Ok so i have a question. sometimes people get on me when i say i am german, or german-american. i am an american citizen, but my parents are both from germany. the thing is, they dont even speak german anymore, i learned hardly any (mostly from my grandparents). i think the case with most americans of european descent is they call themselves americans because they're scotch-irish-italian-american or pretty much a 'mutt', and their families have been here for several generations. is it tacky because i'm not really german in that im not from there or have lived there to say i'm german?
2007-03-19 14:06:35 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I think that it's tacky that anyone who was born in America calls themselves _______-American. If you were born in the US you are American. If you were born in Germany you are German, etc etc etc.
2007-03-19 14:09:47 · answer #1 · answered by FaerieWhings 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I grew up in Europe and now live in the States. I find that people here really like to qualify their American-ness in the way that you describe, but I find that rather bizarre. I can see it when your parents are immigrants, but the people I know are no more German or Italian or Irish or whatever than anyone else here. Many people don't even know where to find those countries. This country has a "melting pot" philosophy, which means that somewhere along the way everone becomes just an American, which is really what they are. Having said that, there are ethnic traditions that are wonderful to maintain, like St. Patty's day, which you can celebrate without having a drop of Irish blood. So, you keep the good stuff, and lose the bad, and maybe adopt some stuff from other countries that you like. Happy St. Patty's Day!
2007-03-19 14:16:02 · answer #2 · answered by Nanneke 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't say that it's tacky, just simply untrue. A German is named by his location not by his ethnicity. German speaks to where you live and what language you speak, not to what race you are or what your identity is. An Italian and a Scotch can be of the same race, and live in different countries. Such as a caucasian person in Italy is an Italian... and the same in Scottland is a Scotch.
As for you, you may be the descendant of Germans, but you yourself are as American as the next. I think people really do themselves dishonor by referring to a country that they, on occasion, have never even been to. You're as American as anybody, and you deserved to be acknowledged as such.
2007-03-19 14:13:55 · answer #3 · answered by sum12stupid4u 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not tacky at all. I was born here in America. My parents were born in Mexico. I consider myself a Mexican-American. I do know spanish, but even though you don't (or very little) does not make you exempt from your culture. I work with someone who is "Cubano." He has never been to Cuba, although he does speak the language. No one should call themselves TRUE "German, Mexican, Cuban" or any such if they themselves have never lived there.
No one has a right to call themselves a TRUE Amercian because everyone in this country is a direct descedant from some other country.
It would be hypocritical for people to say that they are "American" and then turn right around and say they are proud of their "Irish/Spanish...etc" heritage when they have never been there.
Alot of people cry wolf when speaking of their heritage, but many have never even been to those places.
As long as you are true in saying that you are "German(etc)-American" and you were never truly born there...you are in your own right and never "tacky."
2007-03-19 14:17:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can call yourself German-American if you strongly identify with your German ancestry, even though you've never lived there and neither have your parents. If you have studied the culture and take pride in your roots, then I don't see anything wrong with it, but if that's not the case, then I don't know why it's so important to let people know that.
2007-03-19 14:15:14 · answer #5 · answered by Emily Dew 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't really think it's tacky. I do think people who are born here should just be American (not, African, Hispanic, Chinese American etc) but in the end It's just a matter of personal preference.
2007-03-19 14:12:42 · answer #6 · answered by Serenity 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am proud to say that I am a German-American. It is not at all tacky.
2007-03-19 14:10:47 · answer #7 · answered by suz' 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I doubt anyone truly cares about a persons lineage so I suggest go simply by American if someone wants to know more they will most likely ask you.
2007-03-19 14:10:16 · answer #8 · answered by Jenny 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No one is American unless they are native Americans.
2007-03-19 14:09:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋