why do people get mad when i say im irish?

Question

i get yelled at by people cause i say im irish i no i havent been there yet but i cant afford it they all say im american well im sorry if im proud of my heritage but whats so wrong about having pride in my heritage?

Answer 1

If you were born in the United States you are an American with an Irish heritage. Are both your parents directly from Ireland? and were their parents all from Ireland? Even so, you should still refer to yourself as an American with an Irish heritage. If you were born in Ireland, then you are Irish!

Answer 2

It sounds like they are talking about the difference between heritage vs your nationality. If you were born and raised in the US and are an American citizen, you are an American, regardless of where your ancestors were born. Your heritage is what you've inherited through your ancestors, eg their home country. I was born and raised in the US; however my mother was born and raised in Japan. Does that make me Japanese? Technically it doesn't. I was not born in Japan, was not raised there and I am an American citizen; but by heritage I am Japanese.

Having wrote all of this, I think anyone who "gets mad" at you because you call yourself Irish is just being weird. I'm sure you know you're an American with Irish heritage... and saying you're Irish doesn't minimize your American citizenship (unless of course you're claiming Irish citizenship). Sounds to me like you're taking the informal way of acknowledging your Irish heritage and everyone who gets hopped up about it should lighten up.

Answer 3

I'm 20 and all of my family are Irish. I still get called English because I was born in England. I am an Irish citizen and have lived in Ireland all of my life. Some people just like to bug you just to get a reaction. Why not say that you have an Irish background or history instead? They can't argue with that.

Answer 4

well, youre not actually irish. maybe thats why they get mad? youre american with irish heritage. some people like to be very clear on facts, and youre not really giving the facts. try saying you're irish-american

Answer 5

based on the information provided, I have no idea. Some people may feel that acculturated people of European ancestry use their ethnicity as an affectation, i.e. I'm Irish on Saint Patrick's day and a Greek militiant on November 17th and simply withdraw to "whiteness" when it becomes convenient.
Personally, I think if someone lets another's background bother them, they are the ones with a problem.

Answer 6

I would get smart comments from people whenever I wore a small shamrock pin on my lapel. After awhile I just stopped wearing it. However I continue to still have pride in my ancestry & heritage. I encourage everyone to do the same.

Answer 7

You are a true Irish rose, proud and beautiful.

Why don't you come over to Ireland next summer and do a course in Irish history and culture? They do that in Galway University, check it out.

Answer 8

due to the immigration thing, it's got everyone in a tizzy. mexican/ mayan/adopted by an irish family- 31 yrs legal but not a citizen here. so you know how it goes. i don't define color i define heritage and if that means listing 30 diffrent heritages so be it. don't worry about it, tell them to grow up.

Answer 9

Because some people just pretend that they are so open-minded and educated, but when it comes to true-life simple situations you discover how narrow-minded they are, that they can't take things beyond stereotypes.

Go on honey, be proud of who you are.

Answer 10

I don't know. Be proud and hold your head up high. Don't worry about what other people think, but if you were brought up in America don't forget that either.