of by the heathen British many decades ago) and agree it is beautiful but Texas,USA is home!

Have you ever visited Ireland? The natives laugh at all the Americans that come there and call themselves "Irish". But they love our money!

Answer 6

You've already asked this question and I've already answered, but I will answer again (in your other post you did indicate you hated America, BTW).

You are third generation American. When you renounce your U.S. citizenship, which I trust and sincerely hope you will, because in your other post you indicated you are not loyal to America but are loyal to Ireland, and you leave the United States to actually go live in Ireland, then you will be Irish.

My grandmother, who went to America when she was 13 years old, was a proud American from the moment she set foot on Ellis Island. She wasn't born in the U.S., but she chose to be loyal to the country that welcomed her and gave her refuge.

I have not lived in the United States for more than half my life but I was born and raised in the United States and am proud of it. I have never given up my passport and never stopped loving my country. Of course I sometimes disagree with U.S. policy. Perhaps I have a deeper appreciation of the U.S. because I live in Europe. You have no idea how good you have it there. And I'm not talking about the money side of it or living in a bigger house than you will ever have in Ireland, I'm talking about the greatness of the American people, and you bet I'm proud to be one of them. If I die here, I will die an American.

Go to Ireland and live and die Irish. Please.

Answer 7

I heard the 'Native American' tag a couple of days ago and it struck me as not right.

America is named after Amerigo Vespucci (yes, the 1st American is Italian).

I'm more interested in what this land was called before Vespuccians - I mean Europeans, set foot over here.

No disrespect, but when the Irish came over to 'America' it was a step up. Europeans in a very general sense of the word general, did not consider the Irish as Europeans.

And to answer your question in a very narrow minded, off the cuff manner (i.e. FOCUSED), I think profit motive is the main reason Europeans were willing to change their nomme de origen.

Answer 8

They found the well-preserved body of a man in a river bed in Washington state. He had a spear point or an arrowhead of the Clovis people in him. The Clovis people are the ones we have thought of as "Native Americans." He was apparently killed about 10,000 BC as the Clovis people were entering the Americas. He was a European.

Africans also reached the Americas before Columbus and left artifacts identical to those in West Africa. There was apparently a government-financed Chinese expedition to California before Columbus. An excavated early settlement in Peru was identical to a Japanese fishing community of the same period. Similar "Red Clay" sites of the same period exist in Northern Canada and Northern Europe.

So it's not so easy to say just who can claim to be a "Native American" and who can not. There appears to have been a mixing of peoples, with the majority having come from Siberia.

Answer 9

I can only answer this from an Australian point of view. I am first generation Australia, my parents came over from the UK in the 60's. I am 100% Australian and proud of it. I have never considered the UK my true home and would be 100x more proud to serve for Australia than the UK. I love Australia and have never felt allegiance to any other country besides Australia.

Considering yourself American runs a lot deeper than where your roots are, as does considering yourself Australian - I guess it comes down to patriotism

Answer 10

have you thought of moving to iteland then? i don't mean that rudely but.... i'm only 2nd generation - my grandparents immigrated from "Poland". I quote it becuase it wasn't really Poland when they were there -but they spoke Polish and we have maintained various traditions. however, i do NOT and will never consider Poland my home. while it is the home country of my grandparents and all prior, it's not my country. i HAVE visited and wil be going again in september, i loved the country and the people and the culter and am very proud to be Polish. however my grandparents made the effort to become american citizens. my grandpa fought in WWI with great pride and with honour, until his dying day, when the cancer had riddled his bones andblood, still stood for the national anthem and saluted (or tried) the flag whenever present. to renounce THEIR choices and their loyality would be saying their pain, suffering adn efforts and CHOICE to become American's would be like spitting in their face. I am and will always be a proud American who happens to have a Polish heritage.

Answer 11

I am of Irish linage, been there and love Ireland dearly, but I am American all the way. I don't call myself Irish American either,
I am American through and through...Red, White and Blue,